Hi! I am an out of state nursing major, and I have narrowed down my college search to either Auburn or University of Alabama. Both schools have my major, so I am mostly concerned about the environment/culture of the schools? What sort of personality does the student body have? I was also concerned because I heard that after football season Auburn shuts down and it’s not very lively? Any input is appreciated, thank you!!
Were you offered any merit …if so how much at each?
I was offered 12,500 at Alabama, and I haven’t heard back from Auburn yet regarding scholarships. Mainly, I just want to know about the personality of each school. Obviously money is a factor, but both schools should end up at about the same price.
You really should visit each school before you decide. No one on an internet forum can tell you how you will personally perceive each school’s atmosphere.
I have visited both schools! The main issue I had with Alabama was that it had a much more liberal, city, not as southern feel to it. But, Auburn wasn’t nearly as lively or exciting. So after my two visits, I had about an equal impression on both schools, so I just can’t decide!
If you cant decide between the two, flip a coin. They are both equal for your field of study.
<<<<
I was offered 12,500 at Alabama, and I haven’t heard back from Auburn yet regarding scholarships. Mainly, I just want to know about the personality of each school. Obviously money is a factor, but both schools should end up at about the same price.
<<<,
That is not likely true at all. If Bama gave you that award then you have an ACT 29 or SAT equivalent. Not only would Auburn give you a lot less, but Auburn’s tuition is higher. You would only get $6k per year from Auburn…so cost would be a lot higher.
bama is giving you a half-tuition award that will increase as tuition rises. auburn is giving you a set amount ( less than one quarter tuition ) and their award does not increase as tuition rises.
@karliek
We are also trying to choose between Auburn or Alabama but for engineering, specifically aerospace engineering, for my son. He scored at 34 on the ACT. Alabama has offered full tuition plus $10k/ year, which is very generous. Auburn has offered about 60% OOS tuition, which is doable with our help. Could get in-state tuition rate Jr/Sr years through academic common market. Haven’t visited yet but plan to do so. Auburn seems to have the edge in the rankings. Anyone have experience with or opinions on these schools for engineering?
Bama has really “kicked up” its engineering. When will you be visiting ? Be sure to set up the campus tour AND then contact the Honors College to set up the rest of your day.
Set up your tour here: http://tour.ua.edu/
Don’t delay setting up your campus tour! The tour is a mix of walking and riding in a small bus, so each tour is strictly limited to the number of seats on that small bus. Sometimes people delay and then they’re disappointed to find that there aren’t any tour spots available.
In the email to the below listed HC people, include:
Student’s name and contact info
Date and time of the Campus tour that you’ve reserved.
GPA and test scores (include likely NMSF if applicable)
Likely majors
Interest in Computer-Based Honors and/or UFE
Career interests (including med, law, etc)
Anything particular that you want to see. If you have an interest in seeing the new Science and Engineering Complex, the TV or radio stations, the B-school or what-have-you, let them know.
Honors Recruitment
Susan Alley
270 Nott Hall
205-348-5599
susan.alley@ua.edu
Kayla Fields
kdfields1@ua.edu
They will arrange the rest of the day…meeting with faculty, honors people, touring honors dorms, etc.
Sometimes mail goes to their SPAM folders, so call them if you haven’t heard back within a few business days. They do an excellent job and work very hard.
What state are you in? Does it not have AeroE?
Isn’t Tuscaloosa suburban or semi-rural in character? Auburn is in the middle of nowhere.
UAlabama is in a GOOD-SIZED city…
Tuscaloosa is the 5th largest city in the state. It is a lovely setting, sitting on a river…lovely trees, lovely weather. Gorgeous campus.
My sons an Aero Eng at Auburn and lives it but you won’t do wrong at Alabama either. Here’s some quick info I just looked up.
II’m from Atlanta and Auburn is smaller than Tuscaloosa but not at all “in the middle of no where”. I don’t know whether Tuscaloosa people just dont venture out much but if they did they’d see a lovely village in Auburn. There is plenty to do after football season and if you walk around campus on a pretty day in the spring you’d be walking around and in between many many hammocks hung between blooming trees. Their is a very nice fine arts museum, a botanical garden, gorgeous new rec center, lots if arts (music and drama), and Chewacla state park with mikes of trails for walking or riding.
I’m doing this on my phone so I’m not necessarily getting the most current info but this pulled up:
2 on Forbes 2014 best places to retire in US list
Read TripAdvisor forums to get info on areas.
FBI 2012 Crime statistics:
The city violent crime rate for Auburn in 2012 was lower than the national violent crime rate average by 37.72% and the city property crime rate in Auburn was higher than the national property crime rate average by 22.51%.
The city violent crime rate for Tuscaloosa in 2012 was higher than the national violent crime rate average by 34.34% and the city property crime rate in Tuscaloosa was higher than the national property crime rate average by 65.38%.
@lakewashington - FYI I just looked up the city-data stats on both Tuscaloosa and Auburn ((2012 info).
Tuscaloosa = Pop. 93,357; 99% Urban, 1% Rural
Auburn = Pop. 56,908; 93% Urban, 7% Rural
@karliek - Since you want to be a nursing major, you may consider posting under the “nursing majors” thread. The biggest difference between the 2 nursing programs is that the Univ. of Alabama - Birmingham nursing program is a direct admit meaning as an entering freshmen you are guaranteed admission into the nursing program. Whereas, Auburn is a nondirect admit where you will enter as a freshmen as a prenursing major. After taking the required prerequisites for nursing, you will then apply for admission into the nursing major which is typically in January of the sophomore year [check Auburn’s website for the specific dates]. Nursing admission decisions are usually made by March for the fall junior class to start into the nursing core curriculum. That will put added pressure on you to maintain a very high GPA in order to be officially accepted into the nursing program as a junior. If you are not accepted into Auburn’s nursing program then you must change your major to stay at Auburn or reapply the following year. If you truly want nursing you may have to transfer to another university/college nursing program, wasting a year and many nursing programs do not accept transfers. So based on this information, I would definitely make U of Alabama - Birmingham my first choice for nursing - much less stress in the long run.
Nondirect admit nursing programs are weeding out students that have a likelyhood of not being the best candidates to finish the nursing program although many schools do have many well qualified appicants but a cut must be made ito accomodate the number of faculty to students especially for the clinicals.The nursing majors thread has a link to all the current nursing programs in the U.S. that have direct admit nursing programs [look at page 13].
^^^
The Op is not comparing UAB to Auburn. The student is comparing Alabama to Auburn.
And the most recent poster with a question is majoring in AeroE.
@purplexgoldxalum When will you be visiting Bama?
@mom2collegekids Thanks for all that helpful info! I think that we will go to E-day at Auburn at the end of February (2/27), so we thought of visiting Alabama on the day before, which is 2/26. Sounds like I should see if I can book it now. We are in Louisiana, about 20 minutes from LSU, but not only does my son want a change of scenery (has lived here his whole life), there are no Aero Eng programs in Louisiana.
Yes, you do need to book your campus tour now. And since you’re going to E-Day at Auburn, and you’re not attending the E-Day at Bama, you really do need to set up an Honors tour so that you can somewhat get a better comparison. Simply going to a Bama campus tour obviously won’t compare well with an E-day event at another school.
Not to discourage either school or major, but you don’t need to major in aero for a career in aero. Many aero engineers majored in mechanical. Lots of mechE programs offer aero concentrations or tracks.
If LA doesn’t have aerospace eng, does that qualify you for Common Market?
@SOSConcern This student wouldn’t need the ACE market at Bama. this student has qualified for free tuition with his ACT 34.
however, at auburn, he’s not permitted to apply for ACE until soph year…for junior and senior years…likely to prevent kids from choosing ACE majors and getting instate rates for 2 years…and then changing to something else. That said, getting instate rates as a junior and senior still requires paying a LOT more at Auburn than at Bama.
At Bama, the student would pay about $12k per year total.
At Auburn, the student would pay $30k per year.