<p>So I got accepted to both Auburn University and University of Alabama (yay!) and if I were to decide to go to one of these schools for my undergrads, I am completely torn as to which. Here's a little background: I want to go for International Business with a minor in a foreign language. I am looking for good study abroad opportunities, as well as internship opportunities. I am interested in the Greek System, but it's far from a top priority. I want to attend law school (particularly one on the east coast-considering Georgetown or even a law school in London if my grades are where they need to be). Therefore, although it isn't a HUGE deal where my undergrads are completed because potential future employers will care more about where I got my law degree, I still want to go somewhere where just in case all doesn't pan out, I have a good degree to fall back on. I have toured both UA and Auburn, and liked both for different things. Either way, I could see myself at either. BUT, for my major and what I am looking for in a school, I would like opinions on what would be a better match, and better decision academics wise. What has a better business school? </p>
<p>ASIDE from football preferences, would UA or Auburn be a better fit for me? </p>
<p>Are you from Alabama? If not, keep in mind that UA has far more out of state students than Auburn. Almost half of UA undergrads are from OOS. Auburn is almost entirely from Alabama and Georgia.</p>
<p>M2CK and others will be along shortly to comment on the academics of either school.</p>
<p>They are pretty close in price. I’m not to concerned with out of state-instate ratio, but I more so just want to go to the one that would be the best for academics. I think Auburn’s business school is ranked higher but I’m not positive.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is ranked higher when looking at a broad range of annual rankings. Usually, UA Business is ranked higher in some, and Auburn’s in others. </p>
<p>If you intend to major in business, 'Bama is better. Frankly, there are many better business school than U.Alabama, but Auburn has a mediocre B-school. </p>
<p>Alabama is ranked as the #73 undergraduate B-school in the country by BusinessWeek. Auburn does not even make the list. Neither school makes the list for MBA programs.</p>
<p>For MBA, Alabama is ranked #56 nationally by Forbes, while again Auburn does not make the list. Forbes tries to measure career success after graduation.</p>
<p>US News World Report ranks both, with 'Bama at #86 and Auburn at #91. A smaller edge for UA, but still an edge. USNWR is justly criticized for poor metrics. </p>
<p>Before rankings, rich students went where their parents told them to, while middle class and below went to the closest state university (or the one, again, chosen by their parents).</p>
<p>Rankings are rightly criticized – for a variety of excellent reasons – however, they do mean something and anybody who does not look at them is probably not shopping for a college. Such people probably already know where they want to go.</p>
<p>I went to Auburn for my MBA (2012). I absolutely loved it! I have a great job in the financial industry. auburn’s b-school just received last year a $40 million gift. That will no doubt improve their rankings if you need that “prestige” but I promise you being ranked “75” or “86” vs “91” or whatever is not going to impact you on bit. Auburn and Bama’s b-school are on par with one another - TRUST ME. Employers do not care that you went to the 81 rankd school vs the 75 ranked or whatever. And, if you went to Bama for B-school, you probably didn’t go to Auburn’s so that person cant comment on Auburn (as I can’t speak for Bama’s). Visit BOTH, read posts where an actual alum is commenting about his/her own school and do the comparison analysis yourself. Listening to a Bama fan trash Auburn is not probably going to be reliable and vice versa.</p>
<p>I know that you’re OOS. Bama’s OOS numbers are very high. You may find that to be an atmosphere that will make the transition to college a smooth one.</p>
<p>The past couple of years, the frosh classes have been over 50% OOS…that trend will continue.</p>
<p>Definitely visit both schools. You have to go to the school is best for you! You are the one that’s going to be living there for 4-5 years and be associated with it for the rest of your life. Basically, it’s not what a fan says. Not what USNWR says. Not what your friends and family say. It’s what you say. </p>
<p>I visited both schools in October. While I loved both, I am leaning towards Auburn. Personally, I just felt more at home there. I was deciding between Auburn & Alabama, but waiting to hear from Texas A&M (that was my top choice) but today found out that I didn’t get full admission, rather I got offered to do their PSA program which is one year at another A&M campus and then full admittance to the main campus. I’m just not sure about this option and whether it’s right for me. I am going to be rushing for a sorority and I love greek life, but my impression after touring Bama and Auburn was that it ruled the campus at Bama and I didn’t really like that aspect. Also, MBA school does not matter for me, and undergrad doesn’t much either. I am going to law school after I get my Bachelor’s so it doesn’t make a huge difference where I got my undergrad as long as I get good grades there.</p>
<p>Many went to the local community college, either for associates degree or certificate programs, or transfer preparation to a state university. Some religiously observant students went off the religious schools (e.g. LDS members going to BYU). A few of the super-selectives were well known (HYPSM), but there was less awareness of other schools outside one’s local region than there is now.</p>
<p>But even before USNWR, people tended to have their informal rankings of the schools they have heard about, mostly based on perceived selectivity (e.g. HYPSM, then the state flagship, then the other state universities).</p>
<p>Disclosure - I and my husband are Alabama graduates, he from the business school. Our daughter graduated from Alabama…but our son went to Auburn, graduating from the architecture program. I know lots of people who went to both schools, in a variety of studies. Overall, Alabama would be best for business, but it’s not so far ahead of Auburn that you should not consider other factors.</p>
<p>For instance, Auburn’s sororities are housed in dorms, which means sorority fees are lower than Alabama’s sororities, because Auburn’s are not paying salaries to employees to clean the house, serve the food, and administer the house, they are not replaying massive mortgages, repairing plumbing or heating and cooling systems, etc. OTOH, every sorority member I’ve met from an unhoused chapter always wishes they had a house.</p>
<p>Auburn seems a little cozier because it’s in a smaller, more isolated town. Alabama seems a little livelier because it’s in a bigger city, and close to Alabama’s biggest city. Both campuses are very friendly, While Greeks may SEEM to rule at Alabama, they really don’t any more than they do at Auburn.</p>
<p>You really ought to visit both to make a clear decision. Best of luck to you!</p>
My daughter is an International Business major at Auburn right now, and in a sorority, and loves it. She had a full ride scholarship offered to her at Alabama, but chose to go to Auburn on the Presidential scholarship instead. No regrets, not one. She loves the small town atmosphere, close-knit community that is offered in Auburn, how friendly everyone is even to opponents of other teams on game days, and has been thoroughly impressed with each of her professors and classes. But, best of luck to you in whatever you decide! you have received some good advice here for sure.