<p>Sorry is this thread is a rerun. Son and I are set to visit. He’s done the honors ap and paid deposits for enrollment and housing.</p>
<p>Now, he needs to register for bama bound…</p>
<p>I’m thinking we should wait until after we visit next week but I don’t want him to miss out should he decide to attend UA.</p>
<p>So, should we pay the $160 and register for BAMA Bound?</p>
<p>Did most of you go with your kids or should I consider sending him off on his own?</p>
<p>as always, thank you.</p>
<p>I would wait on paying for Bama Bound until your son has decided to attend UA. I waited to register to see how much I was missing by taking two days off of school and was still able to choose the Bama Bound I wanted. Looking back, I registered for Bama Bound the first week of April.</p>
<p>Thanks. He graduates 5/18 so there are some dates after he is done with school but I expect we’ll see you next week and can talk more :)</p>
<p>I would call the Bama Bound Orientation people and ask how many Bama Bound spots are still available for the honors Bama Bounds (those are the ones at the end of May and beginning of June). (800) 933-BAMA</p>
<p>If there aren’t many honors BB spaces left, I’d grab one then. You can always add yourself later if you want (no limits on parents).</p>
<p>As for whether parents need to go…</p>
<p>I have 2 kids at Bama. One is the type who wanted me there. He’s more shy, and I was fine with going. The other child is not the least bit shy and told me that it was my choice to go or not. I decided not to because at that point, I had heard it all before. LOL (although I enjoyed the first one and really enjoyed the parents luncheon!) </p>
<p>So, after your visit, your son can tell you whether he feels comfortable enough to “go it alone”. At that point, he will have already flown there with you, etc. Therefore, going alone may seem fine with him.</p>
<p>A hint for Bama Bound…</p>
<p>Before your son goes, he needs to use MyBama to come up with a tentative schedule with some alternate choices. That will make registering for classes much easier. He needs to also write down the CRN numbers for each desired class because that’s what’s used for registering.</p>
<p>My kids made up a grid with each day having a column. They listed the time (starting at 8am) down the first column. Then they wrote in each grid box a desired class and one or two alternates.</p>
<p>Also, the night before he registers, he needs to find a computer (if he doesn’t bring his laptop) and check to see if his desired classes are full. </p>
<p>Bama releases some seats for each freshmen section for each Bama Bound, so that all students have a chance at getting their desired classes.</p>
<p>After Bama Bound, a student can freely change his schedule as often as he wants. So, he can feel free to tinker with it.</p>
<p>Also…when your son is figuring out a possible schedule, have him also consider each building’s location. There’s no point in criss-crossing campus numerous times a day if that can be avoided by taking classes in a certain order.</p>
<p>Lastly…unless your child is natural early riser, he should avoid 8am classes - at least for his first year. College kids often stay up late, so many end up sleeping thru 8am classes…not a good thing! It’s a recipe for disaster!!!</p>
<p>Also, make sure your student schedules a break or lunch or dinner.</p>
<p>My son had me come with him to Bama Bound because he has never flown alone, and it was only his third ever flight anyway. So he was glad for the company. Less than a year later, he flies all over the place without a parent.</p>
<p>Going to Bama Bound also gave me a chance to open an account for him at Alabama Credit Union, which is located in the Ferg, and secure his post office box. Remember, in Alabama, a student is not an adult until 19. So the Alabama Credit Union, which is very convenient for all students, will not allow an underage student to open the account. Renting the post office box early is nice, because the place is super busy just before classes start.</p>
<p>Great tips from both moms! Did not realize the 19 factor for bank accounts.</p>
<p>Remember, in Alabama, a student is not an adult until 19. So the Alabama Credit Union, which is very convenient for all students, will not allow an underage student to open the account.</p>
<p>A child under 19 can open an account with a parent also on the account. So, some parents do it at Bama Bound, a campus visit, or during Move-in day. I like being on my kids’ accounts because I can add money if necessary.</p>
<p>Also, Alabama credit union is on that credit union system (CU Service Centers) that lets you do your banking from lots of other credit unions that are also on that same system. We are members of 3 credit unions and they are all on the same system.
Here’s the other credit unions/branches… [url=<a href=“http://www.creditunion.net/]CUServiceCenter.com[/url”>http://www.creditunion.net/]CUServiceCenter.com[/url</a>]</p>
<p>^^^The 19 factor tends to come into play when one least expects it. The parent would also need to sign the legal agreement for Alabama Action/Outdoor Action if the student is under 19. Alabama CU is very convenient and the Credit Union Service Center system is very useful, especially if you’re not comfortable with EFT pushes/pulls. Note that the UA branch cannot access non-Alabama CU accounts the way that other member institutions do.</p>
<p>*Note that the UA branch cannot access non-Alabama CU accounts the way that other member institutions do. *</p>
<p>I didn’t know that. What about the ATM? </p>
<p>Well, then it’s probably a good idea then to set up an acct as soon as the parent is on campus…at Bama Bound, Move in Day, or Family Weekend.</p>
<p>***** There is a way for a parent to open an Alabama CU acct online. ** [Alabama</a> Credit Union - Membership Application](<a href=“Feel good about your money. | Alabama Credit Union (ACU) | Alabama Credit Union (ACU)”>Feel good about your money. | Alabama Credit Union (ACU) | Alabama Credit Union (ACU)) I don’t know if the parent can then add the child to the acct.</p>
<p>I think you are required to have your signature(s) notarized and then sent in.</p>
<p>The above may end up being easier, since the CU is super busy during Bama Bound, etc, because so many families are setting up accts.</p>
<p>I’m sure the ATM can access any financial institution, but there may be a fee even for affiliated credit unions. I haven’t used the Alabama CU ATM’s (there are a lot on and near campus). Publix has an ATM that is free for certain credit union members, or one could just get cash back from the store. What I meant about the service center relationship is that at “other credit union”, one can also access my Alabama CU account, but one can’t access their “other credit union” account at the Alabama CU branch on campus and thus have to use their Alabama CU account.</p>
<p>True…</p>
<p>But, it is good news that it looks like out of state parents can open an account online without coming on campus for kids under 19. The parent will have to be on the acct, too.</p>
<p>FWIW I spoke with someone at the Alabama CU a few days ago and was told I would need to be physically present to open an account for my son, who is under 19.</p>
<p>^^^That may be the case. During the Bama Bound sessions, they also have free food, drinks, and a scholarship drawing. It’s a lot easier opening an account on campus because they can do everything, including scanning both of your ID’s and taking thumbprints, all at the same time. In my experience, it won’t be a very long wait, if any, to open an account during Bama Bound.</p>