<p>Hey guys, I got into the University of Alabama two days ago! But I was wondering if you can tell me some good facts about it (not academically because thats what admissions counselors are for). Are the girls really that pretty? Are the parties fun? What is there to do in the town thats is fun. I am from New York, and I look kind of Italian, but I am not a guido or anything, do you think I will have any problems? and just any facts you want to tell me.</p>
<p>LOL…</p>
<p>I love it…Ok…first off…(I’m laughing while I write this… LOL)</p>
<p>There are many Italians at UAlabama (including my kids who are about 1/4 Italian - from my dad - who is all Italian). There are many Italians in the Birmingham area (altho I’ve never been told why there is such a concentration there. I think it has to do with banking in B’ham) B’ham is about 60 miles east of Tuscaloosa, so many of those kids go to Alabama. John Carroll Catholic High School in B’ham has a lot of Italian students and many of those kids go to Alabama. </p>
<p>It was Italian families that largely paid for that huge Catholic shrine in Alabama [Shrine</a> of the Most Blessed Sacrament](<a href=“http://www.olamshrine.com/]Shrine”>http://www.olamshrine.com/) . Italians are not “odd” in the state of Alabama or at the University. The massive Business libraray at Bama is the Angelo Bruno Business Library <a href=“Page Not Found | The University of Alabama”>Page Not Found | The University of Alabama; . The (Italian) Bruno Family is renown in Alabama because of Bruno grocery stores.</p>
<p>I hope that you don’t think that I’m laughing at you…I’m laughing because all of us who are from elsewhere naturally think that Alabama will be a culture shock…when it won’t be.</p>
<p>silenttipper,</p>
<p>My D and I just toured the campus a week ago. Yes, the girls ARE that pretty!! My sons (20 and 24) are going to be MORE than happy to visit their little sister at UA next year… ;)</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Oh yes…forgot that part of the question - the girls are very pretty. The boys are good looking too! So, female applicants…lots of eye candy for you, too. :)</p>
<p>Ok, I hope this doesn’t sound too awful, but this is what my S thinks - smokin’ hot girls, sweet dorms (for honors, at least), excellent parties and a winning football team. Oh yeah, classes are ok too. </p>
<p>He is the “damn yankee” in his suite (from Chicago) but he’s constantly amazed at how polite everyone is - even to a yankee. He did feel like he needed a wardrobe upgrade - lots of polo-type shirts and khaki pants/shorts. I also think that he kind of regrets not pledging - mostly for access to the parties (although it’s not like he’s lacking in the party area). Also, you should be aware that there is a “strange” hair thing happening in the south - google “bama bangs” to see what I’m talking about. S is of the shaggy haired variety and finds it very interesting.</p>
<p>LOL. I checked it out and it reminds me a little of the way Zac Efron used to wear his hair. Maybe that fad will fade away. 
But at least it’s better than the shaved head/buzz cut or mohawk or something else equally extreme. My daughter’s boyfriend wears his hair like a longer bowl cut. Bangs down swooped over his forehead almost touching his eyes. Hair over his ears. Yuck. </p>
<p>Quote:</p>
<p>Also, you should be aware that there is a “strange” hair thing happening in the south - google “bama bangs” to see what I’m talking about. S is of the shaggy haired variety and finds it very interesting</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>just googled Bama Bangs…</p>
<p>That cutie in the red polo is John Parker Wilson - who was the quarterback last year and prior.</p>
<p>It’s in the Urban Dictionary… LOL
A popular hair style among males in the southeast United States. It is characterized by long, thick bangs that completely cover the forehead. It is thought by many to have originated in the state of Alabama.</p>
<p>My son’s girlfriend’s mom cut his bangs a couple of weeks ago, because she said that they were too long. LOL I’ll have to tell her that they’re Bama Bangs. LOL We’ll lhave a good laugh!</p>
<p>Bama Bangs? Where is the rolling eyes icon, lol! Have definitely not seen this style of hair up here in the NY area.</p>
<p>The Bama Bangs style is very popular. If you ever saw the MTV show Two-A-Days about hs football in Hoover, AL, that is the predominant hairstyle. The show and hairstyle is also discussed on a special feature of the admissions DVD for UA. </p>
<p>As for UA itself, yes, the girls are very hot. No matter what your “type” is, you will not be disappointed. Parties are great too (and a lot easier to get into if female and/or Greek). Birmingham does have a lot of Italians and multiple Catholic groups (rites?). No matter what your religious preference, UA has a group if you so desire.</p>
<p>If you are willing to make friends and step out of your comfort zone every once and awhile, you will like UA. The stereotypes about Alabamians and New Yorkers as shown in My Cousin Vinny is not true in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, or probably much of Alabama. As a whole, Southerners are very polite and friendly. As for stuff to do, it really depends on what activities you enjoy. Tuscaloosa is not a huge city and so it can’t be expected to be like one. Still, there is always something going on. Note that the bands that come into town to play often do so at bars where it is 19+ to get in (which annoys all the 18 year old OOS students). If you are even remotely interested in frats, check them out. Also, join the Alabama Class of 2014 on facebook.</p>
<p>As a side note, does UA still give out an admissions DVD when you meet a rep? I don’t what to keep referencing something that nobody else has seen.</p>
<p>SEA-tide,</p>
<p>Yes, they still give out the DVD at the admissions office, and my D actually got one in the mail before that (last year’s copy, I believe, which is only slightly different from this year’s). Think she’s watched both a dozen times… :)</p>
<p>I’m still amused by Bama Bangs.</p>
<p>I know that many of the boys also wear their hair in that short kind of lightly gelled messy on the front top way. You know what I mean, their hair is short - but about an inch long on top, and they put some gel or pomade on their fingers and kind of either push the forehead hair up and back or they they kind of make the front forehead hairs messy and slightly spikey.</p>
<p>Either way, there are some “smokin’ hot” guys on the campus, too. LOL :)</p>
<p>One of my college roomies was from Jersey. He was straight up Jersey, 100 per cent, but loved UA. He actually took a very long time to graduate as he became a manager at a local eatery. You will have a blast. Dont worry.</p>
<p>forgot to mention that he was half Italian, with the Italian the dominant half, surprise surprise</p>
<p>Good to hear that someone else from NJ loves it down there. I’ll let my dd know.</p>
<p>Another Jersey perspective. We are NJ natives & moved to the South 6 years ago, when DD was in middle school. She loves UA. As a matter of fact, when we were in NJ over the summer and visited Princeton, she was stunned by the lack of friendliness. What we still miss most is authentic food. I don’t care what anyone says, CiCi’s is not real pizza 
But our choices have gotten better over time and we’ve been able to find those restaurants that come close. Plus as M2CK has said before, there’s any awful lot of transplants down here!</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Cici’s is NOT real pizza. But, there are some (not many) better pizza places. Mellow Mushroom is pretty good. </p>
<p>There are also some good authentic Italian restaurants in B’ham - I don’t know what the area is called, but it’s near where Natalee Holloway lived (that sweet girl would be graduating from UA this May. :()</p>
<p>DePalma’s on the strip by the campus is also pretty good. :)</p>
<p>Once again, Cici’s is NOT real pizza. For my tastes, Mellow Mushroom wasn’t the best either. Pizza in AL is generally not that good, but it is one of the few self-serve items at the dining halls, so I eat it too often. Tuscaloosa has a lot of good chain restaurants, both fast food and sit down. There’s even a Hooters that employs lots of girls that attend UA.</p>
<p>DePalma’s is a superb Italian restaurant and definitely one of my favorites, but the Italian restaurant that really serves terrific pizza is Venice Italian Fusion (it might just be called Venice now). Either way, it’s across the street from DePalma’s.</p>
<p>Thanks for upping this post, guys. Son will be looking for good places to eat. We did spot a Papa John’s on our way to Capstone. Son was happy.</p>
<p>Our family & DD s group are fond of Newks! Its on University down near the Rec Center.
Excellent Pizza, Sandwiches & Salads… very fresh!!</p>