Choosing a southeast university

<p>Realistically, my options for college are:
-Furman
-Clemson
-USC
-Auburn
-Alabama
I really love the big football atmosphere, but I wouldn't turn down Furman just for that reason. I plan on majoring in Biology. I do not plan on participating in Greek Life, and I also don't want a school where everything revolves around the fraternities and sororities and you don't have a life or anything to do if you aren't in one. I have nothing against Greek, it's simply for financial reasons. I would really like a setting that has a decent amount of things to do. I have visited USC, Clemson, and Furman. I was impressed with all the campuses, the only disappointment was the middle-of-nowhere feeling I get at Clemson. I do plan on doing Honors College. I am really at a stalemate here, I can't decide. Of course scholarship money is going to have a lot to do with where I choose, I perform very well academically. But let's pretend that money is no object (that should make some of you laugh out loud), how would rank these schools if it were you? Any personal experiences of any of the schools that you can contribute? Anything?
Thank you for your help!</p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

<p>How much merit money do you need? </p>

<p>How much will your family pay?</p>

<p>Since money is an issue, you really can’t set that aside. </p>

<p>My kids go/went to Bama…one has graduated. They weren’t Greek. They had plenty of friends and activities outside of the Greek system. They both LOVE Bama. The Honors College is wonderful.</p>

<p>Due to the relatively poor job and career prospects at the bachelor’s level in biology, keeping debt down should be a high priority.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Very true…</p>

<p>What is your career goal with bio?</p>

<p>If it’s medicine, then I suggest majoring in something with more flexibility job-wise, doing the pre-med pre-reqs. That way you’ll have a back-up if you decide against medicine.</p>

<p>-Furman
-Clemson
-USC
-Auburn
-Alabama</p>

<p>None of these are very good academic schools. However, if you are in-state they should be relatively cheap.</p>

<p>Schools that you could take a look at if you are serious that your stats are good enough:
Vandy, Duke, UVA, UNC, Wake Forest, Davidson, etc.</p>

<p>Are you instate for South Carolina or Alabama?</p>

<p>If you have to rank them, then…this is how US News ranks them…</p>

<p>Clemson
Alabama
Auburn
South Carolina</p>

<p>not sure where Furman goes.</p>

<p>Are you instate for any of these?</p>

<p>Misinformative likely knows little to nothing about these schools. I’ve been to all campuses except Furman.</p>

<p>I was trying to figure out how I could sneak my favorite southern liberal arts college into the mix, but I like informative’s suggestion of Vandy. If you don’t have a particular favorite football team, you’ll get to see many of the SEC teams visit to play at Vanderbilt, and UT, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss are all within a four or five hour drive of Nashville. Atlanta is pretty close to where the championship games often are. Greek scene exists but isn’t dominant, and obviously the academics are top notch.</p>

<p>I am in state for South Carolina. Unless I have been misinformed auburn and Alabama were generous with their scholarships this year. My career path is environmental science however I have been guided to major in something more broad and specialize and since I do plan getting my master’s degree I can also narrow it down then. I have looked at more academically prestigious schools but te sad reality is that I am very likely to get in, however since they are so competitive there is no way I am receiving enough scholarship money to attend. My dream school is Duke. But like someone already stated graduating with as few debts and student loans as possible is a huge factor in my decision.</p>

<p>“-Furman
-Clemson
-USC
-Auburn
-Alabama
None of these are very good academic schools. However, if you are in-state they should be relatively cheap.”</p>

<p>Don’t listen to Informative. He only thinks top 20 schools are good schools…</p>

<p>Anyways, I’m a junior at Clemson so if you have any questions let me know! I’m not in greek life and while it’s in the middle of nowhere, I’ve never been bored one second at Clemson (there’s plenty to keep yourself busy, I’m from Boston haha). Academically, I think Clemson and Furman are definitely your best options.</p>

<p>. Unless I have been misinformed auburn and Alabama were generous with their scholarships this year</p>

<p>Bama still has generous merit scholarships. Auburn has reduced their scholarships significantly.</p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

<p>Davidson has a no-loan financial aid policy but its very competitive</p>