<p>I currently attend a solid LAC, but I'm not happy there. There are multiple factors, including location, school size (too small), lack of programs/activities I'm interested in (when I started, I thought the school had the activities, but they're weak and inactive), student body (I havent found people I truly like yet), etc. </p>
<p>On one hand, I'm going to see how second semester goes before I decide if I want to transfer. On the other hand, I want to have options ready just in case. My top option right now is the University of Alabama. </p>
<p>Part of me feels like going from a strong LAC to Alabama is a downgrade as far as academics go. I would be in the Honors College, so my question is, would a degree from the Alabama Honors program be as strong as a degree from a LAC? Is it respectable, particularly if I don't plan on working in Alabama? What percent of graduates obtain jobs directly after graduation? </p>
<p>Is the increased opportunity and organizations at a university worth sacrificing the individual attention I receive at my LAC? </p>
<p>Also, on another note, can anyone tell me if the campus and number of students is too big to the point of being overwhelming? The transition from an LAC to such a big university is a major change, and I don't want to make another wrong college choice.</p>
<p>I think you are making a smart decision to see how your second semester goes before you make a change. It is also a good idea to have a backup plan in place so I commend you on what you have done so far.</p>
<p>You asked if going from an LAC to Alabama would be a “downgrade” and I guess part of that answer would hinge on your current LAC. If it is one of the very elite LAC’s, Amherst, Williams or any of the top 10 than maybe some might consider it a downgrade. However, Alabama has a rising reputation and their Honors college is considered very strong. </p>
<p>I think the most important thing for you is to visit Alabama, sit in on some classes and meet with some professors (assuming you have not already done so) and make sure that it feels like a “fit”. I would also make sure that you keep a very open mind on your current LAC. Many students end up feeling more comfortable in their second semester.</p>
<p>I have a lot of regard for Alabama- especially the Honors program. If you want a fun school with a strong (understatement) sports culture, you will love it. It does have a Southern flavor, so be prepared for that. However, many students are coming from other states- especially Texas. Have you visited?</p>
<p>* What percent of graduates obtain jobs directly after graduation? </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Both my kids went to a very small private high school (less than 300 students total), so I was concerned how a large campus would affect them (especially since one of my kids is quite shy). It hasn’t been a problem at all. </p>
<p>the campus is laid out very well, with Gen Ed/ Core classes largely around the Quad, and courses within one’s major in buildings that are clustered together. This largely eliminates much criss-crossing across campus.</p>
<p>43% of this year’s freshmen are from out of state. That’s quite high for a public that is in a largish sized state. </p>
<p>Alabama has a very developed honors college.</p>
<p>Since you’re at a LAC, I’m guessing that your major is something in the Arts and Sciences area. If so, then that is Bama’s area. I’ll send you a video of Bama’s CAS.</p>
<p>I’m not comfortable saying the school I attend, but it is ranked in the top 50 of LACs according to the USNews report. </p>
<p>I’m actually from Alabama. I live in the Mobile area, so I’m familiar with the school. It is just difficult to get direct opinions because people either love it or hate it, but the football team is more of an influence on their opinions. </p>
<p>I want to make an official visit, but the problem is time. I don’t have a chance to make it to Tuscaloosa while I’m also in school. Also, quite honestly, my parents are very against me considering the school. They do believe it is a major downgrade, but they haven’t taken the time to research it. I have visited the campus before just to go to a football game, and it is very nice. It felt welcoming, which I liked. </p>
<p>I am an English Major, and I am not really interested in Auburn. I like the Alabama campus better. Plus, I have more friends who go to Alabama, and, for the sake of being honest, I’ll say that that’s definitely a plus simply because if I decide to transfer to a school significantly bigger than the one I currently attend, I would like to at least know some people to help me get my bearings. </p>
<p>“Both my kids went to a very small private high school (less than 300 students total), so I was concerned how a large campus would affect them (especially since one of my kids is quite shy). It hasn’t been a problem at all.”
This makes me feel better because I am shy and slightly worried the large campus might be too much for me.</p>
<p>Not a bad idea to give it another semester, and not a bad idea to apply to Alabama and have an acceptance waiting for final decision in May.</p>
<p>There really isn’t much you can do about location, lack of DI sports, size of student body, etc. at a mid-ranked LAC with under 2000 students. The advantage you will have transfering from an LAC to Bama is that you will have received much better instruction on writing well at the LAC with under 30 kids in the class, that is difficult to get in a Freshman English classes at Bama (or any Flagship) with 100+ kids in them. Writing well, which includes organizing your thoughts coherently and efficiently, is a priceless gift that LACs are better are providing than any other type of college. Now that you’ve got that going, BIG U is not as much of a downside. </p>
<p>Honors at Bama will probably put you in class with kids who have tested similarly to you. You will be among peers.</p>
<p>A degree from an honors college is still just a university degree. Your resume can say whatever you like, but anyone who reads it will still just see Bachelor of XXX, University of Alabama. </p>
<p>You should probably just evaluate your situation. If you aren’t happy, determine why you are not happy. Will Alabama fix this, and if so, in what way? Should you try to leave Alabama for greener pastures? Are there better schools that you may be able to afford/get into? </p>
<p>These are questions only you can really answer.</p>
<p>A top 50 LAC isn’t young to get you a better job. Top 5 probably would, maybe 10. In Alabama, the Alabama honors college would probably trump any LAC.</p>
<p>Could we hope for a day when people will start to inderstand that labels such “Top 30 or Top 50 LACs” are meaningless. Why should one assume that all LACs are identical? After all, are all “Top 50 universities” cut from the same cloth. </p>
<p>One needs to look at programs and not at 'generic" labels. Does anyone really think that an English major from Kenyon will be marked for life negatively in the writing circles? Does anyone that the daughter of Curmudgeon fared poorly as a medical school applicant after graduating from Rhodes College? </p>
<p>When comparing LACs and public school, there is a common denominator, namely that students can obtain an excellent education at both. There is, however, another common denominator, and one that is more important: immediate and future successes are entirely dependent on the INDIVIDUAL! And, as the mention of Rhodes indicates, the experience at one school is also entirely dependent on the individual student.</p>
<p>“And, as the mention of Rhodes indicates, the experience at one school is also entirely dependent on the individual student.”</p>
<p>Xiggi, can you elaborate on this? Maybe I’m simply reading it wrong, but you lost me for a second on the connection. That’s not the school I attend, but it was one of my final choices, and I have a friend who is a current sophomore but unhappy there. </p>
<p>But is everyone else saying that it really does not matter if I have a degree from Alabama or a LAC, they’re both a degree nonetheless?</p>
<p>“And, as the mention of Rhodes indicates, the experience at one school is also entirely dependent on the individual student.”</p>
<p>Xiggi, can you elaborate on this? Maybe I’m simply reading it wrong, but you lost me for a second on the connection. That’s not the school I attend, but it was one of my final choices, and I have a friend who is a current sophomore but unhappy there. </p>
<p>But is everyone else saying that it really does not matter if I have a degree from Alabama or a LAC, they’re both a degree nonetheless?</p>
<p>“And, as the mention of Rhodes indicates, the experience at one school is also entirely dependent on the individual student.”</p>
<p>Xiggi, can you elaborate on this? Maybe I’m simply reading it wrong, but you lost me for a second on the connection. That’s not the school I attend, but it was one of my final choices, and I have a friend who is a current sophomore but unhappy there. </p>
<p>But is everyone else saying that it really does not matter if I have a degree from Alabama or a LAC, they’re both a degree nonetheless?</p>
<p>There are top schools that your parents would still accept, which you might find what you are looking for socially. For example, take a look at Duke, Lehigh or Cornell.</p>
<p>M2CK, where did you get this figure? It impressed me positively so I went on the UA website looking for it, but I didn’t see it in any articles describing last fall’s entering class.</p>
<p>A large number of Tennessee kids are “crossing the border”. 'Bama is a stronger school then TN with a better honors college. Plus it isn’t their in-state school, which makes it somewhat “special”.</p>
<p>Actually, it looks like Georgians who are the biggest border-crossers. On the report that DunninLA links, it shows 569 Georgians this fall (over 10% of the freshman class), up 97 from a year ago. Florida has 287, Texas 268, and Tennessee 243. But even without counting the Texans, there are 570 other new freshmen from outside the Southeast. That’s about 15% non-Southeastern, which strikes me as pretty diverse for a state university in the Deep South.</p>
<p>Part of the issue with Georgia is how hard it is to get into UGA these days. Especially with the economy, more kids are staying in-state. Same with UTexas and difficulty of admission. The SEC schools offer a neat college experience. I am not a fan of all the SEC schools, (espec one to the northeast of Nashville which is blue), but I won’t go into that here.</p>