Deciding between Ohio State University and Alabama

College Search & Selection
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<p>Both
-fixed major: engineering
-flexible major: mech, electrical, aero
OOS, never lived in US contiguous states
-dont care about sports---strictly academic</p>

<p>OSU
- no honors/scholars
- 20K/year COA</p>

<p>Alabama
-honors college
-full tuition award* +2500/year scholarship award (going to room/board)</p>

<p>*full tuition award 23950 using 2012-2013 tuition</a> rates... will the amount of the award change if the tuition rate rises?</p>

<p>Temple
-presidential scholarship (full tuition)
-im not sure about temple// haven't heard many/any nice anecdote about their engineering program...</p>

<p>Other schools = (equal to/greater than)> 25K
UTulsa 25K
SMU waiting for financial aid (net price said 30-35K; most net prices are accurate for me)
UPortland 26K
[s]Drexel over 40K[/s]
UDenver 25K</p>

<p>Should I consider any of the schools greater than 25 K?</p>

<p>Between OSU and Alabama, I lived in the tropics all my life--I do not know if I like Ohio State's cold weather (and high tuition price tag) but I assume I would live comfortably in Alabama given that the weather there is similar to home.</p>

<p>The big question is: is there anything about OSU that justifies paying 20K. 80K/4 years...</p>

<p>My parents can pay it w/savings.</p>

2

<p>I have lived in Alabama and in Ohio. No, OSU does not have any advantages over 'Bama which justifies that additional expense. If you are Asian, then I do know that OSU has a large population of Asian students. I do not know about Alabama.</p>

<p>Unless there is something that I do not know, Temple is not a better choice than Alabama. However, it might have the advantage of helping you get a job on the East Coast if you plan to stay here. Going to school in Philadelphia is a matter of preference. Philadelphia has relatively high crime. Some people might prefer the small town of Tuscaloosa, but others might not. So give that some thought.</p>

<p>If you can afford SMU, then it is the best school, overall, on you list. It definitely has smarter students than any of the others, but I know nothing about its engineering programs.</p>

3

<p>FYI - The Alabama full tuition scholarships go up every year as tuition increases. The weather, while not tropical, is much more temporate than in Ohio. My DD is a freshman at Bama and loves it. I agree with NROTCgrad, as long as the program is ABET accredited, I don’t see a reason for spending $80k more for another flagship’s program. Have your parents save their money and/or use it for grad school. </p>

4

<p>UAlabama is not ABET-accredited for aeronautical but is accredited for mechanical and electrical. OSU is accredited for all three. That shouldn’t make much difference since mechanicaleng seem to move well in the aero world. mom2collegekids could tell you of the wonders of UAlabama and their great new facilities, so I expect she’ll be chiming in here shortly. I’d say OSU couldn’t be worth 20K more per year than Alabama, and I’d much prefer OSU to Temple. I have no horse in this race.</p>

5

<p>^ Alabama aerospace engineering is definitely ABET-accredited. </p>

<p>Alabama weather is temperate, but they did have several school days cancelled this year due to snow and ice. They do get cold winters, though not nearly as cold/snowy/long as Ohio.</p>

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<p>^^my bad, Chardo. I could have sworn that Aerospace was not on the ABET list when I looked at it :-B </p>

7

<p>UA has a large percentage of out of state students which might make it easier for you to assimilate. In the freshman class of 2013 60% of students came from out of state at University of Alabama versus 21.2% oos at Ohio State.</p>

8

<p>Check Auburn University for engineering if you are thinking of Alabama.</p>

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<p>^ OP is only considering Alabama thanks to huge scholarship. Auburn may be worthwhile, but they’re not on his radar.</p>

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<p>As a graduate of Auburn’s engineering school, I have to admit that Alabama is now Auburn’s equal in that area (of close to it). If I was 18 living in Alabama today, then I would probably go to 'Bama. If I was out of state, and 'Bama offered me one of those impressive scholarships, I would take it.</p>

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<p>^ An Auburn grad endorsing Alabama? </p>

<p>OP, you have no idea how huge that is. </p>

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<p>“As a graduate of Auburn’s engineering school, I have to admit that Alabama is now Auburn’s equal in that area (of close to it)”</p>

<p>Let me see, Alabama is ranked like #95 or so in undergraduate engineering. Honestly, does it really matter that it is Auburn’s equal?</p>

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<p>^ it matters to some. Not everyone can (or wants to) go to Michigan.</p>

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<p>I agree that OSU is not worth $80k more than Alabama, and the southern climate will likely be more comfortable for a person from the tropics.</p>

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<p>I think maybe rjkofnovi got over 8500 posts by giving out no advice at all… as above. :)) </p>

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<p>I was just teasing. Alabama for free is the correct pick here. </p>

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<p>Alabama cost after subtracting the full tuition + $2,500 scholarship is about $12,500 per year, so it isn’t free, although cheaper than the other options listed.</p>

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<p>“”“UAlabama is not ABET-accredited for aeronautical but is accredited for mechanical and electrical. OSU is accredited for all three. “””</p>

<p>I know that the above has been corrected to note that Bama is ABET accredited for AeroE (since 1936 BTW!!! lol )…but I just wanted to note that EVERY eng’g discipline at Bama is ABET accredited…including CompSci, which is in the CoE.<br>
<a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=359”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=359&lt;/a&gt; (several disciplines have been ABET accredited since 1936)</p>

<p>ABET Accreditation</p>

<p>The following undergraduate engineering programs in UA’s College of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, <a href=“http://www.abet.org/:”>http://www.abet.org/:&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Aerospace Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Construction Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (Computer Engineering Option)
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering
The undergraduate computer science degree program in UA’s College of Engineering is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, <a href=“http://www.abet.org/”>http://www.abet.org/&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

<p>""Alabama weather is temperate, but they did have several school days cancelled this year due to snow and ice. They do get cold winters, though not nearly as cold/snowy/long as Ohio. “”</p>

<p>this is true. Tuscaloosa is moderate in temp, but has had a few snow days these last few years.<br>
the snow doesn’t stick, and it’s mostly flurries, but it can get cold a few days a year…altho some crazy kids love to insist that they wear shorts everyday. yikes.</p>

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<p>Thank you all. I have chosen Alabama. Will send my deposits ASAP. mom2collegekids, do you know which resident halls are for engineers? Where can i find info on this</p>

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<p>Congratulations!</p>