Hi! Roll Tide!

<p>Hi, I have decided to go to U of Alabama! RollTide!</p>

<p>So before I go, I would like to ask several questions regarding campus atmosphere and academic/volunteer opporunities.
…and i hope this thread doesn’t spark any controversies</p>

<p>1) I am a Korean, 19 years old and stayed in us for more than 4 yrs. my mom and I will move to Tuscaloosa after graduation. I know U of alabama has really small percentage of Asians. Do they stick to asians only or do they blend in well? I mean the area I live in is overwhelmingly white, so I don’t mind having disproportionate race composition.</p>

<p>2) What is the city like aruond u of alabama? </p>

<p>3) i am pre med major.(I know there really isn’t pre med but you know what I am saying) What are the opporunities and are they abundant? I am going to be part of alpha epsilon delta society, and i wonder how it’s like.</p>

<p>4) is honors college a lot different from normal u of alabama?</p>

<p>Congratulations, Roll Tide…take a look at the previous threads and many of your questions will be answered. Pre-med majors are provided plenty of opportunities through pre-health advising office…take advantage of them</p>

<p>Hi and welcome!</p>

<p>As far as Asian students go, what I’ve noticed is that the int’l Asian students do tend to stick together. However, the US Asian kids mingle. </p>

<p>the % of asians is actually larger but the int’ls are not counted. And since many Asian students are either STEM or business, you likely will have a number of Asian students in your classes.</p>

<p>Will you be in honors? Its a good thing to join for registration purposes and smaller classes. The classes are not harder; they are more interesting.</p>

<p>Do you have any AP credits.</p>

<p>will you be living with your mom in town or in the dorm. (did I help you earlier? your story sounds familiar)</p>

<p>the city is quite nice and good-sized.</p>

<p>Join the premed group when you start classes and get on the Listserv now… Go here and scroll down and join the Listserv (parents can do this, too). <a href=“http://prehealth.ua.edu”>http://prehealth.ua.edu</a></p>

<p>My son was premed at Bama and now is in med school, so I can help you. </p>

<p>With your mom moving to Alabama, that will make it easier for you to get into med school as long as you have high grades and strong Mcat. </p>

<p>I am going to be in Honors College(good thing is I know a girl who goes there!)
I prefer to stick with everyone. </p>

<p>Yes I have taken 8 AP Classes and will take 4 ap test.</p>

<p>So far I have 5 on CALC AB/BC, AP Bio, Chem, and 4 on mechanic Physics C.</p>

<p>I will probably have at least 4 on AP Us gov, spanish, stat and music theory AP test this year.</p>

<p>Oh Yeah I already talked about living with my mom.(I remember you :slight_smile: ) Yeah I applied to Housing exemption. I called the school and seems like if I am dependent and lives close to campus i may be exempted. </p>

<p>Thank you for the link! U(you) of alabama is awesome ;-).</p>

<p>I may go to other med school or U of alabama med school in Birmingham after undergraduate</p>

<p>What will your major be?</p>

<p>As a premed, I suggest that you use your AP credits to get get out of Bio II. Also, will you have AP English credit? If so, use that.</p>

<p>you should get the exemption from housing. Will you have a car to get to/from school? if not, then you’ll need to find housing very close to school. will you need help with that?</p>

<p><<<
What are the opporunities and are they abundant? I am going to be part of alpha epsilon delta society, and i wonder how it’s like.
<<<</p>

<p>when you’re taking your science courses, ask your profs if you can assist them in their labs or with their research. also, there are plenty of doctors offices and a good-sized medical center so shadowing opps are easy to get. Its good to join AED because so much info comes from that.</p>

<p>If you haven’t taken Spanish, its a good idea to do so. It looks good on a med school app to be fluent in spanish. </p>

<p>Thanks mom2collegekids!</p>

<p>My mom and I are still looking for rents so maybe I will ask where is in Tuscaloosa is most safest and closest to
mall and the main city(I think price will be less than where I live now)</p>

<p>I am in Spanish 4. Funny thing is that i’ts my 3rd language yet I find it much easier than Eng.</p>

<p>Here’s my spec just for reference.
TESTS
1st SAT score: 710, 710, 700(CR, M, Writing)
2nd SAT: 640, 740, 800
Super: 2250
PSAT 223</p>

<p>SAT II
Math II:800
Chem:800
Physics: 730</p>

<p>AP bio 5(frosh-self taught)
AP Calc AB 5(soph)
AP CALC BC 5(junior)
AP Chem 5(junior)
AP Physics C Mechanic 4(junior)</p>

<p>Our school is 2nd in state, nationally recognized school-top 2% national
Classes(1st semester/2nd semester): <em>=weighted class
Freshmen
Pre calc</em>(skipped Adv algebra) A, A
Biology A,A
English A, A-
Social study A,A
PE B+
Advanced Communication Skill A
Concert band A,A
Spanish 1 A,A</p>

<p>Soph</p>

<p>Eng B,B
AP CALC AB* A-,A-
Honors chem* A,A
Symphonic band A(1st)
Wind Ensemble A(2nd)
Spanish 2 A,A+
Physics A,A
US History A,A
Lifetime health A
Lifetime sports A</p>

<p>Junior</p>

<p>Eng B,B
Wind Ensemble A, A
AP Calc BC* A,A
Spanish 3 A,A-
AP Physics* B,A
AP Chem* A,A
American Contemporary world A-,B+</p>

<p>Current Classes
Wind Ensemble A
AP STATS *A
ENG B
AP US GOV * B+
AP MUSIC THEORY * A
SPANISH * A
Health Issue(one semester)A</p>

<p>Take the CLEP test for Spanish, and you will get additional credits for FL - up to 14! See here for link to that: <a href=“http://courseleaf.ua.edu/introduction/academicpolicies/creditbyexamination/#collegelevelexaminationprogramcleptext”>http://courseleaf.ua.edu/introduction/academicpolicies/creditbyexamination/#collegelevelexaminationprogramcleptext&lt;/a&gt;
Best to do this soon, so the info is fresh in your head.
Also, try to continue with your music at UA - it is easy to do so (even for non-majors). My S is in the Huxford Symphony Orchestra (non-music-major) and he has found them to be most accommodating because they need musicians. You can also take private lessons at UA through the School of Music. This might give you a nice break from the heavy studies ;)</p>

<p>Excellent stats</p>

<p>Yes, take the CLEP test for Spanish. Go to Collegeboard for info on CLEP. They are like AP exams, but a bit easier and give more credits.</p>

<p>I’m guessing that you don’t yet have your green card? Is that why you didn’t make NMF? are you in the process of getting a green card? you’ll need that for med school. Int’ls have a very hard time getting admitted.</p>

<p>Tell me what your desired rent should be? and will you or your mom have a car? can or will your mom need to find a job here? I can help you find a place. Would your mom rather have a small home or apt to rent? </p>

<p>What is NMF?</p>

<p>And i will be P.R. within maximum 2 and half years, which is super awesome. I will def get it before I go to graduate school. Also, is CLEP necessary if I am taking AP SPANISH test?</p>

<p>I am currently using Hotpads.com to find affordable apt rents. I am trying to figure out which place is close to malls and city, safe and liveable at the same time. Hope we can find a job.(I am gonna be private tutor maybe)</p>

<p>The most credits you could get is 10 UA credit hours if you get a ‘5’ on the AP Spanish test (lit or lang). <a href=“http://courseleaf.ua.edu/introduction/academicpolicies/creditbyexamination/#advancedplacementaptext”>http://courseleaf.ua.edu/introduction/academicpolicies/creditbyexamination/#advancedplacementaptext&lt;/a&gt;
You could get 14 credit hours by taking the CLEP and doing well. <a href=“http://courseleaf.ua.edu/introduction/academicpolicies/creditbyexamination/#collegelevelexaminationprogramcleptext”>http://courseleaf.ua.edu/introduction/academicpolicies/creditbyexamination/#collegelevelexaminationprogramcleptext&lt;/a&gt;
My S only had 3 years of HS Spanish (no AP, no Spanish 4). He took the CLEP and scored above the minimum required for 14 credit yours at UA. He said it was a difficult test, but easier than doing 4 years of language and the AP test. These credit hours are legit hours (not retroactive hours if you take a higher level Spanish class at UA). They do not go in to your GPA calculation. They are listed on the transcript as a transfer credit “P” (for pass).</p>

<p>If you have already signed up for the AP test (deadline was a week ago or so?) and paid, then I guess that is necessary to follow through on that. See what your result is from AP test. If you can afford the CLEP (an additional ~$100?), I think you will find it worth your while to take it, esp given your stats and your results from current endeavors. </p>

<p>welp I already registered for AP so I will just take AP </p>

<p>National Merit Finalist</p>

<p>international kid, no matter what score you got, can’t be NMF. </p>

<p>I got 223, which is over the cutline but couldn’t even be a NMSF</p>

<p>BTW, is Sigma Phi Epsilon Scholarship hard to win with 1410 SAT (math +verbal) and 4.12 weighted GPA?</p>

<p>One can often cancel AP exams and get a partial refund. One of the benefits of CLEP exams is that one gets their score(s) immediately after the test(s). Language CLEP exams also don’t test speaking ability.</p>

<p>Thats nice, but then why would people take CLEP?</p>

<p>Language CLEP exams test reading, writing, and listening comprehension. The questions are all multiple choice. As aeromom mentioned, UA grants more credit for CLEP exams than the equivalent AP exams. </p>

<p>I dont know about hotpads.com, but you might also try <a href=“http://www.tuscaloosaapartmentguide.com/”>http://www.tuscaloosaapartmentguide.com/&lt;/a&gt; or <a href=“http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Alabama/Tuscaloosa/1-beds-1z141xt/”>http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Alabama/Tuscaloosa/1-beds-1z141xt/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Apartments For Rent in Tuscaloosa, AL - 857 Rentals | Apartment Finder”>http://www.apartmentfinder.com/Alabama/Tuscaloosa&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>be careful when you look at rents. sometimes the rents are quoted per bedroom because each student pays his own share.</p>

<p>How much is your rent now?</p>

<p>Will you be driving to school or walking?</p>

<p>This apt complex is clean, safe, inexpensive, and close to the mall, Target, and Midtown Village. It is a mix of students and young professionals and is quiet. the bedrooms are very large.
<a href=“Court Woods Apartments - Apartment in Tuscaloosa, AL”>Court Woods Apartments - Apartment in Tuscaloosa, AL;

<p>my rent is like 1224$(three beds with similar spaces). I am thinking about walking?</p>

<p>The apartment looks nice ;-)</p>

<p>Thank you for your help! </p>

<p>ok…you’re going to have to make a decision. Either you can get an apt that is close enough to walk to class…OR…you can get an apt that is close to malls. You can’t have both because the school isn’t within walking distance to the mall.</p>

<p>the problem with being within walking distance to the school is that the rents are high…and often “per bedroom.”</p>

<p>Maybe someone here can suggest something that is cheaper and has a bus service to the campus and for shopping.</p>