<p>Hi! I have stayed at the Drury Inn and Suites in Birmingham many times.
Since there are 2 Drury hotels in B’ham here’s the address: 3510 Grandview Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243.</p>
<p>They have a free breakfast and a “5:30pm Kickback” which is a light supper. </p>
<p>Hope you enjoy your visit to Alabama.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your suggestions. We are really excited about being on campus! </p>
<p>It sounds like most people are not suggesting staying by the airport. Are there hotels by the airport that you would recommend in case of students flying out early morning or coming in late at night or are there safer areas that would be better for them to stay in? When students fly home in December do most of them leave their cars at the airport or take a shuttle to airport? </p>
<p>The cost to leave ones car at the airport for a couple weeks would be more than the cost to take a shuttle to/from campus. Students typically carpool or take shuttles. The ride from campus is around 65 minutes each way and is a very easy drive.</p>
<p>There is a Holiday Inn near the airport that UA will book for visiting presenters when needed, though it’s often easier just to stay in Tuscaloosa as there are few restaurants or stores near the airport.</p>
<p>When I’ve stayed in the Birmingham area, I typically did so on the Shelby County side 15-20 minutes from the airport. While Birmingham does have rush hour traffic, it’s quite manageable. </p>
<p>Be aware that people tend to drive fast in Alabama. It’s not uncommon to see cars going 85 MPH on the freeway to Tuscaloosa or 95 MPH on the freeway to Atlanta. Drive carefully.</p>
<p>If you have the time, the Talladega Superspeedway is a cool place to visit and is around
55 miles from BHM. </p>
<br>
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<p>I’m not sure that that advice applies to you. It sounds like you NEED to stay by the airport the first night because your D will be arriving the next morning. Makes no sense to drive to Ttown, spend night, drive BACH to B’ham and pick up D. It is better for you to spend one night in B’ham, pick up D, then spend rest of time in Ttown.</p>
<p>I hope you don’t mind, but when this convo is over, I’m going to ask the mods to remove these posts (or move to a new thread) because they really don’t belong in this thread. </p>
<p>It’s fine to move it. Maybe they can start a thread about hotels to recommend in the Birmingham area that would be helpful for one night stays for parents or students to stay at when flying in and out of the airport. I always appreciate the information especially when you are not familiar with the area. </p>
<p><a href=“The Capstone of Higher Education: Bama by Drone 2 on Vimeo”>http://vimeo.com/105797233</a> </p>
<p>Beautiful Bama! Bama by Drone II</p>
<p>Alabama’s Viewbook</p>
<p><a href=“http://viewbook.ua.edu/”>http://viewbook.ua.edu/</a></p>
<p>Dear mom2collegekids,</p>
<p>You seem impressively informed about UA and more than helpful to everybody on this thread. I live in Greece and my twin daughters will apply to US schools in three years as International students. I read carefully the website of UA , especially the one concerning the scholarships. Unfortunately it was not clear to me if internationals qualify for the Merit Scholarships, although they are welcomed to apply to the Honors Program. I consider UA an excellent choise ,if merit aid is available, especially since my alma mater (Carnegie Mellon) does not give a dime to undergrad Internationals. I would appreciate your input if you have any knowledge. Greetings from sunny Athens</p>
<p>Yes, currently, int’ls that meet the required scholarship GPA and test score minimums do get awarded the scholarships as long as the apply by the deadlines. </p>
<p>Best wishes for your D’s. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot. This is great news. I really appreciate your help. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1687934-new-restaurants-in-tuscaloosa-reviews-and-what-nots.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1687934-new-restaurants-in-tuscaloosa-reviews-and-what-nots.html#latest</a></p>
<p>New restaurants in Tuscaloosa</p>
<p>Tutoring:</p>
<p>Tutoring for engineering classes:
<a href=“Tutoring – Students | The University of Alabama”>http://students.eng.ua.edu/resources/tutoring/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1689117-for-mechanical-and-electrical-engineers-international-german-student-exchange-program.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1689117-for-mechanical-and-electrical-engineers-international-german-student-exchange-program.html#latest</a></p>
<p>“”
Students in the program will first complete two years of engineering and German language course work at The University of Alabama, as well as an internship the summer before their sophomore year with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Vance, Alabama.</p>
<p>The students will then travel to Hochschule Esslingen for one semester of course work and one semester of professional practice during their junior year.</p>
<p>Mercedes-Benz is not the only consumer in the program. Other industries in the Esslingen area include Daimler, Bosch and Behr.</p>
<p>Balasubramanian said the mission of the exchange program is to prepare students for the variety of German and multinational companies in the southeastern United States.</p>
<p>“The students work as interns in a German automotive company or supplier,” he said. “They get a deep insight into how a German company works, and we hope that when the students come back from their year abroad that they then go to work for a German multinational in Alabama or the Southeastern region.”
“”</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1691128-important-steps-for-entering-freshmen-2015.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1691128-important-steps-for-entering-freshmen-2015.html#latest</a></p>
<p>Hi All! I’ve been a lurker of the CC community and am finally posting. I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all the wonderfully helpful posts-and a shout out to mom2collegekids-for all the wonderful information. Thank you, mom2collegekids! :D</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids, thank you so much for all the wonderful information you share. I am new to CC but my son is seriously considering 'Bama so I have been reading up and your posts have been so helpful. We are going in January for a campus tour (we are from Southern Cal) but he wants a change from California (and he loves SEC football) and received nice merit $ from Alabama. Thank you so much for all your contributions to CC, you are so knowledgeable!</p>
<p>I would like to second the the posts above from @Amster and @paperlady! Mom2collegekids, you have been incredibly helpful! I initially talked my daughter into applying to UA because of the merit scholarships. She and my husband basically rolled their eyes and humored me. Now, the more we research the school the more excited we all are! @paperlady, we are originally from So Cal (now in Bay Area). Are you going for Capstone Scholar Day? We are. :-)</p>
<p>This is a great thread for parents and students to understand that Univ of AL has a lot to offer students, in-state and OOS - esp for high stat students who can take advantage of so many opportunities academically along with merit.</p>
<p>We are in-state and have had numerous times on campus (as well as evaluating other schools with older sibling). I have worked for two different universities in two states.</p>
<p>DD is getting a great education and is loving college and UA is everything she anticipated - yes she is working to be on top of academics (engineering major), but has been properly prepared and is having fun with EC. Didn’t have as much fun in HS (in retrospect had to put the time into studies to be properly prepared for college). Delayed gratification. </p>
<p>@SFBayMama, I don’t remember seeing an invite for Capstone Scholar Day, do you (or anyone) know the criteria for that invite? We are visiting the following weekend in January. He did qualify for UA Scholar Scholarship and Engineering scholarship, but I don’t think he heard anything about the special Capstone Scholar Day and I see that it’s by invite only. Oh well, we already booked our tickets for following weekend. Now I wonder what one needs for the Capstone invite…</p>
<p>@amster @paperlady @SFBayMama and anyone else!</p>
<p>Welcome and you’re welcome!!!</p>
<p>As for CSDay…there is no rhyme or reason for invites, so do NOT hesitate to contact the HC and aks for an invite. That is TOTALLY OK to do!!! We think they just send invites to folks that don’t live too far away…but anyone who asks for one will have an invite sent to them.</p>
<p>Susan Alley
270 Nott Hall
205-348-5599
<a href=“mailto:susan.alley@ua.edu”>susan.alley@ua.edu</a></p>
<p>Kayla Fields
<a href=“mailto:kdfields1@ua.edu”>kdfields1@ua.edu</a></p>
<p>So, just send these ladies an email and ask for an invite to CSDay…include student’s name, CWID, and your home address and anything else you want to mention.</p>