GPA:4.0
ACT:32
Class Rank: 1/363
Ethnicity: Caucasian
AP classes: AP Spanish, AP Calculus, AP English, AP Physics, AP Chemistry
Extracurriculars: Girls Learn International Club- 4 years, Volleyball- 3 years, Tennis- 3 years, Private tennis lessons- 1 year, NHS- 2 yrs, Tennis team captain- 2 years
Volunteering: Assistant Counselor volunteer at Camp Shalom, 2 weeks full time for last 2 summers
Work Experience: Supervisor at ice cream shop, in charge of 8-10 employees at a time- 1 year, 20 hours/ week, also work at gym for 3 years, 8 hours a week.
I am from Iowa and am considering both of these schools. I am double majoring in Chemical Engineering and Spanish. I have $5,000 a year from Iowa State, and should shortly be receiving a full tuition scholarship from Alabama, due to my ACT. I am planning on rushing at either school. I am wondering which would be a better option, financial, social, and for my future!
How would your parents feel about you leaving the midwest? Since you’re looking at engineering, is there some reason you haven’t considered Purdue (know it’s expensive OOS, but have you checked their scholarships?)?
UA is at the top of my son’s list, and we visited a few weeks ago. It’s beautiful and amazing in many different ways. Greek life is big for young women who are interested in it, so you’d have lots to consider there. The weather will be much better (imho).
My only caveat is that I went to college in the midwest from the south. It was an amazing experience that I wouldn’t trade. But the one hard thing is that - as you move on in life - it’s sometimes a bit harder to stay connected. I haven’t visited my campus in over 20 years. I’m not saying that will be the case with you - just giving you my own experience.
We have been incredibly impressed with UA. Don’t think you can really go wrong there, as long as you don’t mind the distance.
@SouthFloridaMom9 Thank you! I’m not considering Purdue because it is so expensive. My parents are not the biggest fan of the idea, but they are coming around! My concern is the price of sorieties, and if I am unable to afford it, that I will be left out at Alabama! I know it is a very large part of the culture and I’m not sure how those who aren’t in sorieties get involved because it is such a large amount of students.
@ettphonehome - really scrutinize the Alabama page here at CC. Pretty sure that I have seen a female engineering student or two post. You could probably find out sorority info too.
My son is not that interested in greek life as far as I can tell, and I was worried a bit about that at UA (where it seems pretty big). I have been assured there are plenty of other “tribes” - but of course you never know until you get there. I have inferred that it is a bigger deal with women than men (?).
Here’s an interesting article (which actually quotes CC!):
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am double majoring in Chemical Engineering and Spanish.
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I hope you listed ChemE as your major on your Bama app, because then you will get another scholarship for 2500 per year.
What did you list on your application? If you didn’t list ChemE, you can change it to ChemE on MyBama to get that extra award.
I’m not sure why you couldn’t afford a sorority at Bama if the other schools would cost you more money? Bama is giving you free tuition plus 2500 per year. If you’d pay a lot more for another school, then why would a sorority be too expensive at Bama? You said that you’re only getting $5k from Iowa State, and you’re considering that school. How much is the tuition there??
Hard to argue with an offer from 'Bama, though I believe that ISU is RELATIVELY stronger in the traditional engineering disciplines. M2CK knows her stuff and she may disagree.
All things being equal (and they never really are, are they?), I’m a fan of using the college years to explore another part of the country. At no other time in your life will it be so easy to explore somewhere new - that in-built support system, all those people the same age looking to make new friends…There are situations where that’s not a good idea (health issues, major cultural mismatch maybe) but assuming you are up for expanding your horizons, it’s a great opportunity.
And don’t underestimate the benefits of a kinder, gentler winter - D says she ended up doing things (like running a half marathon, learning to play ultimate frisbee, going to campus performances on winter nights) that she would never have considered if the weather had been harsh.
@Zinhead I would still have to pay for transportation, housing, and food, which evens out to the same price as Iowa state because Alabamas housing is more expensive
Is there going to be that much difference in job opportunities taking Iowa state vs Alabama? I’m not even sure I want to pursue engineering but if I did, I don’t want it to affect me later in life. @merc81@LakeWashington
I would say that if you have a desire to stay near family or Iowa, go to ISU. Otherwise, Alabama is a better choice for the following reasons:
1 - Alabama is located in a growing part of the country. Iowa is not. If you stay in the same region after graduation, over the the course of your career Alabama and the southeast will experience much more growth and opportunities than the Northern Plains states.
2 - Along those lines, Alabama as an institution is growing, and it’s reputation is turning more national in scope. Expect it to get better over the course of your career. ISU as an institution is treading water, and demographic changes do not favor the state or the university.
3 - Social aspects and weather will be better at Alabama. While you are freezing your behind off in Ames in winter time, Tuscaloosa is a short distance from the Gulf Coast and Atlanta. You mention wanting to rush. The Greek system at large SEC schools thrives off the college football culture, and Alabama is at the center of that. Its a very different culture than what you would find at sororities in the Midwest.
Having recently spend some time in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, the decision between these two schools would be pretty one sided.
I have to smile at this thread, since my mother went to ISU (walked to school!), then Purdue for grad school, then taught at Alabama for a bazillion years. She was also involved in the Greek system at ISU and UA, and it is very strong at both - don’t underestimate its influence on campus life. If she were still around, she would tell you, “Go Cyclones, Roll Tide, and follow your heart!” Best of luck.
Not necessarily. Bama includes the cost of the priciest dorms in its COA. The standard doubles dorms are MUCH cheaper. And, if you want to rush, then you’ll probably want to be in the standard doubles because that is what most sorority girls choose. (Tutweiler residence hall is a fave for those rushing)
Your net costs at Alabama would be very similar, maybe less if you chose a standard double dorm. Is the dorm use in the Iowa State estimate a standard double?
