<p>My DS originally wanted to go to a private out of state college as readers will note in previous posts. He opted instead to only apply at two of our state universities. He wanted to be closer to home and graduate hopefully debt free before attending graduate school. He wants to major in Math with a minor in Education.</p>
<p>He has been admitted to both The University of Alabama and The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Both schools have awarded him Presidential scholarships based on Merit. The University of Alabama's scholarship gives him 4 years of free tuition and guarantees that the scholarship amount will increase if tuition goes up. </p>
<p>The University of Alabama in B'ham gives him $8,000/year for tuition and also gives him $4,000/year towards housing. His first choice is the University of Alabama he really likes the school and has been accepted into the Honors College. He is applying for their Fellows Program and if selected scholarship offer might go up. He attended a summer program for five weeks this summer and loved it. He has visited UAB before and went on the official school tour, saw the dorms etc. Although, we are from Birmingham he was not that impressed by UAB's location. He does not like the fact that the campus is in the middle of downtown and it does not have the college campus feel. It is hard to ignore the $4,000 towards housing being offered.</p>
<p>He has paid his housing and enrollment deposit for the Univ of Alabama. We did this before receiving the scholarship letter from UAB. Since both schools would like for him to attend do you think it would benefit him to ask The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa if they will match UAB's scholarship offer? Do people do this with state Universitites? Will it make him look bad or insult them? I only ask becasue they are being very generous already. We do not have any savings so if he if does not get any pell grants or other scholarships he will have to take out student loans for housing, books, meals etc.</p>
<p>He has to reply to UAB's offer by 12/31/08. His intention right now is to defer his decision until the national reply date of 5/1/09.</p>