<p>DS had confirmed he will attend U of AL, Tusculoosa. </p>
<p>ADD to the LIST:
STATE **** Area of Study **** “no thankyou” to …?</p>
<p>OH * Applied Math * U of Chicago, Case, Carnegie M, Davidson, Emory, Vandy, Texas A&M, George Wash., Wash. & Jefferson</p>
<p>Wow! That's incredible. Congrats to you and your son. What was the deciding factor?</p>
<p>Although DS's options to all the top tiered schools were great, DS believes he will ENJOY his college undergrad time in an enviorment that does not lean on "Name, perceived rankings and low admission rates". One's college experience is so much more than the name of the institution. At Bama, the Honors College as well as the Universitiy's Directors are committed to provide each student with the recourses they need to excel. They want each student (Honors or not) to aquire life skills such as leadership, service to others and the desire to make a difference in the world. I am not saying that students at other schools can't do the same, however the entire community has embraced the students of Bama.<br>
Bama has a "family" atmosphere. There is not an attitude of superiority on campus. My DS has also decided to participate in Division I sports. He felt welcomed by the team and coaching staff. The teams combined GPA is very high which indicates their priorities are in line with DS's.<br>
The last factor in DS's decision was financial. Why take on at least $80K in debt for his undergrad when he knows he will continue on to grad school for a PhD? There is no doubt in his mind (and parents minds) that he will be successful in all aspects of his life. "Potential earnings" that are just that! A graduate from a top tier school is just as capable of average earnings as a graduate of a state university capable of a top figure income. Students are more than the "Name of the institution" on their diploma.</p>