Looking for basic feedback on colleges to narrow them down further, please

Psychology to do what? Pre-professional?

Larger schools would probably be more appropriate - offer more options.

Is WI the home state? Are not some of the in-state programs there suitable on curricula and cost factors?

Troy is a smaller school in a smallish town.

I would not be concerned about a lower graduation rate at UAB - Birmingham is the largest city in the state, and many commuter students that can be ill prepared or need to work their way through so do not finish like a traditional student might.

I have not been on FSU, U of New Mexico, or Lousiana Tech campuses, but have been on the others (and have a graduate degree and have worked for UAH). DD has a degree from UAB. Have been to Troy and know students there.

Look over the details of each degree plan on line, the strength of the school/faculty. Need to visit to see where the ‘fit’ would be good for the student. Also look at the curriculum on-line with each school with the major, ‘finish in four’. If wanting to go on to professional school or graduate school, how the school prepares student for that.

Also if desiring to change major after starting, which school can offer the most flexibility?

I agree with reading the course offerings and graduation requirements carefully at each school. The best thing to do is visit, but if that is not possible try some of the “student’s review their colleges” websites or rate my professor to see what kids think of their classes.

I will agree that graduation rates can tell you something other than simply educational quality, but that doesn’t mean you should discount them. A low grad rate due to lots of part-time commuter students tells you something about the campus community, especially if your child would be a full-time on-campus student. Similarly, a low grad rate due lesser-prepared students might not apply to your individual case, but it could still affect your child’s experience.

@mamaedefamilia The costs between them are about $7000. UAH and Louisiana Tech are the cheapest at about $9500-10000, UAB and FSU are about 12500-13500 and Troy and UNM are about 16500. Give or take a few hundred for each, for some reason I don’t have food plans in these prices. I also don’t have books and misc, I just wanted to show you the price differences.

@compmom @AroundHere I do think my daughter is looking into course offerings, but thank you, I’ll check into that to make sure. We haven’t made visits yet, this is why we want to narrow it down. We just can’t go to all these places.

@SOSConcern She is not sure what she wants to do within psychology, not clinical (If I’m using the term correctly, not therapy/counseling)
We are in WI, she just wants warm weather. So staying here was not an option in her mind. Flexibility with a change of major is a good point because she just came to the psychology conclusion within the last few months, so you never know, that could change. Good point!

I would take a serious look at UAH, UAB and FSU, then - they are the most reputable for the lowest cost. They are also clustered within a reasonable distance of one another, if you don’t mind some driving.

If your child hates humidity, however, check out UNM where the weather is hot and dry from April through September. NM has winters but they are relatively short and pretty mild with almost no snow. I have been to the campus and it is in a mixed commercial/residential area with lots of shops and restaurants and the university’s teaching hospital nearby. It’s a short drive to the airport and to outdoor recreation if your child is into that.

@mamaedefamilia UAH, UAB, and FSU do seem to top our list after some research today and from you guys on here. The one we are having a hard time deciding about a visit is indeed UNM. The first three are the ones we thought would be good because of price and FSU tops her wish list. But going over to UNM will be some extra cash and/or time. She likes it pretty hot and does not want snow! She would like a bigger city with good transportation though (she HATES driving).
So I think we have narrowed it down to 4…making progress!

You didn’t mention having been to any of the other campuses, but how about safety, did you get a feel for that at UNM?

@momof2inwi

Florida State stands out to me as the best overall university on your list. Now if she were doing engineering i might say Huntsville, New Mexico or maybe La Tech. But if it’s psych or something like that then FSU is I think your best choice on your list.

I have a child who will screw up the 4 year grad rate. She took one semester off to do an internship at Disney (not part of the school program and got no credits for it). This semester is doing a semester abroad and will only get 12 credits. She’s changed her major a few (!) times, and still has some core classes to complete. NONE of this is the fault of the college. They offer the courses, she never has trouble getting into courses she needs. Sometimes kids take so long to graduate because they LOVE school. We don’t think it is a big deal for her to go at her own pace (although she WILL be picking up the pace next year).

Her sister is in engineering, takes the course they list for her in the order they list, will graduated in 4 years (and according to her, will never take another course). Her school has a co-op program for engineers and although they can be gone for two 6-month periods on co-op, they still graduate in 4 years (plus one summer). They do take online courses while on the co-op. Many student stretch out the co-ops even more because they need the money to pay the next semester’s tuition. Not such a bad thing to graduate at 24 or 25 with a couple of year of work experience on the resume.

I don’t think it is fair to compare the 4 year grad rate at small LACs or elite schools that have mostly kids right out of high school, who were always good students, who have families ‘back home’ supporting them emotionally and financially. The flagship schools are going to have a lot of non-traditional students, older students who are also working full time, raising their own families, struggling to pay for the next semester.

LA Tech has a good rep in state. Small town in the Bible Belt so socially it’s not for everyone. I’d imagine pretty safe compared to an urban campus. But if she wants a city with transportation, that’s not Ruston.

I screwed up the four year grad rate because I attended commuter college and also took many semesters off to work and travel. It’s worth noting that if a college has a good four year grad rate it can be indicative of a more traditional residential college experience. Your daughter might think that is important, or not.

Student has to be motivated to finish degree with the 8 semesters of scholarship - otherwise OOS tuition kicks in.

Definitely worthwhile to visit UAH, UAB, and FSU - if flying to visit, perhaps UAB and FSU. UAH is 100 mi north of UAB, so could see if renting a car w/o flight stop - although could fly in to Huntsville airport too.

They are different campus experiences for sure, and different cities that also make a decision factor.

Unless there is some kind of a family/friend connection in either LA or NM, or unless student has a burning desire to live in those states, those could be off the list.

@SOSConcern I messaged you back.

I did forget to ask you, and if anyone else has info, that would be great, we are wondering about safety at any of these campuses.
We specifically heard Birmingham was a shady city, not very safe. And how about Tallahassee or Huntsville?
We are down to these three at this point and I think we will be able to visit them all, but I think it would be hard to get a feel for that during the day.
And like someone up stream said, transportation is a big deal for her, she doesn’t drive, so that may be a huge factor in her decision. Do all of these places have shuttles/buses?
I’m definitely not as worried about the 4 yr rate, it seems there are just too many variables to make a decision based on that.

FSU is the best overall academically by far.
Uah for engineering, uab for medicine and biology-related majors.

Huntsville and Tallahassee are both safe - no worries there. I don’t know enough about Birmingham to say but I suspect it’s just fine.

B’ham Campus Area is safe - there is the UAB police station right in the midst of the dorms. B’ham and UAB campus police work very hard to keep the academic campus and all the hospital areas safe - all in a couple of square mile area along with a lot of high end banking and commercial.

Huntsville, very safe.

I was amazed how UAB and B’ham police could get traffic out of the sizable arena on campus (we attended graduation there) - they were like clockwork - just as UA and Tuscaloosa PD get traffic in and out for 100,000 full stadium plus many many tailgaters.

There is an interstate access very close to campus.

Not driving, can get along at UAB and UAH. Would probably want a bike at UAH or friends with cars. There are city buses, but college kids are all about convenience.

There are services to get people to and from the airports in Huntsville and B’ham - taxi, Uber, airport limo and other transportation services. A lot of times students get into carpool situations too. UA has specific facebook stuff run by students who match up for rides. UAB and UAH - know students that are happy at both places.

UAB has very competitive basketball, and have reinstated their football team (that is a story in itself). UAH has hockey, basketball, volleyball - plenty for student type activities - watching games. However hockey is at Huntsville arena, so would need to get together for a ride there (or taxi) if a student shuttle isn’t scheduled.

FSU may have higher stats for overall student body, but UAH and UAB are great places for serious students, and they will be academically challenged. UAH’s ACT entering freshman average keeps rising as more higher stat local kids choose to stay at University at Home versus pay room/board away. Some B’ham area students attend some of the wonderful private schools, specifically Samford and Birmingham Southern, which are pretty close by car to UAB. In fact, Air Force ROTC is on Samford campus and has students from 6 area colleges.

Thank you so much, all of this info has been very helpful!!

Google Cleary Report for each college. It will give you all the statstics for campus crime, inlcuding drinking offences, sex crimes, etc… It will list crimes against students that happen off campus also.

When you visit the campuses, can ask questions to other students as well as admin about any questions or concerns you have about info in the Cleary Report, as well as can ask very specific questions.

Thank you, never heard of the Cleary report, we will look at that too.

I will be interested in your thoughts among them as UNM, UAB, UAH, and maybe even FSU are on the list here. They are certainly among more affordable schools. I love Albuquerque, but haven’t visited the university yet. I don’t think of it as a city easy to navigate without a car though. Will report back if we end up visiting the Alabama schools next month. Good luck and let us know is impressions if you visit.