<p>If you can afford to attend Michigan without loans, it has the exact program you want and you want to stay in state, I could definitely justify paying the extra cost to attend Michigan. The OOS cost, no, but in-state is reasonable, and it’s a great school with an excellent reputation (certainly better than Alabama’s, especially in Michigan/the Midwest).</p>
<p>That said, my D is a freshman at Alabama. She applied to Big 10 flagships and Bama (accepted everywhere she applied) and had a hard time making her decision. She preferred to stay close to home and in a northern climate, but she also liked Alabama. She has the presidential scholarship plus an additional fellowship, but didn’t need to consider finances. Fast forward a year and she loves Alabama and has no regrets. Turns out she likes being in the south and enjoys the climate waaay more than she thought she would. She’s surrounded by smart kids and is challenged in her classes. Based on her experience, I have to say that Alabama is the “smallest” big school we’ve encountered, and I think she’s happy she went out of her comfort zone. </p>
<p>My bottom line - you can’t go wrong with either choice. Congrats on having two great options.</p>
<p>“Even without the scholarship they offered, UA would be at the top of my list.”</p>
<p>That is the bottom line. FLH would have attended Alabama without the scholarship. Now the question is, would the OP feel the same way? If so, then go to Alabama. If not, Michigan is the clear choice.</p>
<p>“My bottom line - you can’t go wrong with either choice.”</p>
<p>I disagree. These schools are not comparable academically. One can rationalize all they want, but currently a degree from Michigan simply carries more weight than one from Alabama. Perhaps 'Bama will rival Michigan one day as an overall academic institution, but that one day is not in the foresable future.</p>
<p>I assume the OP is not going to locate to Alabama when it is time to look for work.</p>
<p>why would you assume that? The state of Alabama is home to the 2nd largest research park in the nation - Cummings Research Park. The state of Mi has had employment problems. More and more high-tech companies are choosing the state of Alabama because it’s business-friendly.</p>
<p>With all due respect Beth’s mom, you are from Illinois. Your state’s flagship is located in a less than desirable town in the middle of nowhere. If I were an Illinois resident, I would think twice about attending college for four years in a place I disliked. Michigan residents are lucky. We have a world class university available to us at a reasonable cost, in a town that is considered one of the best to live in. If one is qualified, and it is getting harder every year, Michigan is a fantastic education at a fair price.</p>
<p>My son goes to Alabama from OOS. Turned down some elite schools in the process. He loves it for all the reasons stated here, and is thriving. That said, going to a world class school like Michigan for not much more money, assuming it’s a fit, is hard to pass up.</p>
<p>It is possible that the OP could stay instate after school. Of course that Alabama degree is not going to travel quite as well as a Michigan degree, just in case the OP decides to leave the state after graduation.</p>
<p>“The state of Mi has had employment problems.”</p>
<p>No question about it. The state that practically invented the middle class in this country has been going through difficult times. Still the resources are here, and I have no doubt that Michigan will eventually spring back. It already is getting better. Still has quite a ways to go.</p>
<p>My son is OOS at Alabama from Charlotte NC and is thriving. </p>
<p>He is a Presidential and is in the Honors college. Thanks to Bama’s generous AP credit policy instead of retaking classes he already had in HS he will be able to graduate in 4 years with a double major in Finance and Economics and a minor in Math. </p>
<p>He has been able to get all of his required classes. I’m not sure if that is a problem at Michigan but I do know for some of our NC universities students are not able to get their classes and end up taking summer sessions or an additional semester or two to get their degree.</p>
<p>Both Michigan and Alabama have great school spirit and are beautiful campuses. </p>
<p>To the OP…feel free to PM me with any questions… Roll Tide!</p>
<p>Basically, it has to come down to what’s most important to you in the long run. Both schools can provide a great education, and, although Michigan has exceptional job placement rates, you will be able to find work assuming you get your degree and really pursue all of your options no matter where you attend. Personally, I know that I am going to attend grad school, so, as someone mentioned above, I can’t ignore the chance to save money while still being able to attend a big school that offers my major and has the atmosphere I’m looking for. I am looking more at what college will make me the happiest now that I have gotten past my worries of what everyone else will think of me based on the school that I attended. I have worked incredibly hard in high shool in order to have these opportunities and hard decisions between colleges, so I want to make sure I don’t waste that on a school that my family or anyone else tells me is where I should go.</p>
<p>Especially for undergrad, go to the college where you feel like you fit in and will enjoy your college experience the most. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, so when you choose your school, choose it because you can see it as your home for the next four years rather than basing your decision on what others (including myself) have told you is the right thing to do. Make sure you visit each college with an open mind and decide what you are really looking for going into your next four years in college, and update us whenever you make your decision! :)</p>
<p>I assume the OP is not going to locate to Alabama when it is time to look for work.</p>
<p>why would you assume that? The state of Alabama is home to the 2nd largest research park in the nation - Cummings Research Park. The state of Mi has had employment problems. More and more high-tech companies are choosing the state of Alabama because it’s business-friendly.</p>
<p>CMR is located in upscale Huntsville that is loaded with transplants. I think Huntsville had been reported to have the highest concentration of PhDs. It’s rated as a top city to do business in. From Kiplinger, which ranked Huntsville #1: "All those scientists and engineers create a bubbling brew of brainpower that attracts other intellectuals. Says Rick Davis, director of Cummings Research Park, “Smart people come here.”</p>
<p>Just my two cents as the mother of an undecided senior (1520/2220 SAT, IB, 4.5 GPA) who is choosing between Virginia Tech (in state, small merit scholarship) and Alabama (full tuition scholarship + small additional amount from the business college). I, too, can afford to send him to either, but I hope he chooses Alabama. </p>
<p>If I weren’t trying to type all this on a cellphone, I’d go into more detail about why, but suffice it to say that (1) freshman GPA and SAT stats–and therefore many rankings–can be misleading (e.g., it may be easier to get into Alabama, but how many are able to stay in? Personally, I wish schools would publish the stats for their sophomore class, LOL!), and (2) I think people tend to overestimate the importance of a degree from one school over another. So long as the school provides you with a good basic education, what will matter most is what you do with it. If you work hard and do well, you will have plenty of opportunities wherever you go. </p>
<p>So, as a parent, I say follow the money unless you feel more comfortable at the more expensive school, know you want to live and work in Michigan or one of its neighboring states, or you want to major in a technical field where the more expensive school has a clear edge. Your parents may be able to afford to send you anywhere, but it’s still $60K that could be better spent elsewhere.</p>
<p>Alabama does not have “low wages” for STEM professionals. Even if the starting salaries may be a bit lower (not much lower) that’s just reflective of the lower housing costs…so the dollars stretch further. </p>
<p>The state is business friendly because it’s a low tax state, it’s a right to work state, and it’s a “less red tape” state. </p>
<p>That said, going to a world class school like Michigan for not much more money, assuming it’s a fit, is hard to pass up."</p>
<p>True…if attending really isn’t that much more money. But it is. He’d be spending at least $55k more. That’s not chump change. It depends on what the situation is.</p>
<p>Again, until we know what this student’s career interests are, then it’s hard to really advise. If he’s “pre-professional”, then attending A over B won’t matter. If he’s been admitted to Ross for some area that a degree from a top B school is needed (like on Wall Street), then that could matter.</p>
<p>“Again, until we know what this student’s career interests are, then it’s hard to really advise. If he’s “pre-professional”, then attending A over B won’t matter.”</p>
<p>If only life were that easy. We could all go to school for free, get good grades, and know that employers and admissions staffs at elite graduate schools would not take our place of undergraduate education into account. Hardly reality.</p>
<p>If the OP is interested in med school, law school, etc., then under grad doesn’t matter, most employers of those type only care about the grad school, and to get into med/law school, it doesn’t matter what undergrad school the person went to.</p>