<p>I think it’s pretty obvious that you were implying that a large number of classes wouldn’t transfer from Alabama to Michigan. I didn’t reaffirm that message at all. Unless you take a strange class, it will transfer. Believe it or not, Alabama wouldn’t accept a small number of Michigan classes in the reverse situation. Your post was made with an air of some sort of transfer superiority. I would guess around 3/4 of most students’ first two years of classes would transfer with each institution.</p>
<p>OP: I’m impressed that you are willing to consider saving your parents a lot of money to go somewhere besides the university that is clearly your “dream school”. That takes some maturity.</p>
<p>As someone who isn’t partisan here, my advice is go to visit Alabama if you haven’t already – and if possible given the decision time frame. If you think it’s wonderful, go there. If not, and you are sure that your parents can afford it, go to Michigan. You love Michigan and you want to stay in state. There doesn’t even need to be a discussion about relative “prestige,” except for this: If you want to stay in Michigan or that area of the country to work, then Michigan would almost certainly be the better choice. If you’re looking toward some of the growing high-tech industry in the South, then Alabama would almost certainly be the better choice.</p>
<p>For me, Michigan would have one clear advantage over Alabama: They have an opportunity to win the NCAA championship tomorrow night in a more exciting sport than football. :)</p>
<p>OP: I’m impressed that with all this chatter, you haven’t chimed in yet!</p>
<p>Besides that, I can almost guarantee that a number of classes taken at Alabama aren’t going to transfer over</p>
<p>Rjk…that statement is ridiculous. And, you can’t “almost guarantee.” You can “almost hope.” lol</p>
<p>Since UMich certainly accepts CC credits from transfers, it very likely would accept most/all of the Bama credits. </p>
<p>Should the OP choose Alabama, nothing is saying that they can’t transfer back to Michigan or attend Michigan for grad school. After all, they will still be Michigan residents, but might not get the extra $1500 per year scholarship.</p>
<p>*michigan only gave me a $1,500 scholarship for 1 year *</p>
<p>the Umich scholarship is only for one year, so he wouldn’t lose anything if he transferred to UMich later.</p>
<p>“the Umich scholarship is only for one year, so he wouldn’t lose anything if he transferred to UMich later.”</p>
<p>Michigan isn’t Alabama mom. You just can’t transfer in at will.</p>
<p>“If you’re looking toward some of the growing high-tech industry in the South, then Alabama would almost certainly be the better choice.”</p>
<p>That is laughable.</p>
<p>To me, the way to approach a decision like this is pretty simple–you weigh the financial benefit of the cheaper but less-favored school to you specifically against the academic and other benefits of the favored school. The degree of the financial burden is important, and so is (in my opinion) the difference in academic quality between the two institutions. In this case, OP has a preference for Michigan, the financial burden of going to Michigan isn’t that great, and the difference in academic quality between the two institutions is significant, although not huge. Somebody in this situation who preferred UA for whatever reason might reasonably choose to go there–indeed, the school is trying to attract just such people. But OP isn’t really in that situation.</p>
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<p>Michigan probably has agreements with those CCs. Given that it has no such agreement with Alabama, it no guarantee that it will accept the credits.</p>
<p>Love this video made by the Class of 2017 at the University of Michigan:</p>
<p>[“The</a> Letter M” - The University of Michigan - YouTube](<a href=“"The Letter M" - The University of Michigan - YouTube”>"The Letter M" - The University of Michigan - YouTube)</p>
<p>…and this one too:</p>
<p><a href=“This is Michigan — Welcome Back 2012 - YouTube”>This is Michigan — Welcome Back 2012 - YouTube;
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<p>As laughable as my sentence before that? “If you want to stay in Michigan or that area of the country to work, then Michigan would almost certainly be the better choice.” Most companies, even high-tech companies, recruit regionally. In addition, it is much easier to get internships, tap into an alumni network, and make other job contacts if you are going to school in the area where you want to work. That is true in both Michigan and Alabama.</p>
<p>As laughable as my conclusion that the OP would be making a good choice by staying in Michigan? “If [you aren’t enamored with Alabama], and you are sure that your parents can afford it, go to Michigan. You love Michigan and you want to stay in state.”</p>
<p>No, you’ve deemed “laughable” one sentence suggesting that under certain circumstances there would be a reason to choose Alabama over Michigan (and, yes, being in a region where you are interested in working is a legitimate reason).</p>
<p>I agree with FaithHopeLove. There is no reason to bash another university or even state. The OP has two good options.</p>
<p>Most tech companies also recruit using the internet as much of more than in person so being nearby has lost importance. All the major household name tech firms hire many UM grads and not many Alabama grads. All the way from California, Seattle, Boston, etc. How many UA grads were hired by Google, Amazon, Facebook, etc last year?? Maybe a handful? Most UM grads in tech, business and other high demand fields leave Michigan after school. ot at least they can if they choose. I doubt UA degrees travel nearly as well. </p>
<p>I did a little checking on UA and their faculty barely registers on most measures of excellence. Close to none are either members of any of the major national academies or winning major annual awards. Meanwhile UM has scores of both. UA might be improving by buying some better students but the faculty and other resources have a LONG way to go. </p>
<p>Source of info</p>
<p><a href=“http://mup.asu.edu/research2011.pdf[/url]”>http://mup.asu.edu/research2011.pdf</a></p>
<p>Another tidbit for tech industry: Just this week, Airbus broke ground on their new facility in Mobile, AL. It’s their first production facility in the US. The A320, one of the most popular planes in the world, will be built there. This will add thousands of manufacturing and tech jobs at the new facility, plus a ring of suppliers throughout Alabama and the southeast.</p>
<p>^^^They’ll be paying 9 dollars/hour since Alabama is a right to work state. lol</p>
<p>But in Alabama $9/hr makes you middle income. </p>
<p>[An</a> Alabama Christmas - FITSNews](<a href=“http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/12/29/an-alabama-christmas/]An”>http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/12/29/an-alabama-christmas/)</p>
<p>My son was accepted to U Mich and he declined the acceptance over a lower ranked school. Not everybody wants to go there! While I agree that for in-state kids it is a great bargain if you can get in, when we visited the school, the vibe given off was one of " You are lucky to be here!" My son was turned off, and also did not want to attend such a large school.</p>
<p>OP, it would help if you told us your goals and what you want to study. I wouldn’t be so quick to discount Alabama, however. While not at Michigan’s level, Alabama is ranked 77th on USNWR and is by no means a mediocre university. Schools of comparable caliber to Alabama include Virginia Tech, American U, and Rutgers, all of which are respected, strong universities. There’s no denying Michigan is a notch above Alabama but I would at least consider Alabama too given the full ride option.</p>
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<p>Who cares about any of that stuff when you have free tuition? Alabama is a bargain; it’s like the Wal*mart of universities.</p>
<p>There’s a reason Bama has to bribe you to come.</p>
<p>I don’t think this question is even necessary if you admit this about Michigan:
-The precise program you want
-Better reputation
-Michigan fan your entire life
-Would rather stay in state</p>
<p>If money were an issue, there would be reason to seriously consider Alabama. But if it’s not, and you are lucky enough to be a resident of Michigan, then choose Michigan.</p>
<p>The only reason I can think of to choose Alabama in this case, is if you are intending to pursue an advanced degree. Then you would be able to save money by attending Alabama undergrad, and possibly choose Michigan for your advanced degree.</p>
<p>I’m still hoping you choose Michigan though. I’m so jealous.</p>
<p>I think everyone here has said the same thing. Has the OP even come back to this thread?</p>