<p>The Milwaukee reception is at 7:00 pm on Oct 11 at Discovery World, 500 North Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI (right next to the Milwaukee Art Museum along the lake front).</p>
<p>BTW: Bama should have a link on their website to “find local events in your area”. If they do, it is not easy to find. </p>
<p>Bethany Forest is the recruiter
[Bethany</a> Forrest - Undergraduate Admissions - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://gobama.ua.edu/staff/counselor.cfm?id=53]Bethany”>http://gobama.ua.edu/staff/counselor.cfm?id=53)</p>
<p>signup for the receiption
[RSVP</a> for Student Reception - Undergraduate Admissions - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://www.gobama.ua.edu/milwaukee-reception]RSVP”>http://www.gobama.ua.edu/milwaukee-reception)</p>
<p>I’m wondering if it’s worth making a 3 hr drive.</p>
<p>Riprorin - I’d say no, it’s not worth a 3 hour drive. We went to the one in Milwaukee last year. While it’s a good event if you know nothing about UA, we learned nothing more at the presentation than I could find out on these boards. We had just returned from our first visit to UA just before the presentation but attended because we were told (by our rep) that Dean Karr would be speaking. We very much wanted to hear him as our son is an engineering major. The energy that was there at the Chicago event (as told from other parents) was lacking at the Milwaukee presentation. It was a fine presentation but not a “where do I enroll?” event.</p>
<p>What part of WI are you in?</p>
<p>I would agree with Class2012Mom, especially if you’re otherwise planning to visit UA. I did not learn anything at the reception that I didn’t already know from these boards, although I did enjoy talking to some parents, listening to Dean Karr speak (his remarks were excellent) and hearing how articulate the student speaker was. I went to the Chicago reception, and I’d say it was not worth a 3 hour drive (assuming that’s one way - it took me 90 minutes there and 60 minutes back, and it was well worth that). I would not characterize it as a “where do I enroll” event either, at least for my daughter. Bethany told me last year that the Chicago reception is much better attended than the Milwaukee one, so I expect there is a difference in the feel/energy of the two. FWIW, we had already visited at that point (D did her only visit in January of junior year) and neither the visit nor the reception completely sold her on UA. Now that she’s there, though, I can tell you that she’s sold!</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. It’s a 3 hr drive one-way, so I think we’ll pass. I’ll just need to figure out when we can go down for a visit. My son’s next school vacation is 10/26 so that’s a possibility. Theoretically he can miss school for college visits but he’s taking 8 classes including 3 AP classes and a college class, so that doesn’t seem like a good idea.</p>
<p>FYI, 10/27 is the Mississippi State game. Hotels in Tuscaloosa are more expensive and harder to come by on game day weekends (although if you’d be flying down Thursday and just staying Thursday night it shouldn’t be a problem). On the other hand, if you stay through Saturday you’ll get a taste of the game day experience.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Right…the hotels are mostly all booked and prices are HIGH…seriously…rooms that would normally be $80 a night would be $300+ per night. Only ones who might have rooms available would be motels that aren’t desirable…and their prices are higher as well. </p>
<p>How long is your son’s vacation? If you were to arrive on Sunday or Monday and stay thru Mon or Tues, then your rates would be normal again.</p>
<p>He’s off of on 10/26. The plan was to arrive Thursday and depart Sunday. Looks like we better look for another time to visit.</p>
<p>University Days are on:</p>
<p>Monday, October 6, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013</p>
<p>[University</a> Days - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://universitydays.ua.edu/]University”>http://universitydays.ua.edu/)</p>
<p>I would expect them to be more than an information session and campus tour. You may also want to inquire about your son doing an overnight with a student, and possibly shadowing a student.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend the 2013 UDays for a current senior. Those are directed towards juniors who haven’t applied yet. There would be too much unnecessary info…how to apply, etc. </p>
<p>Udays also do not include a full campus tour. They just incluce a walk across the Quad. There are just too many people there to give Campus Tours - which involve a visit over the entire campus, including a bus tour. So, UDays can’t do that. </p>
<p>usually Capstone Scholars Day is held the Saturday of MLK weekend in Jan. However, it also doesn’t include a full campus tour, so if that’s desired, tour on Friday (but book early because that FRIDAY is super busy and tours book quickly). Many CSDay visitors arrive on Thursday to tour Friday and to meet with profs (have Susan and Allison arrange those prof meetings, but give them plenty of notice (Nov or early Dec) since they will be bombarded with requests for that Friday and school will have just resumed for Spring semester.)</p>
<p>Otherwise, just try to visit on a non-home game weekend. There’s no point in paying high hotel prices at whatever is left at this point (usually the less-nice places) for a home game weekend. When I say “less nice” I mean the motels that when you go in you can smell smoke (even if you requested non-smoking) and everything is ancient looking…lol Who wants to (over) pay for rooms like that?</p>
<p>Riprorin, if your son is interested in sports or just school spirit/campus atmosphere, it might not be a bad weekend to visit. You could stay in Tuscaloosa Thursday night so you could get a nice early start on Friday, and then move to a hotel that’s further out. When we were there for Family Weekend we stayed in Bessemer, which was about 35-40 minutes away. Other families stayed in Birmingham. There might be hotel availability in Vance, which is even closer. It’ll be less convenient for sure, and getting around on game day is trickier because there are some road closures/reroutes near campus. You might check with the Honors College to see if you could go to the tailgate at Nott Hall, which could be a great opportunity to speak with students. I know my daughter would have enjoyed visiting on a game day weekend. If your son wouldn’t enjoy it, though, I’d choose another weekend. Here’s the football schedule: <a href=“http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/alab-m-footbl-sched.html[/url]”>http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/alab-m-footbl-sched.html</a></p>
<p>FWIW, my D visited on the Friday before Capstone Scholars Weekend (when she was a junior, so she wasn’t going to Capstone Scholars Weekend), and it was not a good time to visit - she pretty much fell between the cracks.</p>
<p>^ I second everything Beth’s Mom says and I would encourage you to visit during that time frame if you can. Yes, the travel to the hotel will be less than convenient but I think the trade off of being able to see the school at its very finest will be worth it. </p>
<p>What major is your son? Perhaps we can hook him up with some current students on here if your son would like that.</p>
<p>Anyone else going tonight? The reception is in the Pilot House - top floor, 360 degree view.</p>
<p>OperaDad - Dean Karr is going to speak tonight. You are in for a treat.</p>
<p>I hope so. My D is interested in Engineering. Hopefully he sells the program to her.</p>