New Automatic Merit Scholarships for U of Alabama

Parents Forum
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<p>Listed below are the automatic merit scholarships for out-of-state University of Alabama incoming freshman for Fall 2009. NO interview or essays necessary. Just scores and GPA.... If you are interested, please go to UA.edu, pull down "Quick Links" (near top) and click on Scholarships, click on Types of Scholarships, then click on Out-of-State. </p>

<p>(BTW... if you are "in-state," check the website for similar scholarships with lower thresholds required - for example full tuition for ACT 30/SAT 1320 (Math & CR) and GPA 3.5)</p>

<p>The University of Alabama is in the midst of a 10 year planned growth program. So far, it has exceeded all expectations, which has caused its USNews rankings to improve in recent years. </p>

<p>The University of Alabama, under the leadership of its president, Dr. Robert E. Witt, has committed the University to an ambitious plan for growth and achievement. His goals include increasing enrollment to 28,000 students by 2010 and stimulating significant growth in research in support of economic expansion for the state and nation. Under his leadership, enrollment has reached record levels and academic quality has increased significantly. The University ranks 12th nationally among public universities in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars and leads the nation in the number of students named to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Teams. Since its inception in 2003, the University’s Honors College has grown exponentially, enrolling more than 1,000 freshmen in 2007. Dr. Witt has also led a major building program on campus with 20 new facilities opening in the last five years. Private giving to the University is at an all-time high with supporters embracing the “Our Students. Our Future.” capital campaign and its major goal of improving scholarship opportunities for deserving students. </p>

<p>The University of Alabama is ranked #83 by US News & World Report for National Universities. That is ahead of the following well-known universities: #89 Drexel; #89 UC Riverside; #89 Iowa State; #96 UC Santa Cruz; #96 Auburn; #96 SUNY StonyBrook; #102 U of San Diego (to name a few). UA is ranked #37 as Public University. </p>

<p>UA has an Honors College, fabulous Honors Residential Halls, and a gorgeous campus. It also is home to the Crimson Tide football team - currently rated#2 in the nation.</p>

<p>The University of Alabama </p>

<p>Out-of-State Scholarships for 2009-2010</p>

<p>Presidential Scholar
An out-of-state first-time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline<em>, has a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT</em>* score and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Presidential Scholar and will receive the value of out-of-state tuition*** for four years. </p>

<p>UA Scholar
An out-of-state first time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline<em>, has a 30-31 ACT or 1320-1390 SAT</em>* score and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a UA Scholar and will receive 2/3 tuition.</p>

<p>Collegiate Scholar
An out-of-state first-time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline<em>, has a 28-29 ACT or 1240-1310 SAT</em>* score and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Collegiate Scholar and will receive $3,500 per year ($14,000 over four years). </p>

<p>Capstone Scholar
An out-of-state first-time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline<em>, has a 27 ACT or 1200-1230 SAT</em>* score and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Capstone Scholar and will receive $1,500 per year ($6,000 over four years). </p>

<ul>
<li>Please note that meeting the priority deadline requires submitting a completed admissions application and scholarship application, application fee, official high school transcript, and official test scores (either ACT or SAT).</li>
</ul>

<p>** SAT scores are calculated using critical reading and math scores only.</p>

<p>*** Based on 12-17 credit hours per semester</p>

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<p>Also.,</p>

<p>UA offers great scholarships for National Merit Scholars - no matter what state you are from.
Full Tuition
Housing
Laptop
$2000 towards study abroad</p>

<p>My son is a sophomore there and LOVES it - he received the National Merit Scholarship. My second son is a senior in high school, and altho he could go almost anywhere, he is only applying to UA (he's already been accepted and has already been notified of his scholarship.)</p>

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<p>Where is this money coming from? Hope it's donors, not tuition/fees.</p>

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<p>$$ comes from endowment. In-state tuition is low, so scholarships couldn't be coming from there. The state heavily subsidizes tuition here for in-state students.</p>

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<p>JL50ish,</p>

<p>Thank you so much for this information, My oldest son mostly likely will be a NM finalist, and he has received information from UA at least twice a week for several weeks. He is not interested in attending the school, but we do have a younger son, who, if he qualifies, might be very happy there.</p>

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<p>momreads...</p>

<p>Congrats to your son!! My son didn't want to go to UA, at first. He wanted to go to a elite private school that we just couldn't afford. He put up such a fight about going to a "southern school". We live in the south now, but we're from California so he was a bit "snooty" about "southern schools."</p>

<p>After visiting the school a few times and meeting with the professors, he totally changed his mind. He got to "sit-in" on a few classes in his area of interest. He was accepted into their elite Computer-Based Honors Program - which only accepts 40 students, after a rigorous 2 day interview process (the school pays for transportation, food, and hotel for the interview process.) The school has 3 very different honors programs. Getting accepted to the other honors programs is simply by test scores and GPA.</p>

<p>Our son loves it there. It's his second year there.</p>

<p>I must say, my husband (who graduated from 2 "Big Ten" schools) and I (who graduated from a University of California school) are very impressed with the school.</p>

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<p>I should also add that UA is also generous with AP Credit - allowing credit for actual college classes. My first son entered with 41 credits and most of his "core curriculum" (aka Gen ed) classes completed. My second son, will likely do the same. This generous allowance of AP credit allows students to more easily fit a minor, include second marjor, graduate early, or take some more "personal interest" classes.</p>

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<p>And didn't Alabama make a huge leap in the USNWR rankings this year?</p>

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<p>JL50ish,
In-state tuition may be low relative to other states, but this year marks a 12% jump in tuition and tuition has been increasing at the national rate over the past 6 years. I think it's fair who is subsidizing these scholarships. Poor part-time students and non-honors students should not be subsidizing those who can already afford college, especially out of state families.</p>

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<p>I looked at some of the schools in the deep south and was surprised that the average SAT scores back then. This may have driven in-state high-achievers to look outside the state so perhaps the approach of getting their SAT averages up provides them with better students.</p>

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<p>JL50ish, we live in the south, but for some reason, I have trouble getting my son to consider too many southern schools. Cannot explain why, but ... Still, I shall have him look at this thread. You never know. It might change his mind.</p>

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<p>ferryboat10 >>> JL50ish, In-state tuition may be low relative to other states, but this year marks a 12% jump in tuition and tuition has been increasing at the national rate over the past 6 years. I think it's fair who is subsidizing these scholarships. Poor part-time students and non-honors students should not be subsidizing those who can already afford college, especially out of state families. <<<</p>

<hr>

<p>You may have missed my earlier post when I already answered that question. Other students are NOT subsidizing these scholarships. And... by the way, poor students go to UA for free anyway. My son's best friend's dad is on disability, so the kid pays NOTHING - nothing for tuition, nothing for books, nothing for his dorm, nothing for his meal plan.</p>

<p>Furthermore, the university has been generous with scholarships for a few years now, and the reason it is increasing its scholarships is because it has seen a greater return on the "investment" than what these scholarships cost in the first place. </p>

<p>So, don't worry, these scholarships are not being provided on the "backs" of the less fortunate.</p>

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<p>momreads... >>>> JL50ish, we live in the south, but for some reason, I have trouble getting my son to consider too many southern schools. Cannot explain why, but ... Still, I shall have him look at this thread. You never know. It might change his mind. <<<<</p>

<p>Like I wrote above, my son was ADAMANT about not going to a "southern school". He was determined to go to an elite private school or at least a public like (UC Berkeley, Virginia, UNC-Chapel Hill, Michigan, etc. For some reason, he didn't consider Virginia or UNC as being "southern schools".) </p>

<p>Our son was home this weekend for a "mini fall break" (they had Thur and Fri off). We all had quite a laugh as we remembered one night during his senior year of high school when he "pitched a fit" when we put our foot down about going to a pricey school that we couldn't afford. It all seemed like a very distant memory when we compared it to what he's experienced at UA. </p>

<p>Our son could not be happier at UA. He was also able to snag a job on campus as a "tutor." The school pays the tutors so that the students can get tutoring for free. So, he works about 12 hours per week afterschool (usually between 2pm - 5pm on Mon thru Thurs). What a great job - no working at night or on weekends!!! The job only pays about $8 an hour, but he gets paid whether any students show up or not (he's allowed to do his homework if no students need tutoring). The job provides regular "pocket money" so we don't even have to provide an allowance.</p>

<p>Have your son look at this thread, but also if you have time, go to the website ua.edu and take the online campus tour Campus Tour - The University of Alabama You can also click on some of the real campus tour stops at Campus</a> Tour Stops - The University of Alabama</p>

<p>Definitely, look at the Honors Residence Halls Housing</a> & Residential Communities - The University of Alabama those alone would be a selling point to many students (LOL)! Scroll down and there is a floor plan of the "4 bedroom 2 bath suites" (each student has a private room, but shares a bathroom with one student. The sink areas are outside of the toilet/shower areas).</p>

<p>Then after visiting the website, if you find anything of interest, you can show it to your son.</p>

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<p>toledo >>> And didn't Alabama make a huge leap in the USNWR rankings this year? <<<</p>

<p>I know that UA's rankings have been steadily rising every year because of the tremendous work of the current President - Robert Witt (who came to UA in 2003 from the U of Texas system). I don't know what UA's exact ranking was last year, but I know that a few years ago it was ranked in the 90s. </p>

<p>As I mentioned in the OP, the campus is in the midst of a 10-year planned growth program implemented by Witt. I have been on the campus many times in the last 3-4 years. Everytime I go there, something new is going on: more buildings are being constructed, older buildings are being remodeled, a new tram system is being implemented, new dorms erected, more eating venues constructed, more parking structures appear, etc. Everything is very "state of the art." The kids are even notified on their computers and cell phones when washers and dryers are available and when their laundry is done. Amazing.</p>

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<p>JL50ish, poor students don't go to Alabama for free. In fact, UAlabama (and most of the southern south) are known for poor need-based aid. Some poor students may benefit, but Alabama has not implemented programs similar to UVirginia and UNC (or even a loan cap program like Maryland).
That's the risk of the the high tuition - high scholarship game. Those that benefit must jump through hoops of qualifying requirements. (Except, of course, if you're a academic super star, then they don't care about your income or even residential status).</p>

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<p>I don't know about "other" southern schools, but Alabama does use a combination of sources (Pell Grants, institutional aid, etc) so that poor students don't pay. You may be referring to what is available for students who are not poor, but come from working class families with, say, incomes more than $40k per year. You're right, they wouldn't go for free, but again, they aren't "poor."</p>

<p>I don't know to what you are referring when you say "That's the risk of the the high tuition - high scholarship game." Alabama has LOW tuition, and high scholarships. I do sense that you have a problem with merit aid, and that is what the real issue is.</p>

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<p>I have a big problem with automatic merit aid.</p>

<p>UAlabama would serve their students well to implement programs similar to UVa, NC or even the loan caps instituted at other state flagships. Rather than increasing tuition 12% in one year. The type of aid you're suggesting, Pell grants, scholarships, loans are available at every college. And at the vast majority of colleges, including UAlabama, it is unable to meet the full need of its students. It's irresponsible for UAlabama to be ignoring the needs of the state's poorest students while expanding opportunities to serve out of state students.</p>

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<p>Good fb, you've made your point (however OT it may have been to the thread). No point in arguing it and believe me, I've had plenty of experience on cc doing just that with the anti-merit aid bunch.</p>

<p>Now, back to our show.</p>

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<p>I love merit aid.</p>

<p>My laid back kid might even be willing to do a practice PSAT test when the time comes, if he is thinking about the possibility of free tuition, room, and board... and laptop. :)</p>

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<p>D just received a letter from U of A recognizing her as a Presidential Scholar based on her NMSF status; she just has to apply and be accepted by Dec. 1 (with a 3.5 gpa). Attaining NM status would, of course, mean the NM Scholars Award.</p>

<p>U of Alabama is only one of many universities with similar merit scholarships. I know that the merit aid offers have resulted in d looking into universities she might have overlooked otherwise and I think that's the point. </p>

<p>I'm not sure universities actually are out a ton of money by offering NM merit awards. Less than 1% of students in a given year are NM scholars and they certainly scatter around the country when choosing where to attend college. Some totally ignore NM merit awards and choose schools that don't offer any incentives. Others look closely at the schools that offer merit aid and if the fit is good accept the offer.</p>

<p>My older two children accepted merit aid offers and have benefitted by doing so as has the university that offered the scholarship. They are both active over and above the norm on the campus as they feel the need to give back to the university. The scholarship kids have gone on to become Goldwater and Fulbright Scholars bringing added recognition to the university. </p>

<p>Guess bottom line is some universities do, some don't; some kids accept, some don't; some people approve, some don't.</p>