I’ve been accepted and toured both universities. I have procured enough scholarship money to make each school affordable, but now I have to decide!
Biggest factors:
- Engineering programs. best-engineering-colleges.com rates Alabama at 102 and Ole Miss at 212, which is a HUGE difference. However, Ole Miss has the CME, which will be great if I choose mechanical engineering. Also, my other possibility (geo. engineering) isn't offered at Bama.
- Honors programs. I've been accepted to both, but the tours and info sessions didn't really help me out. Surely they're both great, but is one more distinguished than the other?
… Alabama has nicer facilities, no doubt. However, I feel more at home in Oxford, as it is closer to and more similar to my hometown.
Any help concerning the programs of the universities and the career placement they provide would be greatly appreciated!!
Trevlay, you don’t say where you are from. Due to the Texas 10 percent rule and the Georgia Hope Scholarship Ole Miss has a ton of students from Texas and Georgia, as well as Tennessee. Part of the benefit of going to college is networking. If I were from Texas I’d pick Ole Miss in a heartbeat.
If the ranking of the engineering department is your top concern, I’m not sure why either Ole Miss or Alabama are your final two. I happen to think Mississippi State is a dreadful place (really), but their engineering school is better than Ole Miss’. Likewise, I think Auburn is more highly ranked than Alabama.
Ole Miss recently came out with a combination law and engineering degree. The accounting school is also very well regarded nationally. So this might come into play for you.
If you feel more at home at Ole Miss, that’s important. Some of the facilities at Alabama may be better, but Ole Miss has a prettier campus. How much time have you spent in each town and on each campus? In my view, you can’t spend too much time getting a personal feel of a college campus.
I’m from SE Missouri.
Concerning the schools, I chose Ole Miss and Alabama due to their hefty merit scholarships. Auburn only granted 2/3 of tuition, and Mississippi State’s merit was even lower.
The combination degree certainly seems to provide a nice opportunity, which is something that Ole Miss seems to somewhat be lacking. Also, I am not entirely sure what I want to do yet, and any idea is, initially, a good idea.
And I certainly liked Oxford more than Tuscaloosa! Oxford is smaller, cozier, and much more enjoyable than the latter.
Thank you!
I would pitch the ranking consideration because it means very little as it relates to your future outcome; at that lower tier, you are splitting hairs.
My D looked at the CME program at Ole Miss and it was one of the big factors in her decision to attend. The CME program puts the engineering education into the perspective of running a manufacturing company. They provide the big picture of manufacturing or designing solutions. Personally, I was not impressed with the engineering department’s size or facilities. However, the best engineers I’ve ever worked with were from very small lower tier programs. I found their motivation and work ethics to be the key factors to their success.
Consider the school that provides the best opportunity for you to achieve your goals, and then take advantage of all it has to offer. From what you’ve posted, sounds like it is Ole Miss.
My S, a junior, is seriously considering Ole Miss. He was thinking about mechanical engineering at one time, but now he seems pretty set on math with a film studies minor. Of course we need to do a visit and see what other schools offer. The money they offer NMSF is a big consideration. Once I suggested he check it out he did some research and liked what he saw. He has no interest in Greeks or football, but is a big fan of baseball, music, and films. The film festival in Oxford is a big draw for him; he seemed pretty impressed that James Franco made an appearance.
@trevlay You mention two important things. 1) Ole Miss has a major you’re considering (Geological Engineering) that Bama doesn’t have. They also have a program in the CME that Bama doesn’t offer. The Barksdale Honors College has been regarded as a top program in the country providing students unique opportunities like this:
http://news.olemiss.edu/four-find-freshmen-ventures-fantastic/#.VQZsDY5-WSo
Just to clarify, it is Ole Miss that offers the Law/Engineering combo and the combo of Engineering/Business/Accountancy through the CME.
The most important thing, though, is where you feel most at home. If you chose Ole Miss, and you performed well in the engineering school, you will be successful after graduation.
Best of luck (and Hotty Toddy)!
@frugaldoctor I’ve heard many times (and firmly believe) that university is 95% what you make of it. I’ll be the engineer I strive to be, cut and dry.
@collegeguider I’ve been told good things about SMBHC, and really enjoyed their building when I visited.
Huge thanks to everyone who has posted, I’ve learned much about Ole Miss and it will certainly assist me in making a decision!
@Trevlay make sure and let us know which one you choose - good luck!
FWIW, We were at Ole Miss last week (D’s high school was the same as Ole Miss’). Walked around the campus in the rain. We peered into the SMBHC facility. The dean came out and was very friendly, gave us a tour, and proceeded to visit for 30-45 minutes. We “dropped in” and folks were very welcoming though they were technically “off”.
I haven’t been to Alabama’s campus so I don’t have a comparision.
@DiffMom last week as well! The tour guide gave us his cell phone number and pulled up and wrote out all my scholarship information in between our tour and the next. I felt much benevolence and warmth at the university, even in the rain.
At Alabama one of the guides essentially told us to look in the packet for additional info 
I’m actually considering both of these schools for graduate school & I very much look forward to visiting.
hello!
I have a similar question…I am an international student from India and have been granted good schoalrships at ole miss.
However, I have been accepted and offered scholarship at the university of indianapolis. So, I am having a tough time deciding between the 2.
Any help would be truly appreciated.
Thank you!
Hey!.. You can message me more information if you’d like, since it sounds like we’re in the exact same boat. Also, you may want to begin a discussion thread of your own, where you detail your situation!
@Trevlay, have you decided? Is it Ole Miss or Alabama or somewhere else?
@DiffMom sorry I haven’t let you guys know!.. It’s between Ole Miss and Louisiana Tech, now. I originally committed to the former, but Louisiana Tech came in at about $8,000 a year cheaper. Still torn, just two different schools! :-w
@Trevlay, do both have your degree program? How does each school atmosphere feel? Available activities? So many factors to consider in addition to cost, which of course, is important.
@DiffMom I’d like to be a health and safety engineer, so I’ll probably go into MechE. Ole Miss has more professional opportunities, including the aforementioned CME. Also, Ole Miss is closer, larger, in the SEC, etcetera. Buuttt I’ve lived my whole life having difficulty paying for everything, and to have a chance to not worry as much about finances would be huge!
Trevlay have you decided yet? I think we’re all curious to know what you will decide.
Hey! Sorry for the extreme delay!
I received an outstanding offer from Louisiana Tech University, and have decided to attend there. Thank you so much for everyone’s assistance in what proved to be the most difficult decision to date!
Best wishes to you, @Trevlay!