<p>One more question! Do you think it’s okay for D to apply but not visit until her spring break? She doesn’t want to miss school with all of her AP classes. And I am concerned if we visit at Christmas students won’t be there, so she won’t get a feel for the student population. Her spring break is the week after Easter. </p>
<p>Did anyone else visit the University of Kentucky? That is another school on her top 5 list that she needs for her hs guidance counselor.</p>
<p>It’s totally fine.</p>
<p>I agree…visiting at Christmas would not be a good idea…no tours, no one there, no profs to meet with, etc.</p>
<p>Does she have any school days off …like Presidents Day or Teacher In-service Days?</p>
<p>linnylu,</p>
<p>We visited UK, nice school, Lexington’s nice…
(Also Ole Miss, UofCinn, UofSC, Uof Ark, Ohio State, Ohio U, UofTN, Auburn, and some others) They just did not stack up with UA. </p>
<p>FWIW; DS’s second choice was Miami Oxford</p>
<p>Happy to answer any questions.</p>
<p>*We visited UK, nice school, Lexington’s nice…
(Also Ole Miss, UofCinn, UofSC, Uof Ark, Ohio State, Ohio U, UofTN, Auburn, and some others)</p>
<p>They just did not stack up with UA.
*</p>
<p>After visiting numerous undergrads with our sons, and more recently, visiting grad schools with older son, we haven’t found a better campus than Bama.</p>
<p>4 other very good options
University of Virginia
College of William and Mary
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Miami University-Oxford</p>
<p>Thanks Gojack. DS has several friends who go to Miami-Oxford. They just don’t offer the NM scholarship money like UA. Kentucky’s scholarship is pretty good- 1st year full ride and next 3 years full tuition. I think Denison’s Paschal scholarship comes out to be full tuition too. Wayne State in Detroit has the masters in library science that D might eventually be interested in, but I am not too sure about her going to school in Detroit. The other schools you listed are great, but I don’t think they offer the National Merit money either. Actually, her first choice if money was no option would be St. Marys of Notre Dame. I think Alabama has the best housing situation. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. Mom2, did you tour the UK housing? </p>
<p>I just want to say that I greatly appreciate all of the help that I am getting here. I have 4 children plus guardianship of my niece. I just don’t have the time to visit all the schools, so it helps to refine D’s list here. We also don’t have the money to pay full tuition or even $25,000 a year for all our children, even though we won’t qualify for financial aid- at least with our 1st 2.</p>
<p>^^^
Well if you include money (for a NM) in the equation ;>
UA all the way, no question.</p>
<p>*We also don’t have the money to pay full tuition or even $25,000 a year for all our children, even though we won’t qualify for financial aid- at least with our 1st 2. *</p>
<p>Then a big NMF scholarship is the way to go. A student can always cover any extra expenses with a small student loan if the parents can’t contribute much at all. Or, if you feel that you can contribute - say - a few thousand a year - then your child won’t have to borrow anything.</p>
<p>The fall 2011 freshman class – a record 5,772 students – entered the University with outstanding academic credentials.</p>
<p>“Once again this fall, we welcomed to campus the largest and most academically talented freshman class in our history,” said UA President Robert E. Witt. “We are pleased that excellent students are recognizing the quality and value of a University of Alabama education.”</p>
<p>Qualifications of the freshman class include:</p>
<pre><code>* The class includes 182 National Merit Scholars and 30 National Achievement Scholars. Last year, with 128 National Merit Scholars, UA ranked 6th in the nation among public universities in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars.
Twenty-eight percent of the freshman class – 1,614 students – had a 4.0 or higher grade point average in high school.
The freshman class was drawn from a record 22,136 applicants, up over 200 percent since fall 2002. UA has become significantly more selective with 53 percent of applicants admitted for fall 2011, down from 85 percent in 2002.
</code></pre>
<p><a href=“http://uanews.ua.edu/2011/09/enrollment-at-record-high-as-ua-continues-to-grow-with-quality/[/url]”>http://uanews.ua.edu/2011/09/enrollment-at-record-high-as-ua-continues-to-grow-with-quality/</a></p>
<p>DD submitted her application today! She still needs to have her guidance counselor send her official transcript, but it is a start. </p>
<p>She has a couple of questions. What is winter weather like at UA? Is there an autumn where the leaves change colors?</p>
<p>Also, we were looking at the food plans since this is something the scholarship doesn’t cover. Are freshmen required to sign up for a certain plan? Which is the best plan? DD will probably eat breakfast in her room most days. </p>
<p>DD and I are trying to make a chart that has each college, what the scholarship is, additional expenses, travel expenses,honors college info, dorm info, etc. so that she can really compare everything. It seems like US really “takes the cake”. She contacted U Kentucky today because she realized the national merit scholarship only covers in-state tuition for 4 years. Out of state tuition is an additional $10,000- plus they only cover room and board the 1st year. DD is determined to be able to cover most of her education herself.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that your D applied. Hopefully, Bama can break that new record of 182 NMFs next year. :)</p>
<p>*She has a couple of questions. What is winter weather like at UA? Is there an autumn where the leaves change colors?</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Oh my!! Yes. Bama has beautiful hardwood trees that turn colors in the fall (and flower beautifully in the spring or summer). </p>
<p>One thing that I notice at Bama vs other schools is that it really invests in its landscaping…tulips blooming in the spring…seasonal flowers planted on a regular basis. </p>
<p>Fall and Spring are absolutely gorgeous with wonderful weather…Blue, blue skies with fluffy white clouds…but will be cool at night, so needing a light jacket then.</p>
<p>Winters can get cold…even a few “snow flurry” days are possible. Heavy jackets or coats are needed. Girls often wear Ugg boots on their feet. Warm scarves are popular, too.</p>
<p>The deceiving thing about winters in Alabama… Don’t look out a window to gauge the weather. It is often “sunny looking” with fluffy white clouds but still can be cold. So, don’t look out a 3rd story dorm window in January and see sunny skies and think you can wear shorts…it could be 35 degrees outside…lol.</p>
<p>that said, the cold weather isn’t like what people get in the Midwest or NE. Here people often dress in layers so they can peel off what’s not needed during the day.</p>
<p>*Also, we were looking at the food plans since this is something the scholarship doesn’t cover. Are freshmen required to sign up for a certain plan? Which is the best plan? DD will probably eat breakfast in her room most days.
*</p>
<p>Yes…all frosh have to have at least the Silver Plan. After frosh year, no meal plan is req’d. The Silver Plan is more than enough for a frosh…especially a girl. Many kids eat breakfast in their dorms, so that’s fine. The honors Super Suites have kitchenettes with full size fridges. </p>
<p>I forgot what your D will be majoring in?</p>
<p>DD and I are trying to make a chart that has each college, what the scholarship is, additional expenses, travel expenses,honors college info, dorm info, etc. so that she can really compare everything</p>
<p>It can be hard to figure to the penny since there are always unexpected costs associated with being in college (like when a kid loses/breaks his phone and you have to quickly replace it), but that can happen anywhere…so just be aware that a “reserve” amount is always needed… </p>
<p>And, most schools have “course fees” so that is often inadvertantly left out. Bama’s course fees can sound highish…until you hear how high OTHER schools’ course fees are. You need to figure about $300 per semester for course fees at Bama. Again, that is lowish for many schools. Course fees are a per class charge to cover lab costs, technology costs, etc. In the old days, schools only charged course fees for art classes and science labs…now schools charge course fees for all kinds of classes…but of course, technology is in every subject these days. </p>
<p>Some schools are charging $1000+ per semester in course fees and that is often not obvious because they might list fees like “recreation fee” or “health fee” and you think that is all their fees…then you get slapped with a big course fee bill that no one told you about. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that the NMF scholarship does include the cost for the Honors 4 bedroom Super Suites even though the amount stated for the housing scholarship is less. That confuses people. Bama lists the lower amount because if a person chooses a cheaper housing, Bama isn’t going to issue a check for the difference. </p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that Bama increases its scholarship when costs increase. So, tuition and housing is covered even if prices go up during the 4 years. So, keep that in mind when other schools are giving X amount…that X amount doesn’t increase.</p>
<p>*DD is determined to be able to cover most of her education herself. *</p>
<p>that is very admirable. If she gets a summer job, she can earn money for books and such. And, if she wants, she can work a few hours each week for pocket money…which every college kid needs. 
My kids each work/worked 6-10 hours per week on avg.</p>
<p>Thanks, Mom2K for all of your help. We really do appreciate it. D will be happy to hear that she will see the leaves change color. I know she won’t miss our Cleveland winters.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips about fees. Our oldest is in college, so we are definitely aware of those:) That is great to know that the scholarship amount increases with rising tuition costs. D even said she feels like she should only apply to UA since it sounds so wonderful. I won’t let her do that- but it sure would make life easier! </p>
<p>D is thinking about majoring in english or the classics and definitely wants to minor in spanish or at least double major. She is currently taking AP Spanish and AP Latin along with AP Lit. Those are “fun” classes to her. </p>
<p>Now my only concern is switching airplanes, but thanks to tips here about which airports to avoid that will hopefully work out. I know that D’s other college choices won’t make her undergrad degrees nearly as affordable. Her 14 year old brother wants her to go to UA so he will have a great college football team to cheer for.</p>
<p>* D even said she feels like she should only apply to UA since it sounds so wonderful. I won’t let her do that- but it sure would make life easier! *</p>
<p>My younger son was the same way, but we made him apply to a few more schools…just in case.</p>
<p>linnylu - Last spring my D wanted only to apply to UA. I thought she should have options. She now has a list of 7 schools. The only app that she’s actually completed is UA, and I’m not going to nag her to get the others done. Roll Tide! If they are important to her, she’ll do them. Otherwise, one and done is good.</p>
<p>Regarding Bama’s Honors Program, does it require more, intensive work or is it just “different” work? Can it be overload if the student is already taking a demanding load? Thanks.</p>
<p>Different work is a bettet description. Both my kids have challenging majors…math and chemE and neither have felt that honors courses were overwhelming. </p>
<p>The courses are more discussion based.</p>
<p>ParkTN,</p>
<p>Keep in mind that 'Bama is very generous with their acceptance of AP/IB credits. Many honors students are able to either double major or have minors that would not be possible otherwise. My son started school with enough AP credits to classify as a Sophomore and this is not unusual.</p>
<p>I have another question! Does UA offer any kind of computer/plan for students to purchase. One of my friend’s daughters bought her Dell laptop through the school. It came with Microsoft Office and an extended warranty. The school will service it if needed and will supply the student with a loaner. Does UA offer anything like this? I am asking because I was thinking of buying D her laptop for Christmas- probably an MacBook Pro, but if UA has some kind of program I might wait.</p>
<p>You would have to call the SUPE store at Bama and ask.</p>
<p>They do sell Apple and PC products.</p>
<p>Also, if you buy a Mac for Christmas, find out what Apple offers…they may offer something similar so that your D’s computer would get service/loaner no matter where she is (like home for the summer). </p>
<p><a href=“http://store.apple.com/us_edu_383685?afid=p224|4295662&cid=AOS-US-CAMPUS-MBA[/url]”>Education Pricing and Student Discounts - Education - Apple;
<p>I’m applying to Bama via the online application. Is the 10 step “checklist” all I have to complete? Is there no essay?</p>