She applied :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
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<p>One thing I notice on CC that a lot of parents are doing trade offs that if their child attends a less expensive school (that is still a fit), they will buy their child a car or some other expensive item. Depending on your finances, it might be a great option. I’m not a big fan of filling out applications for your child unless they permit you to (and write their own essays, of course). Maybe him applying to UA could be his Christmas present to you?</p>

<p>I’d just like to note that there are a lot more flights to Houston (IAH) on Continental than there is to DFW on AA. One of the reasons I chose UA was because of all the flights on different airlines into BHM (I love to fly). The best bet is to use Travelocity, Expedia, or Orbitz to find the best flights and then book on the airline website (Southwest is only listed on its own site). BHM is a very nice, albeit smaller airport.</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>This is true. I know that one parent told her child that if she chose a less expensive school (that was still good), she could do a pricey study abroad program and have money for law school.</p>

<p>However, since CANOVA’s son doesn’t even want to apply, I think she needs to assure him that if he applies, then his decision of whether to attend UA will be his after he visits. :slight_smile: </p>

<hr>

<p>*MOM~ we live in Northern Virginia and he’s qualified for all of the scholarship’s [GPA 3.9 and SAT CR 800, M 770, W 660] - now do you see why I am frustrated? *</p>

<p>This is what I’m thinking…tell me if I’m crazy…</p>

<p>Your son may be afraid that once he’s given these great Alabama scholarships, and he visits the school and doesn’t like it, that you’ll expect him or pressure him to go. So, he is thinking to himself, “If I don’t apply, I won’t get the scholarships, therefore, mom won’t pressure me to go there.” </p>

<p>So, this is what I propose.
Tell your son that if he applies now (meets the deadline), and later visits Alabama, he will solely decide whether he wants to go and you won’t pressure him about that decision after the visit. He needs to be assured that after the visit, he alone will make the choice about Alabama without any further pressure. - put it in writing if you have to. </p>

<p>I would sit him down and say, Is this what you’re afraid of…</p>

<h2>What do you think. :)</h2>

<p>What do the rest of you think? Do you think this is CANOVA’s son’s concern?</p>

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<p>It may be his concern. It really depends on the family dynamics to know if such a decision not to attend UA would be acceptable. I was raised to know that my parents will support my reasonable decisions wholeheartedly and they do. The son needs to know that it is okay to not like UA, but he has to be reasonable about his decision. It’s like Green Eggs and Ham, you don’t know if you like the school unless you actually try (visit) it. If he applies and doesn’t like UA, the family’s only out the application costs. But hey, it will be the same with every school he applies to but does not attend. I realized that there were a couple schools that I shouldn’t have even applied to, but c’est la vie. I do not regret my decision.</p>

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<p>^^^What do the rest of you think? Do you think this is CANOVA’s son’s concern?^^^</p>

<p>Part of it is the fact that he wants to go to a “good” engineering school and UA is not listed in any of the rankings, whereas Virginia Tech, UVA, Colorado School of Mines and Georgia Tech (his schools of interest) are!</p>

<p>Also, there is the fact that because he goes to a science/tech HS the peer pressure to go to a “good” school is huge! His school has a “Wall or Rejection” where the students put their rejection letters from the Ivies, etc. for all to read…(usually, after they mark them up with sarcastic comments…)</p>

<p>We talked about the whole “it’s graduate school that matters” and we will buy you a car…but, I really think it is a matter of wanting to do things himself and being stubborn to the point of shooting himself in the foot.</p>

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<p>*The son needs to know that it is okay to not like UA, but he has to be reasonable about his decision. It’s like Green Eggs and Ham, you don’t know if you like the school unless you actually try (visit) it. If he applies and doesn’t like UA, the family’s only out the application costs. But hey, it will be the same with every school he applies to but does not attend. I realized that there were a couple schools that I shouldn’t have even applied to, but c’est la vie. I do not regret my decision. *</p>

<p>SEA_tide makes a good point. CACOVA’s DS needs to know that it’s ok “to not like Bama” after he applies and visits. He doesn’t have to tell his friends that he’s applied, if he doesn’t want to.</p>

<p>Does your son know about the Honors College - especially the elite Computer-Based Honors Program? <a href=“http://honors.cbhp.ua.edu/index.php?page=computer-based-honors-program[/url]”>http://honors.cbhp.ua.edu/index.php?page=computer-based-honors-program&lt;/a&gt; Only 40 students get selected for this program - average ACT is a 33. My DS1 is in CBHP and LOVES it. </p>

<p>Yes, Bama’s college of engineering isn’t ranked in USNews, yet. Bama is spending millions and millions on sciences and engineering departments. And, if your son were to tour the brand new mega Science and Engineering Complex, he’d see that Bama will likely soon be ranked. Phase I and Phase II are complete and in use. Alabama is one of the few schools that is not suffering from budget woes. It continues to hire new profs. Phase III of the Complex has begun.</p>

<p>Click on all the numbered pics to see more of this mega complex. It is huge.<br>
<a href=“http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=TL&Date=20090720&Category=FRONTPAGE&ArtNo=720009998&Ref=PH&Profile=1007&Params=Itemnr=1[/url]”>http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=TL&Date=20090720&Category=FRONTPAGE&ArtNo=720009998&Ref=PH&Profile=1007&Params=Itemnr=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The mega complex won a national award this summer.
[University</a> of Alabama News Design for UA Science and Engineering Complex Takes National Award](<a href=“http://uanews.ua.edu/2009/06/design-for-ua-science-and-engineering-complex-takes-national-award/]University”>http://uanews.ua.edu/2009/06/design-for-ua-science-and-engineering-complex-takes-national-award/)</p>

<p>This is Phase I - called Shelby Hall It’s shaped like the Pentagon - click on the 6 small pics for more pics [Shelby</a> Tour](<a href=“http://www.bama.ua.edu/~chem/facilities/buildings/shelbytour/tour.html]Shelby”>http://www.bama.ua.edu/~chem/facilities/buildings/shelbytour/tour.html)</p>

<p>He should apply (just to meet the Dec 1 deadline) and visit. IF it’s not his “cup of tea,” then fine, he doesn’t have to go. LOL :)</p>

<p>And, your son SHOULD apply to the elite Computer-Based Honors Program. Students turn down ivy acceptances to be in CBHP. That is an amazing program. These kids are doing real research and building amazing resumes.</p>

<p>BTW…my own kids went to private schools, and yes, he and others applied to pricier schools. My DS1 was the val of his class. He chose Alabama after visiting. He got an appt with Dr. Sharpe - who is truly a wonderful man. He’s the director of CBHP and the interim dean of The Honors College.</p>

<p>PS…take him car shopping. LOL </p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>CACOVA: It’s all right for your son to be stubborn. So was mine.</p>

<p>Then, we pointed out that he needed a financial safety. Not an academic one, but a financial one. What happens if the economy continues in a downward trend? I also pointed out that we would not co-sign for loans of $18,000 at 8.9 percent interest (that’s what the Parent Plus is) when he had other options that would be better financially for him and us.</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>Very good point! Everyone needs a couple of financial safeties, unless a person is very wealthy. Your son may have one financial safety already, but I’m a strong believe in students having more than one for the following reasons…</p>

<p>1) his financial packages from his top schools may not work out. It can be shocking to see how many loans can be in some of them.</p>

<p>2) he may not get accepted to his top schools.</p>

<p>3) In the spring, a kid may end up not liking his one financial safety for whatever reason. </p>

<p>4) if it becomes necessary (for whatever reason) to go to a financial safety, then it’s nice to still have a choice of 2-3 safeties in the spring.</p>

<p>But, again, he needs assurances that he won’t be pressured to attend his financial safety without consideration of whether he likes the school or not.</p>