<p>Imagine, last year, about 40% of incoming freshman at UA came from outside of Alabama! That’s aggressive recruiting.</p>
<p>The above is why The University of Alabama is NOT a deep south school. You can’t have 1500 - 2000 freshmen coming from OOS in recent years and not have a more cosmopolitan inpact. </p>
<p>It’s true that UA gets a lot of kids from Texas for 2 reasons…the scholarship offers and that Texas 10% rule that hurts some kids in Texas. That rule hurts kids in academically strong schools where a student in the top 20% would be in the top 10% in another Texas school - but UA is happy to take them! :)</p>
<p>UA is also getting many students from from Illinois and Florida. When Illinois students and parents found out that students with an ACT 32 (or SAT 1400 (M+CR) could get free tuition at The University of Alabama, you can imagine how many applied. Every Illinois junior is required to take the ACT, so many did score an ACT 32 or better. </p>
<p>Of course, UA has students from all 50 states, but I was surprised to see the total number that are coming from OOS. :)</p>
<p>That’s a very interesting stat, Mom. Also a contributing factor for the Texas migration might be that UT Austin no longer gives NMF scholarships, or much merit money at all for that matter. UA’s merit package is certainly hard to beat–especially if your kid is interested in one of the stronger programs there. And the honors dorms we’ve decided are impossible to beat. Don’t let your kid see those unless you’re prepared for them to live in one 'cause the others will pale in comparison:) </p>
<p>Yes, the NMF schollies, the Presidential schollies, and the Honors programs are grabbing OOS kids like crazy. And, football is also attracting kids who want the rah rah part of campus life.</p>
<p>As for the dorms…Don’t forget, kids who aren’t in Honors can still live in Super Suites housing. There are at least 3 buildings with that style of housing for those who are not in honors. So, that kind of housing is available to anyone.</p>
<p>But, yes, Super Suites housing is more expensive - you get more space and a private room. If your kid wants such housing and it’s out of your price range, make the kid earn the difference by working extra in the summer. :)</p>
<p>I can understand why Alabama is attracting kids from Illinois. My D is only a sophomore, but she naturally has UIUC on her radar. For engineering and business majors (two of her interests) the UIUC in-state tuition and fees are currently $17,000. The Alabama OOS tuition isn’t much higher than that, so it doesn’t take much of a scholarship to make Alabama less expensive than UIUC. And for the most part, if you can get into UIUC for engineering or business, your ACT score is high enough to get at least a 2/3 tuition scholarship from Alabama. Although a 30 ACT is usually good enough for most schools at UIUC, I knew several kids who graduated last year from my D’s high school with 30+ ACT scores and good GPA’s who didn’t get into UIUC for business and engineering. With its honors college and improving reputation, Alabama is a nice alternative to our state flagship.</p>
<p>I keep hearing that from other families as well :)</p>
<p>I can’t remember which states have the highest in-state tuition rates, but you’re right, it doesn’t take much of a scholarship from UA to bring its tuition cost down to a less expensive choice.</p>
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<p>Sorry I couldn’t resist…<br>
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<p>LOL the funny thing is, I don’t think we get a whole lot from Arkansas. I think Arkansas kids go to their own schools or Oklahoma.</p>
<p>Bama seems to get a lot from states that have many kids who have highish stats and/or are National merit whose own states don’t give a lot of merit. That’s OK…Bama will take all those brainy kids! LOL</p>
<p>There are a lot of Texans at UA for the reasons mentioned above. There are a lot of students from other Southern states who prefer UA for some reason, one of which may be that instate admission at UGA can be difficult. </p>
<p>Especially with all the OOS students, UA is not a deep south school. In both football and academics, UA is showing that it wants talent. Luckily for those talented students, UA puts its money where its mouth is. Quoting Dr. Sharpe, he feels as lucky as Nick Saban when he looks at all the students that decided to attend UA. While Nick Saban gets the top football recruits, Dr. Sharpe gets top students form all 50 states.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids: You are correct that one of the reasons that UA has become such a draw to students who hail from other Southern states is that those state schools may not offer the NM merit that UA does. For example, we live in Virginia. UVA did not participate in the NM program a year ago. The University of Richmond (a private school) offers just $500 a year. Virginia Tech makes the student an offer of $1,000 a year. William & Mary does not participate in the NM program. </p>
<p>When a school like UA gives a NM winner full tuition, housing, study aboard money, a stipend and a laptop, that’s an offer that kids who have postgraduate plans have a tough time saying no thanks to.</p>
<p>And, it’s true for other states as well. A NMF from my own high school in Calif came to UA last year. She turned down other schools because she would have had to take out loans. She “dived right in” at Bama (not knowing a soul) and got involved during “get on board day” with various clubs. She’s having a ball.</p>