<p>“You may not be aware of this, but Alabama is attracting a lot of top notch students.”</p>
<p>freebies. Once again, no surprise.</p>
<p>“rjkofnovi, actually I cited three special programs that he’s in at Alabama (and he’s investigating a fourth). None of those options existed for him at Madison or Minnesota, hence more opportunities at Alabama.”</p>
<p>Perhaps that is why an MBA from Alabama is not that highly regarded? Once again, trade offs.</p>
<p>Hey, RiverBirch, if you’re still reading this crazy thread you’ve started that appears to have derailed a wee bit, can I ask you a few questions and share some thoughts about your specific question? I realize this would be highly unusual ;)</p>
<p>You described an upper-middling type income, if I recall. If you ran FAFSA just for fun, with THREE kids in school, does it lower your expected Financial Contribution to a reasonable number, or is it still high/too high to manage?</p>
<p>I ask because for some, child #1 and child#2 may not net financial assistance…but once the formula is split with 3 in college, it can make a difference. So this is worth a look. Michigan may give you a bit of love with 3 kids on the payroll ;)</p>
<p>Second question relates to comparative costs. How much “skin” are you willing to request your 3rd has in the game? Because if, for example, he were to secure one of the tradition scholarships, and then accept the max in stafford loans (30k over 4 years) your actual COA at Michigan INSTATE would be quite low…and probably less than Bama’s residence and travel cost.</p>
<p>FWIW, I’m sure your son will do fine wherever he attends. But I do have the sense that the History department at UMich is exceptionally strong and that it’s a very stimulating program – my son’s friend just graduated from same.</p>
<p>While it’s good to work with folks from all walks of life, it’s also good academically to be surrounded by your peers. I think if all else can combine for favorable financial conditions, your son might benefit from the outstanding collection of peers at UMich. While it’s true that you can publish from anywhere, you are much more likely to publish via connections/networking in a well-regarded department … and those types of things will have some bearing on a future in academia.</p>
<p>“I said 'roughly similar”. Michigan is slightly better rated that Madison and Minnesota, but I would put them in the same general category as “public Ivies”.</p>
<p>I agree with the above statement. Alabama is slightly better rated than Mississippi and Arkansas. None of them are considered “public ivies.”</p>
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The Midwest has just has many “hicks” and uneducated people as the South I bet. Neither Michigan nor Alabama would be confused for New Jersey or New York I’m sorry.</p>
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An MBA from Minnesota or Wisconsin isn’t that highly regarded either. They’re all regional schools at best.</p>
<p>“FWIW, I’m sure your son will do fine wherever he attends. But I do have the sense that the History department at UMich is exceptionally strong and that it’s a very stimulating program – my son’s friend just graduated from same.”</p>
<p>It’s easily top ten at the graduate level. Your son will get to learn from leaders in his field of interest and if he does well, get meaningful recommendations to attend a top PhD program. For these types of areas of academia, where the competition is tremendous to get into the top programs, that is very important. Try to break into any university these days without that highly ranked graduate degree. It won’t be easy.</p>
<p>“Neither Michigan nor Alabama would be confused for New Jersey or New York I’m sorry.”</p>
<p>Have you ever been to upstate NY? Do you even have a clue as to what you are talking about? You’re not sorry, just completely ignorant.</p>
<p>lakeforest, have you ever been to the south?</p>
<p>“An MBA from Minnesota or Wisconsin isn’t that highly regarded either. They’re all regional schools at best.”</p>
<p>Yeah, sure.</p>
<p>“Have you ever been to the south or do you just watch a lot of TV?”</p>
<p>I agree with riporin. It’s not a point of where these schools are located, but rather the quality of the programs. I never lived in North Carolina, but i would imagine there are plenty of hicks not too far from Durham. It doesn’t seem to make a difference with Duke graduates or Michigan graduates.</p>
<p>UA’s B-school is 29th among publics. Is it elite? No. Is it good? Yes.</p>
<p>[University</a> of Alabama moves up business school rankings | TuscaloosaNews.com](<a href=“http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20130323/news/130329920]University”>http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20130323/news/130329920)</p>
<p>riprorin- Your son is gonna get an MBA in five years??? Is he crazy? Nobody should get an MBA with no work experience. Your son will be overqualified for entry-level jobs that look for BA/BBA’s, underqualified for jobs that look for MBA’s (almost always requiring experience as well), and holding degrees from Alabama. In essence, very hard to employ.</p>
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<p>I’d take that bet. Further, Michigan grads have the freedom to work on the coasts or Chicago, which alum numbers confirm. Where do all of Alabama grads live? I’d bet a lofty majority are forced to stay in 'Bama or surrounding deep south states. I’d clean my car keys in a power outlet before I’d sign up to serve that life sentence.</p>
<p>“UA’s B-school is 29th among publics. Is it elite? No. Is it good? Yes.”</p>
<p>29th among publics probably means about a 60th ranking or so. Decent, but not anything more than that. Michigan is 4th among ALL schools at the undergraduate level and top 15 at the graduate level. Huge difference.</p>
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<p>Of course. Chew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit.</p>
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<p>…but it’s “free”!</p>
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Yes I see the sarcasm but I’m sure plenty blinded by up-front costs don’t so I’ll just say…not in the long run.</p>
<p>Maizeandblue, will he follow through on the MBA? Not sure but worst case he will come out with a business minor and have a good background if he wants to obtain a MBA at a later date.</p>
<p>He’s reading a business book for the program and is in a discussion group, and he seems to have a head for business, but he’s more interested in technology.</p>
<p>goldenboy, Harvard Westlake may be an outlier for Michigan, but it is one of the top high schools in the nation. And why isolate just Michigan’s relationship with Harvard Westlake? Why not also point at Duke’s relationship with Lawrenceville, or GWU’s relationship with Taft and Hill? If you remove outliers, Michigan still matches GWU 56 t0 60. Besides, given GWU and Duke’s location on the East Coast, the fact that Michigan does as well as them is very impressive, virtually negating the regional bias that students may have…even you must admit as much. Michigan’s appeal to Exeter, St Paul’s, H-W and Dalton students is undeniable and a testament to its national reputation. </p>
<p>As for comparing Michigan to Miami with SE top high schools, I don’t see why Miami would outpace Michigan. Pepperdine did not do well with H-W students. Bottom line, students at top high schools would rather go to top universities. Besides, it does not make sense to compare matriculation numbers into Michigan to those into Miami, Pepperdine or GWU. Students who choose Michigan from those high schools usually do so over schools of a higher caliber.</p>
<p>Anyone who can pay cash can go to Miami, Pepperdine, GWU and USC. Very few of the kids at those schools have the numbers for Michigan. Non hyper-competitive prep school students can coast in and out of those schools, while hanging with students of similar means and ambition. The hyper-competitive kids of the top schools find the four listed to be jokes and would be embarrassed to attend the schools their lackadaisical classmates head to.</p>