<p>Don’t forget… The Campus tour does not include a tour inside the dorms (unless there’s been a recent change). So, call housing and ask which buildings can you easily see the inside of some dorms. I imagine that if your interested in an Honors dorm, they’ll send you to the Ridgecrest South halls. </p>
<p>Navarre, that is a good hotel, and brand new at that! If I recall, it’s at exit 77, 1 mile north of Cracker Barrel and 4 miles north of Exit 73 (the University Exit). My general experience with Alabama hotels has been hit and miss, so I’m glad you found a good one! I put my family in a different hotel each time trying to find a good one. If a parent doesn’t want to deal with Priceline bidding, the website for the hotel coupon book for Alabama is [al</a> index](<a href=“http://travelcoupons.com/alabama/alindex.htm]al”>http://travelcoupons.com/alabama/alindex.htm) , which has some good prices. Otherwise, all the economy/moderate chains have places in Tuscaloosa, but it is hit or miss with the hotels.</p>
<p>We made the mistake of needing to find a hotel that would let us bring our little dogs (we keep them in a crate at night). Well, we usually have good luck with La Quinta’s for that, but this La Quinta was yucky. </p>
<p>We’ve had better luck doing as Navarre suggested…Priceline or hotels.com or AAA</p>
<p>Damn - the power of the internet!
Just cancelled my LaQuinta reservation and got the $60 room at Wyngate -
so hard to tell what is or isn’t a good hotel from the reviews, feel much better about this one :)</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone will be visiting during a home game weekend. At those times, getting hotels is difficult.</p>
<p>Tip…if you want to go to Family Weekend during your child’s freshman year…as soon as you know the dates, book your hotel room. Rates go up as time goes by, and getting a room can be difficult. The trick is to book your room before the hotels find out the date. Once they know, the prices start going up.</p>
<p>Also, if you want to go the football game that weekend, buy those tickets as soon as you can. </p>
<p>Have your child pay attention to when student home game football tickets go on sale - their tickets are sold in “sets” - their tickets are $5 per game (only football charges students), and those sets go fast. So pay attention to the hours that they’re sold. Be ready to buy at the moment the online system opens. :)</p>
<p>I cannot thank you enough for all your suggestions about touring UA. My daughter and I visited late last week, and your suggested route into the campus was perfect! We also stayed at the Wyngate (per the suggestion of other parents here), and it, too, was a terrific choice. </p>
<p>As for our impressions of UA… In a word: WOW! For those of you considering UA who have never seen it, I would highly recommend a visit, if at all possible. Nothing we saw online or in photos even came close to capturing the beauty and feel of the university. The campus is just gorgeous! There’s a wonderful blend of historic and new buildings, the landscaping throughout the campus is lush and beautiful (even this late in the fall), and the people are warm and gracious (well of course they are, this IS the south, after all!). Our tour guide was fabulous–warm, bright, and very well informed on a number of subjects–and her enthusiasm for the school was contagious. And she isn’t alone–the energy on the campus is palpable. After the tour, my daughter and I stood near the Quad for a while and watched the students going to and from class or visiting with friends. These kids are thrilled to be there–and, believe me, it shows. </p>
<p>Did I mention my daughter has made her decision? LOL </p>
<p>Not sure how much Bama apparel we bought, but it was worth every penny to see my daughter so excited and proud. If she had her way, she’d be there tomorrow…make that yesterday! </p>
<p>Sorry to gush, but I wanted people who are considering UA to know that although we’d heard wonderful things about the school before we visited, it exceeded even our very high expectations. :)</p>
<p>So glad that you and your D had such a good experience on your tour! :)</p>
<p>Yesterday, we were on the campus, and I wanted to show my H the new Science and Engineering Complex and Shelby. Well, H wanted to drive a certain way (hmrrmph!) and we ended up behind the complex in an odd spot. (men don’t like to follow directions LOL )</p>
<p>From that odd location, I didn’t know how to get in the buildings. A group of students noticed our confusion and asked if we needed any help. Two of the young men escorted us around and into the entrance and then walked us thru the buildings. Very nice. :)</p>
<p>What a great report on the university. My daughter just got her acceptance and we are trying to figure out when we can fly down to visit. Looking forward to that visit even more after hearing about yours.</p>
<p>I hope that you get one of Bama’s many “blue sky and fluffy white clouds” days. I still remember when a friend visited UA on its one snow day a year. LOL</p>
<p>That is so funny you mention this Mom. When we met with our area rep the first time she was telling us about all the calls she was getting from people down at the university, freaking out about the tiny bit of snow they had. Made me laugh even more when she said they called back at noon and said it was all gone.</p>
<p>If you’re scheduling a campus tour, be sure to also call ahead to the college of your major. Regular campus tours don’t tour the Business school, etc.</p>
<p>We need to get you appointed as a moderator of the UA forum, mom2collegekids. I’m surprised this forum (CC overall) doesn’t have a lot of mods, actually…</p>
<p>Can prospective students shadow a student at UA and stay in the dorms for a night? Just going on a tour doesn’t give you a complete view of the school. I’d like to see the social side too.</p>
<p>Jamie Gates - who is the Honor College recruiter arranges for this. 205-348-5599 If you’ll be flying in, she can also provide for you to be picked up from the airport and returned.</p>
<p>You can either shadow a student (who you’re staying with), or you can specifically choose classes that you want to “sit in”. My kids requested to sit in a few classes that they selected (they chose: Physics, Cal II, Arts/Parody, and CBHP). If that interests you, let me know and I’ll tell you how to find classes using MyBama.</p>