University of Alabama vs. University of Michigan

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
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<p>As the lone voice without a passion for Alabama on this thread, I’d just like to point out that Michigan receives a very, very small percent of its budget from the state. I’ve heard there’s even been talk of going private. So, the poster above who tried to link the state’s economy in was mostly unfounded in that belief. </p>

<p>I’d also like to point out that the OP posted his thread in a Michigan subforum focused on the class of 2015 - meaning that only high school kids are going to see it for the most part. In contrast, this thread is in the general UA forum and gets a much broader cross-section of alumni, current students, and families. It’s not a fair comparison to try and measure the passion of each school.</p>

<p>So, the “past or future?” attack simply comes off as rather petty.</p>

42

<p>^^^
some very valid points, what you see as an attack, I see as reality.
Where did you hear of UM going private?</p>

<p>MI State appropriation is 316,572,000, about 20% of UM’s budget.</p>

<p>Just a little of the optimism</p>

<p>"If the State enacts a significantly lower appropriation or reduces the University’s appropriation through a mid-year rescission, the University’s ability to maintain quality of its academic programs and investments in the student experience will be put in jeopardy. In that case, the President and Provost may return to the Board of Regents to recommend a mid-year tuition rate increase. "</p>

<p>[University</a> of Michigan Office of the Provost](<a href=“http://www.provost.umich.edu/budgeting/budget_2010-2011-ExecSumm.html]University”>http://www.provost.umich.edu/budgeting/budget_2010-2011-ExecSumm.html)</p>

<p>“…we are mindful of the possibility of a significant reduction in FY2012. The state will be forced to make many difficult choices, including the level of support for higher education.”</p>

<p>“…We are anticipating greater financial challenges in the future as the state comes to grips with its revenue situation…”</p>

<p>“…reduced equipment expenditures (primarily through extending replacement cycles and/or reducing new equipment purchases), reductions in the level of facilities support…”</p>

<p>[University</a> of Michigan Office of the Provost](<a href=“Budget | U-M Office of the Provost”>Budget | U-M Office of the Provost)</p>

<p>BuB2011,
Best of luck on your college choice, they are both outstanding Universities, you really can’t go wrong with either.</p>

43

<p>“Well, this is clearly a sore subject for you based on your extenuating life experience mentioned above, so I’m not going to push it. I don’t have a dog in this fight, either toward Michigan or Alabama. I just noticed everybody attacking the OP for articulating the obvious: that Michigan has a stronger reputation than Alabama.”</p>

<p>No one attacked the kid at all other than maybe me. And my “attack” was basically saying I better not comment.</p>

<p>“Nevertheless, while his terminology about lowering standards was in poor taste, a high school senior shouldn’t be reprimanded for weighing all the pros and cons.”</p>

<p>So you agree with me that the comment was offensive. Yet you figured you’d chime in anyway defending the kid against these attacks that only occurred in your mind. </p>

<p>Every other poster on here wished the kid luck and simply spoke about the positives UA has to offer. This is after all a Bama board so not sure what you’d expect.</p>

<p>I have no idea what your affiliation is to UA or the state of Alabama. But you sure do like to stick your nose into threads on this board. And curiously they never seem to be pro UA posts. </p>

<p>Did you ever think the kid posted it on this board and the Michigan board because he only wanted opinions from those who were actually familiar with the two schools?</p>

44

<p>Ah - I’d read lower than 20%, so I stand corrected. Still, it’s certainly lower than any other public school I’ve come across (UA appears to be around 30% public / 20% tuition, UM 20% public / 65% tuition). </p>

<p>I’ll add a few other quotes from the document you selected to balance the perspective of the choice selections you made to try and paint Michigan as a school in decline. It’s important so this young adult can make an educated decision and not just get boosterism and slander:</p>

<p>“This commitment to quality is explicit in our investments in the expansion of our world-class faculty (so as to improve the student educational experience through smaller classes), in new and innovative academic programs and in increased support for research and entrepreneurial programs.”</p>

<p>“At the same time, the recommended budget propels centrally awarded, need-based financial aid for undergraduate students upward by 10.6%, an increase of over $8.1 million.”</p>

<p>“Endowment funds were valued at $6.6 billion at June 30, 2010, up from $440 million 20 years ago” </p>

<p>“Despite the cut in the state appropriation, the the general operating budget for the Ann Arbor campus will still be slightly larger than last year, about $1.6 billion”</p>

<p>“U-M’s endowment is the seventh largest among all universities in the country and second largest among public universities”</p>

<p>[University</a> of Michigan Endowment Q&A | Public Affairs | OVPC](<a href=“http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/pa/key/endow_qa.html]University”>http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/pa/key/endow_qa.html)</p>

<p>Also, looks like no one’s on top of the mountain when it comes to public funding cuts: </p>

<p>[UA</a> system expects cut in state funding | The Crimson White](<a href=“YouA moves from Youtube – The Crimson White”>YouA moves from Youtube – The Crimson White)</p>

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<p>I’m sorry if perspectives different from your own are threatening. I will stop posting on this public forum if that is the case. I’m merely trying to help. You did, after all, basically tell the guy to go to hell and others called him a ■■■■■ for asking a legitimate question.</p>

<p>Just think of me like a superhero who comes in from the sky and saves the day in the name of truth and justice! Up, up and away! :)</p>

<p>(have a great 4th)</p>

46

<p>Amazing how a Cornell (student/parent?) can be so informed about Michigan and UA. </p>

<p>Of course your info comes from a quick google search and not actual first hand experience with the two schools. We’ll be sure to let you know though the next time we desire info about the lowest ranked Ivy :-)</p>

47

<p>^ Which is still higher ranked than UA :P</p>

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<p>I was thinking a ■■■■■ because I found it hard to believe that he still had both scholarships available, not because he was trying to decide between two schools or because of his comments. I’ve heard of double depositing but, I thought you had to “accept” a scholarship and it wasn’t something that you accepted two of.</p>

49

<p>applejack,</p>

<p>Sorry if I gave the wrong impression, I think Michigan (the state) is in decline,
and the University is hanging on fairly well. But unless the state government
gets it’s act together and quits chasing business away it will end up a losing battle.
Depopulation and urban decay are not inevitable, just inevitable if you attempt
a socialistic utopian welfare state.</p>

<p>BTW changing to a private university (I can’t imagine that actually happening) would result in instate tuition going up dramatically, not really what this young man is looking for.</p>

50

<p>Very interesting thread. I live in Michigan, but lived a while in/near Boston. As far as ignorant bias is concerned, it’s sort of: South:Midwest::Midwest:Northeast. When we moved from Michigan to boston in the '70’s, one of my father’s coworkers asked him about the buffalo roaming the plains. I see some of the same ignorance in the Midwest regarding bias towards the South.</p>

<p>I applaud U of Alabama for its programs aimed at recruiting good students from out of state. I wish more state colleges around the country were as cosmopolitan. I have 2 daughters who will be finishing high school in the next few years. I have talked up the U of Alabama to them, and they fight over the crimson Alabama t-shirt I bought them.</p>

<p>I spent 10 years as an officer in the Navy, and some of the smartest and best people I dealt with were from the South. Anybody who has been in any branch of the military will tell you that Southerners are overpresented–they are not even slightly shy about volunteering to serve.</p>

51

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<p>I don’t understand why you are attacking me and being so mean for simply providing factual information and protecting the OP. I haven’t said a bad thing about Alabama in any of this. It has a great reputation that continues to grow.</p>

<p>(And, to address your attack, depending on the ranking, Brown is usually the lowest or tied for lowest. So, that should tell you how little any of that matters). Don’t get caught up on rankings, New Jersey Bama! There’s great education to be found all over the place.</p>

52

<p>

That makes more sense, though I’m pretty certain Michigan, with all its capitalist industrial base, is far from a socialist / welfare utopia (unions are more their issue than government). </p>

<p>Either way, the state has certainly seen better days and that should no doubt be a consideration for the OP. I don’t live in Michigan, but so far as I can tell the reputation of the university extends pretty far. So, it wouldn’t be a total wash if nothing worked out in his home state. Good to go away for college, anyway. See a different part of the country. When I went to yankee country for school it certainly gave me a good perspective.</p>

<p>I don’t think the privatization angle has ever gotten very far, but there have been proposals in case the state budget does collapse.</p>

<p>Anyway - have a good one.</p>

53

<p>Generally “attacks” aren’t followed by smiley faces. My comment about Cornell’s ranking was made in jest. As I agree that rankings are subjective.</p>

<p>And after re-reading this whole thread I still fail to see where the OP needed protection. He asked for advice/opinions from the UA side of things and that’s what he was given. </p>

<p>Unless of course you think he needs protection from deciding to attend UA?</p>

54

<p>*Just think of me like a superhero who comes in from the sky and saves the day in the name of truth and justice! Up, up and away! *</p>

<p>Someone is his own biggest fan. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Anyway…let’s turn our attention away from the faux Clark Kent and bring the subject back to the OP. :)</p>

55

<p>^^Hi Schmaltz! Loved your thread about your recent college tours. Have you been to Bama yet?</p>

<p>Is the OP coming back to this thread?</p>

56

<p>Yes i am back! And i think my mind is made up. in the fall i will be attending…The University of Alabama :slight_smile:
i decided that like many of you all said, it is up to me to make the final decision. So i am disregarding the negative comments that both sides stated. Thank you everyone for all of your help and encouraging words. I also want to thank a few of you for humbling me when i made my somewhat arrogant comments.</p>

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<p>Roll Tide and welcome!</p>

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<p>BuB…welcome to T-town…and Roll Tide!!!</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>Roll Tide! :)</p>

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<p>Cuttlefish: we haven’t seen 'Bama yet. We have at least 2 more road trips for the future. One to look at schools down the East Coast (mostly ACC achools), and another to check out mostly SEC schools in TN, LA, AL, and MS. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for U of Alabama football and their no-frills uniforms.</p>