<p>Hello:</p>
<p>We have completed all our visits.</p>
<p>My S got some grants and some scholarships but no slam dunks. So, now we have to make a choice between UAlabama, UMiami and Univ of SC. I think the choice is between UMiami and Uviv of SC because of the best balance. It is all a tough choice. We have also visited JU (which contrary to what we thought was not bad at all, they need to update their website). We could go to BU but man, it is pricey without appropriate grants/scholarships.</p>
<p>Follow your preferences but be sure to give a close look to U of South Carolina-Columbia. Many members of the Marine Sciences faculty at USC got their Ph.Ds from places like Oregon State, UWashington and other schools well regarded in the discipline. I don’t remember if USC offers a B.S. in Marine Science, but of course there is undergraduate Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Geology, Chemistry, Environmental Science etc.</p>
<p>Univ of SC does offer BS Marine Science, It is Univ of NC that does not.</p>
<p>Warblersrule and LakeWashington:</p>
<p>What a topsy turvy month!! We ended up with two choices - Umiami and Univ of SC. We got decent scholarship but not the best. Ultimately, we found that any outside scholarships would not help us in UMiami because that would eat up the need-based grant at UMiami. It was nice of UMiami to offer gtants but with a reasonable outside scholarship, we felt it won’t help us to cut our expenses in UMiami. SC seemed to have a very good program (I know SC is rated only #111 but UMiami, as a school, is rated #38). But, we just could not help notice that USC is top-noth. Don’t know if we are missing anything but we just did not see why USC is only #111. All things considered, USC for a dual major in Marine Science and Geology is the choice. Thanks for all suggestions. I think we made a good decision considering all parameters. He can always go to UMiami or Washington for Masters. UMiami definitely gave more weight to a point differential in ACT scores than to Marine Science projects a high schooler did, I thought. I guess that happens although I thought schools look deeper. I guess with so many kids applying, it would be very hard…</p>
<p>Interesting that you went with USC, D’13 is considering the same schools but is close to eliminating USC because their marine classes only take field trips to the Atlantic vs being taught on the water like UA at Dauphin.</p>
<p>Williams has a maritime studies program at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. It’s normally a one-semester program open to anyone:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://web.williams.edu/williamsmystic/Home.html]Home[/url”>Williams-Mystic | The Coastal and Ocean Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport Museum]Home[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I guess you could think of it as something like a semester abroad.</p>
<p>Long:</p>
<p>We did like UA. Yes, they have classes on water. Their classes are, however, only in summer and you only need 16 credit hours. Most of the time, you will be in Tuscaloosa. It really depends on what your other major is. If Marine Science is like an appendage, it is fine. My son wanted a full-blown Marine Science program and full-blown Geology program. We were not considering it either but when we visited, things changed. You should do what your daughter likes.</p>