<p>I want to go into business. I could attend Michigan's Ross School of Business or go to one of the schools that gives a full ride for NMF, like Alabama or Arizona State. If I went to UM I would come out with 55k in debt. If I go to a school like UA or ASU with their full ride NMF scholarship, I will come out with no debt and around 50k. Any advice?</p>
<p>Have you visited any of these colleges? </p>
<p>Visiting should help you decide. Those on this forum (who may not have been on any of these campuses) may not really be able to give you any meaningful input. </p>
<p>If there is no way to visit in person, at least do the website Virtual Tour to at least get a “feel” for what each campus looks like. Look at the academics, the campus recreation offerings, honors programs (likelyhood of admissions), etc…</p>
<p>Since the NMF scholarships include housing, I think it’s very important to consider housing. You don’t want to get stuck for 4 years in a housing situation that is unappealing for you.</p>
<p>And, of course…visit the Business school websites of each of the college to get a feel for what each offers. </p>
<p>I’ve only been on AzSt’s campus in the summer, and I know it’s very, very hot. Does anyone know what it’s like during the Sept-May months?</p>
<p>I’ve been on Alabama’s campus many, many times.</p>
<p>Since you’re from MI, I’m guessing that you’ve been to UM or can more easily visit, so I’ll post the links for UA and AzSt.</p>
<hr>
<p>The University of Alabama<br>
Tuscaloosa, AL</p>
<p>UA website: [The</a> University of Alabama](<a href=“http://ua.edu/]The”>http://ua.edu/)</p>
<p>Virtual Tour: [Virtual</a> Campus Tour - The University of Alabama<a href=“I%20suggest%20viewing%20if%20Full%20Screen.%20%20Be%20sure%20to%20click%20on%20the%20little%20pics%20on%20the%20bottom%20for%20views%20of%20other%20parts%20of%20campus”>/url</a></p>
<p>Culverhouse School of Commerce and Business: [url=<a href=“http://www.cba.ua.edu/]The”>http://www.cba.ua.edu/]The</a> Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration](<a href=“Page Not Found | The University of Alabama”>Page Not Found | The University of Alabama)</p>
<p>Campus Housing Residence Halls -
Here is an example of one of the 6 Honors Residence Halls at UA : [Housing</a> & Residential Communities - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://housing.ua.edu/ridgecrestsouth.cfm]Housing”>http://housing.ua.edu/ridgecrestsouth.cfm) Scroll down to see each suite’s floorplan…Plus…scroll down more to see pics of the interiors - click on small pics - use the arrows to see more pics</p>
<hr>
<p>Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona </p>
<p>AzSt website [Arizona</a> State University](<a href=“http://www.asu.edu/]Arizona”>http://www.asu.edu/)</p>
<p>AzSt virtual Tour [ASU</a> Online Tours:](<a href=“http://www.asu.edu/tour/tempe/index.html]ASU”>Tempe | Virtual Tour | ASU)</p>
<p>Business School [W</a>. P. Carey School of Business - Arizona State University](<a href=“http://wpcarey.asu.edu/]W”>http://wpcarey.asu.edu/)</p>
<p>Residence Halls - [Arizona</a> State University - Residential Life](<a href=“http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/reslife/halls.htm]Arizona”>http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/reslife/halls.htm)</p>
<p>Freshman Housing: [Arizona</a> State University - Residential Life](<a href=“http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/reslife/Tempe_North_Neighborhoods.htm]Arizona”>http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/reslife/Tempe_North_Neighborhoods.htm)</p>
<h2>I couldn’t find AzSt honors housing. Do they have honors housing?</h2>
<p>Frankly, if I were you, I’d apply to all 3 schools, apply to whatever honors colleges interest you (including the elite, competitive ones), try to squeeze in a visit sometime, and then decide after all the various decisions come thru (honors, etc.)</p>
<p>I know that the UA app and UA scholarship app are super EZ. I’m guessing the AzSt apps are also EZ, so you won’t be investing a lot of time with either app process. The honors apps might take a bit more effort.</p>
<p>BTW…can you talk your parents into doing some campus visits?</p>
<p>The way I understand National Merit, you can only send your National Merit standing or whatever it’s called to one college. I haven’t decided which one. I’ve visited UM many times and really like it. I wouldn’t go to one of these schools (ASU, UA, etc) until the spring. Has anyone in this type of situation had to make this decision before?</p>
<p>You don’t have to designate your final NM selection until after you’ve selected a school in March. Many students go through the same deliberation process.</p>
<p>You can change your NMF first choice into the summer. Some colleges require that you designate them as #1 for the scholarship.</p>
<p>WP Carey has a fine undergrad program with a slew of interesting majors such as supply chain management in addition to finance, accounting, marketing etc. tracks. If you’re NMF you’ll get admitted to Barrett Honors college, live in honors dorms, do liberal artsy classes like the Ivy students, and make good friends like my brother did. You’ll have a blast basking in the Sun in warm/hot weather vs freezing in Ann Arbor.</p>
<p>Now we get to the crucial bit. What do you do after you graduate? If you asked me before the economy tanked last Fall I’d say go to ASU Carey. Given where we are, $50K in low interest loans may be a small price to pay for the better job prospects graduating from Ross. But then a lot could change in four years.</p>
<p>You do college only once. I’d say follow your heart.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>NO! </p>
<p>My NMF son applied to several schools that knew he was a NMSF. They sent him offers that said - if you’re named a NMF, this is what you’ll receive: $$$$_______________. Usually, you have to apply to these schools by Dec 1st, and you have to send in the scholarship apps by Dec 1st. Some might have earlier deadlines.</p>
<p>Within a short time, DS had nearly a half a million dollars in offers. </p>
<p>Then, in the spring, he let NMCorp know which school was his final “top choice”. You can send or fax this to NMC when you want to give your final named college… <a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/Col_Ch_Mer.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/Col_Ch_Mer.pdf</a></p>
<p>I’d follow blaw’s advice. Often the less expensive college is not the better economic decision; sometimes it is. The bigger question is where do you want to be. $55K will not seem like it was worth the savings if your college experience is not what you want it to be.</p>
<p>It’d actually be over a 100k difference.</p>
<p>I’d take Michigan-Ross if I were. I think you’d have plenty of opportunities coming out of Ross than of those schools you’ve mentioned.</p>
<p>** Am I understanding this correctly? Is somebody here suggesting that you should take out $50k or 100k in student loans?? **</p>
<p>If so, this demonstrates how RARELY people use the student loan calculator to determine what the repayment would be. </p>
<p>** To repay a $100,000 student loan, your payments will be $1100.00 per month for 10 years. THAT would basically ruin your life between the ages of 22-32. ** While your work colleagues would be buying homes, getting married, driving nice cars, and perhaps starting a family, you would still be eating Ramen noodles, and using milk crates for furniture. :(</p>
<p>When another student (also NMF), talked to a top 20 school about which way he should go, they said, “Take the money, we’ll see in graduate school”</p>
<p>And, frankly, some of the not-so-veiled snobbery here is really pathetic and close minded. I am from California. I graduated from UCI. My H graduated from 2 Big Ten schools. We know quality education when we see it. I doubt any of you have been to UA or know much about it outside of its football team. You’re talking thru your hats.</p>
<p>You probably have no idea that many of Alabama’s in-state students are the children of high-tech transplants. The county that has the largest percentage of PhDs is in the state of Alabama. Alabama has the 2nd largest research park in the US - Cummings Research Park. </p>
<p>And, of course, since UA has recruited so successfully, many current students are OOS. You don’t hear many southern accents on campus.</p>
<p>And, the OP’s “college experience” would likely be wonderful at either school. Tonight my kids’ texted me about the huge bonfire that the students built on the quad in anticipation for tomorrow’s homecoming game. They’ve had fun all week participating in various HC activities.</p>
<p>I think the OP should try to visit these schools. I know if he visited Alabama, he would want to go there (the weather is better, the dorms are nicer, the campus is awesome, and the school spirit is sky high.). </p>
<p>No one needs to “pooh pooh” the academics at UA. The profs are from the Ivies, Stanford, Duke, Vandy, Emory, UCLA, Berkeley, Georgetown, Notre Dame, etc. The business school is very good.</p>
<p>** An out-of-state student who goes to Alabama recently posted on CC that… “UA is recruiting for the best and brightest students nationwide. For many students, it is the money that first interests us in Alabama, we visit, and then we get hooked.” **</p>
<p>Roll Tide… :)</p>
<p>oops</p>
<p>The sentence above (4th para) should read: </p>
<p>When another student (also NMF), talked to a top 20 school about which way he should go, they said, “Take the money, we’ll see you in graduate school”</p>
<p>While I’m at it…should be…** closed-minded <a href=“in%20the%205th%20para”>/b</a></p>
<p>There are probably other errors, but I haven’t had my coffee yet. LOL</p>
<p>** The University of Alabama once again leads the nation with five students named to USA Today’s 2009 All-USA College Academic Team **</p>
<hr>
<p>I think this is interesting info about UA and academics… </p>
<p>Full story… [University</a> of Alabama News Five UA Students Named to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Team](<a href=“http://uanews.ua.edu/2009/04/five-ua-students-named-to-usa-todays-all-usa-college-academic-team/]University”>http://uanews.ua.edu/2009/04/five-ua-students-named-to-usa-todays-all-usa-college-academic-team/)</p>
<p>[USA</a> Today All-USA Academic Team - The University of Alabama](<a href=“Page Not Found | The University of Alabama”>Page Not Found | The University of Alabama) To see UA students named in previous years, scroll down for links.</p>
<p>** University of Alabama once again leads the nation with five students named to USA Today’s 2009 All-USA College Academic Team **</p>
<p>UA has the most team members of any school with five. Harvard, the U.S. Naval Academy, Louisiana State University, Florida State University and Southern Illinois University each have three team members.</p>
<p>** This year’s team brings UA’s total for the last seven years to 36, a figure that tops all other colleges and universities.** In addition to this year, UA had the most students on the list in 2008 with seven, in 2006 with six and in 2005 and 2003, both with five.</p>
<p>The USA Today All-USA College Academic Team honors the “best of the best” undergraduate academic all-stars from across the nation. The team recognizes college students who not only excel in scholarship but also extend their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom to benefit society.</p>
<p>~snipped~</p>
<p>UA is good, although it’s almost a never heard school amongst the top employers. But if the Op can get into Ross, s/he should go to Ross. Ross provides better opportunities to its graduates than AU does. Don’t worry about your 50k loan too much. You can pay that up when you have a BBA from Ross especially if you’ll graduate with sterling marks.</p>
<p>RML, I’m going to guess you have never had to pay back a student loan (or much of anything else).</p>
<p>Clemson University has a great business program too if Alabama is being mentioned :)</p>