Howdy!

My daughter is looking at colleges for next year. She surprised us and got a 35 out of 36 on the ACT, and now scholarships have opened up.

We live in California, but she wants to go to school in the south. She's thinking she may want to go to med school, but she really isn't sure. She's thinking she may want to go into food science with a med school focus.

We know she qualifies for a full out-of-state tuition to both Alabama and Auburn. Neither of those have food science. She has not visited Alabama or Auburn, but she knows she wants the south and a college town. Both of those schools fit that.

Her brother is a junior at A&M and loves it! Of course, I'm an Aggie. She knows some other kids that will be at A&M when she is there.

I'm thinking that she should pick Alabama or Auburn over A&M (unless she gets a scholarship). It's a lot of money! I know the Aggie Network is excellent, but is it worth around $100K.

Am I missing something? What do you think? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

Auburn is a land grant school, like A&M, so I imagine they might have something like food science in their ag department. Might need to poke around some more.

Auburn has Nutrition Science, and it's definitely different than food science at A&M.

Major wise, I would say A&M over Auburn.

Size wise Auburn wins. She thinks A&M is too big!

Alabama is intriguing because they are doing research in movement disorders, and my daughter could participate in the research even as an undergraduate. She is really interested in this because she has a movement disorder, dystonia. However, the disorder makes it hard to write, and she's not sure she wants to do the schooling to become a doctor

We've never been to Alabama or Auburn, so I don't know what they are like.

She's also applying to Georgia and Clemson, and she's visited them. She just doesn't know about scholarships yet for them. She loved Georgia, but we've read it's hard to get scholarships there. and the town of Athens! She liked Clemson University, but not the town. We think she qualifies for good scholarships there, but she is unsure of it.

We need to make a trip to Alabama and Auburn.

A&M does offer scholarships to high performing students; one of mine is attending right now. How did she do on the PSAT? A high score on the PSAT can garner scholarships as well. It may be more difficult for out of state students because at some schools the out of state tuition is waived but not a whole lot more than that. Some of the private schools offered scholarships, but the tuition/cost of living was (for us) going to be pretty high, even with financial need.

My student is happy at A&M, but looked at quite a few schools both private and public. Nebraska, while not in the south South has a very nice food science program and is very friendly, and similar to A&M--conservative, etc.

Visits can, indeed, be very helpful in your student's decision. Best wishes for her future, no matter her choice.

You can work a deal with A&M to at least get in-state tuition.

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You can work a deal with A&M to at least get in-state tuition.

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Just want to provide a little clarification about this. TAMU does offer non-resident tuition waivers to students who are awarded a competitive TAMU scholarship worth $1000 or more. The student receives the scholarship money and is also allowed to pay resident tuition. However, it's not as simple as 'working a deal'. I think CrottyKid means well with his/her statement, but it's important to note the scholarship process is competitive; last year, more than 18,000 students were considered for roughly 3,000 awards. A 35 ACT will definitely put her in the running, but they use a holistic process and consider class rank, essays, and extracurricular involvement.

The only guaranteed scholarship TAMU offers is to those who are named National Merit Finalists, National Achievement Finalists, or National Hispanic Scholars.

I will also say that TAMU does review counter offers. You can send an offer letter from Alabama/Auburn and TAMU will try and provide a comparable offer if funding is available. This is never a dollar for dollar match as cost of attendance varies, but it will be an attempt to make TAMU affordable.

I hope this helps!

Auburn and Alabama are diploma mills. I would rather have a degree from A&M

Food Science programs, by and large, focus on the chemistry, microbiology, and engineering aspects of food processing, packaging, and safety, etc. Auburn offers a food science major based out of the Poultry Science department, and is very similar to the food science program at TAMU. I'd be willing to bet there are a few Aggies on faculty in that program (and vice versa at A&M).

That being said, does she want to work with on that end of things, or in human nutrition? Human nutrition is out of my area of concern, so I don't have a feel for how the programs compare. However, there are some human nutrition programs that focus on things like culinology, rather than the science aspects of nutrition, so be aware of that. If med school may indeed be in the future, there's likely some joint programs between Bama's main campus and UAB that might be of interest to her.

I work with many Auburn grads and collaborate extensively with faculty there, it's a fine school and a great place to live - reminds me of College Station in many respects (at least what College Station was like when I was there). Auburn has most everything you need, and very easy access to Atlanta. ATL is about the same distance from Auburn as IAH from College Station. I pass through Tuscaloosa a couple times a month and find it to be OK. Not my first choice of college towns in the southeast, but not completely terrible. Much the same situation as Auburn, has most everything you need, and is 45 minutes from B'ham airport.

If your daughter finds TAMU too big, then either of these will likely fit the bill, size-wise. Just make sure you pick a program with some rigor that will serve your daughter's future aspirations. As I advise my graduate students that are pondering further studies, let the quality of the program inform their decision, not the curb appeal of the university. Bama and Auburn both turn out well-trained graduates, just like TAMU turns out duds. A free education from a decent program > unnecessarily spending a ton of money that can be saved for med or grad school.

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Auburn and Alabama are diploma mills. I would rather have a degree from A&M

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This made me LOL. As if TAMU is not a diploma mill these days.

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You can work a deal with A&M to at least get in-state tuition.

---

Just want to provide a little clarification about this. TAMU does offer non-resident tuition waivers to students who are awarded a competitive TAMU scholarship worth $1000 or more. The student receives the scholarship money and is also allowed to pay resident tuition. However, it's not as simple as 'working a deal'. I think CrottyKid means well with his/her statement, but it's important to note the scholarship process is competitive; last year, more than 18,000 students were considered for roughly 3,000 awards. A 35 ACT will definitely put her in the running, but they use a holistic process and consider class rank, essays, and extracurricular involvement.

The only guaranteed scholarship TAMU offers is to those who are named National Merit Finalists, National Achievement Finalists, or National Hispanic Scholars.

I will also say that TAMU does review counter offers. You can send an offer letter from Alabama/Auburn and TAMU will try and provide a comparable offer if funding is available. This is never a dollar for dollar match as cost of attendance varies, but it will be an attempt to make TAMU affordable.

I hope this helps!

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That last bit is exactly what I was talking about. That sounds a lot like "work a deal".

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You can work a deal with A&M to at least get in-state tuition.

---

Just want to provide a little clarification about this. TAMU does offer non-resident tuition waivers to students who are awarded a competitive TAMU scholarship worth $1000 or more. The student receives the scholarship money and is also allowed to pay resident tuition. However, it's not as simple as 'working a deal'. I think CrottyKid means well with his/her statement, but it's important to note the scholarship process is competitive; last year, more than 18,000 students were considered for roughly 3,000 awards. A 35 ACT will definitely put her in the running, but they use a holistic process and consider class rank, essays, and extracurricular involvement.

The only guaranteed scholarship TAMU offers is to those who are named National Merit Finalists, National Achievement Finalists, or National Hispanic Scholars.

I will also say that TAMU does review counter offers. You can send an offer letter from Alabama/Auburn and TAMU will try and provide a comparable offer if funding is available. This is never a dollar for dollar match as cost of attendance varies, but it will be an attempt to make TAMU affordable.

I hope this helps!

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Confirmed. I paid in-state tuition at A&M even though I graduated from HS in Arkansas. I had a competitive scholarship from the PETE department.

A&M. It isn't close.

The big question is fit. A&M has more students than AU and UA combined. Like it or not, we are a really big school. My daugher is looking at A&M and Auburn. We were there for the game this weekend (Whoop!), but she really liked the feel at Auburn.

With your daughter's ACT, has she looked at Georgia and Florida?

Update - well, we visited Alabama last week. It was a great visit, and I think she will end up there.

She originally wanted to go Food Science while preparing for med school.

However that's changed since visiting Alabama. She has a very rare movement disorder, dystonia. One of Alabama's professors, Dr. caldwell, is studying it along with Parkinson's and other movement disorders. We met with him for 2 hours and got a tour of the lab. If she does well in honors biology, she'll have a good shot at working in the lab. He also has connections with the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation which we are part of, and he said even if she doesn't work in his lab he'l l connect her with doctors in the area.

After that visit, she was very inspired!

Then the campus is very pretty and a good size for her. Everyone we met was very nice.

Before we went on all the college tours, my daughter thought Duke was going to be her top choice. She ended up being turned off by Duke (too snooty and other other issues).

Then the college that is probably the lowest ranked school has inspired her.

She's not going to apply to A&M or anywhere else. She wants to work in Dr. Caldwell's lab.

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Auburn and Alabama are diploma mills. I would rather have a degree from A&M

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Have you heard of the 25 by 25 initiative?

I agree that A&M is turning into an ASU diploma mill. I recently started a graduate program at a top business school so luckily that will eliminate whatever dilution becomes of my undergrad A&M degree.

The 25 by 25 initiative sucks! When my daughter heard A&M was getting even bigger, she really got turned off. I can't say I blame her.

I've been disappointed in aspects of my son's education at A&M. The dorm life has gotten worse in my opinion. He barely knew anyone in his dorm. In my day, we did lots with our dorms. We ate together and had lots of parties and formals. In this day and age, you still get stuck potluck with a roommate if you don't know anyone at A&M. Other schools use computers to match you up with someone similar. The meal plan is awful, and it's ridiculous that freshman and sophomores have to pay for it.

A&M used to have hometown clubs for students which were very good for out of state kids. We used to have lots of concerts on campus. I saw Cheap Trick, Adam Ant, The Motels, Huey Lewis and the News among other popular groups.

I don't think my son's education is anything that special. He's economics, and I was computer science. It might just be degree differences. He's had quite a few online or semi-online classes that I don't think were worth the money .

We're both still glad he picked A&M over the University of California schools or Cal -Poly. He'll get out in 4 years, and he loves the students at A&M. He does wish he would have looked at other colleges outside of California. A&M was the only one he looked at, and it was way above the UCs in his opinion.

For my daughter, we're thinking that she goes some place she'll be comfortable living for the cheapest price. She'll then have money for grad school.

Oh, and my daughter did get into University of Georgia. She just really likes Dr. Caldwell at Alabama and the opportunities she has there.

If your daughter is considering med school or other graduate studies, then you have to consider way more than school prestige when making the college decision. It sounds like she has found the right place for her. Getting involved with that professor's research early in the undergrad will be invaluable. Having that kind of opportunity with a professor in your desired area of interests makes up for any differences in prestige between universities.

At the end of the day, you have to make the grades in the classroom and do well on the graduate school entrance exam, but positive recommendations from respected professors sometimes end up carrying the most weight in the admissions process.

SVAggie84-

Congrats on the Alabama decision! My husband and I are Aggies 89/94, but we live in Atlanta. My son's 3 school hopes are A&M, Alabama and Auburn too!

He has been accepted with the Presidential OOS scholarship to both Alabama and Auburn. As for A&M, we wait (he applied VERY late to A&M- his fault). It's crazy that he can get full tuition scholarships and admission to the honors colleges, but he is worried he won't even be accepted to A&M. He is an Eagle Scout who really wants to be in the Corps of Cadets, which the other 2 schools can't offer. If he does get accepted, I will definitely be sending our other offers to A&M (as suggested above) for them to review- ha! I agree that A&M has become SO large. That is a concern, but I think the Corps would give him a feeling of "belonging."

I will say that Alabama and Auburn seem VERY interested in their out of state students and throw money at them! During our visits to both schools, they made it clear they WANTED him. The emails, letters and mailings are continuous. I do NOT believe either school is a diploma factory, as suggested above. In the SE, these schools are both highly regarded and a student with good grades at either school could expect to get a great co-op and job offers upon graduation.

While we love Aggieland, we LOVED both the Alabama and Auburn campuses too. Interestingly, he did not apply to the well-esteemed GaTech because of the downtown Atlanta location, nor to Georgia because they lack the Engineering program he wants (and because we couldn't stand for him to be a Dawg!)

His preference is:
1. A&M
2. Auburn- an hour from our house, and the campus is A&M-like
3. Alabama- beautiful campus, new dorms, a little more "old south" feeling

Aren't you so happy your daughter has made her decision?! Best Wishes!!

She can become a Texas citizen over time and apply as a resident for Texas medical schools. This is the advantage and the bottom line.

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I've been disappointed in aspects of my son's education at A&M. The dorm life has gotten worse in my opinion. He barely knew anyone in his dorm. In my day, we did lots with our dorms. We ate together and had lots of parties and formals.

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There are still some dorms that are very active, but sadly, I think a lot of that came from the inter-dorm rivalry that was lost with Bonfire. These days, there are definitely some dorms that are more active than others. Just curious, which was he in? I'm a recent grad, and I had a great dorm experience. We basically left our door propped open any time we weren't sleeping. I met lots of people that way.

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In this day and age, you still get stuck potluck with a roommate if you don't know anyone at A&M. Other schools use computers to match you up with someone similar.

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Honestly, I think potluck is the way to go. College is supposed to be about learning and growing, and part of that is meeting people that are different than you. I've had lots of potluck roommates. Some ended up as good friends, and some I just got along with. In my book, if you respect each other's sleeping habits and you don't think they'll steal/break your stuff when you're not there, they're a good roommate. I think dorm experiences are determined largely by expectations, as well as what you put into it.

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I don't think my son's education is anything that special.

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I'm really sorry you guys haven't had a great 9experience. I still think A&M is a very special place.

My family had a similar experience. I graduated high school in South Carolina and had a full ride to Clemson but really wanted to be at A&M. While I did qualify for the in-state tuition waiver I did not receive nearly the amount of money from A&M but it's where I wanted to be. My younger brother did about the same as your daughter in testing and got full scholarships out of state, but nothing from the A&M financial aid department, so he ended up at Pittsburgh doing biomedical engineering where he'll continue on after undergrad.

Overall we've been disappointed in the scholarship money made available by A&M. Mine was from an individual donor & the PETE department. In-state tuition is cheap, but you have to really want to be there to pass up other school's dollars.

Freshman year, my son was in Aston. His roommate was in a frat and came home drunk and throwing up often.

sophomore year - he moved to Wells and got a senior who graduated in December. 2nd semester, he got th e really crazy roommate who went to bed at 9 or 10 pm, got mad at my son when was on the computer, and yelled at him for sniffling when he had a cold.

I think I was very lucky with good rommates!

Now, he's in a 2 bdrm apartment with a friend, and is very, very happy.

I still think A&M is one of the best colleges for engineering.

My son is getting his BS in economics. It's definitely not as challenging as my engpineering degree, but he's not the engineering type.

He's happy he's at A&M. He wants to work in Texas after graduating, and he thinks the Aggie Network is one of the best alumni networks around. He thinks Aggies are much friendlier than people in California.

He also thinks my daughter would like A&M, but he thinks she should take the scholarship. He thinks she'll be happy at Alabama. He has friends that have gone there, and he thinks she'll like it.

If she doesn't like Alabama, she can always transfer.

Wow. Can't say I would have enjoyed that dorm experience either. Pretty crazy to end up with that many bad roommate draws, but congrats on his approaching graduation!

Tuition money's hard to turn down. I think A&M is special, but I certainly don't believe it's the only good school out there. Good luck to your daughter, whatever she chooses.