What can any of y'all tell me about UNA?

Thanks, I knew I could count on you...lol

I grew up in Florence. UNA is a good school from my understanding.

My oldest is there now. Loves it.

Beautiful campus, decent academics, relatively inexpensive, downtown is cool with quality dining options, just a good vibe all the way around.

That whole area is interesting. Of course there's Muscle Shoals and the music biz, there's plenty of great outdoors activities, there's even a Frank Lloyd Wright house nearby.

I'm a fan. As I said in the other thread, it's where I'd go to college if I were choosing today.

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I know it's been talked about in the where are you from thread but the reason I ask is my son is looking to transfer there. Pro's? Con's? He originally started at AU, came home and going to CC, looking at finishing his degree in communications.

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I went to UNA. It's a good school for what it is. It had about 6,000 students when I went there in the 00's. Even though it's smaller than the big state universities, I would say it's almost equal to them in academic demands. UNA's strengths are its nursing department and education department. They have a communications department as well (a friend of mine got his degree in that), so your son should be fine in that regard.

They do offer graduate degrees, but I think the Masters programs are limited to the liberal arts departments mostly.

Recently, a Chinese businessman gave them millions to build some sort of weird medical facility/school. It's holistic medicine or something. I am not crazy about it because I think "holistic" anything is pseudoscience, but I am sure the UNA BoT were not going to turn down that chunk of change.

They have a pretty decent Greek system as well with a number of frats/sororities. (I wasn't into that crap, though). If your son was in a frat at AU, he should have no problem "transferring" (however that works).

What UNA does not offer: engineering programs, medical school, law school, etc.

EDIT: Since other people are talking about it, I agree the guy to girl ratio is good for guys. Since UNA is a big nursing school, tons of hot girls are chilling at the clubs/bars on the weekend. Florence has about 35,000 residents, so there's not much competition for the college guys. The girls at UNA bring up the hot chick ratio to a very high level relative to an average population.

When I went to UNA, the girls were amazing. They would come to class dressed to the nines. It was great. Lately I haven't seen as many hot chicks walking around downtown, but it's probably just because I am an old bastard now and don't look out as much as I used to.

Go and visit. If you loved Auburn back in the day, you'll love Florence and UNA.

My bro-in-law graduated there and my niece is set to graduate this next semester. We go with my bro-in-law to homecoming every year and have a great time.

UNA was awesome. Florence is awesome. I grew up there though so I was stupid and thought I needed to get away.

Lived throughout the entire Shoals area for many years. UNA has really good nursing and teaching programs so there is a ton of 'talent' at the school...LOL

They also used to have one helluva football team that won the Division II title in a three-peat back in the 90's.

I'm in grad school here. As everyone has said, Florence is awesome, especially coming from Tuscaloosa. It's got everything Tuscaloosa has but with much less traffic, crime, and filth. Plus, there are a ton of women here. It's just a nice town. I may not leave for a while.