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Was wanting to ask some questions about UofA

Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:07 pm
Posted by happyhappyjoyjoy
Packer/Suns fan too
Member since Apr 2011
2947 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:07 pm
Hope this is cool to post, if not just delete it

I'm a high school senior who is looking at several colleges. The only 3 I'm really considering now a days are UofA, ArkTech, and UCA. UofA is like my dream school. I wanna call the Hogs in the student section and experience every game I can. But I'm kinda torn, since Tech seems a lot cheaper.

Soooooo

1. I've got a 28 on the ACT and 3.275 cumulative GPA. Does anyone know how much I could get from the UofA scholarships. I know from Tech I can get 9,000 dollars. But I'm having trouble finding very good scholarship info from Arkansas.

2. How much cash am I looking to drop all together? It's really hard to convince my parents that going to Arkansas. Looking at their tuition chart the section "Undergraduate Dep. w/par" seems to be pretty cheap. This seem to exclude Board (so no meal plan I guess) and Room is a bit cheaper. But da fack does Undergraduate Dep. w/par even mean?

3. Is it better to live of campus or on campus cost wise?

4. How cheap are games if you are a student?

5. Overall how much did you like going to the UofA?

If anyone can add any useful info about this then I would be so greatful, I kinda hoped on this college thing late and whenever I try to look into where I'm attending I get overwhelmed. TIA
Posted by UltimateHog
Oregon
Member since Dec 2011
65773 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:11 pm to
Although I'm sure someone will help you out, I feel like most of these questions should be for your HS guidance counselor.
Posted by happyhappyjoyjoy
Packer/Suns fan too
Member since Apr 2011
2947 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:23 pm to
quote:

Although I'm sure someone will help you out, I feel like most of these questions should be for your HS guidance counselor.



Yah. She's kinda....strange though lol, so I usually only go to her for the big stuff (getting transcripts, scholarship apps, etc.)
Posted by SLC
Hiwasse, AR
Member since Oct 2007
15522 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:28 pm to
Not trying to be a wise arse but thup is would be a good exercise for you to write down a budget for each option. Do that and then bounce it back off of us and you'll get a lot better insight.

Also, look at an ROTC scholarship. If you receive it you'll have everything paid for including room and board on campus, or it used to be that way.
Posted by I Ham That I Ham
Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble
Member since Jan 2012
10773 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:43 pm to
quote:

4. How cheap are games if you are a student?


You can buy an access pass that gives you access to all home Hogs games (all sports). Was $85 a couple years ago when I got mine.

quote:

5. Overall how much did you like going to the UofA?


Loved it. You can probably have fun at any of those schools but since you're a Hog fan and it's your dream school like most of us you'll have a blast on the Hill.

As far as the other stuff goes, talk to admissions and financial aid and your own counselor about the $$ stuff. You'll get more money from Tech probably but you might always wish you went to UA (assuming you can make it work financially).
Posted by Razorback Reverend
Member since Dec 2013
22732 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:47 pm to
do you have time to retake the test and score higher?

Apply for all shollys from Modern Woodmen, Farm Bureau, Walmart, look for all options as well.
Posted by The Sultan of Swine
Member since Nov 2010
7740 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:52 pm to
While a degree from U of A is obvioisly going to carry more preatige, there are nice things about attending a smaller university like Tech. It can be easier to build relationships with professors, which in some cases can end up being more valuable than your degree itself.

It all depends on what you want to get out of your college experience and where you think you fit in.
Posted by Feral
Member since Mar 2012
12398 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:55 pm to
quote:

1. I've got a 28 on the ACT and 3.275 cumulative GPA. Does anyone know how much I could get from the UofA scholarships. I know from Tech I can get 9,000 dollars. But I'm having trouble finding very good scholarship info from Arkansas.


I'd apply for as many scholarships as you can (lottery, Academic Challenge if they still have it, etc.) and see what happens. I'd also give the UA Admissions office a call and see if they could possibly give you some good info on costs, scholarships and tuition breaks.


quote:

5. Overall how much did you like going to the UofA?



Was literally the best decision I ever made. Met my wife, made some lifelong friends (and business contacts), had an unforgettable time, and cherished every minute of it. I still get a warm feeling inside whenever I set foot on campus. It's home to me.

Good luck, regardless of where you choose to go, and be sure to enjoy every minute of it
This post was edited on 1/17/15 at 9:56 pm
Posted by happyhappyjoyjoy
Packer/Suns fan too
Member since Apr 2011
2947 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 9:58 pm to
quote:

Not trying to be a wise arse but thup is would be a good exercise for you to write down a budget for each option. Do that and then bounce it back off of us and you'll get a lot better insight.



Yah, I'm gonna have to work on stuff like that. Like I said, doing this all wayyyyyyy too late.

quote:

You can buy an access pass that gives you access to all home Hogs games (all sports). Was $85 a couple years ago when I got mine.





Wow, the few times I went to a Hog game that was about what it cost all together. That's just awesome.

quote:

You'll get more money from Tech probably but you might always wish you went to UA (assuming you can make it work financially).


Pretty much the situation. My family really really really doesn't want me taking out loans and they would pay a lot of it (feel like kinda a leech saying that, lol). They could definitely handle it financially, but I really wanna make it as cost free as possible.

quote:

do you have time to retake the test and score higher?

Apply for all shollys from Modern Woodmen, Farm Bureau, Walmart, look for all options as well.



I'm taking it again Feb 7th, but it seems like a lot of places want nothing later than the Dec ACT. If so that's a shame, I'm pretty sure I can get it up to a 30.

I'll look into all the scholarships, thanks!
Posted by TheCheshireHog
Cashew Chicken Country
Member since Oct 2010
40859 posts
Posted on 1/17/15 at 10:07 pm to
quote:

Was literally the best decision I ever made. Met my wife, made some lifelong friends (and business contacts), had an unforgettable time, and cherished every minute of it. I still get a warm feeling inside whenever I set foot on campus. It's home to me.


This is the perfect description for me as well.
Posted by DocHog
Member since Nov 2006
1915 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 8:02 am to
quote:

happyhappyjoyjoy


For perspective only : we are from Texas, and my son graduated from UA and is now a 1L there( doing quite well, I might add.)

He made a slightly higher ACT than you and was judged for schollys IIRC on a combo of his ACT and class rank percentile. I don't think GPA figured into things much.

He received in-state tuition there, but otherwise didn't get a lot of help to attend. His tuition was never more than about 5 k per yr, and we still spent about 80k to get him his degree. That figure doesn't include car expenses, medical, dental, or cell. He stayed up there in the summers and worked/took a few classes. He graduated in 4 yrs.

He worked part time when he could, saved in the summers, and was involved in the Greek system which ups the cost. The dorm was a pretty fair deal. The meal plans were helpful in making him learn to budget; I kept him on a small plan even through his sophomore yr when he first started to love off campus.

Posted by Marty McFrat
Arkansas hell
Member since Feb 2011
14827 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 10:07 am to
Honestly if you want to go to UA just do it man. You will not regret it. You are required your first year to live on campus so that is pretty pricey. But after that, 12 hours will run you about $3,300 per semester in tuition. Get yourself a decent job working 20 hours a week and a house off campus with some buds and you'll pay $300 ish plus bills to live there. Games are very cheap for students, it's like $85 for all sporting events for the entire year.

I loved going to UA and would not think of doing it anywhere else in arkansas.
Posted by DaleDenton
Member since Jun 2010
42348 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 10:11 am to
quote:


1. I've got a 28 on the ACT and 3.275 cumulative GPA. Does anyone know how much I could get from the UofA scholarships. I know from Tech I can get 9,000 dollars. But I'm having trouble finding very good scholarship info from Arkansas.


9k total, per year, or per semester?

Schools give out their awards differently, also have different standards that must be kept to keep the aid.

quote:


2. How much cash am I looking to drop all together? It's really hard to convince my parents that going to Arkansas. Looking at their tuition chart the section "Undergraduate Dep. w/par" seems to be pretty cheap. This seem to exclude Board (so no meal plan I guess) and Room is a bit cheaper. But da fack does Undergraduate Dep. w/par even mean?


You need to sit down and examine what you want to be, what you want to pursue a career in, what you are capable of doing.

Right down three options, verify that each school offers a degree program in each as you may find you do not like option A and want to switch during your freshman/soph year.

quote:


3. Is it better to live of campus or on campus cost wise?


Pretty sure you have to live on campus your freshmen year at UofA (or it was like that at one time).

quote:


4. How cheap are games if you are a student?


Do not let this be a deciding factor in where you attend school.

quote:


If anyone can add any useful info about this then I would be so greatful, I kinda hoped on this college thing late and whenever I try to look into where I'm attending I get overwhelmed. TIA


You need to schedule campus visits soon, you will be excused from missing classes in HS for this, while this visits won't give you an accurate picture of what college life is like, it will give you an idea of class sizes and prof/teach interactions for various schools.

If you prefer small class sizes, interactions during class, engaged discussions, the UofA is likely not going to be for you. If you want to blend into the crowd from the professor's viewpoint, do the work outside of class, show up and take notes during the class, you'll be just fine.

Large campuses and classes are not for everyone, just as small campuses and classes are not either. They usually let you sit in a class pertaining to your degree choice on a visit to get an idea.

Wherever you choose to go, get a job, it doesn't have to be a job you keep the 4/5/whatever amount of years you are on campus, but do whatever is possible to keep from taking out student loans. Besides most employers want to see you worked while going to school and helped pay for the costs of doing so, some will care more about this than your GPA (if they even care, most places outside of academia/specific fields don't).

Don't waste money on useless credits from easy classes to boost your GPA, take classes that will teach you a skill of some sort, versatility is key in today's job market as you can find higher paying jobs outside of your degree focus if you can do them.

And example would be instead of taking French Lit, take a psychology class or two (certain ones can help with managing people in the workforce).

If you are immature and not ready to be on your own, if you are likely to party your way out of school during the first 4 semesters, if you will frick off on Xbox instead doing the work outside of class, don't waste everyone's resources taking a high paying award away from a more worthy candidate enroll in a commuter school close to home and save your parent's some money and aggravation, you can transfer where ever after completing the frosh/soph hours "everyone" has to take.
This post was edited on 1/18/15 at 10:14 am
Posted by theenemy
Member since Oct 2006
13078 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 12:24 pm to
If it is your "dream school".

Go for it. You can always transfer to ArkTech if you decide its not for you.

Getting student loans is worth the experience of going to your "dream school".


Posted by Porker Face
Midnight
Member since Feb 2012
15320 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 12:40 pm to
What do you plan on majoring in?
Posted by Ronaldo Burgundiaz
NWA
Member since Jan 2012
6541 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 1:43 pm to
quote:

What do you plan on majoring in?

This is an important question. If a business degree definitely UA. If engineering, perhaps Tech. Graduated from UCA, majored in MIS. I moved up here a year ago. If I could go back, I would go to UA no question.
Posted by Porker Face
Midnight
Member since Feb 2012
15320 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 1:54 pm to
quote:

If engineering, perhaps Tech.


I would probably say UA for engineering
Posted by DaleDenton
Member since Jun 2010
42348 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 2:20 pm to
quote:



I would probably say UA for engineering


Tech has really pumped up their Engineering program over what it was a decade ago.
Posted by Porker Face
Midnight
Member since Feb 2012
15320 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 2:34 pm to
Depends on the major I guess. Gotta go to an ABET accredited program IMO

Tech's Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems and Mechanical Engineering departments are ABET accredited

UA has Biological, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical
Posted by DaleDenton
Member since Jun 2010
42348 posts
Posted on 1/18/15 at 2:41 pm to
quote:


Tech's Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems and Mechanical Engineering departments are ABET accredited


I believe none or only Computer Science were ABET accredited a decade ago.

If you are going into electrical/mechanical I would looking to a ABET accredited program at a school that also offers CAD classes, take those classes as elective/filler credits over French Lit types.

The CAD classes will help you learn schematics and standards in the industry as well as how to draft your ideas while having an ideal how to determine if the ideas are feasible in a real world application and manufacturing setting, in other words you won't seem like a dumbass who is good at math but has no real understanding of the world once you enter the workforce.
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