re: NOT AU sports related - Need suggestions/info on other AL colleges

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Cyber security is a booming field.

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True but also you will want to have to continually learn. There are many different avenues in Cyber Security. So you will want to be trying different things and not go into it for just the money. you won't be successful. I don't hire new people out of college when I hire that you can tell they just want the money. It is a fast curve of learning and continuous learning.

If I had it to do all over again, I don't know if I would go to college if I was just starting out again. There are many ways to make good money now.

If diversity is your goal in a school I’d recommend out of state

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If diversity is your goal in a school I’d recommend out of state

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Haha yea, not sure I’d say any of the main three being discussed are any beacons of cultural diversity At least not enough of a difference to rule out superior programs at one or the other schools in the state because of that.

Far be it from me to question how a parent wants to try and teach their kids something. Just an interesting juxtaposition when contrasted against the fear of Birmingham safety, largely due to the income and class diversification

Obviously just my opinion, but I think you may be overselling the AU student body a little but I get your point. Mine only is I don’t think there is that great a variance anywhere to just rule out any of the decent state schools based on that. If it had the best program for what they want to do, and obviously is within the budget, that’s what I would go with.

ETA: and just providing a counter argument here. I know that is far from the only variable you are considering in the decision, not trying to be critical. It’s a big decision.

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If hospitality management is on the list, how can you not look at AU?

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It's an incredible building and the program is outstanding. My daughter is graduating w/ a degree from there and she had a job offer she accepted before she started her senior year. I would at least go look at it, if that's the major chosen.

AUjim:

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There is very little income and class diversification at good ole AU these days. I'd like for my kids to see that everyone on the planet doesn't live in a giant house and drive a lexus or bmw at age 19.

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I understand your concerns and it's justified. Speaking from someone that has had a child there since '18. It's a hugely different student body than when I went in the 90s. Lots of big $. But there are certainly "normal" kids too. My kids had/have rich friends and roommates that $ was never a concern, but they also had friends & roommates just like them.

It's still a great school and nursing and hospitality management programs are great (had a kid in both). It'd be ashamed to strike it from the list because there are some rich kids running around. That's pretty much life.

Need to learn to be happy regardless of Braxton driving a new F250 Platinum or Madison's new X5 or their house on 30A and Lake Martin. My kids have certainly enjoyed some of the perks of rich friends, like lake houses and beach houses. It's not all bad.

I suppose I don't necessarily understand the concern in terms of wealth diversity. A kid of means going to a school with other kids like him/her may reinforce the concept, but so will life in general. A kid of lesser means than the rest of the school seems like a reasonable opportunity to gain a picture of how life actually operates.

Ultimately I imagine many of us want high achieving, successful (in every measure) kids who are nonetheless grounded and don't think they're above more modest living/careers/etc. - even if we don't necessarily wish it for them. But I'm just not sure how this strategy advances that.

Sending either to a lesser school strikes me as iffy - you'd have to have a very romanticized view of other Alabama colleges to not acknowledge that you'll have lesser achievers and less ambitious types as your peers, which is always a challenge and not one I necessarily see as having a big payoff.

Anyway, I'm not questioning the idea as an attack - it's his family and I'm sure he has their well being as his top priority. But as it was posited here, just discussing the concept.

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hanging out with blue haired weirdos

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Agreed.

And another thing I haven't mentioned is we moved a few years back and currently live fairly close to that area....I don't want it to be 13th grade with a lot of the same people they know now. Personality/growth-wise I think my son would really benefit from a change of scenery while my daughter is pretty strong in the self identity arena already.

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I just dont want my kids hanging out with blue haired weirdos.

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Same

And Auburn is perhaps the best big school in America for that

Fun story. I graduated from my dream school (Auburn) with zero debt.