Alabama academics

Academic rankings are less meaningful than college football rankings.

Find a way to make it cost effective for most of the parents in state.

The plan for my child is that she goes to an in-state institution since we have a 529 for her already and we sorta pegged our monthly contributions to hit a number that is likely to be around the cost of tuition at UA in a decade and a half (and some change). Ideally UA because we're close and there are some additional benefits that would make it a better deal almost certainly unless the other in-state school is offering to write her big checks above and beyond total cost of attendance.

My opinion is that undergraduate is mostly replacement level education unless you have a specific, unique undergraduate program you or your child is eying for a career. I hope my child is the type that goes from UA crimson in undergraduate to Harvard crimson for graduate/doctoral to be quiet honest.

It is early days yet and they certainly become their own person with their own ideas in due time...

I can give you my view as an Alabama alum with a wife is is an Auburn alum. I have 3 daughters. Both of the older girls had over 4.2 GPA's. Auburn recruited them much harder and more effectively than did Alabama. Auburn offered a far better scholarship package to both of them. They both went to Auburn. They were both in a sorority and both had a fantastic experience at Auburn. Both had grown up as Alabama fans and gone to games in Tuscaloosa often.

I have 4 nephews. 3 of them had above 4.2 GPA's.All 4 grew up as Auburn fans but were out of state students. The oldest went to Vandy (full ride) and never considered Alabama. The second, same age as my oldest daughter, had the same level of grades and same level of ACT/SAT scores. Alabama rolled out the red carpet for him. He went to Alabama on a fullride scholarship in the School of Engineering.

Nephew #3 was an Alabama resident by heis Soph year in High school.Same level of grades and test scores. Alabama did not put on the hard press they had for #2. He took a full ride at Covenant College near Chattanooga.

Nephew #4 had pretty bad dislexia but fought his was to pretty good grades and test scores. Just not National Merrit Finalist level. He went to Alabama solely because of the field of study he wanted.

Alabama prioritized out of state over in state ina major way. One out of state boy got the carpet rolled out and two in state girls got largely ignored.

My 3rd daughter is a Jr. in High School. He grades and scores are fantastic (4.2+ GPA) but not quite as high as that of her cousin and two older sisters. She is an out of state student. Alabama is pursuing her like they did her cousin. But for her, Alabama is just a "back-up plan" school. She is Auburn first, Vandy second, Florida State 3rd, and Texas 4th. Alabama's treatment of her sisters ruined their chances of landing her.

We are out of state. Both daughters had achieved the highest level of Bright Futures here in FL and could have gone to any public college in state tuition free. Oldest daughter got a Presidential scholarship to Bama and a few weeks ago graduated Summa cum Laude with dual degrees and admission to Alabama law school.
Youngest just got a full ride to Bama. UA wasn’t her first choice; she wanted somewhere more prestigious. But 1) she hates Gainesville so that eliminated the in state option. 2) Nobody gave her enough money to match what Bama was giving. She was looking and applying to UVa, UNC, Georgetown, George Mason, William and Mary, George Washington, Washington and Lee, Ole Miss, and a couple of other schools. She was accepted everywhere but UNC (rejected) and UVa (waitlisted) and got money from all of the rest, but they couldn’t best Bama. Ole Miss came closest. All this to say Alabama is a great school and a great value. It may not have the reputation of a UF (which is quite frankly, bullshite IMHO. They have a good medical school and a good law school. Other than that, meh!) but they attract good OOS students because of the campus, the athletics, and scholarships. My oldest had friends from Cali, Colorado, Kansas, and Arizona. Alabama was a better value for most of them and most weren’t on scholarship like mine. Alabama is doing a LOT of things right to attract the out of state kids. They could probably improve their in state practices to get the kids from Alabama. But overall, I think they are doing a great job.
My oldest was applying to law schools and had gotten into a couple like Tulane and UF but the minute she got accepted to Alabama law, she shut it down and sais she wanted to be in Tuscaloosa for 3 more years.

Not a Bama alum and I let my two decide where to go. I did not send them anywhere. The oldest really liked his time at UAB and got a great job with his degree. The younger one followed in his footsteps and also had a great experience. It didnt hurt that we had relatives that lived in the Bham metro area where she could go and crash or have small gathers with her friends.