Started By
Message
NOT AU sports related - Need suggestions/info on other AL colleges
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:20 am
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:20 am
The time has come for my children to visit colleges. Grades and test scores are good for both, but we aren't going to be rocket surgeons. Things that currently interest them are pretty wide-ranging - physical therapy, hospitality management, economics, psychology...etc. They are 100% not interested in nursing, accounting, or computer science/IT fields.
On the list for consideration now are UAB, Troy, and South Alabama.
Anybody have pros/cons for each based on your personal experience attending?
Thanks
On the list for consideration now are UAB, Troy, and South Alabama.
Anybody have pros/cons for each based on your personal experience attending?
Thanks
11
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:36 am to AUjim
I think you need to have a long talk with your kids.
Physical Therapy might be fine but the rest look like bad job prospects from the start.
Physical Therapy might be fine but the rest look like bad job prospects from the start.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:39 am to AUjim
For physical therapy, definitely South AL. Great program.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:42 am to AUjim
I have 2 buddies that did computer science at JSU. They’ve done quite well for themselves. Cyber security is a booming field.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:43 am to jangalang
quote:
Physical Therapy might be fine but the rest look like bad job prospects from the start.
Depends, say economics undergrad with a Finance Masters can land you some good jobs in the finance industry (of course that is long hours and places no where near Alabama) And that masters should not be from the same place. I have some friends now that did that and they are set. Retired early.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:51 am to 88TIger
Definitely need travel. Also need a niche and connections.
Relationships are worth hundreds of thousands sometimes.
Relationships are worth hundreds of thousands sometimes.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:51 am to AUjim
Have heard great things about Troy from a few family friends with kids there. Sort of described like a public Samford if you will. People have also described it as “auburn from the 80s”- meaning small town feel campus and town culture- not sports, obviously.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:53 am to 88TIger
I don't disagree necessarily, but also to Jang's point there really isn't much you can do with an econ degree except for use it as a base for another degree 
That said, somewhat true for all of the business degrees unless you can line up somewhere to get good work experience instead of going for a Masters. I do think that other Business majors have some more practical value in their courses than what the upper level Econ classes have, so I'd say lean towards those and just get an Econ minor. You are going to be taking Econ classes anyways.
That said, somewhat true for all of the business degrees unless you can line up somewhere to get good work experience instead of going for a Masters. I do think that other Business majors have some more practical value in their courses than what the upper level Econ classes have, so I'd say lean towards those and just get an Econ minor. You are going to be taking Econ classes anyways.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:56 am to 88TIger
I did Econ
Gotta figure out in undergrad where you want to take it but it’s a great degree for most introductory finance jobs. I’m a consultant now but could’ve gone any number of directions
Gotta figure out in undergrad where you want to take it but it’s a great degree for most introductory finance jobs. I’m a consultant now but could’ve gone any number of directions
Posted on 1/15/25 at 11:59 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
I have 2 buddies that did computer science at JSU. They’ve done quite well for themselves. Cyber security is a booming field.
I have a friend that milked a secret clearance from active army and a connection with a friend to 180,000 job at Redstone Arsenal. His entry job was only as a cable puller.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 12:17 pm to jangalang
It can be a great route for sure.
I'll say the information systems route is becoming very oversaturated, so that would be another to just be cautious of. Can still be a great route, but the demand just doesn't come close to matching the supply anymore.
I'll say the information systems route is becoming very oversaturated, so that would be another to just be cautious of. Can still be a great route, but the demand just doesn't come close to matching the supply anymore.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 12:25 pm to AUjim
To the OP, both Troy and South AL. have good programs, like anywhere, just depends on what you study. Both are generally pretty well respected in the state as far as employment.
UAB is a very different place undergrad vs post-grad. The non-medical focused undergrad programs are fine, but really nothing special.
UAB is a very different place undergrad vs post-grad. The non-medical focused undergrad programs are fine, but really nothing special.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 12:28 pm to AUjim
UAH is a nice option for PT and the current university president there kicks arse. They are improving in many areas.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 12:50 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
quote:
UAB is a very different place undergrad vs post-grad.
As far as the location....I know very, very little about Birmingham and the neighborhoods there - is UAB in a decent enough area or would my wife's outlandish, irrational fears be accurate-ish?
Posted on 1/15/25 at 12:59 pm to AUjim
quote:
is UAB in a decent enough area?
The campus has security. The area surrounding the campus leaves a lot to be desired in terms of safety. My cousin's son and daughter are UAB students. They live with their parents in Gardendale and commute.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 1:04 pm to AUjim
Yea, the campus is largely in a fine area of town and has really had a lot of good growth in recent years. Some great restaurants, breweries/bars, Barons Baseball stadium, and such are all right around it. The 5pts/Southside area has been going downhill a lot and is a somewhat close to the main campus, but that is more of a nightlife issue. Not something that is really a concern as far as going to school.
The main campus is good enough and there are lots of areas to live both downtown and over the mountain that are in great areas, but it isn't some amazing campus in general. Birmingham gets a bad rap and not to say it doesn't deserve most of it, but the reality is most of the bad crime issues are very concentrated into some areas northeast and northwest of dowtown. It is still a city though.
The main campus is good enough and there are lots of areas to live both downtown and over the mountain that are in great areas, but it isn't some amazing campus in general. Birmingham gets a bad rap and not to say it doesn't deserve most of it, but the reality is most of the bad crime issues are very concentrated into some areas northeast and northwest of dowtown. It is still a city though.
This post was edited on 1/15/25 at 1:11 pm
Posted on 1/15/25 at 1:19 pm to jangalang
quote:
the rest look like bad job prospects from the start.
I don't totally disagree. My son is very likely to be a relationship management/problem solver type. He's not going to be doing something super technical. Fairly basic undergrad with targeted internships and then maybe grad school once he figures it out is what I'd predict. I personally like Troy's risk management program for him....but I'm also trying to walk the line of guiding him to decide for himself without pushing him to do what he thinks Dad wants him to do.
My daughter on the other hand....she'll figure it out for herself no problem.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 1:52 pm to AUjim
Can't speak for a ton of other places.
My cousin played soccer at UNA and got a nursing degree. She seemed to enjoy her time there.
A good friend of the family got a teaching degree at Montevalo and is a 6th grade teacher in Baldwin County. I think she liked it there.
Knew a girl who started at AU and finished at UAB with an electrical engineering degree. She used that to get a pretty good job with Southern Company/Alabama Power. I think she liked Auburn more but she was diagnosed with some form of cancer and it made better sense to be at UAB near her doctors.
My cousin played soccer at UNA and got a nursing degree. She seemed to enjoy her time there.
A good friend of the family got a teaching degree at Montevalo and is a 6th grade teacher in Baldwin County. I think she liked it there.
Knew a girl who started at AU and finished at UAB with an electrical engineering degree. She used that to get a pretty good job with Southern Company/Alabama Power. I think she liked Auburn more but she was diagnosed with some form of cancer and it made better sense to be at UAB near her doctors.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 2:48 pm to GoCrazyAuburn
quote:
I'll say the information systems route is becoming very oversaturated
Not over saturated. To much out sourcing.
As far as fields in general find your passion and go for a degree that matches. Sounds like your son has no idea what his interests are. Maybe a year or so in construction will get him seriously thinking about what he wants to do in the future. Way too many kids go to college with no real plan about a career afterwards.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 3:51 pm to AUjim
If hospitality management is on the list, how can you not look at AU? There is an entire new building dedicated to it. Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management
This post was edited on 1/15/25 at 3:52 pm
Page 1 of 3
Latest Auburn News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News