re: Question for Alabama alumni

Interesting read on the subject matter (note: not a recent article)

LINK

its actually extremely easy to set up an appointment. The building directly behind Gorgas has advisors in there all day. You walk in, sign in and 10 minutes later one comes out and brings you into their office.

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How significant of an impact has the recent decade of Football success over the past decade had on both the academics and campus culture of The University of Alabama?

The University lists the MEDIAN ACT of UA's current freshman class at 27, which is up 6 points from the median of 21 in 2007 when Nick Saban took over. Additionally the University has expanded research programs and been able to invest heavily in the campus infrastructure.

I just wanted to get opinions from alumni on this topic. Have you noticed a cultural change on campus? Friends of mine who went there have been adamant that the rising academic quality, as well as the improved geographic diversity of the student body has gone a long way torwards drowning out what used to be an incredibly insular, and toxic Greek culture on campus, on top of improved academic reputation.

Can anybody corroborate this?

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The process to improve the infrastructure and the makeup of the student body was put into place by Dr. Witt before the football run started, but the football run obviously supercharged the effort. The push for out of state students would not have had such success without the incredible exposure that Saban and the football program has given us.

I was there from 2003 - 2008 and the infrastructure improvements had really just started when I started, and since then have exploded. I'm honestly not sure there is a single building left on campus that is not new or hasn't been entirely renovated in the last 20 years (most in the last 10).

A lot of really good programs have gotten better and gotten more exposure (Communications, Accounting) and a lot of previously mediocre programs have received huge upgrades in funds and faculty upgrades.

Another one of the biggest thing Alabama has been able to do is continue to pay their professors and other staff well while other state institutions have faced serious issues in that environment.

Long rambling answer, but to summarize, it is a different place than it was even 12 years ago when I started, but I think that most of the change has been for the better. And the football program, including Saban's non-stop selling of the University and the program, have had a lot to do with it.

I'll dispense with a long answer simply by saying that [the campus] has changed a lot since I was last there.

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You should let your son be an adult and handle his own shite

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Hey, if I'm paying for it then it's a combined effort. I wish my parents had been a little more involved in my choices at that time. The school has grown too fast and you guys have no frame of reference. 19k to 37k in 10 years is too fast.

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I'm a senior and I've had a biology class and a couple of BS electives that were that big. The classes that matter are usually 30-60 people.

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Every class matters or why the hell do you take it?

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Every class matters or why the hell do you take it?

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You serious?

That computer science class I had to take as part of my pre-med major didn't matter and still doesn't matter to every pre-med major.

Why the frick to we want to learn program coding?

Oh and most electives are fillers that boost the price of education.

Graduated in 08. Only large class that I really had was Biology

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The University is better today than ever.

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I would say it's also becoming a more diverse and accepting place every year. In addition to out-of-state, there's a big international scene here too.



I'll hark on sports too, but Nick Saban's effect on the NON FOOTBALL aspect of things.


I do think that the Championship scene has spilled into our other sports too. Alabama as a football-only school is true still in terms of revenue, but when football is booming, it brings money to everyone, including those not putting on helmets.

When I was at school, only the gymnastics team was anything to really brag about since they were literally the only other program with a national title and were doing it with the benefit of living legend at coach.

Now multiple sports are elite programs, Alabama is genuinely trying to becoming a premiere destination for any and all athletes. We want to be like Florida, Stanford or Texas, schools where, no matter the sport, when Alabama pops on the schedule, it will be a tough night. Right now in fact, I can only think of one or two programs left that are still push-overs.

It sucks. They're getting a bunch of smart kids and Yankees. Drive through campus now-a-days and the beauty factor of the girls has dropped 1 - 1.5 points.

It's tough to get your kid in and it costs a crap-load of money too. Just sucks.