Some universities, like Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, are not very selective. However, every university likes to attract top-notch students to fill its classrooms. Samford has implemented a new program for high achieving students, whereby it is offering more rigorous courses for students who are eligible for them upon admission. The idea is to boost the curriculum up a notch for these students who need a challenge.
Continue readingAdmissions offices are the sales and marketing divisions of colleges and universities. Now they are building opulent “welcome centers” to impress prospective students. Caveat emptor!
Continue readingSometimes campus tour guides go above and beyond. While on the University of Alabama campus recently, I was treated to a private tour by a polite, knowledgeable, and good humored young gentleman. He gave me the grand tour, and fielded my penetrating questions very well. So I asked him whether he thought it would be sufficient for a student to get a complete picture of life at Alabama by taking his tour. “Absolutely not!” he insisted. So I asked him to elaborate.
In this short video, Andrew explains his strategies for visiting a college campus.
Mark Montgomery
College Consultant
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During a recent visit to the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, I caught up with an old friend, Professor Bill Worden. He is now a professor of Spanish and director of graduate studies.
Bill was educated at elite private institutions in the Northeast (Dartmouth, Brown), but he teaches at a large, public university.
During our conversation he reflected upon his experience, and about his understanding about the quality of students at both kinds of educational institutions.
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As I traveled around the Deep South last week visiting colleges, I was happy to feel some of my old stereotypes melt away. To be sure, southern colleges reflect their geography and the culture of people of the region. But academically speaking, there are many fantastic schools, excellent students, talented professors, innovative programs, and beautiful campuses. It’s a pity that more of my clients from the West, the Northeast, and the Midwest generally will not consider colleges in the South.
I asked my friend Bill Worden, a professor of Spanish at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, about these prejudices. Bill and I were pals at Dartmouth, and he grew up in Massachusetts. He received his doctorate at Brown. So when he landed a job a UA, he had to make some adjustments in his academic worldview.
So I asked him about his experiences at the University of Alabama, and his impressions of his students, and his discoveries large, public universities in some parts of the United States.
The point is that all types of universities offer excellent educational opportunities to those who take advantage of them. What’s important is finding the college or university that fits you best–a place where you feel comfortable and welcome. For many, the flagship university of your home state may be the best fit for you. For many others, however, a smaller, more intimate setting may be best.
But whatever you deem best for you, don’t let parochial views of your peers, neighbors, or acquaintances influence your priorities too much. Take the time to investigate the types of schools that fit you best. Be willing to think outside the box and look at other regions of the country. Don’t make uninformed judgments based on stereotypes. Determine your own, personal educational priorities, and take the time to find the best college for you.
Mark Montgomery
College Counselor and Southern College Enthusiast
Technorati Tags: Alabama, college choice, state university, University of Alabama, Dartmouth, Brown, Spanish, New England, college selection Del.icio.us Tags: Alabama, college choice, state university, University of Alabama, Dartmouth, Brown, Spanish, New England, college selection
