[coloradocutter]

I may have the opportunity to attend graduate programs at UA and Auburn. I am wondering about folks' relative opinions of the two. We have family in Birmingham, Dothan and Panama City now, so either will be good for that. Tuscaloosa seems closer to B-ham and my spouse would probably have to work there. I don't know much about the geography of the two? Is one prettier than the other? Also, what about the student body at the two schools - any major differences? I'd love opinions on the two. I will make my decision based on academics but wanted to ask.

[pennquaker09]

Well, that would depend on what you're getting your grad degree in. In the general since, Auburn would be the best academically, unless you're getting a MBA.

[Southlander]

I can't let pennquaker's claim go unchallenged!
I put through a kid at both schools, so I can tell you a little.
Both schools are obsessed with football. If you don't like football and don't understand why everything grinds to a halt every Friday and Saturday during the fall semester, you'll probably hate both places.
Auburn seems a little more laid back than Alabama. Also, Auburn will probably give you more help with counseling, course planning, etc. Alabama's attitude is to throw you in the deep end and stand back.
Tuscaloosa is about 45 minutes to an hour from Birmingham. Auburn is about an hour from Montgomery. Auburn is also only about 2 hours from Atlanta. Tuscaloosa is a hard 5-hour drive from Atlanta.
Auburn is a small town. Tuscaloosa is bigger, and has more housing options.
At both, 90% of the student body seems to be from Birmingham. In Auburn, the other 10% seem to be from Atlanta.
Your best bet is to go with the one that's strongest in your field of study.
Good luck, and Roll Tide!

[pennquaker09]

Auburn is kind of boring.

[san phlegmatico]

Well, that would depend on what you're getting your grad degree in. In the general since, Auburn would be the best academically, unless you're getting a MBA.

Auburn graduates are infamous for proclaiming their superiority in academics. It simply isn't the case. Reality is closer to the opposite: Generally speaking, as per the overall intellectual and academic climate, The University of Alabama (in Tuscaloosa) is the best educational experience the state has to offer. It is not to be confused with the ilk of an Ivy League institution, but it is what it is nonetheless: the state's capstone university.

Granted, there are some degree programs at UAB and Auburn -- undergrad as well as grad -- that certainly exceed their counterparts at UA. But broad-brushing, UA has more distinguished schools and programs; more distinguished students and faculty.

Incredibly, the egregious myths propagated by the Napoleon-complected, redheaded stepchildren of Auburn can often be debunked within the actual text of the statements themselves. To wit:

In the general since, Auburn would be the best academically...

You mean "sense," don't you Aubie? "Would be"? If you were proclaiming a definitive, shouldn't you say it "is"? Are you equivocating or aren't you convinced??


By the way, O.P., the AU stands for AUdacity.

Tuscaloosa is also the superior college town as per resources, cosmopolitanism, and culture. It just might be its southern, eclectic dynamism which raises its nucleus, UA, above the fray. Tuscaloosa and the university: equal parts progressive (relative to the rest of the state at-large) and traditional, diverse yet composed of certain unique fibers. A perfect marriage of town and gown.

Full disclosure: I graduated from UA. But that fact isn't biasing this post; look at it this way: I would have attended Auburn if I thought it were the stronger institution.

Always keep in mind: The University of Alabama is THE state's capstone university. It's not just an ad slogan; it's the hard truth.

SP

[timunh]

Ignore all this back-and-forth nonsense. The two universities are pretty much equal in terms of their overall reputations. Each has some programs that stand out when compared to the other. In terms of choosing a grad program, the most important thing is to choose a program or department that has a good reputation. When you go on to a job, people in your field will have an impression based on the work of the faculty in that program and based on students who come out of that program.

It's been a while since I've been on campus at Bama. I remember it as being a more scenic campus than Auburn's. But Auburn has made and is making some improvements in that area. I like Auburn's overall location better. Of course, if you have a spouse who works in B'ham, that would seem to be a major point for UA over AU.

Full disclosure: Grew up in Auburn, am an Auburn fan

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Southlander

I
Alabama's attitude is to throw you in the deep end and stand back.
Tuscaloosa is about 45 minutes to an hour from Birmingham. Auburn is about an hour from Montgomery. Auburn is also only about 2 hours from Atlanta. Tuscaloosa is a hard 5-hour drive from Atlanta.
Auburn is a small town. Tuscaloosa is bigger, and has more housing options.
At both, 90% of the student body seems to be from Birmingham. In Auburn, the other 10% seem to be from Atlanta.
Your best bet is to go with the one that's strongest in your field of study.
Good luck, and Roll Tide!

Tuscaloosa is NOT 5 hours from Atlanta definitely not five hours from metro Atlanta which starts west of Douglasville. Tuscaloosa is 200 miles from downtown Atlanta, according to google maps its a 3 hour and 7 minute trip to Atlanta. i've down it under 2 1/2 hours before. Its 180 miles or less from Douglassville and the growing western suburbs of Atlanta.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by san phlegmatico

Auburn graduates are infamous for proclaiming their superiority in academics. It simply isn't the case. Reality is closer to the opposite: Generally speaking, as per the overall intellectual and academic climate, The University of Alabama (in Tuscaloosa) is the best educational experience the state has to offer. It is not to be confused with the ilk of an Ivy League institution, but it is what it is nonetheless: the state's capstone university.

Granted, there are some degree programs at UAB and Auburn -- undergrad as well as grad -- that certainly exceed their counterparts at UA. But broad-brushing, UA has more distinguished schools and programs; more distinguished students and faculty.

Incredibly, the egregious myths propagated by the Napoleon-complected, redheaded stepchildren of Auburn can often be debunked within the actual text of the statements themselves. To wit:



You mean "sense," don't you Aubie? "Would be"? If you were proclaiming a definitive, shouldn't you say it "is"? Are you equivocating or aren't you convinced??


By the way, O.P., the AU stands for AUdacity.

Tuscaloosa is also the superior college town as per resources, cosmopolitanism, and culture. It just might be its southern, eclectic dynamism which raises its nucleus, UA, above the fray. Tuscaloosa and the university: equal parts progressive (relative to the rest of the state at-large) and traditional, diverse yet composed of certain unique fibers. A perfect marriage of town and gown.

Full disclosure: I graduated from UA. But that fact isn't biasing this post; look at it this way: I would have attended Auburn if I thought it were the stronger institution.

Always keep in mind: The University of Alabama is THE state's capstone university. It's not just an ad slogan; it's the hard truth.

SP

San what did you graduate in? Something that has to do with writing or philosophy?

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Tuscaloosa is NOT 5 hours from Atlanta definitely not five hours from metro Atlanta which starts west of Douglasville. Tuscaloosa is 200 miles from downtown Atlanta, according to google maps its a 3 hour and 7 minute trip to Atlanta. i've down it under 2 1/2 hours before. Its 180 miles or less from Douglassville and the growing western suburbs of Atlanta.

OK, I'll say that when I lived in Atlanta (south side), Douglasville was out in the country and it was a 30 to 45-minute drive there...and the interstate didn't start until Anniston. (yes...I'm old!) It also all depends on what's happening at Malfunction Junction in Birmingham!
And beware google maps...we had a truck driver the other day who claimed google said there was no road in front of our shop!
2.5 hours???? You're lucky the State Troopers were asleep that day!

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by san phlegmatico

Auburn graduates are infamous for proclaiming their superiority in academics. It simply isn't the case. Reality is closer to the opposite: Generally speaking, as per the overall intellectual and academic climate, The University of Alabama (in Tuscaloosa) is the best educational experience the state has to offer. It is not to be confused with the ilk of an Ivy League institution, but it is what it is nonetheless: the state's capstone university.

Granted, there are some degree programs at UAB and Auburn -- undergrad as well as grad -- that certainly exceed their counterparts at UA. But broad-brushing, UA has more distinguished schools and programs; more distinguished students and faculty.

Incredibly, the egregious myths propagated by the Napoleon-complected, redheaded stepchildren of Auburn can often be debunked within the actual text of the statements themselves. To wit:



You mean "sense," don't you Aubie? "Would be"? If you were proclaiming a definitive, shouldn't you say it "is"? Are you equivocating or aren't you convinced??


By the way, O.P., the AU stands for AUdacity.

Tuscaloosa is also the superior college town as per resources, cosmopolitanism, and culture. It just might be its southern, eclectic dynamism which raises its nucleus, UA, above the fray. Tuscaloosa and the university: equal parts progressive (relative to the rest of the state at-large) and traditional, diverse yet composed of certain unique fibers. A perfect marriage of town and gown.

Full disclosure: I graduated from UA. But that fact isn't biasing this post; look at it this way: I would have attended Auburn if I thought it were the stronger institution.

Always keep in mind: The University of Alabama is THE state's capstone university. It's not just an ad slogan; it's the hard truth.

SP

That would explain your largely incoherent rants.

For the record, Auburn has a very good school overall. Alabama has a good business school, but seems to excel mostly at catering to the stump-necked, gap-tooth, knuckle-dragging, polyester-wearing, stoop-gait, slack-jawed, biscuit-eating, cousin-kissing, book-burning, trailer-living, NASCAR-watching, backwoods lackwits that call themselves the 'Bama Nation. Seriously. The cast of Hee Haw looks like something out of Masterpiece Theatre compared to this array of throwbacks.

Be prepared for the invasion of these overall-clad yahoos for six Saturdays every fall as they fall down and worship an old dead cheating drunk known as the Bahr or the new cheating drunk known as Nick. People who cannot even spell 'literate' without putting a 'u' into the word will suddenly appear with season tickets and air horns that play "Yea, Alabama" incessantly from the hoods of their '78 Buick LeSabres. If they lose on Saturday to some football power such as Louisiana Monroe, be prepared for violence, up to and including some drunken Bama fan launching a brick through the head coach's window. And if they win, well....never mind. That hasn't happened in a few years.