[nva79]

I am not from Alabama, but might be relocating here soon. I am looking at Auburn and Alabama for college, and they both look great. I would like some objective advice from people on which one they think is better to go to, for college. Any help would be appreciated.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by nva79

I am not from Alabama, but might be relocating here soon. I am looking at Auburn and Alabama for college, and they both look great. I would like some objective advice from people on which one they think is better to go to, for college. Any help would be appreciated.

Do you prefer elephants or tigers/eagles, a small city or a small town? I've visited both Tuscaloosa and Auburn and they seem like they would be pretty nice towns to spend four years of college, but there is very little in Auburn besides the university. There is a little bit more in Tuscaloosa and it is closer to Birmingham, too.

[Southlander]

UA. No question.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by nva79

I am not from Alabama, but might be relocating here soon. I am looking at Auburn and Alabama for college, and they both look great. I would like some objective advice from people on which one they think is better to go to, for college. Any help would be appreciated.

I think your desired course of study goes a long way towards determining that.

That being said, Auburn is overall a slightly better school in terms of academics. What's more, Alabama's student life is so heavily driven by the Greek system that many students who choose to remain independents wind up hating the experience. Auburn's is much less that way.

Overall, both campuses are nice and located in fun, smaller towns.

But, knowing the quality of the graduates and the quality of the life, I would choose Auburn over Alabama in a heartbeat.

[Southlander]

Not having been at student at UA, cpg35223 lacks wherewithal to speak of life there.
Only about 25% of students at UA are greek (and the percentage is roughly the same at AU), which means 75% are NOT. There are plenty of people to make friends with, and most people have friends who are greek and friends who are independents.
Alabama and Auburn are increasing their academic standing each year with top students from across the nation.
I encourage you to visit with your family and make up your own mind. A personal tour can be arranged.
Campus Visits - Undergraduate Admissions - The University of Alabama
Undergraduate Recruiting & University Scholarships - Plan a Visit -Auburn

[oscottscotto]

You will brun in hell if you go to Alabama. Auburn all the way ...

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Not having been at student at UA, cpg35223 lacks wherewithal to speak of life there.
Only about 25% of students at UA are greek (and the percentage is roughly the same at AU), which means 75% are NOT. There are plenty of people to make friends with, and most people have friends who are greek and friends who are independents.
Alabama and Auburn are increasing their academic standing each year with top students from across the nation.
I encourage you to visit with your family and make up your own mind. A personal tour can be arranged.
Campus Visits - Undergraduate Admissions - The University of Alabama
Undergraduate Recruiting & University Scholarships - Plan a Visit -Auburn

Well, I attended neither college, so I don't have an axe to grind. But I know plenty of people who attended Alabama and, with near unanimity, described the Greek system as the #1 negative to campus life there.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

You will brun in hell if you go to Alabama. Auburn all the way ...

Wow. Now there's a dedicated fan for you. Plus it gives the OP a taste of what he's about to experience by moving here.

[gsp4ever]

Yeah, the Auburn vs. Alabama debate is one of the more ridiculous things about this state. It's all about football and, generally speaking, the more rabid the fan the less likely they are to have attended the university. People around here just don't get it. A university is not just about athletics. Maybe I should add that I'm not originally from Alabama, either.

Hopping off my soapbox....make your decision on which campus atmosphere you like best coupled with the quality/type of academic program you want. One school may offer a specific program that another does not. Auburn and Tuscaloosa are both smaller "college town" type places with good points.

If you look strictly at the profile of entering freshman plus the graduation and retention rates from the common data sets of both schools, you'll see that the schools are pretty much equal. However, the general perception on the street (both in Alabama and in other states) is that Auburn has the better academic reputation. If you consider perceptions from peer institutions (large southern state schools) you'll also find that Auburn has the "reputation" of being a "better" school than University of Alabama.

[turneed]

It depends on what your major is. Even though I am a former Auburn University student and avid Auburn fan, I can give an objective opinion. As a few have said on this thread, Auburn and Alabama are almost equal academically, but if you were to talk to unbiased people outside of the state, Auburn would have a slight edge. Alabama has the reputation of being a party school, but trust me, there is plenty of partying going on at Auburn also. I think that Auburn has more of a small town feel than Tuscaloosa. I think that Tuscaloosa has better shopping and more restaurants than Auburn. Although Auburn has a lot to offer when you include the neighboring town of Opelika and Phenix city/columbus, ga which is approx. 30 miles away. Where you go should definitely depend on your major and which school if either gives you more scholarsip money. For example, UA has one of the best business schools in the nation, while Auburn is very good for engineering. You can't go wrong with either institution and i'm sure you would enjoy your time at each and receive a good education. But if you ask me, it's a no brainer!
-WAR EAGLE!