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I am from california and got into Purdue and University of Alabama. Which is considered a better school. Thanks

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 07:57 pm: Edit

U of Alabama is a major party school and not that competitive. And Purdue is no slouch at parties, either.

Interquartile SAT's:

Alabama 490-600 Verbal, 490-610 Math

Purdue 500-600 Verbal, 520-650 Math

Both have moderate participation in the Greek scene but Greek membership is definitely the golden key at Alabama...I think I remember reading about a year ago that the Greeks were still more or less (not legally) segregated at Alabama...you might want to check with a current student or parent on that.

By Andrew (Andrew) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 09:54 pm: Edit

I would say that Purdue is regarded as a better school if you want to do anything with Agriculture or any of the related sciences. A lot better than U of Alabama. Purdue has a better reputation too. Hope this helps. Go with whichever school feels the best for you - visit them both if you're still not quite sure.

By Troy (Troy) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 10:05 pm: Edit

purdue is better...I would never go to bama...IMO, Auburn owns that inbred school...

WDE!!!

By Drusba (Drusba) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 10:14 pm: Edit

Both are well regarded. If you are born and raised in California, Purdue will be much less of a culture shock than Alabama where you will have southern charm but also southern conservatism. On the other hand, have you ever experienced a midwestern winter? If not, Purdue will be much more of a weather shock than you can imagine. The winters are brutal.

By Noesis (Noesis) on Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 09:08 pm: Edit

I was borned and raised in Alabama. Almost every friend I have is going to either Auburn University or the University of Alabama, so I know what I'm speaking of.

Pro's of going to U of A
-gorgeous ladies (it's the South)
-nice weather (it's hot at times)
-capacity to slack, with capacity for lucubration
-friendly atmosphere
-town revolves around college (this can be a pro or con. Tuscaloosa is quite small, and unmistakeably Southern).
-about 45 minutes from Birmingham, which is a wannabe Atlanta, GA. Still a nice city (I lived there for 5 years).

Cons
-extreme racism in some social circles
-extreme conservatism; atheists NOT welcome
-drunken orgies galore, especially during football season
-extreme cliques
-almost everyone there is from Alabama, I would say over 85%

Hope this helps. I don't think the campus is nearly as pretty as Auburn's, but then again I was born in Auburn, so my childhood memories of the campus are biased. Overall, U of A is like Florida State University, only half the size, with twice the Southern nature, and less academic.

By Jeffjefferson (Jeffjefferson) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 02:47 pm: Edit

Noesis, i used to live in Georgia, but have lived in california for quite some time. Do you think the students will accept someone from california, in a school with such a high percentage of in state alabama students?

By 333m3 (333m3) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 05:06 pm: Edit

Just some more food for thought:
Your chosen major should be your deciding factor. If you want any of the sciences, engineering, pharmacy, argriculture, pre-dental/med, nursing, computer science, or business go to Purdue. If you like any of the liberal arts (History, fine arts, English, Soc., Psych., etc.), pre-law, or anything non-science, go to Alabama. Purdue is definitely a hard science oriented school.

By Jeffjefferson (Jeffjefferson) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Is communications a liber arts major?

By Noesis (Noesis) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 06:13 pm: Edit

University of Alabama has an excellent communications school. A friend of mine who is attending said that this department was the reason he chose to attend University of Alabama over Syracuse University.

As long as you enjoy the activities that these students enjoy, they'll love you after the first semester. Tail-gating at football games, fraternity parties, hunting, fishing, concerts, chasing skirts, etc. Really, just the typical things that guys do at a large state university. If you are interested in say, animal rights protests, you will not fit in. Not everyone there is a redneck; one can find intellectuals there, in the honors program especially. Fraternities are not a must, but they are the dominant facet of the social scene. My friends in Gadsden, AL were deciding what fraternity they were interested in during their sophomore year of high school, if that gives you any idea of how serious the Greek system is viewed. 'Wheredya pledge?' is a hackneyed question asked of all freshmen.

There is something charming about Alabama, despite its downsides. A feeling pervades the University of Alabama and Auburn that is really hard to describe. The students I know who wanted to go to those schools and are now attending declare that they are the happier than ever. If you fit in, you'll never want to leave, and if you don't, then you will have transferred by the end of your freshman year.

By Jeffjefferson (Jeffjefferson) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 10:50 pm: Edit

Thanks alot, it helps hearing information from someone in alabama

By Jeffjefferson (Jeffjefferson) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:30 pm: Edit

Noesis, do u know any of the good residence halls at u of alabama. I have to pick one and i dont know anything about them at all. I might have signed up for an african american hall and im caucasian. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

By Jeffjefferson (Jeffjefferson) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 12:54 am: Edit

I just got into American University and I was accepted into Seton Hall with an academic scholarship. SO american, Alabama, purdue, and seton hall. Decisions are so hard. Which would you choose?

By Rahulm01 (Rahulm01) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 10:52 pm: Edit

Hey guys,

I got into both Virginia Commonwealth University and Univ. of Maryland-Baltimore but I'm not sure which school I want to go to. They both seem pretty much the same, except that UMB is ranked a little higher than VCU. Can someone give me advice? ANy personal experiences?? Any idea about what kinds of things I should be looking for in Pharmacy schools? I'll take anything at this point!