<p>I think the writer threw in some big name schools to draw interest to the article, which it did. </p>
<p>Nephew got a doctorate at LSU, and turned down other opportunities with full tuition scholarships. His dissertation is a published book.</p>
<p>DD worked very hard to get Presidential scholarship at UA - and I am very impressed with the academic programs and opportunities there. Not majoring in music, but respected music dept and fantastic Million Dollar Band which many kids drool to get into (DD has both concert and MDB scholarships too). </p>
<p>Being from WI, I am not sure any of the comments made for UA by this writer cannot be made for UW-M. UW-M also has a fun marching band and kids drooling to get into that opportunity.</p>
<p>When I visited University of South Alabama (USA) I kind of felt like the campus had a real laid back feel; also pretty close to the beach. I know some students do well there, but I also have a friend’s DD that lost her scholarship in first year w/o making adjustment to college work and too much partying.</p>
<p>As @shawnspencer said, choices and keeping the balance. My brother did take a gap year, and it was good for him - so he could work a year, and then applied himself to engineering (and he had been successful at school and professionally).</p>
<p>I agree with parents who pull a student from a school if they do not do well first semester - cannot have them do two bad semesters, lose their scholarship, whatever. Keep your kid from getting into a hole and falling deeper…</p>