^^If it were my kid I would hope they would be honest with them about their feedback, even if it’s not what they want to hear.
@MotherOfDragons, if your and my daughters do end up both going to Alabama, your neopunk-look kid and my neoslacker-look kid can hang out and enjoy not having the “UA look” together. 
@MotherOfDragons Very interesting review. Your daughter’s interest in research got me to wondering if she had looked into the College of Creative Studies at UCSB? A long ways away for you and OOS tuition, but it sounds like that aspect would be right up her alley. CCS has a Computing major and they do research as undergrads.
Regarding Bama: It’s amazing what football revenue streams can bring to a campus. There is no shortage of $$ flowing into a lot of those southern football powerhouses. It sounds like it’s “upgrade city” over in Bama, roll tide.
Bama has one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen. And it seems that nothing is ever out of place. No litter. No blade of grass too tall. Truly amazing campus.
Newbie here! I’m in the South have a daughter. Looking for info., thread on campus safety. Mine is looking at CA schools and North East schools. Tufts is of particular interest. I’ve found info on College Factual but I’d appreciate real people with knowledge. She’s class of '17.
Welcome @Momtaro! I don’t have any info for you, but I’m sure others will.
@dfbdfb and @MotherOfDragons Since neither of your kids’ chosen attire (at least on visit day) fit the Bama look, how would you describe the Bama look? Not that S has ever noticed what other people are wearing, but I’m curious. I have a niece who is in her first year at TCU and she found that girls there got way more glammed up (she referred to it as Toddlers and Tiaras) than she expected, and I would say her private high school’s normal mode is a couple levels up the fashion hierarchy than S’s public, small town high school. I know TCU is in a whole different state than Bama, but it did make me wonder since we haven’t visited yet. @Mom2aphysicsgeek, feel free to weigh in.
@RightCoaster Pretty much every college campus I have visited is undergoing some type of building program. New/renovated dorms, libraries, student unions, etc. A lot of money flowing into colleges beyond what the athletic programs provide.
@IABooks The Bama look when we visited was norts, big t-shirts, and running shoes for girls. Some preppy attired boys.
I would agree @saillakeerie, every school is building new facilities it seems. It just must be easier when you can refill the coffers with ticket sales season after season.
This is the “look” at every American college campus. Makes things easy, I guess. 
@MotherOfDragons - I’ll second what @Mom2aphysicsgeek said… you really should meet with the CBH people. That’s where we found the intense, intellectual kids. My D decided on a different university, but she would’ve been thrilled to attend UAlabama if (and only if) she got into CBH.
My son lives in shorts or jeans and big t-shirts or sweatshirts and either tennis shoes or sandals. Pretty normal campus attire. Though there are days when he is running around campus in a suit bc every time they have to give a presentation for CBH they have to be in professional attire.
@STEM2017 I’m not so sure. Someone mentioned TCU, and the look there is definitely different. The girls there seem always made up. At the 1 LAC we visited, the look there was different as well. More eclectic. At Bama, there was practically a uniform.
QOTD: I would love to hear what people thought of the “look” of students at the campuses they visited. Was there a “uniform”? Preppy? Dressy?
@MotherOfDragons Great review, thanks! My D17 strongly prefers small schools but I think D21 might like it when the time comes.
Any new stalker schools around here? All of a sudden, Whitman and Grinnell are showing my D17 the love.
My D was happy to find many girls dressed like her at UCSB and SLO. Short denim shorts and a print or patterned spaghetti straps tank top is her daily look. With rainbow flip flops.
@mamaedefamilia We loved seeing Grinnell a few years ago. They award a lot of merit, have a rigorous and open curriculum, and the campus has both a swingset and working train tracks. Definitely not preppy, and fairly isolated geographically. But if someone likes liberal arts, a liberal campus, and cornfields, Grinnell could be just the ticket.
@Momtaro …there is a whole Tufts forum here on CC and also for lots of other colleges. Have you found it yet?
For “schools in the northeast” and in California --we could probably all chime in with some thoughts but what is your budget? Knowing your EFC and then your budget are very helpful in guiding you further.
Welcome!
@IABooks —Alabama dress code seemed to be the classic Nike shorts and t-shirt look with a few prepsters thrown in and just normal average casual college dress.
TCU–is located in old $$ Ft.Worth right up the street from Colonial Country Club. A lot of the girls are going to “dress” for class with cute outfits, full hair and makeup. I’ve been in and around the campus for years though and also see plenty of girls who are less casual.