<p>My D was early decision and auto-honors for both UGA and Auburn. We found the overall difference in the two Universities to be more cosmetic than academic. </p>
<p>Here’s a 20 page PDF from USNEWS that compares UGA, Auburn and their peers in a variety of categories. In reality the differences in the statistics are minor and quite comparable. <a href=“https://oira.auburn.edu/about/publications/usnews2011_FINAL.pdf[/url]”>https://oira.auburn.edu/about/publications/usnews2011_FINAL.pdf</a></p>
<p>Auburn has been on an academic recruiting binge for the last 4-5 years and becoming more selective while being far more generous in merit scholarships than UGA to build a higher level student base than they had before. Auburn rose from nowhere in this time to rank fifth out of 126 public institutions in National Merit finalists. Their national merit finalists have gone up from 30+ (2008), 60+ (2009), 134 (2010). For 2010, The admitted class compiled an average score of 26.9 on the ACT college entrance exam, outpacing last year’s then-record of 26.2. UGA is at 27. So the difference was negligible. </p>
<p>In the end, my D has chosen Auburn over Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, UGA, and Clemson for the main reason of merit scholarship money. It would have cost her far more to attend UGA even though we are in the Atlanta area (not to mention the others)… she will not have to spend a penny even for food or books at Auburn. UGA only gives out 20 full-ride academic scholarships via Foundation Fellows. Auburn will give 200+ this year (14 elites, national merit, etc.) This means there will be plenty of money for post-graduate work at any institution she desires after her undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>I think they are both fine universities, and overall UGA probably still has a slight academic edge based on historical statistics; but, Auburn has narrowed the gap recently to which more specific concerns such as money, specific area of study, aesthetics, dorm life, may play a larger determining factor.</p>