Would a shy kid struggle at UA? honest advice needed

paying4collegex4
Sun, 19 Apr 2015 15:48:39 +0000

Your daughter hasn’t yet missed the opportunity for all the selective programs – Emerging Scholars applications haven’t yet opened up and it sounds like the program might be a good fit for a couple of reasons. First, she will have the opportunity to work with a professor on the professor’s research — instant mentoring connection. Second, the required class will be filled with students who are also interested in undergraduate research – a group among which she may find it easier to reach out and make friends. http://emergingscholars.ua.edu/

Second, I would consider forgoing the honors suite dorms in favor of Blount Hall, which is also an honors dorm, but which can be less insular than the suite dorms. (Blount is the liberal arts honors program and all students in the program live in Blount their freshman year, but there is a floor of Blount open to non-member honors students.) Although the culture of every dorm varies somewhat from year to year based on the mix of students – one of my daughters had a very lively and social floor her freshman year in RCE – Blount is known for having a physical set up that encourages the development of friendships among its residents.

Third, if she enjoys community service, I would consider one of the early arrival “Action” programs. These take place during sorority recruitment week, so it is a good place, in particular, for non-rushing women to find their like-minded peers. Camp 1831 might be another alternative if community service isn’t a particular interest.

Based on size alone, Alabama and Pitt are going to present similar challenges for a student who is shy. As you recognize the key in every instance is going to be self motivation, but at Alabama, these three options might provide her with a running start and the always critical one “starter” friend who will go along to check out other opportunities that arise as the year progresses.

Finally, it is tough to beat Alabama for students who want to study abroad. At Alabama she will be given the full value of her out of state tuition scholarship to spend on her study abroad program if she wants to study abroad during a regular semester. She can (and probably will) qualify for additional study abroad scholarships from the Honors College, Capstone International and/or UA Away. With those resources, study abroad often ends up costing next to nothing for out of state scholarship students.