<p>I recently got something in the mail about the Honors College at Arizona State in Tempe. I could also get a lot of merit aid for going there ($80,000!) since I am a National Merit Semifinalist. But being that I'm from the east coast I know little about this university. How are the university's programs, especially their liberal arts?</p>
<p>Anyone know more about ASU?</p>
<p>Being an Arizona resident, I know quite a bit about ASU. However, I have elected to go to University of Arizona and declined a full ride from ASU. ASU is not a bad school by any means, but the students are hardcore partiers and I am someone who thrives off of an intellectual atmosphere. ASU simply does not provide that especially since it is located in one of the most crowded areas of Tempe. If you are majoring in business or broadcast journalism, then this school should be on your list. Aside from that, it is absolutely useless for life science, though a Biomedical building is under construction and will be completed in 2008.</p>
<p>My nephew attended ASU and got his undergrad and master's degree in math. He is not a party animal. I think any college is what you make of it. If you want to party, you'll find like-minded people. If you want to study, you'll find your niche too.</p>
<p>The honors program Barretts is great. I prefer it to U of A's honors program as it is trying to be a small liberal arts collegee within the larger university. They have the best professors in the University, great mentoring, their own campus area, amazing study abroad with their own profs and great grad school results, If money is an issue it is a great school. There will be partying in the main dorms but it is quieter in the honors dorms with like minded students. You get priority registration and small honors classes. It is a great program. That being said my son gave up his great scholarship there to go to a smaller liberal arts school with ALL small classes but both he and I will have debt when he graduates. My son felt he would have a harder time studying there(ASU) and would be distracted especially since many from his HS go there. It depends on you and your needs. My D is applying as well but again would prefer a smaller school. By the way my S got as good a scholarship from U of A and still was choosing ASU over it. Good luck, recommend a visit-maybe they will pay for it or half of it.</p>
<p>They would realy pay for a visit? That would be awesome! I am looking mainly at large-ish schools (5000-10000) so I don't know if ASU is too large for me. Money isn't a huge issue but it would be awesome to know that a chunk of college would be paid for already.</p>
<p>There's a lot to do in Tempe, it's kind of an upbeat city (I live in AZ). I like the atmosphere at ASU, and I found it easy to meet people there. I don't know much about the liberal arts program, but you could try studentsreview.com or campusdirt.com</p>
<p>Oh and if you go to Barrett Honors then you'll get to live in the Honors dorms, so you can escape the partying if you want, but you'll still have party opportunities. And from what I've heard ASU's got good professors. And the Honors dorms would give you a sense of community within the bigger college, but you don't have to live in them. OOO and I just found a discussion thingie o=about it on this website. <a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?8/10233%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?8/10233</a></p>
<p>Indy787 is completely off-base with his/her sweeping generalization that ASU students are "hard core partiers." As at any school, there may be some, but those are the students that are likely to flunk out fairly quickly. The current president of ASU, Michael Crow, came to Tempe just a couple of years ago and has been working steadily to improve ASU's academic and research offerings and raise its national profile. (He was specifically recruited from Columbia U to do that and he has done a fantastic job in a very short time.) Granted, ASU is certainly less stressful than the Ivies or MIT in terms of academic competitiveness, but that probably has a lot to do with the fact that in Arizona you can work on your suntan all year long!</p>
<p>I do know that ASU's business and engineering schools, music department, and the Barrett Honors College are particularly well known. I don't know too much about liberal arts, as it is not my area. As a NM Semi-Finalist, you should definitely look into the Honors College program. It is one of the best that we 've seen. (My S is an NMSF too.)</p>
<p>By the way, S got scholarships to both U of A and ASU -- we're AZ residents -- and he chose ASU hands-down over U of A. Which just shows that college selection is a very prersonal thing. You need to do your homework and find out what school is the best fit for YOU -- and not be too swayed by other people's opinions.</p>
<p>Sweeping Generalization.... Thats what you think worried_mom im parting with you S right now... only kidding! I visited both schools and thought that U of A had a stronger academic atmosphere, however I also felt that being near phoenix would create more internship oportunities. I immagine that you can find almost anything you want in a school with a student body the size of both universites weather it be a party or an intellectual core of friends.</p>
<p>Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University -
<a href="http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200602/20060214_meritscholars.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200602/20060214_meritscholars.htm</a></p>
<p>You may want to note the new Biodesign Institute where some of the science students are able to get first class experience in science Internships.
<a href="http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200...0302_biolab.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200...0302_biolab.htm</a></p>
<p>My son is a student at the Honors college and is in the second year of Biochemistry. He interned last summer with the Department of Energy at PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratories) and is currently looking for a research position at the Biodesign Center.</p>
<p>My son had scholarship offers from both schools. He visited both schools and met with the Dean of the Honors College, he visited with the Dean of Biochemistry and some students in U of A. We spent few days at both schools and the decision was ASU Barrett Honors College. It is a good fit for him and he is very happy at the school.</p>
<p>This is the correct link to the Biodesign Center at ASU</p>
<p>You may want to note the new Biodesign Institute where some of the science students are able to get first class experience in science Internships.</p>
<p>My son is a student at the Honors college and is in the second year of Biochemistry. He interned last summer with the Department of Energy at PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratories) and is currently looking for a research position at the Biodesign Center.</p>
<p>Is ASU good for biology or pre medicine? or is University of Arizona better?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>