ASU Barretts Honors vs Private Lib Arts College - Help Please

<p>My DD has worked very hard and has been accepted in the honors program at ASU, we live in CA. Unfortunately due to the budget crisis and economy she will more in likely not get into the State UC's she applied as these position will be filled by the cream of the crop - top 10% of class due to parents taking advantage of the great price of a state UC education and save the big money for graduate school. (in past years parents would have been willing to pay for the LAC's)</p>

<p>While we are financially able to pay for the LAC's, as everyone knows - we are not sure what the future will bring and wonder if we should direct her to ASU honors, as the tuition is affordable compared to the high $$$ for LAC. She is looking and accepted at USD, Chapman, LMU, SMU and TCU - most have offered her a merit awards in the 10k range - ASU Barretts honors also offered merit scholarship.</p>

<p>Both my husband and I did not take the college route, however were blessed to have hard work payoff - worked our way up in corporate america the hard way - and currently are in a comfortable financial position and income level. (If anyone can really say that in today's economy!) </p>

<p>I am wondering if some of you parents out there have an opinion as to why would one choose Barrett over LAC's or visa versa. </p>

<p>DD is very motivated and self starter...As parents we are very happy for her to have the best opportunity, while at the same time making the best financial choice due to current economy. </p>

<p>So - ASU Honors or private LAC? What are your thoughts and why? Keeping in mind the $$$'s wouldn't break us, but we want to make the best financial choice while not compromising her education. (difference between ASU vs LAC is about 15 to 20k per year)</p>

<p>does your daughter know what she wants to do; major in?</p>

<p>She isn't sure exactly but knows what she is interested in. She likes marketing, public relations, advertising - as well as fashion design and journalism. She is a fantastic writer! (took ACT 3 times since Jr. year and scored a 10 on all essays) Her dream job would be editor of a fashion magazine. As you can see all of her interest play a role in her dream job. </p>

<p>Very interested in study abroad programs also, although in this day and age this program is offered at almost all colleges.</p>

<p>Looking forward to your insight!</p>

<p>I think your daughter should visit ASU and her top choice LAC, and then you should both wait. Wait for the offers in April - wait for financial aid or merit offers and wait for acceptances. It will be clearer what is the best decision after you have all the options on the table. Trying to make up your minds now is a waste of time IMHO. :)</p>

<p>I agree she should definitely visit the ASU honors college and closely look at the benefits being offered and compare the type of academic programs in her areas of interest to those at the LACs. I hear only good things about Barrett --- like having the personal attention of a LAC combined with the scope of experience and opportunities available at a large university. </p>

<p>If she can see herself being happy, challenged, fitting in to the honors college at ASU, why not take the less expensive route to an UG education? (And it could be that Barrett offers a better deal academically as well as financially compared to the LACs you mentioned.) However, if she feels uncomfortable or like there is no "fit" for her at ASU, then you can see the point of spending more for the private college.</p>

<p>I suggest you go to the "Colleges" forum and find the ASU subforum and post a question about Barrett Honors College and student/parent experiences with the program. Or go to that subforum and first do a search for threads about Barrett. I'm sure you'll find some useful information there.</p>

<p>totally agree 100% with jazzy.....have heard great things about ASU honors......yes, it's all about "fit"....</p>

<p>I agree with the other posters. Keep in mind that some honors colleges are not all that spectacular, but Barretts is really cream of the crop honors and is well-known and respected across the country. Students have the opportunity to function in a LAC atmosphere if they choose to do so; new dorms to open this fall, etc. all of which is optional. It's a short visit to ASU; go to colleges forum on cc and hop a plane or drive to Phoenix.</p>

<p>Barrett is very impressive, and was in my son's top 2 choices last year. He chose USC with a half-tuition+ scholarship over a full ride at Barrett, but mainly because he was admitted to film at SC and it was too good to pass up. The things he loved about Barrett were the small honors classes taught by interesting profs, the prospect of the new building, the honors dorm that would put him in touch with a lot of kids who are serious students, and the personal attention he would get there. He also liked the generally relaxed atmosphere of the campus - it's really beautiful there. The Barrett kids are considered special among the ASU student body, and apparently get lots of opportunities because prof's like to work with them. </p>

<p>Your D's interests in journalism and fashion seem more compatible with ASU than with a LAC, but a LAC can lead to good opportunities for internships, perhaps in those fields. </p>

<p>One concern I would have about ASU right now is the fact that the U is looking at 30% budget cuts. That's a shocking number, and I would worry that it would affect the quality of the experience for students in the near future.</p>

<p>I agree with responses that ASU seems to have a diverse academic experience. Having said that I feel a Business Degree in Marketing and minor in journalism will provider sufficient education to accomplish whatever specific direction in these fields she chooses. She is not a 4.0 student - only a 2 AP classes and 2 honors - she has good EC, leadership roles, and had a great essay. She has been accepted to most of the colleges at this point with merit - still waiting for fin. aid pkg. (the only one she hasn't heard from is SMU)<br>
I agree diversity at ASU but internships with LAC's. I also feel with so many students graduating today, the college choice is "fit" and which one will help open doors. Once the doors are open it is what you do with the opportunity. I have no doubt she will be successful, we are trying to provide her with the best networking ability to open doors. The rest is up to her... </p>

<ol>
<li> Is the education far superior at a LAC vs. Barrett?</li>
<li> Having some of the LAC's mentioned better on the resume or is Barrett Honors?</li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for all your insight.</p>

<p>It seems she would clearly get into some UCs given the other colleges she has gotten into with merit. I'm not sure why you're thinking she won't. I don't know anything about the honors college, but surely any UC is better than ASU as a whole, so unless the honors college is truly contained and all of her classes will be with this group, I would not count the UCs out.</p>

<p>To answer your last questions, I'd be curious to know the stats of the accepted at the honors college. I'm also wondering how big it is and whether employers who do not in general recruit at ASU go out of their way to recruit at it's honors college.</p>

<p>Also, does your daughter plan to return to CA to work or will she head to NYC?</p>

<p>I would like to know the stats of those accepted at Barrett's, as well. Couldn't find it on the website, anyone know?</p>

<p>to the OP
My older D (now 25) is a summa cum laude graduate of the Barrett Honors College at ASU.She had a stellar undergrad experience there, and chose it over other places. We're from NY and visiting in Feb, with warmth ,sunshine,palm trees, etc helped! She was a music major ..performance..and had to be admitted to her instruments studio as well. She had friends in all majors, from all over the U.S. Many had very successful outcomes.She is in a PhD program, she has friends in med school,law school, dental, physical therapy,pharmacy,engineering,etc.She loved living in the old Honors Complex and enjoyed the small Honors courses ,especially the two course first year sequence all the Honors students take.
She may have been unique in that she wanted a big school experience.small school sizes didnt interest her. She didnt think she'd be interested in big U athletic teams, but wound up enjoying the Pac 10 football scene.
She had great mentoring, and did a Honors study abroad summer program (loved it...claases in London,Dublin and Edinborough,lots of side trips on their own).
One nice thing about ASU and Phoenix...its the only U in town.Students get great internship opportunities.If shes interested in Journalism, the Walter Cronkite School can't be beat.Take a visit, and look hard at their opportunities.The business school is excellent as well.
Let me know if you have any other questions!</p>

<p>Another consideration is the economic impact of the finacial crisis (or recession, pick your word) on the ASU campus. Others have reported massive changes occuring due to budget problems in Arizona- be sure the education you signed up for will still exist when you get there.</p>

<p>Danimri, you asked is the education far superior at a LAC vs. Barrett---Can you define what you mean by education? I suspect there are many different views on the idea of what an 'education' actually is, and how it may be used in our drastically changing world. The way you answer this question may help in your choice.</p>

<p>A purist's definition of a LAC is one that does not offer majors in journalism and marketing. That's changed over time, obviously, but be sure to check out the depth of courses and faculty in those majors if she's considering a LAC.</p>

<p>As far as prestige, if she wants to enter a career in magazine publishing in New York, a LAC such as Amherst, Smith, Vassar, Middlebury, would be a much bigger name than ASU. It's that whole east coast thing :) But if she's a California kid and wants to stay there, I don't know that there would be a great deal of difference between ASU and a LAC that's not in the tippy top tier.</p>

<p>the Barrett's Honors College funding is endowed by Intel's founder Craig Barrett.Don't know what the impact on Honors programs will be. Are the cuts announced at ASU any different/larger than cuts announced anywhere else in colleges all over the US??</p>

<p>I think that with her interests, Barrett's and ASU would be perfect.</p>

<p>Don't know that much about some of the schools you listed, but neither SMU or TCU can be considered LACs. Both offer professional degrees, larger than a traditional Lac, and both offer Masters level degrees in multiple disciplines. Dallas/Ft Worth area actually has a decently strong fashion merchandising component. The Trade Mart there holds shows several times a year covering both fashion and furniture design. The University of North Texas just up the road in Denton has a highly competitive design school. While the university as a whole draws most of its student population from the North Texas area, the design school's reputation draws students from all over the United States and many of those student's end up in NY after graduation! Magazine publishing, however, not so much.</p>

<p>Of these two, given your daughter's varied interests, SMU might be the better choice. We know an absolutely awesome PR professor at TCU who is a tremendous role model and mentor for young women. However the business school at SMU is stronger with heavy Dallas area support and the journalism dept overall might be stronger and definitely has some arts leaning (SMU has a very strong dance and visual arts program). So, internship opportunities combining elements of business, arts/fashion and journalism would probably be stronger out of SMU. </p>

<p>We've known a couple of students who chose to attend ASU Barretts Honors college. Overall, it was a great experience and the Honors environment was very supportive. And yes, they were admitted to very good, "Name Brand" schools so it was a definite choice on their part. The classes were engaging and the students were top notch. The only issue might be the "Honors" part for your daughter. Barretts is no walk in the park grading wise and she will have to earn her GPA to stay in. </p>

<p>While not of the same caliber as Barretts, remember, both TCU and SMU have honors colleges and I hope your daughter applied to them. The staff in TCUs Honors college is delightful and incredibly supportive and the SMU Honors College has some unique aspects. </p>

<p>Hopefully, in another month when you have all your info, both you and your daughter will just have one school pop out as the absolute best choice for her. While this is not likely, it's still a great dream to hold onto. And your daughter seems flexible and versatile enough to enjoy wherever she chooses!</p>

<p>Danmiri, I would take ASU/Barrets over the other schools you listed though I've heard of numerous good things about SMU if the, ah, conservative environment is to taste. Downside: Phoenix is Los Angeles without the charm.</p>

<p>FauxNom's #8 bears reading and extrapolation. My D went to one of the LAC's on her list and in comparison, vis a vis fit for <em>her</em> aims, the "please apply to Barrett" letter was properly ignored. Mileage varies considerably among students, however. If your D is coming back SoCal after graduation, Barretts is probably win/win. If she has career goals that have strong anchors in NYC or DC, might want to look at FauxNom's list closely. Though I guess it's already too late to apply.</p>

<p>FN, the film department at USC is terrific, congratulations. And I say that as one who normally finds USC as something mentioned in Leviticus.</p>

<p>"And I say that as one who normally finds USC as something mentioned in Leviticus."</p>

<p>TheDad--I'm puzzled by this allusion. Care to explain?</p>