<p>Does anyone have any information? The website makes it sound very inviting but I heard there isn't such a great undergrad experience there and that it is very much a commuter school. I know it is not a school on many CC parents' radar but if you know anything helpful I would be grateful. They caught S's attention with their fantastic bowl win several years ago.</p>
<p>anyone? Are there any Idaho residents here?</p>
<p>Some say it’s math classes are as hard as MIT’s…</p>
<p>But by the same people claiming that it was used it as the “stereotypical low ranking college” so I don’t know that that’s a positive statement either. </p>
<p>Seems to be big on football.</p>
<p>If its math classes are “as hard as MIT’s”–they must be grading on a curve, cause I can’t imagine they have a student body with the SAT scores of MIT students!</p>
<p>We’ve sent two kids from our high school to Boise State, but they have both been football players. No clue about academics…but their football team has generated a lot of attention and certainly energizes the student body and the town on fall Saturday afternoons!</p>
<p>I was curious so I went to their web site. I thought it was possible this is a great school that I just hadn’t heard of (Idaho is not on my radar!)</p>
<p>They have no minimum ACT or SAT score requirements.</p>
<p>For the year 2007, 2% of entering freshmen had math SAT scores over 700.
3% had ACT scores over 30.</p>
<p>Okaay.</p>
<p>Being from one state west of Idaho, I don’t see a lot of people really wanting to attend Boise State or UIdaho. There are probably some really good programs, but I haven’t heard a lot of positive comments on the quality of education or course selection. That said, there is nothing saying that a student couldn’t have a great experience at Boise State or any school in Idaho for that matter.</p>
<p>“If its math classes are “as hard as MIT’s”–they must be grading on a curve, cause I can’t imagine they have a student body with the SAT scores of MIT students!”</p>
<p>It was a joke from a thread on the “College life” forum. A couple of people were trying to claim that a Calc class at a low ranking state university (and used “for instance, Boise State”) is going to be the same as a calc class at MIT, because they both teach calc. I’m pretty sure most of us will disagree.</p>
<p>The kid is question has a gpa between 3.0 and 3.5. He thinks he wants a school where football generates quite a bit of excitement on campus. As his mom I am looking to help him find schools at which he has a good to excellent chance of admittance but which will not break the bank with sky high OOS tuitions. I already know BSU meets those three criteria and now I am trying to find out if anyone has actual first hand knowledge of the undergrad experience there so I know if we should bother scheduling a visit. </p>
<p>SEA_tide thank you very much. how about the College of Idaho? Are your WA state kids drawn there? </p>
<p>LMNOP and qwertykey: thank you very much for the feedback.</p>
<p>Idaho as a state seems to get few people I know that end up attending schools there*. I did consider Idaho schools, but I didn’t apply to any. I wasn’t really familiar with the College of Idaho (knew it by its former name), but looking into it, it’s a private school, so OOS tuition isn’t an issue. A few people I know have considered Montana and Montana State, but football there doesn’t seem as popular as it is at BSU. If you are from a western state, HI, ND, or SD, check out the Western Undergraduate Exchange (affiliated with WICHE, often called WUE (pronounced like gooey, but with a w)). Many schools will offer OOS students tuition at 150% of the instate rate.</p>
<p>*Washington State University (Wazzu) is 7 miles from the Idaho line (and U Idaho), so many students that attend Wazzu go to Idaho for Wal-Mart and apparently cheaper liquor.</p>
<p>Cinniesmom, your S might want to check of UMontana–LOTS of Griz football pride, not too bad of tuition even for OOS.</p>
<p>PM me with any questions.</p>
<p>psych. UM thank you for the recommendation. UM looks more residential and they have top basketball too so that is another plus. I appreciate your post and may PM you about UM in the future.</p>
<p>SEA-tide: thank you for the WUE information. It potentially makes oos tuition that much more doable which is always good news.</p>
<p>Our son is in his freshman year at Boise State, coming from Seattle. He had his choice of several schools, both in and out of state. Graduated with a 3.5 from a private HS and had solid SAT’s. Wanted to go somewhere that he could snowboard, take advantage of outdoor activities, medium size city and that had big time athletics. First choice was Colorado at Boulder but the financial aid wasn’t great so he took his WUE and went to Boise. He has loved it, I think that living on campus freshman year has been important for making friends and feeling connected to the campus. Academics in his mind have been just fine, not too brutal but his HS probably prepped him well. My take on our visits and his first year is that it’s a school that will show dramatic improvement in standards and quality of education over the next several years, backed up by this recent report in USNWR last fall.
[Boise</a> State Named Among ?Top Up-And-Coming Schools? by U.S. News and World Report - UPDATE](<a href=“http://news.boisestate.edu/update/2009/08/21/boise-state-ranked/]Boise”>http://news.boisestate.edu/update/2009/08/21/boise-state-ranked/)</p>
<p>Boise is a fun city and we have enjoyed the times we have spent exploring there, definitely worth a visit to check out the campus and what they have to offer. My son is not in the program but I know the engineering school is considered top notch.</p>
<p>boloman thank you for that information. The US News thing is great but your son’s first hand experience is ultimately what is the most helpful. Thank you.</p>
<p>I can’t comment on Boise State but after D spent a month in Boise last summer doing a clinical rotation, I definitely have an opinion on Boise itself. I was very surprised to find a vibrant young city with much appeal. It clearly was focused on the outdoors, bicycles everywhere, lots of runners, walkers, kayakers–reminded me of a sunny mini-Portland. I expected it to feel much more conservative than it did. Great downtown area with many young people everywhere. With Sun Valley nearby and the focus on outdoors, healthy living, I think it could be a wonderful place to go to college for 4 years. </p>
<p>My D actually really enjoyed the city and would consider going back. The city surprised all of us.</p>
<p>Boise has been great fun for visits and exploring. I was concerned too about the commuter campus aspect of BSU but I think that is undergoing a big shift. For years Boise didn’t have a true community college so anyone wanting an associate degree attended through the community college at Boise State. I think this skewed a lot of perceptions regarding academics, standards, campus life etc. Now that the Community College, The College of Western Idaho is established (last fall), anyone wanting to just take a few classes or get an associates degree can attend there. As a result, I think over the next few years you will see a dramatic rise in standards, retention etc. at Boise State. </p>
<p>Our son did have a few friends from his HS that also went to BSU so he had a built in network but living in the dorms he has made lot’s of friends and feels very connected to the campus and social aspect of school. Like anywhere, you get out of it what you put into it, he seems pretty passionate about what he is studying and has had a great first year. I also know of several other kids from Seattle who have applied or plan on attending next fall, in this economy the WUE is a great help for kids who want a little adventure rather than simply going to the state schools.</p>
<p>One of my friends from a top high school in Seattle went to Boise State and loved it. If you want a school with a LOT of school spirit, located in a really pretty, outdoorsy area, it’s a good choice. The football team is a big deal there, and while they’re not a team you think of always as being a “football powerhouse” they are a lot of fun to watch and the students are really into it. This particular friend is still a big supporter of Boise State athletics even though she has graduated.</p>
<p>Boise has been a destination city for outdoor enthusiasists (and relocating corporations)for years. I don’t know much about BSU, other than that the Nursing School is reputedly very good.</p>
<p>In addition to Nursing, Engineering has a great reputation there. Beyond that, the facilities are fast becoming first class, most dorms, rec center, the student union, business building (later this year) and health sciences are all brand new, athletic facilities are great. Easy access to the city with great restaurants and clubs, Bogus Basin with a 200+ inch snowfall is 45 minutes away, Sun Valley a few hours drive.</p>
<p>Oh my goodness thanks to all who have given their thoughts on this thread. Boise State will stay on the preliminary list. The fact that he can combine outdoor rec and marketing degrees at a WUE price that is much lower than what he would be paying for an instate public education here is reason to like it that much more. If anyone else has thoughts I would be grateful to hear them.</p>