<p>To Mrhazel44: I live in AZ, and have multiple friends attending both UofA's honors college, and Barrett. </p>
<p>UofA selects their honors students based on raw scores, and the program is actually seen as more of a perk to students (special advising, priority registration, honors dorms) rather than an actual honors college itself.</p>
<p>Barrett selects its students based on scores, EC's, and a heavily weighted essay. Barrett is a bit tougher to get into generally, but both programs offer the same advantages throughout. </p>
<p>Garrity will continue to criticize Arizona schools, specifically ASU and their strategies to recruit honors-level students, which is obviously working because ASU enrolls the fourth largest amount of National Merit Scholars, behind Harvard, Northwestern, and Yale. Yes, Barrett is no PSU honors college, or OU, but for a university that is perceived as pure partying (which it's not), it offers a different strategy to complete a college education for a good price. </p>
<p>Like I've said before, if someone goes to ASU wanting to scrape by with an honors education, then they will, but there are many honors students looking to satisfy their craving for learning, and ASU can offer that, only if you take advantage of it. I'm going to Barrett, and I will enjoy my education, and the academia that the university offers, regardless of its perceived drawbacks. If anything, only good can come out of the opportunities.</p>