How are the dorms at Tempe ASU? Where to eat?

My daughter will probably be studying Russian at ASU Tempe from mid May to mid July, 2018. They offer dormitory housing and a cafeteria, all pretty much pay as you go. Can anyone tell me if the dorms are decent? Do they have good air conditioning? How is the food in the cafeteria? Are there other options, like food trucks, grocery stores, etc. near campus? Is the area safe? Would it make more sense to look for a summer sublet?

@parentologist - It really depends on which dorms. They all have great A/C - during the summer it will be over 110 many days. There are a number of commercial restaurants in the MU (Memorial Union). There are also plenty of restaurants nearby. Mill has a bunch if you on the NW end of Campus. The MU is more central. There are stores nearby. If your DD is over 18, check out the Enterprise CarShare. It is a very convenient and inexpensive transportation option. The area is safe, in my opinion. My DS is graduating in May. He has never had any issues, but I cannot speak to whether ladies feel safe. If you have more info, message me. I will try to get more specific answers from my son. Also, during the summer, only certain cafeterias will be open.

I would think the sponsor of the Russian class could tell you what specific dorms you would be using. That would be helpful to know. We’re local and both of my daughters have done summer residential camps (for speech & debate) at ASU. One or the other of them has spent 2 weeks at ASU for at least the last 5 summers either as a high school age camper or a college age camp coach. They’ve always stayed in either Barrett dorms or Hassayampa. The dorms have been just fine. (By comparison, my college age D has done a lot of debate camps as either coach or student and stayed in dorms at UCLA, Emerson, Drexel, Swarthmore and Pomona, and says the ASU dorms are better than most. As @usma87 posted there are a lot of options at the MU and plenty of restaurants including fast food nearby.

Thanks, this is very helpful. I’m just nervous about sending her to fly on her own to someplace we know nothing about (except the fact that it can be hotter than hell). Good to hear that the dorms are OK, and well-air conditioned.

Not gonna lie, the dorms at ASU (not including Barrett dorms) are kind of dinky. As for food, food is def not a concern. As others mentioned, there is Memorial Union w tons of fast food options, and there are restaurants near campus ranging from fast food to fancy sit-down areas. Downtown Tempe is a very hip area, and they have taken note of the college students living nearby. I should warn you that the area, in my opinion, is kind of rough.

My sister lives in the Barrett dorms, and there are gates to the dorms that cannot be opened unless you have a valid ASU ID, but the surrounding area is a bit rough with a drive-in liquor store and several bars (that at night almost always have cop cars for whatever reason) right across the street from the dorms. This makes sense when you consider ASU’s huge party scene, but that is pretty toxic in and of itself. Your D should be fine as long as she stays away from that scene.

Ugh. She’s just gonna be there for 8 weeks, mid May to mid July. I don’t know which dorms they’re gonna have open. I should try contacting them now about it. Thanks to all who responded.

She’s gonna be in Hayden South.

No dining halls open, and there is apparently one kitchen for the entire dorm! This is not the kind of kid who’s gonna subsist on fast food. Does anyone know where I could get her a dorm fridge to rent or buy?
Thanks for the idea about Enterprise car share. Although she has her license, she left for college right after she got it, so really hasn’t driven enough to be a confident driver. Plus, Enterprise says the service is shut down for the summer. I’m thinking maybe she could take an Uber to the nearest supermarket once a week to buy fresh dairy and fruits and veggies.

@parentologist - Summer can be a little quirky. Looks like the vendor for rental mini-fridges is also not available for the summer. The company is University and Student Services. Google that and you can call them to see what they offer during the summer. Target is close by at Tempe Marketplace. I’m surprised the summer program does not provide more guidance.

@parentologist: A bit off topic, but have you looked into the summer language school at Middlebury College in Vermont ?

Yes, kid was accepted to Middlebury and every other program kid applied to, but because kid’s orientation is academic, as opposed to peace activism, no funding at Middlebury, despite kid’s truly excellent qualifications. Should have told kid to just say that they wanted to save the world, instead of wanting to improve language as a tool for a major that wasn’t a peace activism major. Cost would have been over 12K, plus it’s smack in the middle of summer break. ASU language is in early summer, (leaving time to continue language study in a second program for rest of summer), they gave funding bringing tuition down to $500, (but has to cover housing and food on own). Plus the assigned teacher has incredible ratings online, and shares kid’s academic interests.

Honestly, the only fly in the ointment is that it’s taking place in Tempe at a time when it’s literally hotter than hell. Of course, helicopter/snowplow mom is also panicking because it’s so far away.

My latest freak out? The water quality! Kid won’t have a car, and I’m not having kid haul gallons of bottled water several blocks back to the dorm room in 90-110 degree heat. Solution I’ve worked out is having a Zero water filter pitcher sent right after arrival.

As for fridge, I can have a new dorm-sized fridge shipped to the mini-Walmart a couple of blocks from Hayden. Of course, selling it in mid-July will likely be challenging.

I already appreciated kid’s excellent flagship University close to home, but now I’m even more grateful for how convenient and safe it is. Brine, note taken of area. Looked it up on Trulia crime - looks pretty bad. If it gets cool enough to run at night, will run only on campus, hopefully with a buddy. Fortunately, it looks as if the gym is very close to the dorm.

“in Tempe at a time when it is literally hotter than hell” – “crime–looks pretty bad” @parentologist.

Any updates that you are willing to share ? Any issues regarding air quality ? How are the profs ? (Curious as I know one student who is transferring out of Barrett Honors College due to teacher quality.)

@Publisher - I would assume quality is very dependent on major. My ASU-Barrett grad (Chemistry) had no issues with professors and quality.

@usma87: Agree. ASU Barrett Honors College needs more input on CC from current students & recent graduates because of its very generous scholarship offerings to both resident & non-resident students.

I try to read as much as I can, but I do read conflicting accounts.

My family has vested interest in the state & I am impressed by the fulltime MBA program’s offering of full tuition scholarships to all accepted fulltime MBA students.

@Publisher I have my MBA from ASU. I completed 95% online. I felt it was a good program. I have another DS who will be class of '22 in Barrett. CS major.

@usma87 : Are you willing to share any thoughts about ASU MBA ? Did you focus on a particular area or concentration ?

Hopefully your daughter will share some of her experiences & impressions of ASU Barrett.

I felt the online MBA program was strong. We had full-time faculty that also teach the resident MBA program. The structure worked for me. You take one class at a time, three classes per semester (Fall/Spring/Summer). The majority of classes are team-based. You quickly learn how to function as a multi-dimensional team. My team had engineers, technical writers, stock brokers, supply chain and sales people.

I was able to complete the program in 2 years. My diploma does not have any “online” designation since we take the same classes as the resident MBA program.

My cohort was early in the “concentration” phase. It had just started. I stayed as a general business student. I am in sales, so that focus (or lack there of) worked for my purposes.

My son (not daughter) that just graduated is not on CC. I shared this discussion with him. He agreed, he was pleased with all his professors. He really liked Barrett. ASU is so big, the smaller community feel of Barrett met his needs. Assessments of the quality of professors is so subjective. The variables are endless.

Kid was at the Melikian Critical Language institute, had to apply to ASU, lived in an ASU dorm (Hayden Hall - old, but good A/C, dinky dorm), got ASU credit. Fantastic teacher (but not an ASU teacher). Kid said only about 1/4 of the students were prepared and willing to do the work at the level expected, so prof had to slow/dumb down the class a bit, but kid said it was still a great experience.

Overall, I would say that for the price, it’s a great value, and a good choice for a summer language program. However, the course and program are no indicator of anything else about ASU - only of Melikian Critical Language Institute.