<p>
Not true. There are outstanding state schools, honors colleges within strong state schools, and strong programs at most state schools. Certainly there are strong programs at LSU and CSU, where a committed student can be well-prepared for his or her career. Much depends on how you define “strong academically.”</p>
<p>In addition to finding out what your budget is, you need to know what you’re looking for in a school. What do you want to major in, what’s your preferred geographic area, is grad school on the horizon, what are your stats? If you come back with the answers to these questions, other posters can help you draw up a list of strong schools for you to consider.</p>