<p>Im new to this site, but Ive just started my college search and I though youall could help me.</p>
<p>Im really looking for a school with a big time sports program. When a fall football Saturday comes along, I want the town to rise and come alive in their schools colors.</p>
<p>I really want to stay on the west coast I live in Arizona. My dream school is USC, and Washington is also on my list.</p>
<p>So I really want a big time sports school, but also with a solid academic reputation. </p>
<p>I dont know, I guess I just have a certain vision for the school that I want to go to . I like traditional campuses, and where everyone in the town loves the school and the sports teams.</p>
<p>Im a huge sports guy.. if you cant tell and I need a school where others share my passion.</p>
<p>So I guess Im just asking for some suggestions </p>
<p>Im a pretty smart student 3.98 weighted GPA 1910 Sat ( 1290) 28 act</p>
<p>Right now my list is USC and Washington</p>
<p>Im open to schools in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and other western schools . ( out of Arizona) (((( No Ucla or UCB)))))</p>
<p>Is money an issue? USC is the ulitimate in rah-rah schools, but the price-tag for big-football is pretty high there. Does size matter? Urban setting ok? By the way, USC has become increasingly harder to get into. I would not consider USC a safety for you.</p>
<p>I second the motion for U of O. It is a great sports school, has solid academics and is a nice price even for out of state students. The honors college is very good, and the campus is beautiful. Go Ducks!</p>
<p>Third vote for U of O. Coming from AZ you can also look into the Western Undergraduate Exchange which would help with tuition. Oregon State and UC Boulder aren't part of the exchange but if $$ isn't an object, you could look there too.</p>
<p>UW gets tougher for out-of-state every year. You have good stats but it won't be a sure thing. They have moved from strictly numbers-based admissions to a "holistic review" of applicants. If you are a URM be sure to communicate that in your application somewhere. Something else to consider - how important is it to you for most of the students to live on or near campus and to stick around on the weekends?</p>
<p>I think folks have pretty much hit the possibilities for you on the West Coast. Pac-10 or bust ;). </p>
<p>If big time sports is your key want, along with good quality academics, maybe you should add a couple non-West Coast schools - to enhance your options? Mich State? Florida? ..... so many more options if you open up the geography a bit. And you may also find that your Arizona location gives you a bit of an admissions boost if you think more easterly and southerly. Just a thought.</p>
<p>I'm kind of surprised people would mention UWashington without mentioning WSU in the same breath. WSU football fans are at least as nuts as huskies or ducks. Around here during the Apple Cup (when UW and WSU play), every car is decorated. And these are 45 year olds we're talking about, too. I know multiple WSU alumni who still go to every home game.... twenty years after they graduated.</p>
<p>I live in Cougar Country and nothing is bigger than WSU football. I have middle-aged and retired friends who actually travel (RV caravan) to WSU away games. I know people who paint a crimson WSU on their lawns every fall. After last season, trying to get a seat at a WSU basketball game has been almost impossible too.</p>
<p>As a Big Ten guy I necessarily look at all the western schools as rank amateurs when it comes to mixing great academics, great campuses, and enthusiastic sports culture. But if you are determined to stay on the west coast, Oregon would be the obvious choice, I think. It's attainable with your stats, it's sports crazy, it's a solid public university. Washington has great sports fans, too, but it's a lot tougher to get into and because it's in Seattle you wouldn't get nearly the "feel" that a college town like Eugene would give you on a football Saturday. Wazzou would be a good choice, too, from that perspective, but you'd have to decide if you want to spend four years on the Palouse. USC and UCLA have great sports but they are swallowed by LA and never even fill their stadia. On any given football Saturday 90% of the people in LA wouldn't even know there's a game. The Utah suggestion was a good one, too.</p>
<p>Now if you aren't afraid of buying a winter coat, you really should check out places like Madison, Iowa City, Columbus and State College. Trust me -- on football Saturdays EVERYONE knows there's a game going on. There's nothing like it in the world. :)</p>
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USC and UCLA have great sports but they are swallowed by LA and never even fill their stadia.
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<p>Heh, but no. USC has had no trouble selling out the 90,000+ football tickets for every game - and certainly not all 90,000 are students or alumni. Since there's no pro football in LA, fans tend to turn to college football. </p>
<p>Even USC men's basketball is now selling out the new, huge Galen Center. As for the folks over in Westwood, maybe they don't always fill the rose bowl, but certainly at least basketball is hot stuff over there. (this is despite having two NBA teams in LA)</p>
<p>On topic, I think most Pac-10 schools have something like what you're looking for (including Stanford, which has strong athletics, just not so much in football) and there are a couple schools like San Jose State where sports are big. Beyond that, there are more schools without Div I football (or any football at all) which still have strong athletics, but I don't think that's what you're looking for.</p>