Some questions from a prospective freshman

Colleges and Universities A-Z Louisiana State University
1

<p>I'm a junior in high school (OOS), and I'm really interested in going to LSU for either landscape architecture or architecture. I have some questions about LSU, and would greatly appreciate responses. Thanks!</p>

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<li><p>How are the Louisiana budget cuts affecting LSU? Compared to cuts of other state universities of other states?</p></li>
<li><p>How are the scholarships? I'm an OOS student, 4.0 GPA (unweighted), 27 ACT (as of now, at least), a part time job, and other extracurriculars, including high school tennis team captain, symphonic concert band, and community service organizations.</p></li>
<li><p>How clean is the campus and how is the upkeep of the buildings and other structures on campus?</p></li>
<li><p>How diligent are students, regarding their classes?</p></li>
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2

<p>I’m just a parent of a current LSU student, but will offer what information I know in response to your questions.</p>

<ol>
<li> Here is a link to budget information on the LSU website:</li>
</ol>

<p>[LSU</a> Budget Information](<a href=“http://www.lsu.edu/budget/]LSU”>http://www.lsu.edu/budget/)</p>

<p>It is difficult to make a general statement about how LSU is faring in regard to state budget issues compared to other state universities. Many state universities are facing or just beginning to face the real impact of their states’ budget restrictions, some more severe than others. Some uni’s may respond by cutting faculty and classes, raising tuition and fees, closing programs, or increasing the number of OOS (ie, higher paying) students; some may use a combination of any of these strategies, along with others not mentioned. Once you narrow down a list of schools that you are interested in, it would be easier to make point-by-point comparisons of the actual and potential budgetary impact that each one faces and decide how important those changes are to you and your situation. </p>

<ol>
<li> Here is a link to scholarship information:
[Entering</a> Freshman Nonresident Scholarship Programs](<a href=“http://www.lsu.edu/departments/scholarships/ScholarshipPrograms/SchlPrgms_EnteringFreshmanNonresident/item14533.html]Entering”>http://www.lsu.edu/departments/scholarships/ScholarshipPrograms/SchlPrgms_EnteringFreshmanNonresident/item14533.html)</li>
</ol>

<p>LSU’s merit scholarships are pretty much based on GPA and ACT/SAT scores. If you can get your ACT up to a 28 or 29, you qualify for an automatic $5,000 annual scholarship; ACT of 30 or higher automatically qualifies you for $10,000 a year. These scholarships are for all 4 years (5 years if you are in an Arch or LandArch degree program) as long as you maintain a 3.0 GPA and are enrolled full-time. The relatively low cost of OOS tuition plus these scholarships makes LSU look more affordable compared with other state schools.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I think LSU has a very pretty campus and it has always looked clean and well-maintained during the times I have visited. Some of the buildings are older and show their age, but this is not necessarily bad. The newer buildings are very nice and there is ongoing renovation and new construction. </p></li>
<li><p>The LandArch and Arch majors are very demanding and require students to be very diligent. Studio projects can be very time-consuming and require a commitment to long periods of time in the design studio, often late into the evening. </p></li>
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<p>You may already know that LSU’s undergrad LandArch program has been consistently ranked in the top 5 for the past several years, and currently is ranked #1 by Design Intelligence. It is a jewel in the crown of LSU and, in my opinion, it may be less susceptible to the impact of budget cuts compared with other programs that attract fewer students or have less of an impact. My son is a LA major and the program was one of the main reasons he chose LSU, and he has been very happy with the program and with the school overall. Best of luck to you!</p>