Student Life

Colleges and Universities A-Z Louisiana State University
1

<p>I will be spending 2 months during the summer at LSU, and I was wondering what the student life is like at this university, especially during the summer. Are there many students that stay on-campus during the summer? Will there be many students from different universities attending summer courses? </p>

<p>I am also wondering about the location of the school. Is it in downtown Baton Rouge, or is it in a suburban, excluded part of the city? If so, is there easily accessible public transportation to get down town? </p>

<p>How is the weather? Hot? Humid?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>There’re much less people in the summer, but there are still people there. The weather is very hot and humid. The campus itself is huge, and while its surroundings aren’t the best (not really downtown, but some apartments are around poverty areas), you won’t notice. If you live in the dorms, you won’t ever notice.</p>

<p>I don’t use the buses much, so can’t comment on that.</p>

3

<p>Just look at LSU on google maps. You somewhat get a feel of where it’s at. Not too far from downtown. River is on the west side so nothing in that direction. Southside is surburban. Northside once you get a few blocks from campus turns into the shady ghetto and then eventually turns into downtown. </p>

<p>Any particular reason you interested in downtown B.R. so much? There’s not really much there for college kids unless you want to see the capitol, eat at Tsunami (or similar) or sit on the bank of the Mississippi. Most of the college kid activities are right around campus. However, Baton Rouge is a spread out urban city so there’s lots of stuff to do but certain things may be harder to get to without having your own car (Mall for example).</p>

<p>Anything in particular you are looking to do? Eat, Bars, Movies, etc. etc.?</p>

<p>BR isn’t known for good public transportation. I’m sure the Buses will eventually get you from A-B, but it’s nothing like public transportation in other metropolitan cities.</p>

4

<p>I’ve never been to Baton Rouge before, let alone Louisiana, and since Baton Rouge is one of the major cities in the South, I thought I’d do a bit of exploring when I’m down there. Because I won’t have a car, public transportation would be the only way to do that. I’m sure there is much to do on campus, but I’d definitely like to get out and really experience the culture. I’d like to try Creole and Cajun food, go to concerts, and just see what the Louisiana/Southern culture is all about. I’m also looking for night life (bars, clubs, restaurants, etc.). Is there much night life around campus, or would I have to venture off campus to do that? What are some things that first-timers usually do in the city?</p>

5

<p>In Baton Rouge, I would say if you are going to make a day out of it, go downtown and see… the capitol (tallest capitol building in the US), the old capitol (castle-like, now the museum of political history, I think), and the new Shaw Center (Art and stuff). If you have the money, eat at [Tsunamis[/url</a>] (Japanese place). The food isn’t worth the money, but supposedly the atmosphere and view of the city make up for it (it’s on top of the shaw center). </p>

<p>Around campus there’s plenty of night-life, though I can’t attest to what it’s like during the summer. North of campus, just outside the gates, there’s [url=<a href=“http://www.thechimes.com/]The”>http://www.thechimes.com/]The</a> Chimes<a href=“Seafood%20Restaurant/Bar”>/url</a>, [url=<a href=“http://www.varsitytheatre.com/”>About The Varsity Theater | Events in Baton Rouge | Buy Tickets] The Varsity <a href=“Bar,%20and%20hosts%20the%20better%20local%20music”>/url</a>, and other bars and places to eat (Northgate Tavern, Serrano’s, et al). I suggest having a burger at some point in time at Raouls (hole in the wall, but one of the better burgers you’ll ever have) . </p>

<p>Other popular bars are located in Tigerland off Nicholson (Fred’s, Tiger bar, Bogies, Reggies, etc.) I prefer north campus bars to tigerland, but that’s just my opinion. Once again I don’t know what it’s like during the summer, but every Thursday night is 80s night at Spanish Moon and it’s really popular and the place is usually crowded. </p>

<p>As far as other food, I really like [url=<a href="http://www.parrains.com/]Parrain’s[/url"&gt;http://www.parrains.com/]Parrain’s[/url&lt;/a&gt;] not too far from campus. And [url=<a href=“http://www.mikeandersonsbr.com/]Mike”>http://www.mikeandersonsbr.com/]Mike</a> Anderson’s](<a href=“http://www.servingsushi.com/Default.asp]Tsunamis[/url”>http://www.servingsushi.com/Default.asp) on nicholson is good as well. Don’t know how transportation is to these places. I could see getting to Parrain’s easier than Mike Anderson’s on a bike (don’t know about public). There’s no shortage of food places in baton rouge, but other restaurants are further way from campus and not easily gotten to without transportation (though I don’t know how public is again).</p>

<p>If you really want to get some culture, then there’s no way you can come down here without at least making some sort of side trip to New Orleans for a weekend. Since you need transportation, read up on this: [LA</a> Swift](<a href=“The domain name laswift.com is for sale. Buy it now!”>http://www.laswift.com/) . Best way to get from BR to NOLA for cheap. Once you get there you are going to want to see Bourbon st and anything in the French Quarter. Eat at [Cafe</a> Dumonde](<a href=“http://www.cafedumonde.com/]Cafe”>http://www.cafedumonde.com/) or at the original Copeland’s. </p>

<p>There’s other stuff to do as well, but I figure as a first timer this should get you going. I realize you may also not have the time nor money to do all of these things. I just thought I throw them out there.</p>

6

<p>blieux_monkey: Thanks for all the great tips! I will definitely give the restaurants you listed a try! Hopefully I will find the time to really enjoy LSU and Baton Rouge. :)</p>