Amy9998: Agreed.
Re other posts, I appreciate that there are many passionate supporters of the school. I’ll delve into greater detail here.
First, we did not meet with a random science professor. We flew there and spent time meeting with specific professors who were responsible for the majors/minors she was considering. The visit was coordinated in advance. Second, the science professor was the liaison for the program, so I did expect him to speak to his administrative responsibility and suffice to say he could not. Third, he could not name any schools where his students had been accepted for REU’s because they hadn’t applied - he told us they did “supplemental” REU work. Fourth, when we asked what research opportunities were in his lab he said that if she could carefully wash test tubes, etc, for a semester he would consider her for a higher position. She is a college freshman now, at a top 10 public school, and is already working on research involving lead isotopes and other stuff that is over my head. She’s having REU discussions, and so are her science major roommates, with advisors. Fifth, the discussion she had with the business prof lasted 12 minutes. She asked him the questions she had written and brought with her, and he asked nothing about her interests, why she was there, etc. I think if a student takes time off of school to fly in to meet specifically with you, you might want to ask “So, what brings you here today?” I could go on, it was a two day visit, but I’ll stop here.
I had an open mind about UA, we wouldn’t have visited for a few days had I not. (As an aside, dinner at DePalma’s was delicious.) As I said, I think pre med students facing thousands in grad school debt, for example, would be well off considering free tuition at UA because a class like o-chem is a challenge everywhere and it could make sense for these students to save their money for grad school. Every decision comes with a cost - a free ride might not be so free in the long run depending on a student’s goals. Taking a free ride at UA, or facing $250K for a private LAC, should give every student and parent pause. I agree it “isn’t a good idea to choose a school that’s not a fit for the money.” And, I’m not implying the school isn’t good, I’m saying it isn’t good for my daughter and I hope all parents and prospective students visit, or at least Skype, with UA professors before making a leap because of the low cost. Also, I know that on special visit days for potential scholars at any school there is all kinds of fanfare. She interviewed for top scholarships and there was swag, dinners with special faculty members, fancy videos, etc. I wanted her to have an unvarnished visit, just talking academics. I think students looking at elite scholarships at any school, including UA, should visit, or consult faculty members, on a day when it’s not about being fawned over, when scholarship discussions aren’t clouding any judgement.