Urgent: Needing info about The University of Arizona!

[newbie]

Gosh, most of my posts lately are asking for advice! I should be studying for my finals right now, but I just thought it would be wise for me to drop by GC really fast to ask this very important question -

Anyone know anything about the University of Arizona? As in quality of undergrad education, if they know anyone who went there (and liked it or not), blah blah blah - anything they can say about the school. I know though that Shopgirl on GC went there! Please, if you would like to comment on the U of A, please do. You can post here, PM me or email me: newbiegc@hotmail.com I really have to make up my mind fast on whether I should apply or not.

The reason I am asking is because my dad just dropped a pretty surprising, albeit smart, comment on me: that maybe I should apply to one more safety school, just in case. I am pretty much guaranteed admission to my other "safety school," but I'm not too sure that I would actually be happy there (which is key, I know.) At first I was surprised at my dad's comment, being that I just finished my last (or I thought it would be my last) application. Then I thought, maybe he's right about this. So I thought about it. I'm not interested in the liberal arts schools, as I love the big school atmosphere, and my parents won't let me go anywhere far - as in, no school out of the West Coast LOL! So, I thought long and hard tonight about the University of Arizona and the University of Colorado (schools that I wanted to apply to ever since I was a soph in HS, but didn't, at least up to now). Tonight, I ruled out CU Boulder simply b/c I know I would die in the cold weather...I can't stand anyting below 50 degrees (sad but true).

But, I decided maybe I really ought to apply to the U of A. I wanted to go to teh U of A since I was a sophomore, but my mom said no, concentrate on the UCs. And I have...being that all but one application went to teh UC system.

Well, maybe my wanting to go to Arizona wasn't a very good reason though...I've been a big Wildcats fan, so that was the primary reason back then. Also I think all the sun is great. I'm a total hot weather girl.

But now, I need to really focus on if the quality of undergrad education there is good and whether they have strong programs in psychology, education, and sociology. Also if they give adequate financial aid...I'll be an out-of-state applicant and out-of-staters have much greater costs. Things about social life and the atmosphere in the state of AZ in general would also be great.

Any other comments about the U of A PLEASE SHARE...it will do me tons and tons of good!!! I really have to make up my mind fast, so I really hope the posts will come flowing in. Sorry, GC seems like the fastest way to get posts. And I apologize for my panicky-state.

Thank you all so much and wish me luck on my finals! And I'm sorry but now I have to go study so I can't respond to my other threads (like the psychology thread) quite yet!

[pbpck]

I have a few greek friends there. The greek scene is huge at U of A. My buddy had a horrible rooming situation and complains about weather alot and he was from So Cal. If you like August Vegas weather, you're money in AZ. I spent a summer at ASU for the CTY program and it was breaking a 100 degrees by 10AM.

I am not sure about the academics aspect nor financial aid. But one of my friends has 2 bros and a sis and I am sure he is getting financial aid.

My best advice is to go to the nearest Vromans or Borders and pick up one of those New's Week college edition magazines. That's what I did.

Also, DSig is an alum from U of A. So you may want to PM him.

Good luck! We've all been there!

[newbie]

Originally posted by pbpck
I have a few greek friends there. The greek scene is huge at U of A. My buddy had a horrible rooming situation and complains about weather alot and he was from So Cal. If you like August Vegas weather, you're money in AZ. I spent a summer at ASU for the CTY program and it was breaking a 100 degrees by 10AM.

I am not sure about the academics aspect nor financial aid. But one of my friends has 2 bros and a sis and I am sure he is getting financial aid.

My best advice is to go to the nearest Vromans or Borders and pick up one of those New's Week college edition magazines. That's what I did.

Also, DSig is an alum from U of A. So you may want to PM him.

Good luck! We've all been there!

Thanks Jacque! Problem is, I have plenty of those college edition mags and they don't tell very much beyond the rankings (IMO). But maybe the Fiske Guide will. I'll check that out tomorrow. Yeah, 100 degrees...I'm not too keen on that...but I heard that AZ is absolutely beautiful.

[AlphaChiGirl]

I'd stay away from the magazine guides. I've read as many articles denouncing those. They factor a school's endowment into the ranking--which is why schools like Harvard and Yale (with endowments over 10 billion) have higher rankings than schools with higher average test scores and lower endowments.

When I was looking at schools (4 years ago! Yikes!) , I liked Fiske and Princeton Review. I liked how they had what the STUDENTS--the real "college experts" --felt about the school, and not just some numbers crunched into a computer.

2 safety schools? I didn't realize until after I got to school how I applied to fewer schools than most of my friends--only 4! (and one was my state school, so it doesn't count).

PM me if you have any more questions. College admission time shouldn't be so stressful for high-schoolers!

[amycat412]

Jeez I only applied to 3 schools, but I had 2 safety schools on the ready just in case (i applied early decision to my top 3)

U of A is a good scool Car. I'd apply if I were you. It has all the aspects you're looking for-- big campus, school spirit, greek life, and Tucson's a good town. Yes the weather is HOT. But its not bad, of course, I say this having grown up in Las Vegas, so....

Academics-- well respected. I am not sure about your programs.
Financial Aid -- call the U of A fin aid office and ask.

When in doubt, apply.

Good luck!
Amy

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Where else did you apply? Personally, I applied to eight colleges- two dream schools, four realistic schools, and two safety schools. I wound up going to the last school to which I applied which was my safety. If you think that you might want to go to Arizona, apply. If not, find a new safety school.

[bruinaphi]

I visited the U of A for rush two years ago, so my information is based on rushee applications from that year and my knowledge of my friends and my sisters' friends who attend/ed U of A.

Academics: takes students who either have high GPA's and lower than expected SAT's or lower GPA's and higher SAT's at VERY GOOD high schools out of state or people who are right in the middle or really great students who want to stay in state. They also have an amazing program for students with learning disabilities. I have always been impressed with the speaking and writing abilities of the women in our chapter there (and I'm kind of snobby on that issue). An attorney who I used to work with got his BA in Psychology and Sociology there, his Masters and I think PhD in Social Psychology there and his JD there. He taught Psych at Humbolt state for a while before deciding to practice law.

Social: U of A is a great party school and has a fabulous greek system. Rush numbers have hovered in the high 700s for the past few years with pledge classes in the 50s. Chapter total is 130 and the large groups have close to 200 members.

I have a sister who is currently a freshman in college and her friends who applied to USC, UCSB and the level of school also applied to U of A as a safety school. Two of them went there and are very happy.

Weather: when I went for rush it wasn't as bad as I thought b/c August is monsoon season and it drizzles or pours for part of most days. The year I went was pretty mild I guess, and it drizzled a lot of the time which just cooled things off enough to survive.

Congrats on getting your other applications done!

I know nothing about their financial aid but you can probably apply after your first year to get in state tuition if you stay in AZ for the summers.


Laura

[newbie]

Thanks you guys!!

I feel so mixed about the whole thing. On the one hand, U of A seems so fun and I think I would have a blast there. On the other, I'm not sure if I'm so ready *myself* to leave the state of California.

One big obstacle is my mother. My dad thinks it is wise for me to apply to another safety, since he knows I don't want to go to the safety that I already applied to. My parents, though, keep on saying how good a school my safety is and how it would be nice for me to go there. (Ha, I think they say that also because that safety is not too far away from SF!) My mother, in response to my announcing that I might apply to the U of A, is like "Arizona! NO! So far away, stop dreaming. And you know how hot it gets?!" I tell her that AZ is only a state away...so close to Southern Cali too (well sorta). Geez, it's not like I'm moving to Paris or anything. It's not fair, because my older sister had applied to U Penn, NYU, Columbia, among others, that were on the East Coast during her college search. My parents didn't have an issue with that. I think probably my mother is most bothered because the U of A doesn't have the "name" that UPenn, for example, holds.

I wonder what to do. I also looked on the U of A website last night, and their deadline for their Fall 2002 apps is in April of this year! WHOA, that is really weird, at least to me. All the schools that I applied to and am familiar with had deadlines of either early January or late November. In fact, I'm supposed to get my college acceptance letters by April 1, 2002, so I find U of A's deadline kinda strange. I sent them an email last night to ask them when I would hear if I send in my app this month.

I honestly don't want to go to my safety school (which, as I said, I am almost virtually guaranteed acceptance to). I don't wish to mention the school here, though. I just don't want to go because it's in Northern Cali and I'm sick of NorCal, to be brutally honest. Also, they have virtually no school spirit and is just a medium/small-sized school. I like big schools. And they don't have warm weather (which is key for me...shallow maybe, but true).

Also, 2 other schools that I applied to, I don't wish to go, either (very bad, I know). They are not my safety schools (actually they are pretty hard to get into), but I just don't see myself there, ya know? I don't like the environment there and the location... so I'm soo hoping that I can get into my top three choices. (1. University of Southern California (though my mother is not too happy about me liking 'SC so much), 2. University of California, Santa Barbara, 3. University of California, Irvine (choices 2 and 3 are pretty much interchangeable... I'm not too sure about which I prefer).

So...I don't know what to do. Gosh I am so indecisive. I think I would like to apply to the U of A but my mother stands in my way. I also think that if I had to choose between my present safety and the U of A, my parents would mandate me (or at least make me feel very, very guilty) to go to the safety to which I have already applied. Partly because the safety that I have now is known for "better academics" than the U of A, although that's just from the college guides. My parents religiously follow those college rankings...it's sick. Another reason that they would try to keep me from going to AZ is b/c the safety is much closer to home, and would also cost less.

I'm just doubtful right now if this whole U of A thing is realistic, b/c I'm scared that if I apply and get accepted, and decide that I wanna go, my parents will say a firm "no." My dad did tell me to apply to more schools...but maybe he's not totally serious on the issue. B/c I think when it comes down to it, he of course will try to make me stay in CA.

Ahhh...what to do...what to do... Sorry you guys I am just freaked out about this whole thing and trying to handle finals at the same time! Thanks so much for listening to this worried HS senior!

[shopgirl]

Hi Newbie!!!

The University of Arizona is a wonderful school!!! Of course I'm biased, but hey, you asked!

Seriously...

The campus is absolutely beautiful. It's big but not overwhelming.
All university buildings are made of red brick. I believe it's some sort of rule that any university building has to be 80% brick. I could be wrong, but something I've heard. It has sort of an Ivy league, East Coast feel with a touch of West Coast; palm trees, beautiful people, etc. It has a lot to offer as well. They just opened a new underground learning center geared for freshman that cost the university a whopping 20 million dollars. They've built a new bookstore that has anything and everything you could want as well as a new student union, I believe.

The Greek system is huge. Lauradav is pretty right on with rush numbers. I believe it to be the largest in the Pac-10.

As far as studies are concerned, especially for undergrads, opinions will be mixed. I've heard in the past that b/c the U of A is such a research focused school that little attention is paid to undergrads. However, the university is taking/has taken great strides to improve that stigma...the new underground learning center is an example of that. They do reach out to freshmans with great enthusiasm. I remember being in my dorm my freshman year and my advisor, who I had not yet met, calling me to make sure I was going to meet with her. I was pretty impressed with that, shocked, but impressed.

We have an excellent Psychology department. The grad program is very competitive. Also, our business school is one of the best in the country. I forget the ranking, but it's impressive. Especially our MIS department.

By the way, not only does the school have a tremendous amount of school spirit, the town of Tucson does as well. There is a fantastic support system for this school. It's a lot of fun. If you do apply to the U of A and end up coming here, you won't regret it.

Do what's in you heart!!!

[amycat412]

Car-
everyone I know that went to the school their parents wanted them to go to instead of the one they wanted to ended up hating it and transferring. Yes, Mom and Dad are paying for it-- but you're the one that has to live it. Remember that.

U of A. I would say it is the most like what you love about USC of all the other schools you've applied to. Those Wildcats are crazy about their teams! I agree with shopgirl, I don't think you'd regret going there at all!


Good luck!
Amy

P.S. What's your other backup school?? Have you stressed to your parent how differently your 'rents are treating you compared to your older sister's application process and the places she was alllowed to consider? WOuld they feel differently if you promised to minor/double major in business?????

[greeklawgirl]

Carolyn,

I started at the U of A as an undergrad and finished up my last year of law school there! I loved it! The campus is beautiful and they've been making lots of improvements on it. The programs you mentioned are all strong at Arizona, and you would just love love love Tucson! It is a wonderful college town--although not really a town. There's about 800,000 people in the entire metro area.

I say go for it! It won't hurt to apply.

[newbie]

Thanks girls!!! Did anyone notice how all of the replies here have all been from girls? Hmmmm...LOL.

I am just so confused. I have realized in the past two days that I REALLY want to go to the University of Arizona now. I have shocked myself! Amy, you are so smart...the U of A totally reminds me of USC. And lately, I have realized that the U of A has almost everything that I'm looking for in a dream school!! And, now, I so want to go. I'm even thinking more about the U of A these days than UCI and UCSB. I've even thought about how the U of A might fit my wants better than UCI and SB!

BIG PROBLEM though. HUGE, possibly. *Sorry, prepare for my rant* My parents. I have talked to them and they totally think I am springing a huge practical joke on them. Pardon my language, but WTF?! I have told them honestly what really makes me think that the U of A is a good match, and have told them how totally unhappy I would be at my safety school. What part of that do they not get?! My parents even said flat out, "Does it matter if you don't like your school if it's a good school? What's the point of giong to a school that is not as academically-good?" I hate my parents right now. I really do.

I understand they want the best for me. And they think that just going to a top-50 school is the best for me. But what part do they not get - I DO NOT LIKE my safety school. I hate how close it is to home, how they have virtually zero school spirit, how boring (supposedly) social life is there...I could go on and on about it. Plus the weather is not warm there, and as I said, I need warm weather. I even think my hometown - San Francisco - for heaven's sakes, is cold! LOL.

I want to go to a school where I can say with pride, "I go to the University of __________________!" I want to go to a school where people love their school, talk about the school with pride, and are proud to wear their college sweatshirt. I'm the type of person who would drive out of her way to get a college sweatshirt, a school license plate, etc. And, to be honest, my safety school would just not cut it. For any of this. I think about my safety and go "Oh...that's cool." With not very much enthusiasm. I have been the Spirit Chair at my school for two years now. My HS lacks spirit though, especially since it's such an academically-absorbed school. That's why spirit is such a key for me for college. Amy, I'll email to tell you which schools I applied to (and of course, which school is my safety).

I am so sad, because as of now my parents think it is laughable that I am even considering the U of A. They are not taking me seriously. Basically, they have told me flat-out that it is better to be unhappy at a "top" school than happy at a less academically-prestigious school. I hate that. They treat me as some sort of trophy or something, someone to brag about. I know they love telling their friends where my sister ended up at college (since it's a well-known, top academic school). And they would be ashamed, as it seems now, to tell their friends that their daughter attends the U of A. Heck, they don't even like UCSB and UCI (though they like UCI better than SB) that much. They only think about the Berkeleys, the UCLAs, the Stanfords, etc. etc. Basically the top 20 schools. I have a few classmates that applied early to Stanford and got in. My 'rents found out and kept on going on and on about it, saying how I should have applied myself earlier in my HS career so I could have gone there too.

I'm sorry this post is all about my bitching, but I'm just so sick and tired of my parents, and just so mad because I think I might have just found a great school for me, but they just don't give a damn!

[bruinaphi]

Hey newbie, sorry you're having such a tough time with your parents! My parents are very similar about schools, it's all about going to the best schools. I haven't looked at Fiske in a couple of years but does it really distinguish b/w UCI, UCSB and U of A all that greatly?

I was lucky b/c my parents always thought my choices were the "right" ones but one of my sisters had some problems with my dad when she applied to school b/c she would have gotten into most of the Ivys and she wanted to go to Amherst. She made a list of all the schools she was applying to, divided into far reaches, slight reaches, attainable and fall backs and wrote down what she liked, disliked, etc. about each school next to their statistics. She made my dad go back to Amherst with her and visit so that he could experience it first hand. It totally swayed him. The fact that she had done all the research and cared so much really impressed him and the visit to the school really impressed him. I don't know if there is any reasoning with your parents on this issue, but sometimes it helps to go in prepared for battle.

You might also want to talk to your dean or college counselor at school about the problems you are having with your parents. He/she can probably help you develop arguments or may meet with them to talk this through.

Good luck!

[newbie]

Originally posted by lauradav
Hey newbie, sorry you're having such a tough time with your parents! My parents are very similar about schools, it's all about going to the best schools. I haven't looked at Fiske in a couple of years but does it really distinguish b/w UCI, UCSB and U of A all that greatly?

I was lucky b/c my parents always thought my choices were the "right" ones but one of my sisters had some problems with my dad when she applied to school b/c she would have gotten into most of the Ivys and she wanted to go to Amherst. She made a list of all the schools she was applying to, divided into far reaches, slight reaches, attainable and fall backs and wrote down what she liked, disliked, etc. about each school next to their statistics. She made my dad go back to Amherst with her and visit so that he could experience it first hand. It totally swayed him. The fact that she had done all the research and cared so much really impressed him and the visit to the school really impressed him. I don't know if there is any reasoning with your parents on this issue, but sometimes it helps to go in prepared for battle.

You might also want to talk to your dean or college counselor at school about the problems you are having with your parents. He/she can probably help you develop arguments or may meet with them to talk this through.

Good luck!

Thanks, Laura! Right now, April (college acceptance time) seems just so far away... I know probably in the future, I'll look at all of this and laugh. But right now I just feel hopeless and I just hate all the pressure, not only from my parents, but from my classmates (very academically-strenuous school) to go to a "top name" school. It brutally sucks. I wonder why I didn't decide to go the other HS, where things are definitely much more nurturing and less competitive!

Well, among the Asian community (I'm Asian-american, and my parents seem to be thinking along with other Asian parents), UCI is thought of as a top school. And it is. Probably because it's slowly mirroring Berkeley (YIKES) in its academic pressure and never-ending studying. My parents, of course, love the idea that if I go to UCI I'll become this perfect student who will study a lot. My parents are very traditional Chinese parents, and they think basically that if you don't do spectacular in your studies, you aren't worth much mention. UCSB is thought of a party school (and maybe rightfully so), but they always seem to forget that UCSB is a great school, too. Teh U of A? Well, here they know virtually nothing about it. And that's the problem . My parents think it's nothing but a party school, I think.

Wow, Amherst is a wonderful school. It is, of course, the number one liberal arts college. My parents would be overjoyed if I were to go to Amherst! I think it's too bad that Amherst doesn't get as much of the spotlight that Harvard, Yale, etc. gets. I feel sorry for your sister that initially your dad did not support her decision . I am so glad that he has warmed up to the idea tho!

Oh, counselor thing. yep, I've asked my counselor to talk to my parents, but only about the psych major thing. Maybe I'll drop in after Finals and ask her if she can talk to my 'rents about the U of A. My parents don't seem to give a damn though (pardon my language). After my counselor talked with them about how stressed I've been over the whole college app process, they're just like "oh." they don't seem to care, sadly. I don't think a counselor could help my situation that much with myparents . They're stubborn and sooo stuck in their ways and beliefs!

thanks so much for listening to me rant laura, I really appreciate it!

[AlphaChiGirl]

...apply to U of A. You sound like you really like it, and it's four years of YOUR life, YOUR education, and although your parents may be paying, they're not doing the work, living the life, etc. Things will work out for the best.

U of A sounds like a great school for you! I came from an "academically competitive" high school too , so I understand the pressure to get into a "good school"--especially during Early Decision/Action time. Actually, for my class, it wasn't about going to the "best" school, it was about who could go the farthest to school. So, I understand why you don't want to go to a school where it's like a pressure cooker. I also understand the whole "school spirit thing". I was Spirit Coordinator my Senior Year, so having a school that rallied around its football team (I'm from Florida) was a HUGE deal for me. Luckily, I found what I consider the "best of both worlds"--a good school that's not overly competitive where the student body is spirited. I think you've found your match with U of A!

Have you ever mentioned to your parents that in most cases, where you went to school has very little bearing when you apply for your first job? No one "in the know" thinks U of A is a school for slouches, and it's possible you could get a "better" job out of U of A...there are tens of thousands of alumnae! (How small is your "safety"?)

Best of luck...and I'm upset for you...hang in there!