Arizona State University

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Vital Stats

Status: Public
Full-Time Undergraduates: 31,570
Female to Male Ratio: 52 to 48
Student to Faculty Ratio: 22 to 1
Web Site: www.asu.edu
Most Popular Major: Business

Social Life & Atmosphere

The term "party school" gets tossed around so much these days. And few who attend Arizona State University seem to use the term, so (like that big chocolate stain on Mom & Dad’s rug), this will just be our little secret.

Officially, we can talk nightlife and local atmosphere. Tempe -- Steven Spielberg’s hometown -- has a ton of bars and clubs you don’t even have to get dressed up for. Seriously, who needs to wear something that’s dry-clean-only when you're gonna get sweaty on the dance floor anyway? If you did pack your designer gear, head to Scottsdale for more upscale digs. Still under 21? Bouncers are tough about those fake IDs, but the frat party scene on campus is raging. (We hope you don’t mind being crammed into a house with people spilling their drinks on you.) Although frat parties are numerous and varied, the Greek experience on campus isn’t the be-all and end-all of social life. If you want to join a sorority or fraternity, they’re there for you, but there’s plenty else going on as well.

Facilities

A huge school means lots of people paying tuition, and lots of people paying tuition means top-of-the-line facilities. While many schools' computer labs seem to harken back to the days of Pong and the Apple 2E, Arizona State students say that theirs is constantly updated, clean and modern … although, like at any school, sometimes you’re gonna have to wait for a free machine. The student recreation center houses a pool, tennis courts, fitness machines and pretty much anything else you’ll need to combat the Freshman 15.

Academics

We recommend against skipping your classes in favor of a yoga session, though. (See, we’ve gotten where we are in life by stating the obvious.) Academics may sometimes seem to come in second at Arizona State, especially after the long list of activities and social ops that come along. Many large universities cram a couple hundred students into intro-level lecture classes, and Arizona State is, frankly, no exception. Students are divided on whether the teaching assistants (TAs) offer tailored individual help or not – sometimes the TAs can be even more demanding than the fully trained profs. But as you move up in your major, you’ll get smaller class sizes and more face time with instructors.

Weather

But what it all really comes down to is this: You’re in Arizona. Which means you can go to class in flip-flops almost year-round. Sure, the beginning of the school year is usually thermonuclear hot, but when "winter" rolls around, the most you'll be needing is a long-sleeved shirt. (Well, and some type of pants, please.) Tempe gets almost 300 days of sunshine a year. Take THAT, Harvard.

Craving More Info?

Visit CollegeProwler.com, where you can purchase Arizona State University: Off the Record, a for-the-students, by-the-students guidebook on more than 20 aspects of ASU life. CollegeProwler.com offers guidebooks on hundreds of schools, or you can sign up for an online account and get access to everything instantly!