University of South Carolina, Florida State, Arizona State???

College!*! · 05-08-2007, 06:38 PM

Okay could any of you guys share your thoughts on these schools. Compare them. On overall experience (academics, athletics, school spirit, social life, student body, etc.)

Fsu-uf · 05-08-2007, 07:28 PM

dont have a clue but i'm going to florida state starting summer...whippy.!!

College!*! · 05-08-2007, 09:53 PM

bring up my post

dt123 · 05-09-2007, 01:02 AM

ASU and FSU were on my D's short list, the schools she applied to. There was no question she was getting in, the questions were would she get in the honors programs and would they come up with an out of state FA offer that would match or beat her cost to attend our instate flagship, UTexas?? FSU did, ASU did not.

Also, I was completely unimpressed with ASU's applicant interface. It was next to impossible to find a phone number, much less get someone on the phone to answer a question. The web site is horrible. Due to some computer snafu ASU was issuing two different series of student ID numbers this year, with some depts. using one and others the other. All other state schools we applied to were remarkably better. If an institution can't make the application experience reasonable, how well can it actually deliver an education to an admittee? Meh. ASU's loss.

FSU was very nice to deal with. We were going to visit until her #1 choice made an offer that could not be refused. While planning the visti, I was a little surprised at how hard it is to get to Tallahassee from where we live, and how far Tallahassee is from any major city.

PackMom · 05-09-2007, 07:13 AM

University of South Carolina was on S1's list (graduated h.s 2005). We toured it and were very impressed. The people were very friendly. They sent far more cards,letters, etc. after the tour and his acceptance than his other schools combined (including our own state u that he now attends).

They offer lots of good scholarships to OOS students to bring the cost of attendance down. I hear their Honors program is good. S was not interested in Honors but was offered the OOS scholarship.

In the end he opted for our state u. because of he changed his mind on his choice of major to one not offered at USC. H and I really liked USC and would have been happy for S to attend.

curiouser · 05-09-2007, 10:55 AM

Two of these 3 schools were on my kids' original list, and H actually attended ASU for grad school once.

FSU--lots of school spirit, quite good administratively via admissions, questions re housing, etc. very strong college town vibe when visiting, a clear sense of campus community with lots of activities on campus when we visited--live music, a book sale, tables set up to join clubs, etc. Meets the requirements of the quintessential college experience. Only concern was freshman housing....lots of people in our area head to FSU and warned us to deposit EARLY to guarantee on-campus housing in a good location. D probably would have been happy there had she attended.

USC--excellent OOS scholarships (S got a surprisingly good one). Campus is large and has some pretty sections. Went to an Honors orientation that was very well organized. Felt a little more urban that FSU probably because at least one major 6 lane road runs right through it. That was a turnoff for S. The area near campus seemed friendly and accessible with small restaurants and shops. Since Univ of Ga was also on S's list, it didn't compare favorably against Athens, though. Housing was okay. One piece of advice, if you visit, make sure your first impression of the campus is by heading into the older part where the Admissions office is, rather than coming into the area where the huge new building with the work-out center is.
I think that will provide a better overall 1st impression. Honestly, sounds dumb, but our approach into the campus really made us like it less. I hoped S would love it because of the excellent scholarship offered. He didn't. But D has a friend there who LOVES it.

ASU-large campus, feels more urban than the other two, probably because it's a southwestern campus and doesn't have the typical type of old trees, etc. Much more open looking campus with palm trees, etc. Very busy community but FEELS more like a commuter school than it probably is. If you're used the East/South, it could be a nice change of environment for 4 years. Certainly the area (Tempe) has lots of students, and Scottsdale is pretty cool. It definitely has a different feel than either FSU or USC...probably more "California", if that makes sense. Can't comment on undergraduate spirit or administrative/housing issues....

College!*! · 05-09-2007, 06:23 PM

I actually live in California...

But now I'm really just looking at ASU and FSU. USC seems to "Southern" for me. FSU seems perfect, so any additional information would be greatly appreciated.

BusinessGuy · 05-09-2007, 07:26 PM

My experience with ASU has been pretty contrasting. For a normal student, it seems pretty standard and the quality of assistance will vary quite a lot. On the other hand, my experiences with the Barrett Honors College and the Business Honors Program in the W.P. Carey School have been very positive. They seem to be very devoted to helping the honors student succeed and in helping them as much as possible. I was able to get into a program that would not normally be available to me by speaking with an honors advisor.

I'm sure I'll learn a lot more once I actually get there, but my experiences with ASU admissions and Honors as an AZ resident have been the main reasons why I chose ASU over U of A. The academic programs are fairly hit and miss, but business, engineering, and journalism are solid.

I definitely agree about the "California" feel, I describe Phoenix as Cali in a desert.

kathiep · 05-10-2007, 09:22 AM

College*! -- You should really get together with SoCal18, I think you are looking for the very same college!

cathymee · 05-10-2007, 10:27 AM

hey College
I answered your Q's about S Carolina in that thread but I'd advise you to look at FSU more carefully...its going to be more "southern" than you think.Your idea of a school in Florida may be U of Miami.
D graduated from ASU.Phoenix/Tempe is an interesting place,not like anywhere else.Cosmopolitan but laid back city.
Big time athletics are there but might not be as successful or intense as some may like,and "school spirit" as in kids walking around in ASU gear might be less than on other campuses..D was in the Honors College and had a great academic experience but the campus/student body is huge and you must be a self starter/go getter to make it work there.Good social life,frats not very relevant.Casual campus except for the cohort that makes Scottsdale/clubbing its main occupation.Lots of close by off campus housing.Many many bikes on campus.

FSU MBA · 05-10-2007, 01:50 PM

FSU is "southern" in the same sense that UVA, UNC, NC State, VATech, and Georgia Tech are "southern". It is not the type of "southern" as in Ole Miss, Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, and South Carolina. The vast majority of FSU students come from areas like Miami(South Florida), Orlando, and Tampa. These are not places with a "southern" culture. If you want a true definition of "southern", just look at most schools in the SEC.

cathymee · 05-10-2007, 02:44 PM

I'm not degrading FSU, my S goes to S Carolina and we're from NY.The OP is from California and has a cetain outlook on "southern" culture. To him,FSU may be "southern"

College!*! · 05-10-2007, 07:05 PM

Thanks for the help. I'm just looking at public schools, so Miami isn't really an option.

And the "Southern" aspect I dislike the most is the waving of the Confederate Flag. I heard it is all throughout South Carolina, is it all throughout Tallahassee as well?

Thanks again for the help.

jym626 · 05-11-2007, 09:36 AM

College*,
Most people consider a northern state that just happens to be located in the south

You won't find confederate flags flying around. And to be honest, I live in the south (though originally from the north) and except for rural communities, county fairs and protests, I have rarely seen confederate flags flying around. They changed the GA state flag a few yrs ago to get rid of the "confederate" look. Does this help?

cathymee · 05-11-2007, 12:26 PM

the OP,in another thread,said he visited Nashville and found it "too southern",saying people had "dumb looks on their faces" and that he "hates country music"..I was basing my evaluation of whether he would like FSU on his observation of what Nashville was like (where I have a transplanted northern cousin and which I find pretty urbane).
For what its worth,we've travelled through S Carolina and frequented many venues in Columbia while visiting S.Only Confederate flag I've seen was on the grounds of the Statehouse,at a monument .Theres probably one in the Confederate Relics Museum but we didnt visit there.
For what its worth,nothing beats the spirit at a USC Gamecocks football game.The experience was almost overwhelming.ASU SunDevil football didnt even come close.