Arizona State University - Tempe

Genuinely the student body is very friendly, and regarless of what you may have heard, very much to the left politically. My only criticism of the ASU student body is they are a little too image conscious and this even makes them seem a little trashy. The frat scene at ASU is different from other schools in that the frat guys seem kind of gay. It seems like frat members are a little too image conscious--wearing the trendiest clothes, tanning, ect. Sororities--which, by the way, do not have their own houses as do the frats--are filled with sterotypical sorority girls, who are dumb as light bulbs and kind of conceited. There is also a very visible gay and lesbian scene on campus, if that's what your looking for. Overall the students are very freindly when you get to them and some are intellectually stimulating. For ASU's best students, the honors program is excellent and offers some smaller classes and more personal interaction with professors.

Diversity is great at ASU. There is a very visible latino population who are pretty cool. The black student population, however, are very self segregated, and not really open to hanging out with others or listening to others opinions. I do not know why; that's just how it is. There is a large asian population, however, a lot are from other countries. The Asian-American population do self segregate themselves, but I think that that is common at most universities.

The location of ASU is one of its best features. The weather is fantastic. Just do not take summer school; the summer sun is murderous. The area immediately around campus is a combination of small shops, restaurants, bookstores, and other hangouts. Two blocks from campus is Arizona's New Orleans a.k.a. Mill Avenue. This is a pretty long street rife with anything that is entertainment. Aside from fun, there are actually quite a few large corporate building by campus, such as CHASE bank, America West, a few that have to do with journalism, and quite a few new building that are being built along Tempe Town Lake. If your a big nature fan, ASU is a like a concrete jungle filled with 60's architecture, so ASU may not be the school for you (try NAU).

Overall the quality of education is good, particularly in the honors program and upper-level courses. ASU is currently going through a lot of changes with the election of its new president, who may actually turn ASU into a first class university, however we'll see. In general people need to check out the school before they decide if it is right for them. A little piece of advice for those looking to attend school in Arizona: Whatever decision you make, do not pick UofA. Both the town and the students there really suck.