College of the Day: University of Arizona

University of Arizona 

Quick Facts:

Location: Tucson, AZ
Established: 1885

Students Enrolled: 34,506
Applicants: 26,329
Male/Female Ratio: 47/53

University of Arizona, located in Tucson, is situated in a large mountain range in the Sonoran Desert.  The campus features many palm trees and cacti, but also contains a large central, grassy courtyard called "the mall" where many students congregate to hang out between classes.  The weather is fairly consistent through out the year; students are able to spend most days outside in the sun. 

Frequently called U of A by students, the college is generally viewed as being better academically than it's sports rival, Arizona State University (ASU).  U of A offers 160 different degree programs through it's 20 colleges.  The school is mostly known for it's strong science programs, including it's highly advanced Astronomy department. The business and public administration schools also are very popular with U of A students. 

The university has encountered an increasing number of out-of-state applicants in the past few years. This is due to recent tuition discounts to out-of-staters.  Even with tougher admission standards, U of A has seen an increase in applicants . 

Student Life:

University of Arizona has a long standing reputation as being a "party school", but many students agree that education comes first.  U of A's campus is technically alcohol-free, but that hasn't prevented the school's Greek life from getting around the rules.  Almost 21% of students at the university are a member of a sorority or fraternity.  

Most of student's social life takes place off campus; there are many local clubs and bars.  Off campus student housing is also where most students choose to live.  Only 21% of undergraduates live in the on campus dorms.  Tucson provides a great deal of affordable housing for students.  

U of A is well-known for it's athletic programs; their basketball programs is one of the leading in the nation.  Many students are very passionate about their university teams, so there is a communal spirit through out the campus.  

Applying:

If you are interested in applying to the University of Arizona, you should have a Critical Reading SAT Score of 483-600 and a Math SAT Score of 500-630.  ACT Scores for all sections should be 21-27.  U of A typically has at least 26,000 applicants each year with 77% of applicants being accepted.

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 Source: Fiske, Edward B. "Georgetown University." Fiske Guide to Colleges. Vol. 2015. N.p: 266-69. Print.