Located in sunny Tempe, Arizona State University sports one
of the largest undergraduate populations in the country, with an enrollment topping
50,000. Most ASU students are proud to be Sun Devils. “
One
thing I have learned is that there are very few people [who], if given
the chance to attend Arizona State University, wouldn't take that
opportunity,” explains one enthusiastic alum. “
Everyone
from out of state wants to go to ASU. The weather, the student body,
the sports teams, the surrounding city, etc. are all the reasons why it
is the greatest university in the country, hands down.”
Indeed, students flock to Tempe from all over the US and even around the world.
“
Diverse
activities or events [on campus] may cause interaction that may not
normally happen. ASU students are literally from everywhere,” says Justine, a
sophomore majoring in journalism.
Some students come in worried that the expansive social scene will distract
them from their academics, but a majority report that they have learned to
inject balance into their college experience. At a school with literally tens
of thousands in attendance, most find that mastering this skill is a necessity.
Oftentimes the “party school” reputation of ASU can overshadow outsiders’ perceptions of its academic programs. While
it is true that there are students at ASU who tend to forget about the
educational aspects of college life and would rather study the effects of booze on their social lives, there
are also plenty who take their studies seriously. Students generally
find that they need to be self-motivated to get the most out of their coursework
at ASU. A sophomore education major writes, "
The
academic part of ASU is what you make of it. For me, I've taken classes
where I just wanted an "easy A" and didn't give that much to the class;
and I've also taken classes because I wanted to learn about the subject."
Many classes take place in large lecture halls, which for some can be
an excuse to disappear into the crowd. “
The
truth is this: most professors in those large lectures aren't going to
have any idea of who you are unless you make contact first. That is a
key thing if you want your professor to know who you are and it makes
for a great resource later on if you need help studying or if you need
a letter of recommendation for grad school,” says a sophomore.
At such a large university, students inevitably demonstrate a range of
approaches to their studies. There are those who are planning to use their degree
to start a career and others who are primarily there to expand their knowledge
base. “
The
great thing about ASU is that it's so big, with so many choices and
resources, that you can make what you want of your education. I chose a
path that is geared more towards getting a job. My sister is on a path
(the double major in Japanese and creative writing path) that is more
geared towards learning for its own sake,” says a freshman majoring in education.
Although ASU’s student body is quite diverse, as at many
colleges, there are undergrads who self-segregate into groups according to race,
religion, and other commonalities. “
ASU is big enough to have a clique for everybody,” says a senior. And at such a large school, one shouldn’t expect to find an overarching consistency
to students’ political or religious values: undergrads run the gamut from
liberal to neo-con, atheist to fundamentalist, and everything in between. Most seem
comfortable in their own skin and can find a like-minded group of students to
befriend. As a sophomore notes, "
People
of all different racial, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds can
be found at ASU, and they all interact with each other in some way no
matter how different they may be."
For most ASU undergrads, social life is one of the school’s
main draws. The campus is not only located within the city of Tempe, but is close
to Phoenix and Scottsdale as well. Students with transportation readily
available have a wealth of nightlife options on the weekends: from fraternity
and sorority functions to bar/club nights, ASU undergrads are well-versed in
the art of partying. “
ASU parties are unparalleled, flat out,” brags a
sophomore.
For those under 21, the dormitories are the hub of social activity. Popular
dorms like Manzanita are chock-full of students who are eager to meet their
neighbors and make friends for life.
The extracurricular offerings at ASU are almost as broad and
varied as the student body. The Greek scene has a prominent presence on campus,
and religious groups are also quite visible. Sun Devil athletic events,
particularly football and basketball games, are usually well attended, and
tailgating is always a popular activity. A freshman writes, "
The spirit at the games is something I don't think can be found at any other university. GO DEVILS!!!" As hard as it can be to unite 50,000
people, Sun Devil pride draws all kinds of students together under the ASU
banner.
