| Louisiana
State University
Formerly an open-admissions school for in-state students, LSU has
continually tightened its admission standards in an effort to become
more competitive. In all, this multipurpose university offers 72
BA, 75 MA, and 54 Ph.D. programs. Students majoring in engineering,
chemistry, and physics can expect the heaviest workloads, along
with those in premed and prevet. Two of the most prestigious departments
on campus are chemical and petroleum engineering. And, as one of
the nation's 25 sea-grant colleges, LSU's offerings in coastal studies
and coastal ecology are notable. Co-op and study abroad programs
are available. And the honors program, generally limited to freshmen
arriving with ACT scores over 28, offers students interdisciplinary
work, special recitations within basic introductory courses, and
special living arrangements in the honors dorm.
The way to ensure a nonstop campus social life and a more formal
dating scene is to join one of the numerous Greek organizations
that captivate 12 percent of the men and 15 percent of the women.
The student union also offers a wide variety of events, including
movies, plays, concerts, fashion shows, lectures, and banquets.
With its relaxed atmosphere, active social scene, and solid academics,
LSU is a sure bet.
Prescott College
If Grizzly Adams had gone to college, he probably would have chosen
this tiny outpost of environmentalism in the wilderness of central
Arizona. Where else could he have majored in Adventure Education
or taken courses like Mountain Search and Rescue and Ecopsychology
and Wilderness Rites of Passage? Before any Prescott student sets
foot in a classroom, the college sends him or her to the outback
for three weeks of hiking and camping. Wilderness Orientation is
an introduction to everything Prescott stands for: Hands-on experience,
personal responsibility, cooperative living, and stewardship of
the environment.
Prescott's requirements for graduation are likewise unorthodox.
Instead of grades, faculty members give narrative evaluations. Instead
of accruing credits, students design individualized "degree
plans" that outline the competence (major) and breadth (minor)
areas they will pursue, and the Senior Project (thesis) they will
complete to demonstrate competence.
Prescott social life is informal and spontaneous. Aside from environmental
activities, Prescott offers a nationally recognized literary magazine,
Alligator Juniper, and a chapter of Amnesty International. The college
also operates a turn-of-the-century opera house that is a local
hotspot for dance and drama. Those who are focused on finding their
place in the natural world could find an enthusiastic set of kindred
spirits here in the Arizona desert.
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Southwest Region Schools
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