B+
In the Desert
If you enjoy heat, hiking and (for lack of a better word) "partying" then this school is for you. Not much to do on the weekends unless you have transportation off campus, so as a result many people get into substances they shouldn't. Living on campus becomes a big monotonous, however there are events on the Mall many days and plenty of intramural activities. The campus is in the middle of Tucson, Arizona and it is a very college-centered city, seeing as they don't have any national sports teams, with many of its citizens showing up for basketball and football games. There is a nearby community college that works in tandem with the University to offer classes to U of A students for various courses. There are bad sides to the town, stay out of South Tucson and you should be alright, however West of campus is also a little sketchy. Prepare to be bored on campus unless you're good at making friends and enjoy many simple on-campus activities. There is much vegetation on campus, including various exotic trees including olive and various citrus trees, so finding a place to cool down is never a problem. Again there is a large party scene at this school, but if you're adamant against it then there are plenty of wonderful experiences to find and enjoy. Also the campus is fairly close to the Santa Catalina Mountains, where great hiking and camping can be had by all. Mt. Lemmon is a common attraction, a place where there is often snow. The weather can reach up to 115 degrees in mid-august, with a fantastic monsoon storm season beginning in late august, which includes powerful lightning storms and torrential downpours; bringing a much needed and welcoming change to the desert's harsh heat and dryness. Compared to Phoenix, Tucson's elevatio is much higher (around 2,500 feet) and is much cooler (partly because there is not as much concrete). Beauty surrounds all sides of Tucson, among them are the breathtaking panoramas of the stars at night and the livid, pronounced Saguaro cacti during the day. The city is also surrounded on all sides by mountains, however only two ranges are within fairly close driving distance. West of Tucson are the Tucson mountains, and when crossed there is a vast, flat expanse of natural desert filled with saguaro cacti and ocatillo.
Mar 26, 2012
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