University of Arizona
Reviews

The Weather at the U of a

Overall the weather at the U of A is great. I am from Boise, ID and a break from the cold has been wonderful. The only downside is that the first 3 months of school are scorching hot and almost unbearable if you're not used to the heat.

Hope You Like Walking

Transportation is an issue at UofA. Most students carpool or bring there cars to school but they have to pay the parking fee which costs $300 or so and traffic and the infrastructure is painfully hard to navigate. Others use the shuttle provided by their apartment, but you have to live off campus. For people on campus, you can catch the bus, bum a ride, bike/skateboard, or walk in the heat.

Have to Find the Fun

Campus is close to 4th avenue which always has a lot going on on weekends. Downtown Tucson is not far either and there are a few decent night clubs there. Lots of laid back spots to have a nice dinner and grab a few drinks with friends spread throughout town. Plus Vegas and California are just s short drive making weekend trips to those locations a common college occurrence.

Frat House Frenzy

You can find a party almost every night at the University of Arizona. Frat houses have parties every weekend and that's usually where all of the girls goto party. Sadly, guys aren't allowed in unless they belong to the frat. During the week you can usually find a house party on campus or a party in one of the student apartments. I've never been to the bars, but that is where all of the upperclassmen go. Everything's walking distance, but I take taxis to be on the safe side.

Professors

The University of Arizona is a great school. I like that the professors challenge me. The only problem I have with them is that a few don't grade well. Some teach a subject, but don't ask the same questions on a test. I've had a couple who have not been sympathetic for an illness I had. MOst of them, however, have been a great help to my academic experience.

Lots of Variety

There surely a lot of pretty girls who attend UA and so many good looking guys to choose from. You can find them tanning on their Greek house lawns, chilling at Campus Rec, or even just playing games on the mall. There is definitely a lot to choose from as far as variety goes. When you first get here you might be overwhelmed by a lot of "California-esque" Girls, and typical frat boy look-alikes. But beyond that, there is definitely someone here for everyone.

Not Too Much to Do on Campus

You have to take public transportation to get anywhere where things are happening. It's almost impossible to find anything on campus. Hardly any parties. Hard to get Ito frat parties if you're a guy. Easy for girls but lots of competition. Cops always shutting parties down quickly. Especially if alcohol is there.

Tucson Is Hot!

While Tucson is expected to be hot, there is always A/C somewhere. The UofA must spend tons of money on their electricity usage but if you find a nice shady tree to study under or go hang out in the library the weather really isn't that bad.

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.

NOT HOPI

I have friends in almost every dorm, and after using them for a bball camp, I know they suck. Off campus apartments are a better option, and cheaper.

Dorms

I had the opportunity to live in the apartment dorms. We had our own pool and jacuzzi on-site. While it was smaller than the other dorms, it provided more privacy and I felt more grown-up.

I'm a Female and I Feel Safe!

I've never felt like my safety was threatened at the University. Campus Police are always around and on guard. There are many programs to help with safety. We have many safety and information poles centered around campus that can be used anytime. My dorm is also very safe. You can only enter using a CatCard and pin and RAs are always around. Students always look out for each other.

Living Areas

I love my dorm this year, Pima Hall, and I've been to most of the other great dorms on campus as well. Likins is the newest, biggest, and most expensive. La Paz is second largest, and has smaller communities. Pima has suite style living with jack and jill bathrooms which is AWESOME.

Every Night Is a Party

If you want to party on a Monday night, you can find one here! There are always people out on campus dressed to impress any night of the week! Thursdays through Saturdays are the most popular nights and the majority of students go to house parties and/or frat parties. The bar and club scene is mainly for students 21 or older.

Professors

Most of my teachers aren't professors they are grad students and they are pretty horrible. They ar not good at explaining topics or answering questions. I find things harder after I've asked my teacher for help than initially.

Greek Life at the U of a

Greek Life, although a large part of the college experience, it not very reputable at the University of Arizona. Many of Fraternities and Sororities on campus are mostly revolved around partying rather than philanthropy and aiding in making the campus community a better environment. Now, this cannot be said for all of the Greek houses, for some of them do indeed full fill their duties, however some are only in it for the partying.

Drugs at the University of Arizona

The "drug scene" at the U of A completely varies depending on who you are and who you hang out with. The police are always a presence and there is minimal obvious drug use or sales on campus, but you know it is available off campus if you know people. However, the campus is safe and pretty drug free.

On Campus Food at the U of a

There is no real cafeteria on campus, although there are few dining hall-esque places. The majority of the food available is restaurant style dining, which can get pricy even if you have a meal plan. There is wide variety though, and also all the staples, with some health food places mixed in too.

Being a Biology Major at the U of a

I study Biology at the University of Arizona, and it has been a great experience. However, just like with anything worth having, there are lots of difficult aspects that need to be completed before I can reach my goal of graduation- i.e. all the general science classes that need to be completed first. If you have a passion for science that extends past just your narrow field of interest, a science major is right for you!

Variety

The university of Arizona does not have dinning halls and does not have a cafeteria for students to eat at. They only have a few restaurants like panda express, chick-fli-a and other fast foot chains in side the student union. I don't think this is provides very healthy options for college students.

AMAZING

Game day experiences are definitely worth it. The crowd is crazy, and ZonaZoo is the place to be.

Fun and Friendly

Overall, the guys and girls at U of A are very friendly and fun. Most people like to go out on the weekends, whether it is to a party or a movie. Whenever I see someone on campus or when I am out who I have taken a class with we always say hi and catch up.

The Bus System Is a Lot Cheaper Than a Car

The buses are good for students who are far enough that they can not walk to school. Many of the apartment complexes offer a free ride to campus and from campus at random hours during the day. The only bad part is when people use the public buses that it is scary because people always seem to fight on them.

If You Can Walk You Definitely Should

It really depends on where you live but parking for the most parking is horrible. I feel like they overbook the tickets which just to park in the lots with no shade is $400 at least. The parking garages which are always full are $500 and if there is a football game you might even have to move somewhere else.

Why U of A Is What It Is

I think the University of Arizona is good in some ways because I have met some of the best teachers ever at this school. The campus is nice but there could be more added to the curriculum at the school, and less worrying about general education classes that just make sure they get enough money from the students.