Son interested in LSU (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: hotel, transfer to, public school)

[lmn417]

My son is interested in attending LSU. We live in Pennsylvania and have never even been to Louisiana. After much investigation he has decided that this is his "dream school". I have read posts regarding Baton Rouge and being a concerned mother and the great distance, should I be worried about him attending school there? Will he get a good education at LSU? Will he be generally safe? He wants to be a teacher and we are fully aware of the many problems in the public school situation which is happening in many states. Also if we visit the school in February... any suggestions to a clean safe hotel to stay in near the university. Thank you so much for any response.

[bettyboop1967]

I was looking online for something relating to traffic to LSU when I saw your question. My daughter is attending college in Pennsylvania (Bucknell), but I will be attending LSU this spring. I also wish to teach (secondary education/English). I still live in the New Orleans area, but will be moving closer to Baton Rouge very soon.

I cannot give you first-hand information yet, since I have not begun classes there. However, I know many people who have attended LSU and have done quite well there. LSU is as serious about academics as they are sports. Indeed, your son will get a quality education at LSU. The opportunities seem endless there, it is so big and diverse. While I was on campus recently for the transfer student orientation, I met a couple of young people who were from the northeast who chose LSU.

While LSU may have a reputation for being a party school, let me just say as the mother of a daughter who is a freshman at a school in the middle of nowhere - they can party or be "unsafe" no matter where they are. The same set of life skills are needed whether at Bucknell, LSU, or any other campus.

Good luck to you and your son with your choice, and welcome to him if he comes to Louisiana!

[darylwi]

Well, here's the deal that I've heard from my other teacher friends. LSU is a great school. Unless you come to start problems, you shouldn't really find any here. And that goes for the city of Baton Rouge as well.
As far as the Education Program going. I have been told from other professional friends that the curriculum and certification don't mean too much in some states outside of Louisiana, particularly Texas and Florida I know for sure. Some states with stricter education standards require additional curriculum and certification to be able to teach there.
So if you're coming to LSU to get an Education degree and then anticipate leaving the state quickly afterwards, you may want to do some extra homework as to the requirements to teach in some of the states you would like to teach in.

[samjames]

I am an LSU alumnus, so I might be a little biased. I will have to say that, YES LSU IS A GREAT SCHOOL!

And as bettyboop stated, you can get into trouble anywhere you are as well as stay out of trouble. I went there, and still live in Baton Rouge.

Before I chose LSU I toured 25 campuses from Duke to Alabama to Tulane, and I chose wisely. The education is solid as long as you have some form of work experience.

[1NYcajun]

LSU is a great school and the education department has a really great program where you can get you masters by just going for 1 extra year. I did not attend LSU, I went to a smaller school in Louisiana but I am orinally from Baton Rouge and I am a teacher who has now moved out of state. It is true what they say about getting the Louisiana certification to transfer to other states. A lot of states just make you take extra test to get certified in their area.

[edwar050]

While LSU may have a reputation for being a party school, let me just say as the mother of a daughter who is a freshman at a school in the middle of nowhere - they can party or be "unsafe" no matter where they are. The same set of life skills are needed whether at Bucknell, LSU, or any other campus.

Good luck to you and your son with your choice, and welcome to him if he comes to Louisiana![/quote]

I agree entirely