Frequently Asked Questions
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What do past participants say about SOE?
- "I would recommend it to anyone!"
- "It was a great experience. I not only learned more about the U of A and college life in general, but I learned a lot about myself at the same time."
- "SOE prepared me for the daily rigors of college life - especially what is expected in a college class - and prepared me for the quality of work expected in college."
- "It was an enjoyable experience that I'll never forget."
- "This program really gives you a sense of what university life is like. Everyone thinks college is all about fun (parties), but actually you have to be committed to your work and you are very independent."
- "Great experience. Made probably the best friends of my life.
I learned so much about college life I don't want to leave!! Please let me stay!"
- "I had a lot of fun, met a lot of new people, and really have a good grasp of what it's going to be like in college."
- "This was a good experience for me to get a taste of college life and being away from home. I had to manage my time and money and do basic things like making dinner and doing laundry for myself. It helped me gain life experiences before they are absolutely necessary."
- "I had a great time and would recommend it to anyone. I feel prepared to go off to college - which is an incredible feeling to have."
- "Best experience of my life!"
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How much does SOE cost?
A detailed outline of the fixed costs for SOE and a general guideline for variable expenditures can be found by clicking on the "costs" tab on the top of this page.
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How do I apply to SOE?/Where can I get an application?
The SOE application consists of five parts that will need to be completed in full and subsequently mailed to SOE at the Honors College Application packets for SOE can be downloaded from the admissions page. Additionally, you may contact SOE at the Honors College to request that an application packet be sent to you.
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What if I don't have a 3.5 GPA?
Apply to SOE anyway. Your high school transcript, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statement tell us a lot about you. We admit students whom we believe have the greatest likelihood of success in UA's accellerated summer session courses - GPA is a good indicator, but not the only indicator of this.
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Do I have to live in a residence hall?
Yes. Any request for an exception to this rule must be approved by the director.
Yes. However, you are responsible for obtaining a parking permit to park on campus (there is a fee involved) and are discouraged from transporting fellow SOE students around town. SOE provides insured UA transportation to all sponsored activities and Tucson has reliable public transportation.
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Who are the Program Assistants for SOE 2008?
The SOE PAs will be selected in March 2008, and shortly thereafter information about each of them will be available on this website by clicking on the "staff" tab on the top of this page.
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How do I get to campus?
From I-10, take Speedway Blvd. east to Mountain Avenue. Turn right on Mountain and continue south on Mountain to the circle drive in front of the Student Union. Turning right at the circle drive puts you onto North Campus Drive.
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Where and when do I check in for SOE?
The check-in schedule for the summer’s residence hall will be provided to students prior to the program starting.
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When do I find out about my roommate?
If you call us prior to check in, we can tell you the name of your roommate. However, we cannot provide you with any additional information (such as phone number or address) due to federal privacy laws. So, you'll get to meet your roommate when you check into the hall. Unless we receive mutual roommate requests in advance, roommate assignments are random.
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What if my roommate and I don't get along?
Over the years we've found that even with a pretty random manner of making assignments, roommates generally get along quite well. If you have a conflict that seems difficult or impossible to resolve, bring it to the attention of your Program Assistant who may be able to help you negotiate a solution, perhaps by drawing upon their own experiences or by providing an alternate, unbiased point of view. In very tough situations, your PA may call upon the director of the program to help resolve a problem and the outcome may be a change in room assignment. This, however, is not the first or preferable solution in most cases.
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What is included in my room?
You will have a bed, a desk, a chair, a closet, a dresser, a trash can, a small refrigerator, a computer port, a telephone, and even a peephole in the door.
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What should I bring with me to my room?
You should bring washcloths and towels, pillows, twin-size bedding (sheets, blanket), laundry stuff (detergent, dryer sheets, roll of quarters), an iron, hangers, an alarm clock, trash bags, a shower caddy, utensils and dinnerware for your personal use, an umbrella, sunglasses, a hat, first-aid items, sunscreen, personal toiletries (razor, soap, shampoo, etc), appropriate clothing (it gets up over 100 degrees here in the summer), a swimsuit, a beach towel, a light jacket or sweatshirt, a photo ID, and cash for food over the first weekend.
You might also want to bring a calculator, a memo board or cork board, games (chess, Pictionary, cards, etc), a camera and film, a dictionary, stationary and stamps, a small radio or tape player, a small coffee maker, a flashlight (for night hikes), posters, pictures from home, a notebook, paper, pencils, pens, a stapler, a book bag or backpack, computer disks, and a key chain.
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What should I NOT bring with me to my room?
Do not bring a toaster, a toaster oven, any open coil appliance, an extra refrigerator, halogen lamps, incense, candles, weapons, or pets. You are discouraged from bringing anything that would be costly to repair or replace if broken or stolen.
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Does the residence hall have a kitchen I can use?
Yes. There are community kitchens in all of the halls that include a sink, stove, refrigerator and microwave. Some Halls also have outdoor barbeque areas.
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Does the residence hall have laundry facilities?
Yes. All residence halls have their own laundry facilities.
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Does the residence hall have air conditioning?
Yes. Every residence hall has both a heating and air conditioning system. You control the fan unit in your own room.
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What else will be provided for me in the residence hall?
The halls also provide ice and vending machines, study areas, living rooms with couches, tables, and TV, recreation facilities, outdoor courtyards, student mailboxes, bike racks, cleaning equipment and cooking utensils for check out at the front desk, and much more!
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What classes can I take?
There are a wide variety of introductory courses for SOE students to choose from. However, course options and course loads vary for sophomores and juniors. More detailed information about course selection guidelines and the course selection process can be found by clicking on the red "courses" oval on the left-hand side of this page.
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How much homework will I have?
A 3-unit summer session course may have 2-3 hours of homework per day because of the accelerated pace of the course. Some disciplines, however, are prone to greater workloads than others.
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I thought this was supposed to be a real college experience - why are there rules?
There are rules that govern life and the standards of acceptable behavior in a college community just as there are rules (written or unwritten) that dictate how people behave and interact in the "real world." As a minor, you should expect to have more guidelines during your college experience this summer at SOE than do college students who are by law considered adults. SOE rules are in place to assure your safety. Your ability to abide by SOE, Residence Life, and University of Arizona policies while you are here will serve as a good indicator for you of your maturity level and preparedness for life in college.
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How can I get a transcript after I complete my class(es)?
You must request a transcript from the Registrar's Office at the University of Arizona, not from A Summer of Excellence. Official transcripts cost $6 for the first copy, and $5 for each additional transcript per request.
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