re: To what extent would LSU be more prestigious if it were in a safer location?

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TOPS

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The problem with TOPS is the standards are too low. Minimum should be a 3.0 GPA and 25 ACT with higher levels at like 30 and then 34.

Tax dollars shouldn’t be used to subsidize average students, which is what we have now.

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My daughter was one, she got a great offer from Tech and several Out of State Schools. As a National Merit Scholar and 34 ACT score, LSU only offered TOPS. She went to LSU because it was close to home and it was Me and my Wife's Alma Mater. She graduated in ME and will to this day tell you she hated the way LSU treated her and regrets not going to Tech.

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Yep, that's how things are with LSU. They are letting TOPS handle the scholarship/incentive packages for the "in state" students.

Some other interesting trends that might be related......

Seeing as how enrollment is down nationally but up at most "flagship" state universities (and even some public second-tier schools like UL-Lafayette, U of Memphis, U of Houston, etc.) , I wouldn't be surprised if the bigger public university systems were lowering their standards where they can get away with it - especially those that don't have competitive degree programs or headline-grabbing athletics that keep their brand in the spotlight. They are all growing while second tier state schools and smaller private colleges are actually declining. Some of those "fall back" private colleges in the northeast and mid west are actually closing down.