NYT columnist: ASU honors college offers quality, access

Frank Bruni, New York Times columnist and author of a new book titled "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be," said Arizona State University and Barrett, the Honors College at ASU offer high quality education at a comparatively affordable price in two interviews on March 17. In addition to quality and affordability, ASU and Barrett also offer access and diversity, Bruni said.

Bruni's book focuses on beliefs surrounding the university admissions process and the quality of higher education.

Listen to Bruni's comments on The Leonard Lopate Show on WYNC FM in New York City. Here are his comments about ASU and Barrett:

"...I'd like to inject into conversation ... how many schools out there are a decent deal and have great educations. No one ever talks about the amazing honors colleges that exist at many, many state universities. One I talk about quite a bit in the book, Arizona State, has something called the Barrett Honors College. This is a phenomenal program that gives kids the kind of access to faculty and the kind of education that they can get at any small private college, and there it is at ASU, which is billed as a 'party school' in the popular narrative but in fact can be an environment in which you have a first-rate education.

"We need to acknowledge that sort of thing. And then, Arizona State is a remarkable school. They also have an incredible LD program for kids with learning disabilities where they help smart kids who have certain, a little miswiring so their brains get a college education, and top level.

"And they have something else I think is really important to mention about ASU, about a lot of state schools: They have a socioeconomic diversity that a lot of the northeastern elite schools don't have. The northeasterly schools have a couple of students, a small percentage of the student body, that comes from the lower income levels. You go to a state university and you get something that is much more like our society really is. And that, I think, is an important part of education..."

Watch Bruni on PBS NewsHour on WNET in New York City. Here is what he had to say abut ASU and Barrett:

"... We have wonderful state schools throughout this country and many, many of them have these amazing honors programs. The kids aren't even aware of this. You can go to a school like Arizona State University, and if you're an exemplary student, you can end up in the honors college. There, you will have an experience that is commensurate with the best education anywhere else. You will graduate having paid a lot less money and you're much less likely to have debt, and that has meaning. So I think we need to think about expense and have kids look at state schools, not with the disdain saying, 'Those don't have the snob appeal of another school,' but saying, 'These are really great values and that makes a difference ...'"