How to Convince Your Parents to Let You Go to the University of Arizona

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What I did to make sure I came to the University of Arizona

This time of year is time for high school seniors to make big choices. College admissions are coming out, and sometimes your dream school isn’t the same as your family’s. 

Making the choice to attend the University of Arizona is a huge decision – especially if you’ll be an out of state student – but the benefits outweigh the negatives. Here’s how to convince your family that becoming a Wildcat is the best choice for your future. 

About Malia Daft

Class of 2025

Major: Communication

Minor(s): Marketing

Hometown: San Diego, California

Why I Chose Arizona 

Hi, my name’s Malia! I’m a sophomore at the University of Arizona, hailing from my hometown of San Diego, California. 

I felt a lot of pressure to stay nearby; it was cheaper, closer for my parents to visit, and California is known to have really good schools. Plus, I come from a big family. As the first kid in my family to want to leave my home state of California, going out of state was scary to my parents – how would they afford college when they have six other kids to think about as well? 

While these were legitimate concerns, my heart was drawn to what I had seen of the University of Arizona – from the green grass on the mall to the red brick buildings, and let’s not forget the great weather year round.  

How I Convinced My Family

My parents were concerned when I said I wanted to go out of state to Arizona. Out of state tuition can be pricey, and I’d never even looked at the school in person (just the website). To further complicate things, I got accepted to the University of Arizona in fall of 2020, which was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; due to this, campus was shut down and campus tours were not happening. My family decided we should still make the six-hour drive to Tucson to look at campus to see if I even liked it. Once I stepped foot out of the car, I fell in love. 

We walked around campus on a self-guided tour, admiring Old Main and the Mall, and making sure to stop by the college that I was interested in, which at that point was the Eller College of Management for business. My parents also loved the University of Arizona, and the visit helped them to feel a little better about letting me go to school out of state.

Just to be sure, we also visited a few other out-of-state schools including Arizona State University and the University of Hawaii – Manoa to see what I liked and didn’t. None of them compared to the academics and overall campus life that the University of Arizona had to offer. 

Why You Should Chose the University of Arizona 

Even though my parents were impressed after our visit to Tucson, I still had some convincing to do. I started with bragging about Eller, which is a top-ranked business school within a Research I institution, and one of the best undergraduate business schools (public) in the United States. 

And, Eller is just one of Arizona’s impressive programs. There are more than 150 majors and degrees to choose from. 

Examples of Majors

• Business 
• Nursing 
• Education
• Physiology

But, it’s about more than just an education here: Attending the University of Arizona would give me the opportunity to make connections outside of school with people working in my field. I also would get the stereotypical college experience: Pac-12 sports, Greek life, and a classic college town. 

Making College Affordable 

When it all came down to it, going out of state still wasn’t a realistic option until we discovered the financial support offered by the University of Arizona. There are tons of financial aid opportunities and scholarships available in Scholarship Universe. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid has so many resources for students to explore to help make attending the University of Arizona more affordable. I received the Achievement Award as well as a grant, which made going out of state comparable in price to an in-state school. 

With all of our research done and lots of support from the University of Arizona, both my family and myself were able to confidently say that my dream school was the best choice – for all of us. 

I committed to the University of Arizona in the spring of 2021, and with the uncertain times that were still occurring due to Covid, I was eager and excited to attend a new school and meet so many new people. 

You’re Not Alone

Tons of students decide to go out of state for college, whether that be for an amazing UArizona program or to get out of their comfort zone. Here are the top five states where people come from to enjoy a new beginning at the University of Arizona.

Top 5 States Out of State Students Enroll From

1. California
2. Washington
3. Colorado
4. Illinois
5. Texas

**Data from Fall 2022 undergraduate, main campus enrolled students

Make Tucson Your Home Away from Home 

Over the past year, moving away from home to come to school at the University of Arizona has been a big change. As a sophomore, I catch myself saying I miss home (home being Tucson) while I'm away. And my parents? They’re beyond happy that I'm excelling in school, making new friends, and enjoying the college experience. 

This is more than just a campus: it’s the place I laugh the most, have the best memories, and the place I call home.

Start your adventure – from anywhere! – as an Arizona Wildcat.

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