Reviews

Perhaps my favorite thing about Baylor is the opportunity I have had as an honor student to have the interdisciplinary major called University Scholars. If you have high enough SAT's and enough AP classes and a good application essay, you can be excused from most undergrad required classes such as required English and Science classes. This means even as a Freshman you can begin your major classes. It also makes it easier to spend a semester doing an internship or to have multiple concentrations instead of a single major.

That's not to mention that Baylor has small classes with involved teachers. I can honestly say that every teacher I have had so far has known my name and seems to genuinely care that we learn the information. The classes here are definitely challenging, but with helpful teachers, I have certainly learned a lot.

Baylor people are some of the nicest I have ever met. I visited several other private collages in Texas and nowhere else did I find as many helpful people as I did at Baylor. Students walk up and offer help if you look lost. One day when I tripped and fell in the Quad, I looked up expecting someone to laugh like they would have at my high school. Instead, I saw a girl extending her hand to help me up. It's just another world at Baylor.

There are also plenty of options for fun on campus such as festivals and concerts. Despite the atmosphere of a small private school (no matter where you are you seem to run into people you know), there are plenty of opportunities that make it rival even the largest of schools. And for a college town, Waco offers a good array of things to do from the Dr. Pepper Museum, to Waco Lake, Cameron Park Zoo, and the old Suspension bridge where Baylor students toss tortillas onto the rock pillars (it's more fun than it sounds!).

Baylor has some of the best scholarships available. It was even voted one of the best value colleges in the nation by Fiske as well as other ranking lists. Personally, through a combination of merit, financial aid, and outside scholarships, I am paying for less than the cost of my room and board. If you want to find out what your merit aid will be, check out the scholarship calculator at www.baylor.edu -- Also, be aware that for qualifying students, Baylor will add more to that through Financial Aid and scholarships from alumni donors. I've even had the opportunity to have semesterly luncheons and dinners with my donors!
The only downside is that the only way to get an official full ride to Baylor is through being a National Merit Scholar. But, if you are one and you can keep a 3.5 GPA, then I would say Baylor is definitely a good bargain!

Take advantages of the opportunities that Baylor offers its new students, and make sure to visit the campus. Baylor is a beautiful campus. I would also recommend looking at some of the options for housing beyond the normal freshman digs. Engaged Learning Groups, honors dorms, and Brooks College all offer great accommodations. Personally, my freshman year, I lived in Brooks College, a new dorm with a dining hall that looks just like the great hall from Harry Potter. Trust me, the private bathrooms, brand-new building, and more make it worth the extra application essay!

Lastly, I want to let you know a few insider secrets about Baylor.
1. When registering for classes, don't even bother with ratemyprofessors.com, go to bubooks.com. There, there are many, many more ratings and books for sale from students. It's a much better tool.

2. Don't leave a visit to Baylor without checking out the coffee house on the corner of campus called Common Grounds and the cute-as-can-be craft store next door called Harts 'n Crafts. They are my favorite places!

3. You might want to know though are that there are required religion courses, required chapel, visiting hours for opposite genders in all on-campus housing, and no greek houses allowed. Despite these downsides though, I still love Baylor!

National Merit Scholars, of course, due to the full ride scholarship. But also anyone who loves to learn, and who wants to be in a place with nice people who will lend a helping hand. Baylor is also most definitely a Christian school, but the atmosphere isn't completely smothering. It all depends on finding your niche. Once I found my friends and discovered the right classes, I have truly found my home at Baylor (at least for the next three years!).

We toured different classrooms when I visited and it was really great to see that the majority of them are small (more time to ask for help and get to know your teacher!). I also spoke with several different department leaders and it truly touched my heart that they were so passionate about everything Baylor has to offer. It was kind of like you feel them wanting to teach you - and not just academically, but life lessons too.

The small town of Waco is a little scary for people like me who are used to big-city life (Houston is the 4th largest City in the USA) however, Austin and Dallas are close enough and its only 3 and half hours to get home. The only other thing that kind of worries me is the no alcohol and strict dorm policies....don't get em wrong, I'm a good kid! But lets face it, we all want a LITTLE bit of the college experience. When it's all said and done, these are NOT reasons to not chose Baylor. Sic'em Bears!

Yes, Baylor is pricey..but it's a PRIVATE university and that's just the way the cookie crumbles. Baylor cares about each student though and Financial Aid advisers are their to help figure out a solution. There is also FAFSA! After visiting campus and interviewing some of the leaders and students at Baylor I believe the education and experience one would gain is worth the money!

PREPARE for your SAT/ACT and take them as many times as you can until your scores are rockin because Baylor bases Non-need scholarships on your Academic Achievement.
GPA/ class rank is important but my admissions counselor informed me that Baylor is understanding that high schools are crazy competitive and that some schools don't rank.
Extra- Curricular seem to be very enthused at Baylor and while grades are Priority it is very important to be a well-rounded individual.

P.S. - over 85% of Baylor students are on financial aid and over 80% of them are White. Its also a Baptist School. But Guess What? No One Cares! Its a very accepting environment and everyone their is super nice so don't let the minority factor scare you!

Nice, Curious, Out-Going, Christian ( or Not!) , motivated to succeed, Any one who wants to explore their options and figure out their future with the help of awesome teachers/ friends/ and 2 lovable Bears!

Every single teacher cares about their students. Each professor wants you to truly care about the subject they're teaching you. It's really inspiring to see how passionate a professor is in the classroom. It makes you pay so much more attention than a teacher who doesn't care.

Ever since I was in LINE CAMP (which you should totallllllly be a part of), I've enjoyed every single minute of Baylor. Yes, classes can be difficult but what classes aren't? You get amazing classes and if you do your part to be apart of the university it gives back! I've never been to a more welcoming and amazing place! I couldn't see myself ANYWHERE ELSE. It truly has been the best experience to be apart of Baylor University.

Though the price seems overwhelming at first, once you enter and decide to go to Baylor they throw you scholarships to keep you in! As long as you put forth the effort Baylor rewards you for your hard work! And they are EXTRMEELY helpful in the financial aid area if you are struggling. For about a week I for sure thought I would drop out because of money but when I voiced my opinion to the Financial Aid office they helped me right away with payment plans!

Come visit! That's how I made my decision RIGHT AWAY! Keep your options open and if it feels right then you should BE HERE. There's no reason why you SHOULDNT come to Baylor!! :]

Open-minded
Curious about religion (it opens your eyes but doesn't shove it down your throat)
but really....ANY KIND OF STUDENT!
I know so many types of people that attend here. They have something for everyone here! It's not a typical private school, I promise you!

It depends on what courses you take. If you took AP language don't bother with a 2320 level class. I learned all of that in 10th grade. Baylor has these Great Texts courses where you read ancient literature and delve into the deep meanings and themes and reflect on human nature. In High School The Odyssey put me to sleep but my professor's discussions about all the material were fascinating. I also learned much in my Honors calculus based physics class. Honors courses are small and personal.

As I walk around campus, I often find myself thinking, I love college! I live in a wonderful dorm with suite style baths and the view out my window is the beloved Pat Neff tower which tolls the hour and randomly plays songs on the bells (including baylor's alma mater). The campus has beautiful red-brick buildings and all is well-maintained. I like the food in the residential dining halls; there are many options of meal plans for every student. My professors have all been good. Our football team is on the rise, and I love cheering them on as a member of the 260-member marching band. Like large school, there are countless opportunities, clubs, student organizations, sports, etc. Like a small school, you walk around campus and see people that you know. I absolutely love it here.

Baylor is one of the least expensive private universities. Yes, state schools are generally cheaper, but Baylor gives huge merit scholarships. If you can even get into UT, Baylor probably will give you a competitive scholarship. Both schools cost about the same for me with my scholarship. There is so much included in tuition. programs galore

Prepare for the SAT. I feel that is what they largely base scholarships on. Also, start studying your Bible. My freshman (required) Christian Scriptures class was tough! Baylor accepts quite a lot of AP credits, so check their list (posted online) and pass those APs! you save valuable time and textbook money.

Those who go to college for an education, not a party. Those who are Christian, or who can tolerate Christians. Baylor doesn't feel Baptist specifically, but there are many enthusiastic Christians. The reasons I chose to come here were size, I can fully avoid party scene if I choose, and I want to learn more about religion. Oh yes, and excellent biology program!

Baylor’s education program was one of the main reasons I choose this school. I love the learning atmosphere because the teachers interact with the students. I enjoy having small classrooms where the teacher knows me by name. Having a smaller classroom size of 20-50 students compared to 300 plus students just makes it easier to ask more questions. If the teacher is not enough there are free tutors on campus and SI instructors that are very helpful. I am always one of the slower students so having these opportunities are essential. Besides education religion is really another foundation of Baylor. I at first thought that the Baptist part of Baylor was just a label but that was not the case. Baylor encourages an education in the basis and practices of Christianity. Baylor sponsors several organizations involving mission trips and allows guest speakers that create awareness on issues that an average student like myself can make a difference in. However, I learned so much more outside the classroom. I enriched my education by getting involved in club organizations and projects. I have learned how to be a better person by becoming more patient, gaining better organization and leadership skills, practicing service and learning about more different cultures. The most important lesson I learned at Baylor was, why wait to make a difference?

No university is perfect but I really do enjoy Baylor. The only two downsides to Baylor are that the school is not as diverse as I would like it to be and the location of the university. At Baylor Caucasians really are the majority. I grew up used to seeing an even portion of different races, so coming to Baylor was different. For the first time in my life I understood that I was a minority which was not a bad thing. From this experience I got to learn about the different cultures at Baylor that I did not know about and I got to teach others about my culture and my experiences. Another adjustment I had to make was the city of Waco itself. I was used to the city life so adapting to a smaller town was a leap. The positive side to this is that I started walking more and gained better health. On the other hand, there are more positive aspects to Baylor than negative. As mentioned I enjoy the education here, but what I enjoy the most is the extracurricular activities I am involved in. Two of my favorites are Taekwondo and the college group for Church Under the Bridge. By joining Taekwondo I got to learn about Korean culture, got in shape and learned lessons on how to be a better person. However, the best part of college has been church. I have never been part of church that embraced the poor, educated, homeless, and different ethnicities as much as Church Under the Bridge. I have never witness so many miracles happen in my entire life.

Baylor is a Private University so it is costly. Tuition is about $32,000 per year and does rise about 10% every year. If you are concern with the tuition the school offers lots of scholarships. The main two scholarships you will receive will be your renewable scholarships based that are based on academics and financial needs. As an incoming freshman make sure to make good grades, SAT score, rank and have extracurricular activities. If you are strong on most of these areas you will have a good 4 year scholarship that you will be able to renew if you can maintain a certain GPA at Baylor. The other scholarship is based on financial need which also requires you to keep a certain lower GPA. Besides these renewable scholarships, Baylor offers departmental scholarships, work study, internship opportunities and other financial scholarships. With the problems of the economy your parents may have a change in financial matters and Baylor can help with this. You can apply for a special circumstances form and receive extra help. Basically Baylor is costly, but if you are willing to do the work there is money available.

The first step is to get into Baylor is to do the requirements (excellent course selection, grades, rank, SAT/or ACT, and extracurricular activities and community service) and apply as early as August. Apply to other schools as well because you can negotiate prices.

Apply for FAFSA as early as possible along with extra scholarships.

The summer before school starts learn what type of learner are you (auditory, visual, kinetic or a combination). Make sure you are able to take good notes because not all teachers allow laptops in class. Lastly, visit Baylor for yourself so you know where your classes will be and the location of help centers.

Once accepted visit bubooks.com to give you an idea the teaching style of the teacher and student’s opinions on that teacher. I have found it is better to judge the teacher by how they teach instead of the teacher’s ranking. Ask yourself, does he or she use power points or just lectures? Does he or she give pop quizzes or only exams? Will he or she require a heavy load of homework or independent studying?

By having the teachers you prefer in mind map out the times for the classes. As a freshman your counselor will help you fit the classes you want but they do not consider the best teachers. TRY to pick one of the sessions for advisement during the summer, classes get filled fast!!!

You can use bubooks to also buy and sell textbooks, do not bother buying books from the bookstore. You can log onto your bearweb account, sign in, click on student service & financial aid, next click registration and lastly on purchase your books to see what books you need for the upcoming semester.

Lastly, on the first day of school exchange numbers with your peers.

Baylor is best for students interested in mission work, business or the medical field. Also, if you plan on going to Baylor you must be willing to work and not expect an easy A.

Baylor will keep you busy. You will be learning from the best and the brightest. These professors are not like your High School teachers. They will push you to think critically (even though the subject that you are learning about may not be in your field of study) and address classrooms with passion. As a student, I always feel engaged and challenged.

Waco is a rather shady town, and you can't go out at night alone. Even though it is a bit unnerving to have to worry about safety all of the time there are still a lot of fun things to do. There are terrific sororities and fraternities that you can join to meet new people as well as student foundation and Chamber. There is always an opportunity to meet new people at Baylor. Soon you will find yourself with tons of new friends!

Though the tuition for Baylor University is a tad bit outrageous, the education that you receive for it is more than worth it. With Baylor's high standards for it's professors (almost all of mine thus far have their doctorate) and the added addition of dining halls with really delicious food and clean dorm rooms...plus the pride that goes with being a part of That Good Ole Baylor Line, if you have the means (or the scholarship) I highly suggest attending.

If you are a girl select Collins as your dorm of choice, if you are a boy select Penland. I promise that you will thank me later! If you are really into growing spiritually select Brooks College as your first choice.

Baylor is great for students who are dedicated to their school work. Your professors don't want students who are going to slack off during class. You will have plenty of free time, but just know that when it is time to study, it is time to study. There is also no alcohol allowed on campus fyi so... yeah.

The professors know their materials and teach it well. They will be glad to help you if you just ask.

The campus is beautiful. There's a gym, a swimming pool, rock climbing, ping-pong, and racquetball for free if you're bored.

A bit expensive but it's worth it if you're serious about your education.

Take your professors' words seriously and don't fall behind in class.

Religious, motivated, those who like small city.

The academic quality here at Baylor is superb. The classes are interesting and the professors work to stimulate your thinking; of course, like all colleges there are professors and classes here that are less-than-worthy of even considering taking, but it comes down to the effort you put into choosing your classes and professors. Go to the BUBOOKS.COM website to see the professor ratings..I did that, and I enjoyed every single class I have taken. Excellent academics and resources to help in the schoolwork process.

The people are friendly..if you know the right people of course. At first, most people are nice, and it's definitely easy to find a social niche within the campus. It seems like everyone is the same, but if you take the time to see, you'll definitely be able to fit in with a group. There are numerous campus events constantly happening so you'll definitely enjoy your time here if you make the effort to be active in campus life. Waco, however, leaves much to be desired. If you work to build a social life, the mundaneness of Waco shouldn't be a problem since parties are always going on and Austin and Dallas are nearby.

You definitely see where your tuition goes here at Baylor. The campus is beautiful and always maintained and there are always numerous events funded by the University. You definitely get what you paid for in terms of academics as well. This of course only maintains to people who take the most out of their classes. If you slack, then that's another issue.

-HAVE A CAR
-be sociable!
-be aware of the Christian mindset here
^^as for the Christian atmosphere, it's not imposing or stifling at all..of course there are individuals who come in with ignorance but it's to be expected from a Christian school. You just learn to ignore and adapt.
-check out the Honors Program (it's great)

-christians
-people that expect a good future and career
-academically studious
-sociable

When I finished my last final and finished up my first semester at Baylor, my head was jammed with information and knowledge that I would have never believed it could contain. Baylor's student teacher ratio honestly contributed to my learning and I got to know every one of my professors. (except for my Biology teacher because he was extremely rude but I still got an A in his class.) Baylor is a school with people that really want you to succeed and will do whatever it takes to help if you are struggling. They understand how important a GPA is to a college student. When I found myself struggling in Pre-Calculus for example, my professor was there for me to give me extra practice after class and during his office hours. If anyone is serious about learning THIS IS THE COLLEGE FOR YOU!!!

I can remember my first day on campus during moving in day. Like any other first year student I didn't know anyone and I was nervous. Thankfully, Baylor has a warming, hospitable environment that helped get used to college very quickly! Everyone here is so friendly it's annoying! Apart from the friendly environment, Baylor has a student center with a vast amount of food places to choose from. On top of all that, Baylor has a Bowling Alley on campus! There's also a 24 hour Subway on campus! I love this place.

Everyone knows Baylor reputation for being extremely costly. What everyone does not know is that you get so so so much more than what you pay for. Baylor academically ranks high among the top universities in the world. When you graduate from here you will be set for life. Baylor offers a vast amount of resources with a computer in almost every building room and a library that caters to your academic needs. Baylor also offers a tremendous amount of financial aid if your looking for it, which we all are.

When registering for classes and making your schedule, try as hard as possible to keep your classes as close as possible to each other so you wont have to be running across campus to your next class because your next class starts 5 minutes after your first class. Also, order your books online and have them shipped to your house or your school address because at the line at the beginning of the semester for books is treacherous. You will be waiting for hours.

Baylor is great for students who are extremely friendly and are people persons. If you love to volunteer Baylor has countless opportunities. If you have an aspiration for ministry and religious affairs then Baylor, being the largest Baptist school in the world, is the BEST place to go.

The professors at Baylor have a genuine concern for the advancement of your education. Even with a large student population most classrooms are structured fairly small. Freshman year I attended classes with twenty people or less and a couple big general studies courses with eighty people or more. Opportunities for success are everywhere, the Sid Richardson Success Center provides tutoring and counseling, The Writing Lab offers help from graduate students, and most classes offer supplemental instruction.
Most professors are either trying to receive or have doctorates in the fields they teach. What they have to teach is their passion therefore at times challenging but you will learn useful material from individuals who are renowned in their field.
Baylor is not just an academic experience. The experiences you get from branching out to Waco and extracurricular activities will benefit your future greatly. There are endless opportunities to do well and learn.

My first experience in dorm life at Baylor was of many random people helping me move my stuff into the room. I was given the advice by my community leader (the equivalent to a residential assistant) to leave my door open while I was in my room. I met many people this way making for a friendly home atmosphere.
The campus itself is beautiful. The commute to class on a perfect day is wonderful you see people and friends you know every step of the way.

Baylor is a great school with a great a name and great connections. Baylor offers many great scholarship opportunities. Tuition is expensive; however by taking the right steps students are able to reduce that price through government aid and scholarships significantly. Prospective students are able to calculate their merit scholarship amount on the Baylor website. In addition after filling out FASFA the record will be sent to Baylor and from there a need-based scholarship will be determined. The combination of merit and need-based scholarships makes Baylor a great bang for your buck.

Baylor has a rolling application deadline. Submit your application in as soon as possible. You don’t want to be clueless at the end of May as to where you are going in two months. You also have a better chance of getting the dorm of your choice. Baylor emphasizes SAT scores. Take the SAT early, if need be take it twice place yourself in the best position possible.
Plan for orientation: How many days will you stay? Where will you stay? What questions do you have? What opportunities interest you? You will register classes at orientation also, be sure to pick an early orientation to better your chances of a great schedule. The first to register have the first pick at times.
Make sure to become acquainted with Robinson Tower where help with financial aid, records, transcripts, etc can be found. Use facebook to find your roommate(s) and coordinate living together for the year to come.

Baylor is great for students who want to receive an education and surround themselves around others with good Christian values. That is not to say only Christian values; there is multiplicity of views and beliefs with a friendly atmosphere to encompass all of them. Come with a plan for success.