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.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
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!).
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
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!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
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!
Which types of students will excel at your college?
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!).
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!).