Samford is a small university where you will build lasting friendships and the professors know your name. It is located in Birmingham where there are lots of things to do when you have the time to explore.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Sit in on a class, eat in the Caf, and stay overnight. Also schedule a meeting with your advisor.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Samford is pretty academically rigorous! It is a liberal arts school so all the liberal arts classes are harder than the ones at state schools. The religion classes are also hard because it is a religious school and they have a divinity school. They also have a pharmacy school so the science classes are really hard. They also like to combine classes into one. For instance, a chemistry class I took in one semester would be two different classes in two different semesters at a state school. I've heard they do this in other departments as well.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Most of the dorms may not be as fancy as at some other schools, but you will make lasting friendships in the dorms and they have a friendly atmosphere. There is also less pressure because there are no co-ed dorms. Freshmen start out with a room that is kinda small and they will have to work hard to fit the furniture in the room and a community bathroom. But then upperclassmen can live in Beeson Woods, where people get a three-room deal. There are two bedrooms with two people each and a bathroom for each bedroom and a living room/kitchen area to share. West Village is very fancy and everyone gets their own room with a kitchen and two bathrooms, but it is very expensive to live there and it is not centrally located.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The Caf has the same food a lot of the time and a lot of it is sub par. You should also check to make sure your dishes and cups are clean before you use them. But there is a health food place called Freshens in the college of health sciences building that has really good food until they run out of ingredients. They also take meal plans instead of bulldog bucks which is a huge plus. The food in the food court is also pretty good and the ladies at Chik Fil A are generous with the fries! Einstein's bagels in the library is pretty good too and is a yummy option when you have too much studying to do to leave the library.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There is always something to do on campus. I joined a weekly bible study. There are also movies shown on campus on the quad or in the planetarium. The planetarium also has shows often and they are spectacular! There is also a free movies website open to all students that has the most popular, newest movies mixed with the most obscure, downright strange movies. There is also a swimming pool in the gym. There is also so much free food on the quad during football season! And local restaurants bring free food to advertise as well! There are also concerts on the quad sometimes and there is free food then too! Harry's coffeehouse also has concerts sometimes. And in February step sing happens and the whole campus gets involved! There are also various things to do in Birmingham. I personally like to visit the museums.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Samford tries hard to give a bang for the buck, but I would like to see the money put in some other places. It would be nice if they used some money to improve the dorms instead of building new buildings or planting more flowers. But I do like that samford is worth the money because of the more rigorous academics and professors who get to know you. They also work hard to put together great student activities like connections weekend, lighting of the way, the easter egg hunt, and step sing. They make sure to have quality free food and good entertainment. Local businesses also come and have a huge free giveaway.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Step Sing is an annual sing and dance show where the whole campus gets involved. There is a banner drop in the wright center with fake themes and everyone tries to guess each others' themes until the big show. We also have an annual easter egg hunt where we have free food and a concert and of course an easter egg hunt. It is also good luck to rub the nose on the beeson statue in the library entrance. People also like to jump into every fountain on campus, climb the roof to every building, and I've heard people have gone into the tunnels beneath the wright center (but I would definitely not recommend that last one).
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Samford is a great fit for serious students who are friendly and have a religious background. Samford is a nonalcoholic campus so people who like to drink would probably not fit in really well.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are a lot of religious clubs and activities and also some clubs that depend on majors so that people of the same major can meet each other.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
The Greek Life on campus does not have as strong a presence as at other schools. I did not rush and I have had no problem making friends both in sororities or independent.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
I have never felt unsafe on campus. However, if someone did, there are blue buttons across campus that you could push to call the campus police. The campus police also have a centrally located office in the hub. You can also request a safe ride at any time, which is easier now that there are shuttles.
Samford is a small university where you will build lasting friendships and the professors know your name. It is located in Birmingham where there are lots of things to do when you have the time to explore.
Sit in on a class, eat in the Caf, and stay overnight. Also schedule a meeting with your advisor.
Samford is pretty academically rigorous! It is a liberal arts school so all the liberal arts classes are harder than the ones at state schools. The religion classes are also hard because it is a religious school and they have a divinity school. They also have a pharmacy school so the science classes are really hard. They also like to combine classes into one. For instance, a chemistry class I took in one semester would be two different classes in two different semesters at a state school. I've heard they do this in other departments as well.
Most of the dorms may not be as fancy as at some other schools, but you will make lasting friendships in the dorms and they have a friendly atmosphere. There is also less pressure because there are no co-ed dorms. Freshmen start out with a room that is kinda small and they will have to work hard to fit the furniture in the room and a community bathroom. But then upperclassmen can live in Beeson Woods, where people get a three-room deal. There are two bedrooms with two people each and a bathroom for each bedroom and a living room/kitchen area to share. West Village is very fancy and everyone gets their own room with a kitchen and two bathrooms, but it is very expensive to live there and it is not centrally located.
The Caf has the same food a lot of the time and a lot of it is sub par. You should also check to make sure your dishes and cups are clean before you use them. But there is a health food place called Freshens in the college of health sciences building that has really good food until they run out of ingredients. They also take meal plans instead of bulldog bucks which is a huge plus. The food in the food court is also pretty good and the ladies at Chik Fil A are generous with the fries! Einstein's bagels in the library is pretty good too and is a yummy option when you have too much studying to do to leave the library.
There is always something to do on campus. I joined a weekly bible study. There are also movies shown on campus on the quad or in the planetarium. The planetarium also has shows often and they are spectacular! There is also a free movies website open to all students that has the most popular, newest movies mixed with the most obscure, downright strange movies. There is also a swimming pool in the gym. There is also so much free food on the quad during football season! And local restaurants bring free food to advertise as well! There are also concerts on the quad sometimes and there is free food then too! Harry's coffeehouse also has concerts sometimes. And in February step sing happens and the whole campus gets involved! There are also various things to do in Birmingham. I personally like to visit the museums.
Samford tries hard to give a bang for the buck, but I would like to see the money put in some other places. It would be nice if they used some money to improve the dorms instead of building new buildings or planting more flowers. But I do like that samford is worth the money because of the more rigorous academics and professors who get to know you. They also work hard to put together great student activities like connections weekend, lighting of the way, the easter egg hunt, and step sing. They make sure to have quality free food and good entertainment. Local businesses also come and have a huge free giveaway.
Step Sing is an annual sing and dance show where the whole campus gets involved. There is a banner drop in the wright center with fake themes and everyone tries to guess each others' themes until the big show. We also have an annual easter egg hunt where we have free food and a concert and of course an easter egg hunt. It is also good luck to rub the nose on the beeson statue in the library entrance. People also like to jump into every fountain on campus, climb the roof to every building, and I've heard people have gone into the tunnels beneath the wright center (but I would definitely not recommend that last one).
Samford is a great fit for serious students who are friendly and have a religious background. Samford is a nonalcoholic campus so people who like to drink would probably not fit in really well.
There are a lot of religious clubs and activities and also some clubs that depend on majors so that people of the same major can meet each other.
The Greek Life on campus does not have as strong a presence as at other schools. I did not rush and I have had no problem making friends both in sororities or independent.
I have never felt unsafe on campus. However, if someone did, there are blue buttons across campus that you could push to call the campus police. The campus police also have a centrally located office in the hub. You can also request a safe ride at any time, which is easier now that there are shuttles.