When I first came to the University, I was surprised that the descriptions of it being in the middle of a cornfield were spot-on. Being in such a remote location though, drives community together and a chance to get to know more of the 2,500 people than one would if it were the same size college in a big city like New York or Illinois. This is a college that keeps its students in an area where they have to face their challenges, both academic and social, and not run away from them.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
This is a Christian college and they tend to lean toward accepting those students that are at least interested in this faith. Admission counselors actually read your essays several times and question you about your motives for coming to Taylor (don't put hoopla in those essays). Set up a reading schedule before you get in college, and if you get your books early, READ THEM!!
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Of course there are exceptions in each school but overall, the academics are sound here at Taylor; in that the teachers give you the sources of their understanding and encourage you to decide whether it is true for you or not. Reading will be something that may take up other homework time but if you plan to have a social life at all, you definitely will not be able to read all the books, unless you sacrifice sleep.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
For each floor in any given dorm, there are at least 3 wings. Most dorms set up fraternities/sororities with their select wing but there are several lucky floors who have over 100 occupants but are the most interactive with each other. Activities are facilitated by Personal Advisers (PAs) and since this is a Christian school, there are also Discipleship Advisers (DAs), though there is no requirement for you to become a Christian.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Meals are divided into several groups: Homestyle cooking, Burgers/Fries, Self-serving Sandwiches, Fresh Fruits/Salads, Pizza, Italian foods, Steamed Pasta, baked foods, cereals, dozens of different drinks and a line that serves food from certain parts of the world, which differs from Asian, European, Latin American to the occasional African dishes.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There are ALWAYS activities going on, since this college, classes are not at a set time but the general time for everyone to gather for school sanctioned events, clubs, dorm run events, floor events, wing retreats, or excursions into town start roughly around 5pm when dinner starts.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
There is a constantly rising 72% chance (over 90% for business majors like myself) that you will be employed after graduation from Taylor in any major that you choose. This is a Christian University that has passionate, caring and friendly students, faculties, other employees, frequent visiting alumni and surrounding community that is probably only found here (this is my opinion out of 6 colleges visited).
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
This used to be an all girls college back in Taylor's earlier years, so it caters to the 45% male ( <- exaggeration) population occasionally a tad more than girls. For the guys, there are initiations (not technically hazing because you can get out of it easily, which there may be some for girls also) that give a little prestige knowing that you're carrying on a legacy. For girls there are uh...(I'm a guy so this is harder to find out), well girls AND guys there are these school sanctioned Pick-a-Dates where a floor picks an event for its occupants to entertain a guest of their choice. A guy and ask out a girl (or vise-versa) and the asker pays for the entire date (almost always the guy pays either way) and they go with a group of such couples from the initiating person's floor. There are also the ever present knowledge that many of those who get married when/before graduating from Taylor find their spouse from a Pick-a-Date. In this knowledge some Freshman (like myself) have inhibitions for these excursions but for anyone thinking of attending, there are dozens of Pick-a-Dates to go on, which makes that statement basically true but in a less absolute way. There are many more things too but it's best to learn first hand, or at least by visiting.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Those who love to be social but want a solid education leading to a stable well-paid job and almost perfect for quiet people who want to merge into social life and shake off the inhibitions created by high school life (like myself).
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are intramurals, study-related clubs, student created clubs and society sponsored programs that keep unity a primary focus while either exercising the mind/body in the process. Hopefully most colleges are the same in that anyone regardless of gender can join in these clubs.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There technically are not set sororities or fraternities on campus but there is a special bond that grows between those in their select Dorm Wings. At meals, the unspoken seating is with one's Wing, surrounded by their Dorm but mingling is always encouraged (except with tables filled with surly/uncouth Freshman still in High school sophomoric mode).
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
There is a campus police station on campus like most but there have not been any crimes reported in the last half decade on campus when I searched up on Taylor's history (2012). Overall, this is a place where I guys and girls alike are not afraid to walk across campus at night without fear for their safety (the logic of doing so would be questionable in itself anyway).
When I first came to the University, I was surprised that the descriptions of it being in the middle of a cornfield were spot-on. Being in such a remote location though, drives community together and a chance to get to know more of the 2,500 people than one would if it were the same size college in a big city like New York or Illinois. This is a college that keeps its students in an area where they have to face their challenges, both academic and social, and not run away from them.
This is a Christian college and they tend to lean toward accepting those students that are at least interested in this faith. Admission counselors actually read your essays several times and question you about your motives for coming to Taylor (don't put hoopla in those essays). Set up a reading schedule before you get in college, and if you get your books early, READ THEM!!
Of course there are exceptions in each school but overall, the academics are sound here at Taylor; in that the teachers give you the sources of their understanding and encourage you to decide whether it is true for you or not. Reading will be something that may take up other homework time but if you plan to have a social life at all, you definitely will not be able to read all the books, unless you sacrifice sleep.
For each floor in any given dorm, there are at least 3 wings. Most dorms set up fraternities/sororities with their select wing but there are several lucky floors who have over 100 occupants but are the most interactive with each other. Activities are facilitated by Personal Advisers (PAs) and since this is a Christian school, there are also Discipleship Advisers (DAs), though there is no requirement for you to become a Christian.
Meals are divided into several groups: Homestyle cooking, Burgers/Fries, Self-serving Sandwiches, Fresh Fruits/Salads, Pizza, Italian foods, Steamed Pasta, baked foods, cereals, dozens of different drinks and a line that serves food from certain parts of the world, which differs from Asian, European, Latin American to the occasional African dishes.
There are ALWAYS activities going on, since this college, classes are not at a set time but the general time for everyone to gather for school sanctioned events, clubs, dorm run events, floor events, wing retreats, or excursions into town start roughly around 5pm when dinner starts.
There is a constantly rising 72% chance (over 90% for business majors like myself) that you will be employed after graduation from Taylor in any major that you choose. This is a Christian University that has passionate, caring and friendly students, faculties, other employees, frequent visiting alumni and surrounding community that is probably only found here (this is my opinion out of 6 colleges visited).
This used to be an all girls college back in Taylor's earlier years, so it caters to the 45% male ( <- exaggeration) population occasionally a tad more than girls. For the guys, there are initiations (not technically hazing because you can get out of it easily, which there may be some for girls also) that give a little prestige knowing that you're carrying on a legacy. For girls there are uh...(I'm a guy so this is harder to find out), well girls AND guys there are these school sanctioned Pick-a-Dates where a floor picks an event for its occupants to entertain a guest of their choice. A guy and ask out a girl (or vise-versa) and the asker pays for the entire date (almost always the guy pays either way) and they go with a group of such couples from the initiating person's floor. There are also the ever present knowledge that many of those who get married when/before graduating from Taylor find their spouse from a Pick-a-Date. In this knowledge some Freshman (like myself) have inhibitions for these excursions but for anyone thinking of attending, there are dozens of Pick-a-Dates to go on, which makes that statement basically true but in a less absolute way. There are many more things too but it's best to learn first hand, or at least by visiting.
Those who love to be social but want a solid education leading to a stable well-paid job and almost perfect for quiet people who want to merge into social life and shake off the inhibitions created by high school life (like myself).
There are intramurals, study-related clubs, student created clubs and society sponsored programs that keep unity a primary focus while either exercising the mind/body in the process. Hopefully most colleges are the same in that anyone regardless of gender can join in these clubs.
There technically are not set sororities or fraternities on campus but there is a special bond that grows between those in their select Dorm Wings. At meals, the unspoken seating is with one's Wing, surrounded by their Dorm but mingling is always encouraged (except with tables filled with surly/uncouth Freshman still in High school sophomoric mode).
There is a campus police station on campus like most but there have not been any crimes reported in the last half decade on campus when I searched up on Taylor's history (2012). Overall, this is a place where I guys and girls alike are not afraid to walk across campus at night without fear for their safety (the logic of doing so would be questionable in itself anyway).