Taylor is a place where Christian community is valued above all else. The integration of faith and learning is absolutely crucial, and the college strives to excel in both categories. If you want to be a part of the #1 regional college in the Midwest, you'll learn, grow, and find love and acceptance regardless of where you come from.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
-If a class is 3 credit hours, it means you'll be in class for 3 hours a week (and should be studying for 6 hours a week).
-If your dorm isn't air-conditioned, bring at least one fan. My roommate and I have 5 and we're still hot.
-Your textbooks will be there for you on move-in day. Don't worry about getting them unless you want to buy them from a different service.
-Check your student email before coming to Taylor! It can be accessed through the Taylor portal.
-Taylor doesn't like to answer the phone in the summer. Be proactive and answer your questions before the school year ends.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
If you want to challenge yourself, Taylor will give you that opportunity. If you'd rather take it easy, you can do that as well. I was a 4.0 student at a high-ranked high school, but Taylor has presented quite the academic challenge. I took the maximum number of credit hours (17), but other people taking 14 or 15 have an easier time keeping up with assignments.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Each dorm is so different that you can definitely find your fit in one of them. People typically choose their dorms according to the stereotypes associated with each of them, making those stereotypes self-fulfilling prophecies.
Some general dorm rules: The only pet you can have is a fish, don't bring things that can catch other things on fire, and stack your furniture up as high as it will go.
FEMALE ONLY DORMS:
The stereotype is that when a girl buys cookie dough, an Olson girl eats it raw and an English girl bakes it. Why do you want an all-female dorm? Because you can walk around in pajamas and not have to worry about impressing anyone.
English hall:
-No AC
-Tends to be introverted
-We have a kitchen, so people like to bake in said kitchen.
-Suite style: 4 rooms are connected to each suite (kinda like a living room), and each room holds 2 people. There are 3 suites in a wing and 3 wings on each floor (except for the basement.)
-There are community bathrooms. (In case you were wondering, yes. The showers are in stalls.)
-We have a trash chute! This seems to be exclusive to English.
-The hall is almost 50 years old, so it's got a LOT of traditions.
Olson hall:
-No AC
-Super extroverted
-Exactly 50 years old, so lots of traditions
-Standard residence hall layout- a lot like a hotel, a carbon copy of Wengatz
-Community bathrooms
-Super nice lounge area. There's a big TV.
-There's a trash room where everyone puts their garbage bags in.
CO-ED DORMS:
Bergwall
-AC
-It's connected to the dining commons!
-Lots of jocks, but also a lot of nerds. Sort of a strange social atmosphere.
-They have an indoor slip-n-slide once a year.
-Private bathrooms in each room. Very fancy.
-There's an elevator in case you live on the 4th floor and you aren't an athlete
-If you are an athlete, it's really close to the athletic buildings.
Breuninger
-AC
-3 years old. Looks very modern, especially right next to Gerig.
-Has a kitchen
-Has a re...
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The DC food is actually really good. They always have options for those with dietary concerns... Although as a vegetarian, I must confess that I get really sick of pasta, burritos, salad, and sandwiches. Fortunately, the new student center has a food court with Chik-fil-a, a noodle shop, a salad bar, and a pizza place. You can go there twice a week with a standard meal plan.
The food is really good if you don't mind a little repetition. Plus, they have top-notch chai tea lattes.
Speaking of lattes, the campus has an amazing coffee shop called the Jumping Bean. If you need a caffeine fix, they'll give it to you.
Off campus, Ivanhoe's is an incredible ice cream shop that attracts people from other states. It's got 100 different flavors of sundaes and milkshakes. There's a small town by IWU, which is about five minutes away, and they have a lot more food options.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
I can't say that I've ever felt bored at Taylor. There's always something going on, and if there isn't anything to do, someone will pull out a deck of cards.
Taylor has tons of ridiculous traditions that are usually super fun. Some of them seem a little unnecessary, but the weirdness makes them exciting.
I think the main concern is the fact that there's always something you want to do but not enough time to do it all.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Taylor is pricey. No doubt about that. But almost all of my professors have doctorates, and I've never found myself wondering, "How does this apply to my life?"
MONEY ranked Taylor favorably in the 2016 Best Value College rankings. It probably would've been higher if they hadn't counted in the starting salary for Taylor graduates-- most Taylor grads aren't too focused on money, and a lot of them go on to be missionaries.
My professional writing professor has published 62 books and more than 3,500 articles. If that doesn't show how qualified the professors here are, I don't know what will.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Pick-a-dates are probably the biggest tradition on campus. It's a giant group date where you pick a friend of a different gender and do ridiculous things together. Themes vary depending on the floor, but English is famous for "Broomball", which is like hockey but with brooms and tennis shoes on the skating rink instead of actual skates. Other floors have murder mystery themes and other weird stuff.
Most of the other campus-wide traditions are either secret or involve food. Imagine church camp for adults... Steak and Shake runs, McDonald's, awkward games, and things that make you slightly uncomfortable.
Each dorm has its own weird traditions. Just know that if it's a tradition, it's because it's weird and people think it's funny.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
If you want to grow closer to Christ, Taylor will help you set habits that will carry you through the rest of your life. If you're not a Christian, you will probably feel a lot of pressure to become one.
People who want to live in a sex free, drug free, alcohol free atmosphere.
Those interested in the professional writing major, which is said to be the best writing program in the country. Every single student is guaranteed to get published in the first year.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There's a lot to do, but not enough time to do it! There are a few activities I wish we had, like Mock Trial, but I don't know if I'd have time to do those activities anyways.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
We don't have greek life, but we do have "wings", which is kind of similar and completely mandatory. There's no alcohol or passed out people, though. Just a lot of people of the same gender doing stupid stuff together.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Our crime rate is quite literally 0/1000. I don't think anyone has been seriously physically assaulted in any capacity since the school came into existence. You do have to watch your bike, though-- people like to "borrow" them.
Taylor is a place where Christian community is valued above all else. The integration of faith and learning is absolutely crucial, and the college strives to excel in both categories. If you want to be a part of the #1 regional college in the Midwest, you'll learn, grow, and find love and acceptance regardless of where you come from.
-If a class is 3 credit hours, it means you'll be in class for 3 hours a week (and should be studying for 6 hours a week). -If your dorm isn't air-conditioned, bring at least one fan. My roommate and I have 5 and we're still hot. -Your textbooks will be there for you on move-in day. Don't worry about getting them unless you want to buy them from a different service. -Check your student email before coming to Taylor! It can be accessed through the Taylor portal. -Taylor doesn't like to answer the phone in the summer. Be proactive and answer your questions before the school year ends.
If you want to challenge yourself, Taylor will give you that opportunity. If you'd rather take it easy, you can do that as well. I was a 4.0 student at a high-ranked high school, but Taylor has presented quite the academic challenge. I took the maximum number of credit hours (17), but other people taking 14 or 15 have an easier time keeping up with assignments.
Each dorm is so different that you can definitely find your fit in one of them. People typically choose their dorms according to the stereotypes associated with each of them, making those stereotypes self-fulfilling prophecies. Some general dorm rules: The only pet you can have is a fish, don't bring things that can catch other things on fire, and stack your furniture up as high as it will go. FEMALE ONLY DORMS: The stereotype is that when a girl buys cookie dough, an Olson girl eats it raw and an English girl bakes it. Why do you want an all-female dorm? Because you can walk around in pajamas and not have to worry about impressing anyone. English hall: -No AC -Tends to be introverted -We have a kitchen, so people like to bake in said kitchen. -Suite style: 4 rooms are connected to each suite (kinda like a living room), and each room holds 2 people. There are 3 suites in a wing and 3 wings on each floor (except for the basement.) -There are community bathrooms. (In case you were wondering, yes. The showers are in stalls.) -We have a trash chute! This seems to be exclusive to English. -The hall is almost 50 years old, so it's got a LOT of traditions. Olson hall: -No AC -Super extroverted -Exactly 50 years old, so lots of traditions -Standard residence hall layout- a lot like a hotel, a carbon copy of Wengatz -Community bathrooms -Super nice lounge area. There's a big TV. -There's a trash room where everyone puts their garbage bags in. CO-ED DORMS: Bergwall -AC -It's connected to the dining commons! -Lots of jocks, but also a lot of nerds. Sort of a strange social atmosphere. -They have an indoor slip-n-slide once a year. -Private bathrooms in each room. Very fancy. -There's an elevator in case you live on the 4th floor and you aren't an athlete -If you are an athlete, it's really close to the athletic buildings. Breuninger -AC -3 years old. Looks very modern, especially right next to Gerig. -Has a kitchen -Has a re...
The DC food is actually really good. They always have options for those with dietary concerns... Although as a vegetarian, I must confess that I get really sick of pasta, burritos, salad, and sandwiches. Fortunately, the new student center has a food court with Chik-fil-a, a noodle shop, a salad bar, and a pizza place. You can go there twice a week with a standard meal plan. The food is really good if you don't mind a little repetition. Plus, they have top-notch chai tea lattes. Speaking of lattes, the campus has an amazing coffee shop called the Jumping Bean. If you need a caffeine fix, they'll give it to you. Off campus, Ivanhoe's is an incredible ice cream shop that attracts people from other states. It's got 100 different flavors of sundaes and milkshakes. There's a small town by IWU, which is about five minutes away, and they have a lot more food options.
I can't say that I've ever felt bored at Taylor. There's always something going on, and if there isn't anything to do, someone will pull out a deck of cards. Taylor has tons of ridiculous traditions that are usually super fun. Some of them seem a little unnecessary, but the weirdness makes them exciting. I think the main concern is the fact that there's always something you want to do but not enough time to do it all.
Taylor is pricey. No doubt about that. But almost all of my professors have doctorates, and I've never found myself wondering, "How does this apply to my life?" MONEY ranked Taylor favorably in the 2016 Best Value College rankings. It probably would've been higher if they hadn't counted in the starting salary for Taylor graduates-- most Taylor grads aren't too focused on money, and a lot of them go on to be missionaries. My professional writing professor has published 62 books and more than 3,500 articles. If that doesn't show how qualified the professors here are, I don't know what will.
Pick-a-dates are probably the biggest tradition on campus. It's a giant group date where you pick a friend of a different gender and do ridiculous things together. Themes vary depending on the floor, but English is famous for "Broomball", which is like hockey but with brooms and tennis shoes on the skating rink instead of actual skates. Other floors have murder mystery themes and other weird stuff. Most of the other campus-wide traditions are either secret or involve food. Imagine church camp for adults... Steak and Shake runs, McDonald's, awkward games, and things that make you slightly uncomfortable. Each dorm has its own weird traditions. Just know that if it's a tradition, it's because it's weird and people think it's funny.
If you want to grow closer to Christ, Taylor will help you set habits that will carry you through the rest of your life. If you're not a Christian, you will probably feel a lot of pressure to become one. People who want to live in a sex free, drug free, alcohol free atmosphere. Those interested in the professional writing major, which is said to be the best writing program in the country. Every single student is guaranteed to get published in the first year.
There's a lot to do, but not enough time to do it! There are a few activities I wish we had, like Mock Trial, but I don't know if I'd have time to do those activities anyways.
We don't have greek life, but we do have "wings", which is kind of similar and completely mandatory. There's no alcohol or passed out people, though. Just a lot of people of the same gender doing stupid stuff together.
Our crime rate is quite literally 0/1000. I don't think anyone has been seriously physically assaulted in any capacity since the school came into existence. You do have to watch your bike, though-- people like to "borrow" them.