Academics
Founded in the tradition of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah’s Brigham Young University has long held a reputation for quality academics and alumni that go on to great things. It has also provided “a spiritual side to our education in addition to all the secular knowledge,” which is useful to those of its attendees who are religious: “Some of my best classes here have been ones where the professor ties the subject to religion or God.” The school “has clear guidelines and expectations as to the conduct of its students,” and, with almost 200 majors to choose from, does “a great job at helping students find their passions and [making] them successful in their careers.” The school also embraces innovation and technology to the fullest, supporting students with “virtual spaces where we can interact with TAs and get help.”
Within the classroom, student highlight their professors as encouraging, both through the material they hand out—“assignments that enhance my learning instead of just busy work—and in the way they help students “to push themselves and to take advantage of the many internships and research that the school provides.” They’re also a fan of the approach some teachers take toward “final projects, both in groups and individually, rather than exams” and appreciate that they “consistently looked for feedback from the students throughout the semester to make sure that the class topics were tailored to what the students were interested in.” Overall, there are “incredible opportunities to succeed,” whether that’s from the “guest lecturers from all walks of life” that BYU brings in or the frequent “field trips to places in the area relevant to the subject material,” research and study abroad opportunities, and outlets “to display your work throughout campus.”
Student Body
While many at BYU are a part of the LDS church, “you can still meet a pretty broad sampling of people from within that group,” and students are said to maintain a “broad worldview and are interested in learning more about other people’s experiences and supporting them in their journeys.” It helps that the school has made “diligent efforts” to diversity and bring in “a large international population,” such that there is “great diversity regarding culture, political orientation, and extracurricular interests.” There is “a good mix of people who like to constantly socialize and also are diligent and serious studying,” and “a strong community of service and people who care about one another.” This highachieving group “expect a lot (sometimes too much) of themselves and at times others,” but all remain “very kind and considerate” overall, and “for the most part, we are a rulefollowing community.”
Campus Life
Students suggest that coursework is rigorous and that “most time at BYU is filled by academic studies,” but also note that there are “a million different ways to be involved on campus with clubs and events,” including “a ‘Cougar skate’ activity once or twice a month where people can come roller skating” and country swing, which is “a popular activity year round.” Just don’t expect “a big drinking or partying culture”; look instead to the highly attended “state-wide affair” of sports and note the school’s Provo location, which leads to “a big culture of hiking, climbing, camping, and boating in the mountains” or just visits to the “so many national parks nearby.” Those looking for more careeror service-related opportunities will find that “church activities are always happening” that give students opportunities to pitch in, and the BYU Student-Alumni program, a huge driver for networking, puts on events each year, “including an etiquette dinner, a food drive, [and] a traditions ball to celebrate the history of the school.” There’s even an annual “summit retreat featuring TED-talk-style presenters.”
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