Bob Jones University

I am a 1983 Graduate in Accounting and find it interesting that some seem to have misguided notions about the background of Bob Jones University. This is a School of higher learning whose core focus is the Bible...with no apology. When there are rules, whether one agrees with them or not, why is a person surprised? The education is excellent. Discipline is strong...but fair. The preparation for "real life" is unequalled. The cost is one of the most affordable by any standard. My classmates are currently at top positions in large corporations, Educators, Presidents of other Colleges, etc. As I see it, one attends a University to both obtain an education and to prepare for life past that University. Bob Jones did both for me. If you wish to party and dictate to the school what you wish to do, then this is not a good place for you...nor is any place for that matter. Save your money and stay at home where little might be expected of you. If you wish more from yourself and want to learn the way life really is, then Bob Jones can be a good place for you. If you don't care about the Bible, don't even think about Bob Jones. Remember....Bob Jones University's foundation IS the Bible. This school helped shape me into what I am today...successful and educated.

4th Year Male -- Class 1983

Education Quality: A, Useful Schoolwork: B

PLEASE contact me if you have any questions about this school or are being swayed by any negative comments!!!I am so grateful for my years at Bob Jones. I learned so much there about not only what I believe but also why I believe it. The critical thinking skills that I gained in Dr. Mazak's general psych class have been invaluable. I would highly recommend BJU to anyone. Yes, the rules at times proved inconvenient and I had my share of infractions, but I knew what I was doing and was never unjustly punished. The rules were such a small issue. At no time was I not allowed to think. That is a ridiculous accusation. No one can prohibit you from thinking and deciding for yourself whether a statement or a standard is valid and true. When I was there, I was not allowed to date a black girl. I thought the rule was silly, but I signed a paper saying I would abide by all the rules in the handbook while I was there. It was my choice to be put under that restriction, it was my choice to obey that restriction and it was my choice to accept the validity of the restriction. Doing the first two are completely different from doing the last. The same with any rule there. If you feel you need to give up the greater benefit of the moral and vocational education because of a few rules, then that self control they strive to inculcate is exactly what you need.

The classes and the teachers knowledge level were all very high. When the occasional clunker would work his way in, he would soon be relegated to non-teaching duties. I loved the social / extra-curricular life there. There were constant opportunities to be involved in sports, choirs, theatrical plays, orchestras, and if you don't involve yourself in those things, there are always plenty of beautiful girls to take with you to watch the people that are involved. Not to mention, every mealtime is a potential date. I cannot express heartily enough my recommendation of this school.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

I definitely consider myself privileged to be a student of BJU. Overall, Bob Jones is a very good Christian university--academically, socially, and spiritually. Although no place is perfect, and I often have my complaints about the "little things," overall I have only good things to say about my school. If I listed my "gripes," I would give the wrong impression of BJU, because it really is a great place. Even the best of employers has its problems--things must be kept in perspective. But, concerning the important things, I have only good things to say.

Academically, I feel that BJU is a very good institution. And, I can verify from experience that the accounting program here is very good. I feel that the classroom instruction in business, particularly accounting, has been very effective. The faculty overall is very approachable and caring (for instance, my professor for Intermediate Accounting gave us his home telephone number and told us we could call him anytime up to 10:00 if we had a question the night before a test). Also, the faculty as a whole are very effective in their teaching. As with any other college, some professors are more interesting than others, and some are "easier" than others, but all in all I believe that the faculty at BJU are of superior quality. Also, particularly in accounting, there are great opportunities for BJ graduates. About 10-12 accounting firms in the area, including the three Big 4 firms with offices in Greenville, recruit BJ students for internships and full-time employment. Although it is more difficult to get a job outside of the Greenville/Atlanta/Charlotte area because the companies are not as familiar with BJU, it is not impossible. I was able to line up a summer internship at Ernst & Young at the office near my home in Ohio, and I feel that my education here at BJU will adequately prepare me for that role. Also, BJU is currently in the process of becoming accredited by TRACS (they currently are in candidacy status, and should be fully-accredited soon, a national accrediting agency for Christian colleges that is recognized by the Department of Education.

Socially, the student body is very friendly. Although not every single person is perfect, as a whole the students are warm and caring. Although we are in a sense "cut off from the 'real world,'" the social interaction at BJU is great. There are many opportunities to get to know people and have fun.

Spiritually, the university is very good. Although there I'm sure there are hypocrites here, as with any other Chrisitan community, there is a geniune love for the Lord across campus. BJU will not "make you spiritual," but BJU is a place that lends itself to growing spiritually. There is chapel 4 days a week, church on Sunday, a Bible class required every semester, a 15-minute prayer meeting every night in the dorm room, and biblical principles integrated throughout much of the other aspects of the college.

I would definitely recommend BJU to anyone looking for a Christian college that is good academically and spiritually IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ABIDE BY THE RULES. Yes, BJU has a lot of rules--however, that's probably why it is such a great place! But, if you are not willing to abide by them, then go somewhere else. The vast majority of people who "hate BJU" dislike it because of the rules--not because of the social atmosphere, or the academics, or the spiritual culture, but because of the rules. Here are a few:

1.) Guys have to wear ties in the morning Mon-Fri, and a suit to church on Sunday morning. Girls have to wear skirts basically everywhere except for their dorm or while doing activities where skirts are inappropriate (for instance, the female members of the grounds crew adorn pants).

2.) CCM (i.e. Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Third Day) is NOT allowed to be listened to while a student. Of course, secular rock is also prohibited.

3.) Curfew is at 10:30 every night, and you must have the lights off in your room by midnight (but I actually appreciate this as it facilitates sleeping).

4.) Only juniors, seniors, and grad students (with exceptions for older students) are allowed to have a car on campus.

5.) You cannot have a TV or any movies in the dorm. You also cannot go to movie theaters.
6.) You CANNOT be with a member of the opposite sex off campus without having an appropriate chaperon. This means that you cannot go to a park in town and watch the ducks with your girlfriend unless you have a chaperon sitting there with you. Yes, it sounds stupid, but the testimony of the school would be tarnished if people in town saw two BJ students making out in that park--which, with 3,600 students who are human, would inevitably and unfortunately happen on a few occasions.I say this to say that you need to make sure that you are willing to abide by the rules. As the administration makes perfectly clear, there are rules based upon clear prohibitions in Scripture (such as the rule against foul language), principles in Scripture (such as the prohibition on CCM), and things that just make the university a better place (such as requiring the rooms to be quiet and have the lights off by midnight). However, if you can accept the rules, you will find BJU to be a great place. But, if you cannot fathom the idea of not being able to listen to CCM for a four month period of time or having to be on campus by 10:30 every night, then go elsewhere.

Male -- Class 2000