Brigham Young University - Provo

Date: Aug 30 2004
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
1. I was unimpressed by my peers at BYU. Most were not concerned with learning and most were (therefore) boring. I was the only person in some of my classes that did all of the reading conscientiously.

2. I was somewhat impressed by the faculty at BYU. I highly esteemed a few of them that were very interesing and stimulating teachers. Many were quite competent. The religion faculty, however, was almost entirely substandard and laughable.

3. Some programs are excellent, most are average or below average. BYU's undergraduate education in economics is one of the best in the country. The accounting program is rumored to be quite strong. My program was average.

4. Some people think highly of BYU. BYU has a strong showing at my graduate program and the students earn the respect of the professors here. In other fields where graduates are not well represented, the reputation may be nonexistent. Those who think ill of BYU just because it is religious are bigots. Likewise for those who think well of it just because it is religious.

5. The superficial piety that some faculty and many students exhibit is annoying. A lot of it will waste your time and make you want to vomit. But some of it is worthwhile and sincere. It was very exciting at times to be at the Mormon Mecca.

6. Everyone goes to BYU to get married except the handful of Arabs who come to go to an American university where fornication is prohibited. Everyone is checking out everybody else. That would have been fun if the girls had been intellectually inclined (most weren't).

7. Would I do it again? No. Pardon my saying so, but was too smart for BYU. I wager it's about as good as an average American university, and I'm an above average American university student.