Brigham Young University - Provo

Date: Oct 24 2005
Major: Psychology (This Major's Salary over time)
Brigham Young University offered a great foundation in education leading me to graduate work at the master's and PhD level. The school is very competetive both at admissions and within the classroom. The research assistant opportunities available at the undergraduate level were very helpful in preparation for graduate work elsewhere. Musical and other arts are valued. The campus is clean and friendly.

However, I would strongly recommend supplementing the education with a different University experience at the graduate level. BYU tends to be a very homogenous group of people according to the current website: mostly white (91%), Mormon (98%), U.S. Citizens (94%) most of whom are from the Western U.S. From observation, a huge majority are republican with no sexual minorities visible. Support structures for women with strong life-long career goals are minimal. This demographic lacks discussion from widely varying points of view as is the forte of the educational experience. Now that I am teaching at a University that is rated in the top ten for diversity in the nation, I realize the extraordinary value that all the rich viewpoints bring to the learning environment. When considering BYU, keep this in mind as some students may feel confused or alienated in this environment. For others, a solid academic experience within this population as a unique cultural group may be very educational.