Baylor University

Date: Mar 17 2006
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I don't really fit the Baylor stereotype. I've been to church maybe a dozen times in my life, and I'm politically moderate. I come from a middle class, single parent family. I went to Baylor because I got a partial scholarship there. Otherwise I probably would not have considered it. Even with the scholarship, I ended up taking out student loans to cover the remaining tuition and living expenses.

Academically, I found the school to be quite good, but it depends on what program you are in. Some majors are very challenging, while a few programs seem set up to accommodate husband hunters, and others who just want to coast through with a degree.

I liked the small classes, and the interest that the professors took in my studies and prospective career. Some have said that Baylor professors teach from a narrow minded christian conservative view point, but I did not find this to be true in general. In fact, after attending UT for grad school, I believe that the professors at Baylor were actually more balanced in their teaching. In some of the humanities classes at UT, for example, there was an obvious anti-white and/or feminist agenda in the professors' teaching and attitude.

The majority of the students at Baylor are from conservative christian backgrounds. But the hardcore in-your-face bible thumpers you hear about are really a very small (but very dull) minority. Greek organizations are also very strong on campus. So if you are, say, an agnostic and don't have an interest or the financial means to join a fraternity, you are bound to feel out of place at times. That said, I didn't have any trouble making some good friends who were laid back, intelligent, and liked to have a good time on the weekends (Not always easy in Waco).

I think the media has exaggerated the conservative christian aspect of the school and given it an undeserved reputation. That is unfortunate, because there are some excellent professors, administrators, and students there who work hard to make it the great academic institution that it is.

Overall I had a good experience at Baylor, but I don't think it was ideal. It was very expensive, and academics aside, I didn't appreciate the other aspects of the school. Yes you can get a very good education there, but unless you can embrace the predominate religious culture, you can probably do just as well and have more fun at a good state school for a lot less money.