Bob Jones University

Date: Aug 13 2007
Major: Music - Performance (This Major's Salary over time)
Beware…the Pharisees are in charge. The entire school system is based on turning people in - from dorm life to scholastic work. Thinking is not encouraged or tolerated - especially ideas that differ from the administration's. Debate is limited. Ideas and creativity are discouraged. Learning is rote memorization - people, dates, times, places - underlying motives are not usually included. Don't be fooled by the nice, safe campus. The rules are strict and enforcement is brutal. There is no grace and one is assumed guilty until proven innocent (if that is possible).

At the time I was there, the voice department was very subpar - everything was in "head" voice, "chest" voice was discouraged. It wasn't until I found a real voice teacher that I really learned to sing. I hope it's different now. However, you'll never study jazz or any contemporary expressions of music there, so think seriously before majoring in music there. You might need jazz or show tunes or contemporary Christian music in your repertoire to make a living later.

The best thing about BJU were the operas and Shakespearean plays - they were extremely well done and gave me a great appreciation of fine arts. The collection of sacred art is fantastic! But go to Furman or Clemson and attend the plays and operas as outsiders.