Academics
The oldest continually operating university in Texas, Baylor University offers a “worldly view of academics … [to] explore where cultures come from.” Offering over 140 undergraduate programs, the focus at Baylor is on critical thinking and analysis with the goal of contributing to the plentiful academic disciplines explored on campus. The school is strongly driven not only by academics but also by faith, “[prioritizing excellence] in school but [holding] faith to a very high standard as well.” The school’s history and mission statement encourage students to lead and serve worldwide by integrating academics with their Christian commitment. Although they are “pushed daily in studies,” Baylor’s students still “manage to participate in multiple clubs, have jobs, and stay active in the community.” Because Baylor’s campus has “the perfect balance” of space and student population, professors are able to “show genuine care for students” both in terms of academics and personal well-being. Smaller class sizes mean “students can really get to know their professors” and build a professional and personal rapport that fosters the community and family-like feel present on the Baylor campus. In the classroom, students are given “hands-on experience working on real world projects” aimed at professional development. Innovations abound in Baylor’s academics with students undergoing flipped classrooms—students lead a discussion rather than attending a traditional lecture—and field trips that take them to locations both near and far. These often take the form of visits to art museums, other religious institutions, and nonprofit organizations for added cultural exposure. The professors “believe we are the people who will change the world and make it a better place,” one student says.
Student Body
Despite the university’s foundation in Christian ideals, students at Baylor have seen “a huge push toward diversity and learning about different cultures.” While some students still find frustration in breaking past those traditional beliefs, Baylor has a “strong sense of community” and “everyone is still accepting of one another,” a student says. “The campus and student body seem like the perfect size: big enough to where you don’t know everyone, but small enough to where you can walk across campus knowing you will see at least one familiar face,” says another. Baylor is home to a range of races, backgrounds, and religions, but above all else, the school “brings amazing people onto its campus.”
Campus Life
With over 330 clubs and organizations, it’s no wonder students balance their “rigorous course loads” with plenty of other activities. And with forty sororities and fraternities, that means Baylor’s campus features a booming Greek life. Still, many students attend church every Sunday and are encouraged to take part in activities that will “enhance their religious view.” Regardless of personal religious affiliations, the entire student body is “full of the Baylor spirit and open to interactions with everyone,” and there are many opportunities for student involvement during the week, many of which include local community service.
The campus is located in Waco, Texas, and has bountiful options when it comes to good dining—a variety of food trucks even roll onto campus during larger events. Austin and Dallas are also nearby, and study breaks on weekends are normally spent taking trips to these larger cities. Baylor students seek “outdoorsy” activities, which is easy since the campus and nearby towns all have appealing options: hiking in Cameron Park, hammocking on campus, kayaking on the Brazos River. If they’re not opting for outdoor forms of recreation or exercise, they can typically be found working out in the Student Life Center. With nineteen varsity sports, student claims that sports are huge on campus are also clearly true, and sporting events are often cause for the diverse student population to come together. In the fall, almost everyone attends football games; in the spring, almost everyone supports the basketball team.
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