Southwest Baptist University — Attraction in Bolivar

I noticed there was a lack of serious reviews for the university. I’ll try to write as unbiased a review as possible, though my experience was largely negative.

To begin, I was admitted to SBU in 2013 as one of four incoming freshman to receive an academic full-tuition scholarship. During the year I spent at SBU, I split my time between the Mathematics and Computer Science departments. After a year, I turned down the lustrous prospect of free college and transferred to the University of Missouri, where I have spent the past year, and where I will finish my education.

First, let me say that though my experience was largely negative, it was not as bad as it could have been. As a liberal Episcopalian, drowning in the conservatism of the SBC was not the most attractive idea in the world, though my fears were swiftly assuaged by a number of individuals –students and professors alike- who were more committed to serious inquiry than towing party lines. (I remember with particular fondness an adviser of mine who encouraged me to follow through with my plans to transfer to a more suitable academic institution, and to this day I number past and present SBU students among my closest friends.

That being said, I can’t in good conscience recommend SBU to potential students. Many (if not most) of the classes I took at SBU did not match up to their counterparts at state universities (this was especially pronounced in the Math department, but also present in Computer Science). Further, the small number of professors and students led to a serious dearth of classes in all departments. A small school like SBU which nonetheless tries to offer a variety of majors ends up sacrificing depth of study for a perceived increase in depth of study. For example, the Math department was almost wholly without proof-based classes which are a necessity for any student seeking to pursue graduate studies (the one course in Abstract Algebra which should have been proof-based under-emphasized proofs to an almost-criminal extent). Perhaps these are no great criticisms. The University is not necessarily trying to prepare students for graduate studies. As an aspiring academic, however, these are criticisms too great to look over.

While my experience was negative, the experience of other students does not have to be. Perhaps you are looking for a university which actively tries to integrate faith and vocation. Admittedly, this is a nearly-vacuous idea for me, mostly because the idea of a specifically “Christian Mathematician” strikes me as odd. If this is something which concerns you, however, SBU may be your school. The language of “faith integration” is alive and well on this campus, and traditionally religious students are sure to feel at home.

Nevertheless, a number of questions must be asked by potential SBU students: at what price am I willing to purchase my comfort in higher education? Will I be giving up my academic and professional credibility by attending an institution such as this one? Are there benefits to be gained by attending a small Christian liberal arts college versus a larger state or private non-sectarian school? I don’t pretend to answer these questions for anyone else, but the answers for me...

The head of the Biology department teaches that evolution doesn't exist. I waited 2 months for my A/C to be fixed to find out my RD never put in the request after I reported it several times and was told it was reported. The mandatory chapel is a joke. Almost no one pays attention. The food is the worst food I've ever had. It's $7 a meal and they somehow undercook the outside of the pizza and burn the center. Got a friend that got kicked out because he was depressed and the school didn't want the liability. Half the school is heavily into drugs and parties. I DD'd for people weekly. That said, I've met some amazing people here and I've got to give a shoutout to Declue and Bethards as they were great teachers. They were very kind and helpful and showed an interest in getting to know students on a more personal level. But those are about the only positive aspects of SBU and I'm sorry to say i would heavily recommend finding...

I have enjoyed having a one on one relationship with the faculty. They are super friendly, and I enjoy learning and having a friendly academic relationship with my instructors. I have learned to strongly intertwine academic health with a strong belief in the gospel while being at SBU. In my own experience, I give SBU a five star rating because I believe this is the place to be if you want to grow stronger in Christ, achieve academic excellence in a friendly atmosphere, grow socially and have a fun experience altogether through sports, clubs and bible...