Baylor University — Attraction in Waco

I am a Baylor alumna, BA '05. I came to Baylor as a freshman the fall of 1999, graduated in May 2005, and took one class the summer of 2005 as a non-degree-seeking student.

Here's what I can tell you from my experience: I did receive a liberal arts education, and it was reasonable. I wasn't a fan of having TAs teaching some of the entry-level courses, but most of my profs were approachable, caring people, and good teachers. I am indebted to several of them for being willing to work with me when I went through a rough patch, in connection to involvement in a local church.

I loved the library system at Baylor. I appreciated all the resources we had at our disposal, and the quiet study environments I found there. I appreciated the work our librarians, DPS (Baylor Police) and housekeeping / maintenance folks did.

Because of things that happened over the course of my time at Baylor, I was not that impressed with Baylor's counseling services when I was in need of help. I had reasonable experiences with some admin folks; but it was not a 100% positive experience.

Regarding academic advisors, I do recall one time when an academic advisor came across to me as rather rude and refused to answer basic questions I had about a major I had just switched to. That was not helpful for me in planning out my academics. This was an exception, rather than the rule. Every other experience was quite positive. Most of the acacemic advisors I had were truly wonderful people. It is unfortunate that this one, isolated, negative experience was enough of a turn-off that I switched majors, even though I would have likely excelled at the major, had I received appropriate guidance, since it was my main area of strength.

I would say that my Baylor experience was mostly pleasant, but that it was unfortunately still probably not the best environment for me personally. I had grown up around the Washington, DC / Northern Virginia area and was a Christian, but the heavy emphases on Evangelicalism, sometimes shepherding / covering theology, complementarianism and charismata among the student body, were a bit of a theological and cultural adjustment for me personally, and a pressure to conform theologically did adversely affect my academics.

While at Baylor, I got involved in Antioch Community Church of Waco, TX. The church taught us that ladies were to submit to men. They also taught us that we could hear God's voice as a voice in our heads. As I sought to put into practice what the church taught me, it played an important role in me ending up sexually-assaulted by a guy on campus, who was claiming to be a Truett Seminary student and a prophet from God. I was not brought up to believe these things, so I was very confused by the whole thing.

This incident happened somewhere around the 2000-2001 school year. By Texas law, my understanding is that it would have been classified as assualt, since it was not rape. I was from out of state. To my knowledge, no one educated us freshmen girls about Texas law regarding these things.

I reported this incident to Baylor Police in late 2014, in light of the Rolling Stone UVA rape allegation. At that time, a Baylor Police officer -- presumably male, since it was over the phone -- took down what details I could recall. He was kind and respectful in his approach, and helped me at that point understand that Texas law likely would have classified my case as assault, so that the confusion was understandable.

The young man later learned that it had NOT been consensual; but the confusion is understandable, in light of how I was taught to respond as Christian gal.

As a Baylor student, my involvement with Antioch contributed to my hospitalization for a nervous breakdown and my placement on academic probation one time. Some Baylor students have had similar problems. Others have been involved with Antioch and done well.

In light of ESPN's coverage on Baylor's handling of sexual assaults post-Title IX, and in light of my mixed experience, I'd say that Baylor's a decent school, but I'd rather send my...

Two years ago, when I was a freshman, I applied to live in the Honors Residential College at Baylor University. When I walked in those front doors freshman year, I was greeted by name from my community leader at the time, Ruddy Tchao. The first thing he said to me was “how did you get here?” I didn’t know how to answer the question, but I told him my parents drove me. He laughed and took me to some friends of his. The first thing we talked about was the difference between the movies of Marvel and DC. It was at that moment I knew that I was right at home. At the HRC, there are three things that makes this place exciting, enjoyable, and enriching.

1. Helping hand(s)

The HRC is full of energetic, intelligent, and aspiring young men and women who can see the potential in their fellow students and push them to the best of their ability. Residents provide spiritual, emotional, and social guidance to establish friendships between each other. Community leaders facilitate the halls and act as a resource for your needs. Faculty and staff see that their residents are safe and satisfied. In other words, the HRC is connected and all-inclusive. 2) Having fun From “Humans vs. Zombies” and “Assassins” to “Toasties” and “Speaking Life”, the HRC provides a wide variety of games and fun that allow for you to establish new friendships and relationships between people that students may not have met otherwise. At the same time, these activities are also just fun. Whenever you’re bored or stressed, these fun and games help to take the edge off from school.

3. Hearts of faith

Faith is a major part of the HRC routine. The HRC holds morning and evening prayer times and has its own chapel to sit in and worship. The residents also take part in outreach programs like “Stepping Out” to ensure that they walk out their faith. God is a major part of the HRC and it shows in the interactions between the residents. Whenever you need spiritual renewal, you can always find an HRC resident to help.

If you want an environment that will change you, mold you, and shape you into the best person you can be by the best people you will meet, then the HRC is all for you. As anyone will tell you, living here will be the best four years of your life. So when I walked in to my room in freshman year, I knew that I had made the right choice in living here. So how did I get here? I walked in the door. And I’ve enjoyed every...

Baylor University is an impressive institution with a rich history and strong academic reputation, and overall I’d give it four stars. The campus itself is beautiful—well-maintained grounds, stunning architecture, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes it a great place to study and live. The facilities are top-notch, with modern classrooms, well-equipped labs, and an impressive library that provides plenty of resources for students.

Academically, Baylor offers a wide range of programs and is particularly well-known for its business, pre-med, and law tracks. Professors are knowledgeable and generally invested in their students’ success, and the smaller class sizes in many programs help foster a more personal learning environment. The university also places a strong emphasis on leadership, service, and faith, which sets it apart from many other schools.

Student life is vibrant, with plenty of organizations, events, and traditions that create a strong sense of community. The athletics program is another highlight, with Baylor’s teams bringing a lot of energy and school pride.

The reason I’m giving four stars instead of five comes down to cost—tuition and fees are on the higher side, and financial aid doesn’t always cover enough to make it affordable for everyone.

Overall, Baylor University is an excellent choice that balances academics, community,...