Bob Jones University — Local services in Greenville

I went to Bob Jones University for the 2014-2015 school year as a pre-med major. The school and administration are very nice...but they require you to undergo 'biblical counseling' if you act in any way that they do not approve of. This is understandable, but the counseling sessions are hosted by Bible major grad students and these students are obligated to repeat anything you say that they think the higher-ups would want to know.

In addition, they value compliance to rules over understanding the rules or the reasons for them. When I asked about the purposes of various rules (respectfully), I was given no answers except a reprimand. I can respect rules, but I cannot respect an organization that keeps rules in place simply as an expression of enforcing discipline. Even the RAs and much of the mid-level administration care little for the rules, and typically let things slide, which creates an attitude of disrespect for the authority of the school.

The school is not regionally accredited. Note: This is the important accreditation, not the national one that they advertise. (EDIT: As of the 2019 school year, this is no longer the case and they are now regionally accredited.) Their med-school acceptance rate is inflated because they remove anyone from the major if the faculty deem them unlikely to make it into a med school. I eventually discovered a passion for biology..and realized that Bob Jones University could not help me get into a biology grad school, because they teach young-earth creationism. Any grad school for biology simply would not accept someone who had been trained in that tradition of belief, rather than from an evolution-based perspective. Regardless of the validity of the belief, there is no future in the life sciences for most people who attend this school.

Disregard any attempts by the admissions counselors to convince you that a science (or many other) degree from BJU can get you into grad school in a secular institution whose own subsequent degree could help you get a job outside of Christian circles. If you get a degree from BJU, make sure your plan is to continue working in the Christian community. Nothing wrong with that, but it's something young people are not aware of that can seriously hurt their future careers.

Finally, keep in mind that credits do not transfer from BJU to any school that isn't Christian. As anything but a religious/music/art major of some kind, your options for transfer are: PCC, Liberty University, and a couple other small colleges much like BJU (EDIT: Again, no longer the case due to accreditation, though many of their credits still might not transfer for other reasons). As a personal recommendation to other prospective students: If you don't think you can live comfortably under the rules, please don't go. You will be out several thousand dollars and a great deal of stress, not to mention a year of your life. Trust me, pick someplace else. I had to go against my parents' wishes to get out, and it was the best choice I have ever made. I escaped, and you can too.

UPDATE: I'm now a junior attending Appalachian State University, getting a B.S. in biology with a concentration in science. I plan to teach science to middle- and high-school students. Having some years of science training under my belt, I can say that Bob Jones University does not teach science to a standard which would prepare them for a future in any science. They teach it through memorization--science is a way of thinking about the world which can supplement both everyday life and a life of faith. Without that fundamental basis for their teaching, Bob Jones University is not an acceptable option for a science education, regardless of their faith base. There are better options that surpass Bob Jones in educational quality without compromising the beliefs of...

Let me just start with a plea to all who may be reading this: Don't go to this place! This "university" claims to be a place where Christians can go to get a godly, worthwhile education. But all that I got here during my short, one semester term was discouragement and a need for counseling. This university has an over fifty page long book full of rules that are supposedly biblically based and help to foster your education, at least that's what they tell you. In reality, many of the rules are simply in place because of the personal beliefs of people who runs the university. The rules have no true biblical basis, but only serve to stifle your life and conform you into their image. An image which isn't truly Christian, grounded in works and not faith based salvation. Many teachers and faculty display behavior that is in fact the complete opposite of Christ-likeness such as: slandering students based on skill level or intelligence. One of my professors told me that he "missed the old me". A version of me that he had only met once prior to coming to BJU and the new me being someone who was in a relationship and was upset with the rules. Speaking of relationships, if you go here, you might as well not even try to date. If one were to date someone as how they expect you to, the only things you'd be doing with your partner would be sitting across from each other in the dining common, walking to class without holding hands or any physical contact of that matter, and never going off campus to spend quality time with your partner without a third wheel. If you are caught doing anything different than this, you will be given demerits. Punishments outside demerits could range from having "brothers or sisters in Christ" speak to you about "abstaining from the appearance of evil" or being completely expelled from the University. The demerit system here is their way of enforcing their psychotic rules and punishing someone who questions anything outside their so called Biblical truths. If a student receives enough demerits, they have to pay an amount of money equivalent to the amount of demerits they've received. At the end of my semester, the leadership bragged from the chapel podium, about the $10,000 they had brought in by giving people demerits. You may think with such a steep price demerits must be for awful misconducts but in reality, demerits come at the free will of any supervisor. Even if its so much as looking at someone wrong, using the bathroom, wearing jeans on Sundays etc. etc. On another note, chapel is required three days a week at 11am. It is yet another place where they fill your head with their agenda. One chapel service in particular a board member, Bob Jones III, spoke and from the podium slandered political candidates, going on to preach about the Christ-likeness of the university. Other messages included things such as comparing dating to shopping for women, and calling all men who don't conform to their rules weak and feminine. I myself was actually called a weak man and a coward by the dean of men. During an affair in my personal life he, while uninvited, got involved to give me "Godly counsel." His "Godly counsel" was advising me to lie to my girlfriend. When I didn't follow his suggestion, he told me I would regret it for the rest of my life. I know this place may look great especially if you go on a tour or check out their social media where they put in the extra effort to show what good side they may have, but it is all fake. Once you get there and they have you trapped they let down their guard and show you who they really are. I saw this firsthand and left as soon as I could. Don't ever attend Bob...

I grew up in BJU and BJA circles, and yes I grew up in a conservative Christian home, but I wasn't "isolated" from the world...I spent a lot of time at the University, and enjoyed it greatly. Yes, much of it will be considered strict by most folks who didn't grow up in that type of environment...it's not all religious dogma, much of it, as stated in the student handbook, is to develop a sense of professionalism, some of it, in my opinion, is also just carrying over bits and pieces of culture from an era long ago, such as when the university was founded.

People also need to consider what they want from their college experience and education...if you're going into the ministry, this is most definitely a great school..even if you don't agree with all of the "rules", the knowledge and scriptural doctrine you learn will be thorough, and from a conservative, uncompromising viewpoint. If that's what you want, I think you should look into it, and see if the "rules" effect you, or if you're willing to "put up" with it until graduation, in order to receive that biblical background.

I can tell you that after spending so much time here, it is NOT as bad as some people say...but if you come from a non religious or religiously/socially liberal background, it's gonna be a culture shock to you....If you come from a strict fundamentalist background, it may even seem liberating to you. I'll be the first to admit, I don't agree with ALL of the rules, some of them I feel are just over the top...but it's really not that big of a deal...I enjoy SOME rock music and some secular movies..that's probably the only thing I really have to give up, as a student.

I'm not a graduate, but many of my friends are BJU graduates. Most are in the ministry, Some of them work in skilled trades, some are teachers, some in other professions, after obtaining liberal arts degrees. All are very effective, and they're all doing ok. Everyone I've ever met at BJU was very nice, very kind, for the most part, with rare exception. This is a university that puts Christ first, and that's something people must realize when choosing their college...I can tell you the high school and college academics I've taken from BJA and BJU were very rigorous, The high school courses were tougher than my first year courses at a secular college.

As far as accreditation, I know many BJU grads have gone on to earn their advanced degrees at many various private and public secular universities without too much of a hassle....many of those have graduated and have become very influential in their fields..I suppose it also depends upon what field you're going in to, and what college you attend for your advance degree. I certainly hope BJU gains regional accreditation soon, I think that would be greatly beneficial to the school and to it's graduates.

As for myself and most of my friends, we never sought to get into trouble, drink, party, or act wild and crazy, we had no issues at all with BJU, we enjoyed our time there, and most of us listened to secular music, AND Christian music, secular movies and TV, just lived normal lives as youngsters in the late 90's and early 2000's. We were all still serious about our faith and sound doctrine, we were all still committed to the cause of Christ, and we all considered BJU to be a major positive contributor...