One of BYU's most notable characteristics is its honor code, which extends to aspects of students’ lives that
colleges usually leave to the students themselves. For example, one sophomore explains that “
[m]en are supposed to be clean-shaven, and [have] short hair.” Undergrads tend to take the honor code in stride, and some say they appreciate
that BYU stands for values that one would be hard-pressed to find en masse
at most other colleges in the United States: “
I love this University so much,”
writes one sophomore. "
It is nice being on a campus where the ‘aims’ of the school aren’t just about getting an education. Students [who] graduate from BYU are well-prepared for anything, anywhere—they are people of integrity and of high moral character."
While there are a few non-LDS
students who attend the school—notably some
student athletes—the percentage of non-Mormons remains in the single digits. There is, however, ideological diversity within the LDS population. As one BYU alum
notes, “
There are plenty of non-committed LDS students around campus and around Provo [who] do not adhere to the standards of the LDS Church.” Students who are Mormon but not 100% adherent to Mormon doctrine shouldn’t worry that they’ll be
reviled by the BYU community. A
sophomore notes that “
the students are generally friendly and will give anyone a chance, as long as they are also friendly, even if they're outside the norm.” Still, one senior cautions, “
the administration is conservative, but that should be expected, since the majority of the board of directors are also leaders in the LDS Church."
In terms of academics, undergrads generally have very positive things to say. “
BYU has several top-ranked programs, such as the business school or the accounting program,” writes one sophomore. “
Though many of the general education classes are large and impersonal, classes specific to majors tend to be much smaller and more tailored to the students' needs.”
Another student writes, “
I transferred from another university in Utah where I got A’s doing nothing really outside of class. BYU is very demanding. Lots of reading and writing assignments.” Undergrads also comment on the competitiveness of the campus and how driven students tend to be. “
Many of the schools here at BYU are competitive,” writes a sophomore in the social sciences. “
BYU students are known to be intelligent and hard workers. They know what it takes to get the job done, and therefore there will always be friendly competition.”
Students
also remain active outside the classroom. One student writes, “
The football games are always packed (every game this year was a sellout and our stadium seats almost 65,000 people). BYU basketball, volleyball, baseball and other sports are way exciting.” A sophomore studying business notes, “
Most of the 30,000+ students are involved in something or other. We have BYUSA, which is our student government, which puts on events all the time—from dances and BYU Idol to concerts and service projects.” Furthermore, most students lead religious lives and participate in a variety of church activities. “
The basic unit of BYU social life for most people is definitely centered around the church,” writes one junior. “
There are local congregations called wards that are organized by locality and by one's marital status (if you are single, you go to a ward with all singles—to help facilitate meeting people).” He goes on to say, “
My ward has an activity almost every night.”
Social life is robust at BYU,
though far more sober that at some schools, since alcohol and drugs are
prohibited. “
We have a strong faith that means a lot to us, but we still are normal kids who do intramural sports, watch TV, and like to have a lot of fun,” writes one junior. “
I love that at BYU having fun doesn’t mean getting drunk and high, it means going out and doing cool things such as skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, dancing, going to concerts, dressing up and going out to dinner with friends, going to movies, etc.” Another student majoring in engineering writes, “
I met my closest friends in the dorms.” She continues on to note that “
[a] small group of people go out and party regularly but most students study or go on dates on the weekends.”
Dating, by the way, is a very serious sport at BYU. According to one junior majoring in communications, “
dating at BYU is pretty much spouse hunting. It's funny to watch and scoff at...until it happens to you.” Oftentimes students go out in the town of Provo, a picturesque community that gets a lot of snow in the winter. A recent alumnus writes, “
One great thing about BYU is that there are so many great and cheap or free things to do in Provo or close by. It makes dating more fun and less expensive.”
In many ways, BYU’s strengths mirror those of any other college: demanding
academics, good sports teams, a beautiful area surrounding the campus, and lots of camaraderie. Its religious mission sets it apart, but for students who are looking to participate in that type of community, BYU can be a very rewarding place. And it's hard to argue with the price tag: a mere $2,040 for annual tuition. “
I love it here,” writes a junior majoring in statistics. “
It's just fun, good, wholesome times.”
