Andrews University Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Thalia

Andrews is a very diverse school with many opportunities to get involved in your community. Many outreach opportunities. The school is a large yet small campus. People might be afraid to attend a private school, but once you start you feel like a family. You meet people with many different cultural differences and gain friends for life. Students may complain about being so diverse that no one interacts with each other, but it takes one person to branch out of their comfort zone and make the difference.

Kezia

Andrews University has an atmosphere of acceptance. Throughout this school the students are friendly and inviting. In addition, the teachers willingly help students whenever they can and are glad to do so. There are many students on campus but that means that you meet many and still have the opportunity to continue making friends. With those friends one can survey the many places to hang out on campus such as the student center or the new building Buller Hall. Students appreciate the beauty of the campus and on sunny days several people bring out blankets and lie on the campus grass; I have done this a few times myself. However, one thing that the students sometimes complain about it the cafeteria food. Since this is an Adventist school there is no meat served in the cafeteria and this can be the subject of complaint sometimes. Yet, there are many alternatives to meet such as a pizza bar, sandwich bar, salad bar and so on. This school has its faults, but I find that the good increasingly outweighs the bad.

Timothy

The best thing about Andrews University is the family community on campus. Even when you first arrive on campus, you're put into a "family group" to introduce you to other students on campus. The school tends to be large enough to always meet new people, and also small enough to avoid people you'd rather not see. Even though there's little to do "downtown", it makes Andrews a good place to get your work done instead of fooling around. One thing that I would change as an undergraduate would be the required worships you must attend. But overall, I find Andrews to be not only an enjoyable school, but an enjoyable experience.

Emily

Overall, Andrews University was an excellent choice for higher education. Although the lake effect snow drives students indoors in the winter, and I have caught myself wishing the school had chosen a different location, they make up for the weather with a warm, welcoming school environment. While Andrews itself is fairly large, class sizes, especially in any chosen field are small, and the professors know their students and strive for a relationship, which in turn fosters a close-knit learning environment. Each department has a lobby area that attracts students, and often the departments draw large crowds as students hold impromptu discussions between classes. Intramural sports are a big part of the Andrews lifestyle, and students congregate on the soccer or football field or in the gym to watch games and socialize. Andrews also boasts the 2011 USCAA national championship basketball team, and games are another great way students socialize. The campus is located approximately twenty minutes from Benton Harbor, Michigan, where students go to fulfill basic shopping needs or catch a movie. If students are looking for more shopping, and their choice of restaurants, South Bend, Indiana is forty minutes in the other direction. Because Andrews is a tightly knit community, there are several issues that have come up. As an Adventist university with a fairly conservative administration, students must be careful of their activities with clubs or associations that tie their name to Andrews. There have been several events led by students in Andrews' name that the administration did not endorse, and that has led to some controversy, but overall the faculty and students have a working relationship that is mutually beneficial and mutually agreeable. As in every school, students will find reasons to complain, and the overarching reason at Andrews is the cafeteria. Recently Andrews sold their cafeteria rights to Bon Apetit, an outside company that has made several changes that the students do not support or agree with. Bon Apetit established an "all you can eat" buffet plan, so students pay a flat rate and can have whatever they want. Many students find that they do not eat their money's worth, and others are dissatisfied with the various options available to them on the serving deck. Either way, students eat, and the cafeteria continues to make food. In conclusion, despite inherent issues that will be present at any university, the small class sizes, relationship with the faculty, excellent academics, and friendships that will inevitably be formed, Andrews is a great choice for higher learning.

ruth

Andrews University is not too large nor too small. it just the right size of the University that i wished I could attend when i was looking for a college. So I'm in the right place. i love the area where the school is located, in a quiet environment that is conducive for effective learning; no distractions. Andrews University is blessed with a friendly administration. we are surrounded by intellectuals,knowledgeable, loving, cooperative, ever smiling professors and workers who are interested in our success. when you come to Andrews University, you will not only benefit academically(intellectually), but also spiritually, physically and socially. My high expectations of Andrews University have not been brought low. I am on the right place.

Jacina

When I first came to Andrews University, I was not fond of the place: the people were different than what I was used to; it was located in a small town; and I didn't know anyone. But that all changed; now, I can't imagine being at any other school. Andrews University is filled with teachers who work with their students and genuinely care about them. While it isn't a large University (about 4,000 students), it is large enough that you are always meeting new people, but small enough where you still feel like you matter to the University and its teachers. The classes are kept to small numbers so you are never forgotten in a class of 500, or even 200 students. The teachers willingly work with students to ensure that they make the most of their time at the university. They are understanding, willing to listen, but also put forth their own advice and suggestions. It is a large enough university that there are plenty of opportunities to get involved: clubs in every area of study; an honors track for academic studies; various churches on campus and near the campus; athletics (basketball, soccer, gymnics, and so on); community service on the weekends; the school's newspaper, yearbook, and radio station; chances to study abroad; opportunities for internships in various areas of study; jobs in all of the departments; and summer tours to places such as Africa, Europe, and Australia from which you can get school credit. Andrews University, although small, is a diverse campus, giving every student a group they will fit into. A common complaint about AU is that it is located in the middle of nowhere. However, it is only 20 minutes to the nearest town where there are plenty of things to do from the Chocolate Cafe to a movie theater, Starbucks and a beach. It is only 30 minutes from the nearest mall, and 2 hours from Chicago. There are enough students on campus with a vehicle that chances are you'll meet someone who can drive you places, but even if you don't, the school offers transportation from time to time to places like the mall. Also, if you don't feel like driving far, Baguette is an amazing sandwich place less than a mile away. AU gives students the opportunity to enjoy a more simple, small town life, while still being near enough to cities. While many complaints are often heard of various colleges' and universities' administration, Andrews University's Administration is actually pretty good. They don't lose your financial records; they have a friendly atmosphere; they work with you and try to help you; they are responsible, orderly, and on top of things; and there are few problems with registering for classes. Finally, if you aren't used to cold winters, just make sure you buy a nice, warm coat before you get here. You'll want it :)

Kezia

Andrews University has an atmosphere of acceptance. Throughout this school the students are friendly and inviting. In addition, the teachers willingly help students whenever they can and are glad to do so. There are many students on campus but that means that you meet many and still have the opportunity to continue making friends. With those friends one can survey the many places to hang out on campus such as the student center or the new building Buller Hall. Students appreciate the beauty of the campus and on sunny days several people bring out blankets and lie on the campus grass; I have done this a few times myself. However, one thing that the students sometimes complain about it the cafeteria food. Since this is an Adventist school there is no meat served in the cafeteria and this can be the subject of complaint sometimes. Yet, there are many alternatives to meet such as a pizza bar, sandwich bar, salad bar and so on. This school has its faults, but I find that the good increasingly outweighs the bad.

Isabelle

So... My school is one great school. It's definitely one of those schools you go to when you want to make friends with almost anybody. Coming from a public high school and directly into a private setting (Andrews University), I was positively shocked at how people on this campus don't fear to get in touch with you. Really. I made here my own little family when I was so far from my own. We all know that the people you hang out with is one of the biggest factors that makes your stay in college worth it or not. Well, Andrews is so diverse that I have no doubt you too will find your fit! Of course, we are not perfect. There's the drama once in a while, there are the teachers who give homework (yeah, they do!), there's the cafeteria food that you get tired of once in a while. But truly, you get over it. If you want one advice, I would say GO and you will be hooked up... for at least a good four years!

Season

I have loved this school from the very beginning. I think that it is very important to realize that this school is christian therefore much thought must be done when deciding to come here. They have excellent programs and most of the falculty I have interacted with here on campus truly care for there students.

Syddel

The best thing about this school is that kids genuinely get a Christian education, the administration really puts emphasis on living a Christian life, while yet placing a high standard on academic education. One thing I would change about the school or add to the school rather would be a career services department, they really need to bridge the gap between the school aspect and the real world but I think overall location really hinders this aspect of the school. The way people react when they have heard I've been to this school really depends on the individual, if it is someone from Adventist circles, you are looked on with high regard because the school is after all the flagship institution of Seventh-Day Adventist education, however people who are not from Adventist circles may not have heard of Andrews but this too can be due to location seeing that I've moved to another state. I spent most of my time on campus in the dormitory and yes for the most part Andrews is located in a college town. There is a lot of school pride; Andrews is the type of school that even after people have graduated they still find their way back at the school because regardless of what anyone says (mostly about the weather) it's definitely a place people want to be because of the diversity and the many people you meet from all over the world. One experience I'll always remember is graduating from Andrews and students mostly complain about the weather because it's cold but most people tend to get used to it.