Brigham Young University-Provo Top Questions

General Ed classes have way too many students. However, the level and quality of education are outstanding.

The general classes everyone is required to take are usually the least favorite course. Even then, they aren't too bad! Everyone participates and students are competitive yet willing to help each other. Professors are easy to reach outside of class.

Classes can be pretty tough depending on the professor. I definitely recommend using sites that review the different professors because that can make an absolutely huge difference.

They're great; it's very competitive and serious.

I decided not to do a review.

I decided not to write anything.

The academics are great. stating this though I have not been able to go through much of them since this is only my first semester; but it has a well structured program of keeping the student well and ready to be able to face the challenges of school, by helping them carry through with it. All at the same time putting good emphasis on making them responsible to take n the challenge them selves.

The academics are challenging. They challenge body, mind, and spirit but provide an opportunity for growth. After taking classes at BYU, the student leaves with a solid foundation of knowledge as well as a thirst for more knowledge.

The academics at BYU are hard, but not impossible. They stretch me to learn and become a smarter and better person. And that's how education should be. I feel like the professors really do want us to do well and they are so kind to share their incredibly vast knowledge with us as students. It's a stretch, but it's definitely a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow.

School is hard. Bottom line. Even the "easy" classes take work. There are not too many that you can simply breeze through, although the teachers - I believe - try to make class as interesting as possible.

I really got a lot out of my classes here. I found it most effective to take a wide variety of classes in different fields until I discovered what I really wanted to get a degree in. I changed my major at least five times. Many classes are smaller and in those classes I feel more comfortable sharing my opinion or guessing and answer to a question. I took American Heritage with over 700 students and I must say that the class size was WAY too big. The teacher was not respectful of answers from us "common folk" and I think that was unfortunate. My favorite classes, besides those in my major, were definately the RMYL (Recreation Management and Youth Leadership). The Camping class and the Outdoor Recreation classes were so much fun. They really let me have fun for a few hours and forget about the piles of homework I had back at my apartment to do. I was able to try some new things and get to some a group of students in a different way than by taking a regular class.

At BYU some of the classes are big, and I mean really BIG but there are still opportunities to be mentored by a professor or TA. Once you get into your major and out of the GEs your teachers will get to know you. Overall I think that classes are pretty rigerous and teachers expect a lot out of the students. Many teachers also incooperate and LDS perspective when applicable. Well... my major is communications which is generally stereotyped as a journalist--but that isn't me. I was in advertising and actually changed because all of the professors were very arrogant but I am still doing comms and hope to go to grad school.

I love the education I am receiving at BYU...for not being a liberal arts college we really do over so many different majors that are competing with programs that are the best in the nation. Anything BYU does we do well and efficiently. The professors are incredible and I appreciate that event thought the professors could teach what ever they want and not get in trouble by the state they don't abuse that privilege and aren't pushing their own opinions on us.

BYU is a difficult school. The general courses require a lot because they really do want you to be rounded in all areas. Work ethic is usually pretty good, everyone studies quite a bit. We are highly involved politically, the recent debates, knowledge of the world. My favorite classes have been in my major, religion classes, and American Heritage. Least favorite was Geology, but I'm just not into that stuff. I'm in Nursing and I love to be with the same 64 girls and guys each semester because we get so close. Most of our professors care so much about us and our future patients that they are wonderful intellectually and communication wise which is so important in nursing. There have been a couple professors that do not care of the students or at least don't show it, but are very intelligent and therefore at least contribute intellectually when learning nursing skills.

I enjoyed my graduate experience at BYU much more than my undergraduate experience because I felt like I had a class. My undergrad was so huge (humanities) that it was hard to know all the faculty and students that were studying similar things. But my grad experience was phenomenal. I wouldn't trade it for any other two-year period of my life. Including my mission.

Teachers have a great sense of humor and teach with the gospel. Most classes are curved, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. Very few research opportunities compared to other universities. Great diversity in classes offered. VERY experienced professors and great career preparation.

My own experience with BYU's academics has been primarily with the Fine Arts Department and not any of the more general classes that BYU offers since I was a transfer student after getting my associates degree. Probably one of my favorite people that work for the Fine Arts Department are the advisers. They were essential in making all of my desires for academic excellence come true here at BYU. Not only were they helpful in knowing what was required for me to get my degree, but they also knew how to work around those requirements so that I could still take the classes that would make my experience here so much richer. I also was surprised to see the desire for the faculty to help you out in whatever way they could. If they couldn't have one on one time with you, they provided a very knowledgeable TA with lots of time to provide study sessions for tests, personal help with research, or just questions about grades and details like that. Usually the classes that I did the best in were the classes where I knew most of the people in the class and we got in contact with each other on a regular basis. Having at least one study buddy in the class has saved my life in countless situations. The students here are also usually very friendly so if you don't know anybody in your classes, it is usually very easy to meet them.

Hahah, study? While as most of my classes form around art and the HFAC, I know people that live at the library! One time I even stayed there til 1am because of a test that week. Yes, there is a lot of studying at BYU. College might be kicks and giggles for some people, but the rest of us have to study hard to get through to life. There will always be that one professor that you totally loathe, and you think they do too, but the simple fact is that sometimes you will have a conflict of interest, but you can usually tell yourself that "this too will pass" because you won't have that teacher again if you can help it. Just think of the brighter side of your class and get through it will all gusto! I'm a visual arts major (non-specific at this point), so it is very competitive, in my opinion. Especially the animation majors, that are my friends. That is one of the hardest majors to accomplish, because you must have drive, endurance, and patience. lol

Many of the schools here at BYU are competitive. 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. Class participation is very common. Professors are always willing to help students. Many professors even give our their home phone number or their cell phone number so that you may recieve help whenever needed.

Professors know who you are if you make yourself known. In my opinion, tests are the best way to determine grades - I hate papers and always do them last minute, so they don't exactly reflect my utmost intelligence. That's not just me, everyone else I knew (barring maybe one person) did that too). Students are....intelligent. In an academic way, at least. Deep conversations don't always abound, but I think that's healthy sometimes. Too much thinking can do you more harm than good.

The G.E. classes are enormous. There is no way that the professors will know your name unless you pester them. Other classes tend to be smaller, ranging from 26 to 13 people. BYU offers very good languages courses, as well as home and family living courses. The most unique class I have taken is a clothing construction class. The education at BYU is geared more torwards learning for its own sake.

Study groups are common. Really, all of the professors and TA's are eager to help! The classes are interesting, and you learn a lot. It is rigorous, but doable. It will give you good standing for a job later.

Its all good. This school is competitive and therefore lends itself perfectly to lots of smart people working hard to get a good education. So far I have loved all my professors. Some of my favorite classes have been Anthropology and Humanities but BYU has the best Business College in the nation. Its the best. BYU is a great school to get a good education.

Do professors know my name? Ha! good joke, count yourself lucky if they ever say hello in person. They are very smart yet not very personal. I've become accustomed to the fact yet it would be nice to have someone other than the religion professors be friendly. Yes there are intellectual conversations outside classes and people are intelligent overall. The classes and students are super competitive. It's very sink or swim here. I work on campus so that is where I spend most of my time. The professors are very willing to meet with you during office ours. That is a very nice part about it.

Double edged sword.....crazy good teachers most of the time, but classes are usually huge until upper level classes. My favorite classes have been the religion classes that are discussion based, and my major classes that provide hands on experience - feels less like school. Students at BYU are super competitive.....too competitive in my opinion. By the same token, BYU is home to a lot of intelligent kids that do amazing things. The communications department is great, especially in the advertising emphasis.....opportunites galore. I've worked on projects for real clients, the coolest being Nike iD.

Most professors do not know your name because of the vast number of students that they teach, however there are the exceptions to the rule. I have never spent time with a professor outside of class. I feel that my education was not geared toward getting a job, but rather at learning for the sake of learning. My least favorite classes were the GE's that were required. The classes were really large and it was hard to get to know other students in the class. If you did get to know them, you didn't see them in any other of your classes.

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. Astronomy in the planetarium rocks.

Students are very competitive. I have noticed this mostly in the business school, however. When I took my GE's I didn't think many of the students were competititve.

The classes are really hard and lots of studying is required to get a good grade. My favorite class so far was my world religion class. Students are very competitive. Professors are very friendly and willing to help students get good grades.

the most unique class i've taken is wilderness writing. it's 2 classes together, one english class and one from the rec department. there were like 15 people in class, and for the english class everybody just wrote personal essays and then we spent a day workshopping everyone's essay at some point during the semester. for the rec class, we went hiking, backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, and had dutch oven cookoffs. it was a really amazing class because you got to know everyone really well through the activities, but also on a different level through reading their essays. most of us found ourselves writing things we wouldn't tell our families, friends or roommates. it was also just a good excuse to do fun things outside, like sleep under the stars.

Some can be challenging. It really depends on how much work you put in it. But I'm sure its just like any other school. One thing I do hate are the generals. Those have the worst tests, I'm pretty sure their designed to make you fail. But, be sure to read questions carefully and you'll do fine.

BYU has several top ranked programs, such as the business school or the accounting program. 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.

My favorite class right now is Human Physiology. I love learning about the human body. It's very interesting to me and very helpful in my everday life. My least favorite is Organic and Biological Chemistry. I just don't understand Chemistry very well.

they are very hard, but well worth it. the teachers push you and are amazing at what they do.

I am not going to lie. BYU is a hard school. The majors are competitive, the pre-requisite classes are hard and are usually very large. Two of the hardest classes I have taken was first: Math 113 which is second semester calculus. One take that class if you have a really good foundation of calculus. I credit my passing grade to the intense curve at the end of the semester. Out of the 45 or so students in my class about 20 or so were retaking it, that will give you and idea of how hard it is. The second class that I swear about killed me was Accounting 100. This class is all CD lectures with a few required classes throughout the semester. It takes a lot of self discipline to focus during the long CD lectures given by the Oh so famous NORM. The required lectures were long and the class size was around 700 people. The majors at BYU are extremely competitive. Professors are almost always willing to meet with you outside class and help you but they expect you to do your part.

One of the unique things that drew me to BYU was the matchless spiritual atmosphere. Not all teachers do this, but most mention some aspect in their faith in God within the subject, or just in general. It is difficult to explain without experiencing it, but most professors don't consider this just a job--they know the influence they can have over students and they share the things that they think will help us not only in the subject, but also in life and about things of eternal importance. Something else, something that I think few students take advantage of is that every professor has office hours where any student can come in and get help on anything, or just talk to the professor. Every time I have gone in, I came out MUCH more enlightened as to a recently-discussed concept, what to expect on a test or essay, or where to go for more information about something that interested me that was mentioned in class. A most invaluable resource.