<p>I am fairly confident that Baylor is where I want to be next year. I like that it is strong in the health sciences (planning on going on into pharmacy), that one of my best friends is going there and rooming with me, that I got into the honors program, and that I got a good amount of financial aid and can stay pretty close to home. However, I am passing up on schools such as Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Tulane (Honors), Texas A&M, and Purdue. All my friends are telling me that I shouldn’t pass up acceptances from these other schools to go to Baylor because they think so little of it, while I think that it is a pretty good school, where I can get a good education. Also I know a couple of National Merit finalists, super smart, that are going here as well and are passing up on some very good Universities, much better than the ones I listed. So how much does prestige really matter for undergrads? And am I making the right decision, or at least not the wrong decision, by choosing to go to Baylor?
Also… I know that BU and BCOM are different, but what is going on with BCOM’s large drop in the medical school rankings this year? just curious</p>
<p>I was also given opportunities to choose where I wished to attend for college this year—namely Baylor vs. other more highly ranked universities (Honors Programs in… UIUC, Wisconsin, UW-Seattle, and other University of California programs). To me, I hold a high respect toward Baylor’s honors programs—namely the BIC, Honors, Great Texts, and University Scholars programs. I was offered admission to the BIC & Honors Program at Baylor for fall 2010, and honestly, I find it to be such a fantastic opportunity to have a focused, rigorous, and rewarding education. [The average test scores of students within the Baylor Honors programs (i.e. University Scholars) mirror that of students in universities like UCLA and UC Berkeley.] I consider the honors college opportunities at Baylor to be worth more than any honors program at Wisconsin/Madison or Washington/Seattle. Individualization (in education) is too powerful of a path to pass up in my mind.</p>
<p>Examples of personable education in Baylor’s Honors college:
Intimate, community interaction within Honors Residential College communities (Alexander & Memorial Halls): [Baylor</a> University || Honors Residential College || Members’ Insights](<a href=“Honors Residential College | Baylor University”>Honors Residential College | Baylor University)</p>
<p>Honors College graduates & future paths they have taken (note the graduate schools that certain students have moved on to.):
[Baylor</a> University || Honors College || Honors College Graduates](<a href=“Honors College | Baylor University”>Honors College | Baylor University)</p>
<p>The Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC)—examined (note the personable, intellectual community that this program provides):
[Baylor</a> University || Baylor Interdisciplinary Core || More about the BIC](<a href=“Baylor Interdisciplinary Core | Baylor University”>Baylor Interdisciplinary Core | Baylor University)</p>
<p>The University Scholars Program (Individualized study):
[Baylor</a> University || University Scholars](<a href=“University Scholars | Baylor University”>University Scholars | Baylor University)</p>
<p>It’s like we, as high school seniors, are pocketed into this ebb and flow of “apply to this top university—it’s well known.” In my opinion, this pressure compromises the value of a personalized education, and namely, the education that I believe honors at Baylor can provide. I did not turn down top 5 programs lightly when I signed my intent to enroll at Baylor. I enrolled because I truly, truly believe that the honors programs at Baylor will prepare me for graduate school and beyond. I couldn’t stand the idea of being “just a number” at a more recognized public school elsewhere. </p>
<p>Questions to ask yourself: What kind of education appeals to you most? What kind of experience do you wish to have? Do you want to associate with faculty on a more personal level, or are you all right with being “just a number?” </p>
<p>I won’t directly tell you whether you should go to Baylor or not, but I will say that the college process is very subjective to where YOU feel you should go—that’s why it’s so important to continually ask questions of yourself through it all.</p>
<p>I turned down Carnegie Mellon, Rice and a full ride at the University of Denver to go to Baylor. I have yet to regret it (I’m a Junior, studying abroad in Istanbul next year). Baylor profs spend a lot of concentrated time with their undergrads and truly value them. Its honors programs offers a great deal of personalization and helpful advisers. There aren’t just liberal arts honors programs but also programs like Business Fellows that offer even more flexibility, but within the business school. Baylor bends over backwards for its students, and (from everything I’ve heard from my friends at “better” schools) that is very very difficult to find. </p>
<p>You are not making the wrong decision.</p>
<p>As much as I’d hate to repeat what others have said, STV, I think you have made a sound decision.</p>
<p>I just completed my freshman year at Baylor. I am in the Honors, Great Texts, and Baylor Interdisciplinary Core programs and I am studying economics, and I do not regret my decision to come here. Although my situation wasn’t like yours when I applied to schools last year (Baylor was offered admission - rejected from both Stanford and Duke), you’ll find that the Honors College at Baylor are very much competitive with other schools that are seen as more prestigious.</p>
<p>As far as prestige, my opinion is that it’s more notable what you did while you are an undergrad, and not where you attended.</p>
<p>And since anything else I say at this point will hearken back to points made by Thisisnow and frogster, I will back them up by saying that you’ll be fine going to Baylor.</p>
<p>Sic’ em!</p>
<p>I just graduated from Baylor and believe me, you will be in good hands there. Baylor, when you rake through all the negative misperceptions about the university, is actually an excellent school. There are very few things you can major in at Baylor that won’t be, at the very least, good. And again, it’s all about what you make of your time, no matter where you choose to go to school. Go for it! It’s well worth it - I wouldn’t trade my four years there for anything.</p>