What is Baylor University like?

<p>So, at the moment, Baylor is one of my top choices. I’m visiting the campus in about a month, but I have some questions that I want to be answered honestly and not by someone who is just going to give me cookie-cutter answers on my tour. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>How welcoming is Baylor to out of state students? Note: all of my family lives outside of Dallas, but I grew up in Massachusetts. I know some southern states have a hatred for people on the east coast. Would you consider Baylor students those kinds of people?</p></li>
<li><p>How hard is it to get in? What kind of things do they look at? How easy was it for you to get in? Note: I attend a catholic private highschool. I would call myself an average student, but I do a lot outside of school. I’m interested in either fashion/interior design, and I have an internship at the moment with an interior designer. </p></li>
<li><p>Is there anything I should do while I’m still in highschool that would help my chances of being accepted? </p></li>
<li><p>How is Waco? Note: I grew up in a small town that has NOTHING ( literally nothing ) in it. I’m not expecting anything extravagant.</p></li>
<li><p>Are there any fun traditions/events that people look forward to?</p></li>
<li><p>I hear that travelling is something Baylor considers important. Is that true? How are the study abroad programs? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Extra things to consider: I love being out of my comfort zone, so going out of state isn’t a problem for me. The only thing I’m nervous about is throwing myself in a place where I know absolutely nobody. </p>

<p>I would love to get some more insight too. In reference to question number 2, I think that if you tell people your stats, they can tell you where you stand in terms of acceptances.</p>

<p>Well, I can’t speak to all of that, but I was just accepted to Baylor and I have lived in Texas most of my life.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>It is a common misconception that southern people hate everyone else. It really isn’t true. The whole southern hospitality thing is real and you’ll be accepted with no problem. That being said, we Texans are EXTREMELY proud of our state and any slander against it will get you in trouble</p></li>
<li><p>It isn’t super selective, but you should have at the very least a 3.0 and a 25-30 ACT. If you don’t, you need to have A LOT of ECs (Which you should really have anyway).</p></li>
<li><p>ECs are always important. Leadership roles in your school/community/church would definitely help.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve only been there once, but from what my friends who go there tell me, it is a growing, beautiful town with lots to do.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>5&6: Can’t really say.</p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

<p>Have you visited Baylor yet? My daughter is an OOS sophomore and she has found the Baylor students to be very, very friendly. For example, she can’t come home at Thanksgiving because the trip is so long, but both years friends from Texas have invited her to their homes. She has many friends from Texas and has never felt she was “hated” for not being from Texas, I think that that is a bad generalisation! If anything, people are curious to get to know more about her!</p>

<p>Baylor is getting more and more selective, I think I heard that the average ACT this year is 28. Apply as soon as possible. They want OOS students so if you really want to go write a great essay and personalize it regarding Baylor and why you want to go.</p>

<p>Waco is a small town but there is plenty to do both on and off campus. It isn’t super cute or exciting but you won’t be bored.</p>

<p>Baylor is an old University and it has many meaningful traditions, more so than most of the schools we visited. If you decide to go try and attend a Line camp. You will make friends and learn about some traditions. If you can’t afford to travel to Texas multiple times, we found it better to attend Line camp and not Orientation (you can register and work things out with your advisor over email). As an OOS student, it was helpful to meet people in the summer, and have some ready made friends at the beginning of school. You might also arrange to meet up with your roommate at the same Line camp. Even though my D didn’t remain close friends with all of her Line camp buddies it was very helpful to her comfort level and some of them still are her friends.</p>

<p>My D hasn’t done any travel abroad (semester) programs but some of her friends have and they have loved it. She did a 2.5 week medical mission trip and it was well run and a great learning experience. Baylor doesn’t require any sort of travel experience but there are many available and I think that they know that traveling to a different part of the world is very educational in many ways.</p>

<p>Many people go to college not knowing anyone. I know my daughter has made life long friends at Baylor and considers Baylor her new home!</p>