FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
When I decided to go to BYU-I it was a very exciting time because I would be leaving my home (parents) in Atlanta, GA. But I was a bit bummed knowing that I was headed to a small town atmosphere where it was predominantly Mormon. This would be very different from the public school I attended in Atlanta.
My father dropped me off on campus for the fall semester of 2004 and despite my effort to hate BYU-I the first thing I noticed was all of the females and decided that this would not be too bad. I went to my assigned dorm room where I would live with someone I never met before, but luckily the guy didn’t seem any stranger than I am. The guys in our hall were very diverse (socially not culturally), some were kinda freaky and some were pretty cool. the first night I showed up BYU-I threw a big party to begin the semester with moon-jumps, games, a mechanical bull, and a DJ/Dancefloor… it was a blast even without the booze. I met lots of girls, got phone numbers, and got dates for every day of the week after that party.
Getting in the Groove:
After the first week of enjoying my freedom it was time to get down to business. After printing off my list of classes on the BYU-I website it was time to go to the bookstore and buy my required textbooks and supplies. The printed sheet was easy to understand, and there were helpful store clerks for any questions that I had. The cost of books was very expensive, but that’s what I was expecting since I had sibblings that told me what to expect. I carried all of my books home and immediately started working on assignments… If you choose BYU-I make sure you create and check your student email address before going to class because some teachers will email an assignment that is due on your first day of class.
As I met my professors and fellow students, I discovered that this school is an excellent place for me to get an education. The classes were large, but still small enough to ask the professor questions during a lecture. This was great for me because I enjoy a social scene with many people, but when it comes to learning I need a class where there is time to ask questions.
During the first month I found a job with a Market Research Company answering phones. This job search helped me realize that there are no high paying jobs in this area because I made almost double at my part time job when I was in highschool. The cost of living is much more in Atlanta than in Rexburg to this was not a surprise. The job was very boring, but the scheduling was very flexible and i could work nights which was great since I had class during the day.
So everything was great, but as time went by I decided I found that it was hard for me to follow the honor code. The curfew was definately the worst part about this place: “All BYU-Idaho students are to be in their own apartments by midnight every night of the week except Friday, when curfew is 1:00 a.m.”BYU-Idaho Honor Code. It was hard to understand as a young adult why such a rule would hold back my social time and even the night shift hours that I needed to for my tuition and rent money. And this honor code also has a ridiculous dress code that specifies no shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, capris, etc. The staff would always explain that the modest atmosphere for Mormon students would help them follow church guidelines, but these rules are not set by the church. In fact these rules help the students who are not affiliated with this church reach the conclusion that Mormons have unusual guidelines.
Conclusion of my Semester:
In conclusion, BYU-I is a great University with great Professors, fun activities, and large yet exclusive classes. But the honor code is definately a bit too strict. Personally, I would not go back again but I would definately recommend this school for a freshman year of college for any student.
