Academics
Tiny and intimate Baker University is a Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college in eastern Kansas with a broad and fairly flexible set of general education requirements. Business, education, and nursing are reportedly among the best academic programs here, and the excellent student-to-teach ratio and small classrooms "allow you to ask questions and get a better understanding of the topic" at hand. Another highlight is Baker's January term, which allows students to focus on one course, complete an internship, or study abroad. Also, 98 percent of all graduates end up with a real job or in graduate school within six months of receiving their diplomas. "I have been able to also make numerous business contacts through my professors that have and will continue to help me with job searching," says a junior. "Baker's best attribute is the faculty," as "the professors are here to teach, not to conduct research." The school "does everything possible to make approaching professors an unintimidating process." Faculty often "provide home/cell phone numbers so that you can contact them whenever you need help," and they are "committed to helping their students engage in critical thinking." You will, however, get some professors you love and some you don't, such as the ones that "read straight from a PowerPoint presentation in a dull voice." The administration is "hit-or-miss." Many staff members are "highly accessible and personable." Others "get attitudes with the students."
Student Body
The student population at Baker is reportedly very generic." There's a smattering of minority students and international students but, on the whole, Baker is "homogenous." While the diversity may be "disappointing" to some, it "has improved considerably" in recent years, and Baker students are "extremely open to new types of people and personalities." Students here describe themselves as "Midwestern," "conservative," and "friendly," and many were raised in a "Christian" house. They are also "very down to earth" and help contribute to the "home-like environment." In addition to the sizeable population of student athletes and Greeks (about 50 percent for each) you'll find many students who are "working while going through college." "The student body at Baker is very clique-oriented," but exclusivity isn't much of a problem, and everyone "gets along well."
Campus Life
Baker's compact campus is about a two-by-three block radius," and "everything is just a couple minutes walk away." The school has a policy that everyone must live on campus, which is deemed "unfair" by some students, but at least the entire campus is wired and "the athletic facilities are top-notch for select sports," even if several campus buildings and resources are "showing their age." Baker offers several ministry programs, and it's reportedly very easy to get involved in extracurricular activities such as the student newspaper. "Campus activities…are constantly being held," though some are "very poorly attended." "Intramurals are popular," notes a sophomore. A few intercollegiate sports have a following as well, and "choir members, band members, and theater participants spend a large portion of their time every week in these activities." "There isn't much to do" in "tiny" Baldwin City, and students frequently go to the KU home city of Lawrence, "an oasis of nightlife" some 20 miles away that provides "a great destination to get away on the weekends or for weeknight dinner." There are many different avenues for a student to pursue in order to fit in, and "many students are athletes, Greeks or both." Greek life is "an enormous part of campus," and most activities and social events take place between the fraternities and sororities. Studying may dominate the week, but "the drinking culture is as strong as it has ever been" and "Friday and Saturday are all about the parties." However, many students, especially freshmen, "tend to go home over the weekends if they are not involved in sports or some other activity."
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