Birmingham-Southern College

Statistics

Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
Birmingham-Southern college is the best school in Alabama students at this small, academically intense college in the state's largest city insist. Undergrads praise how the school achieves a "happy medium between well-rounded education and focused concentration on one's major," reporting that "BSC does a great job of preparing students for graduate, law, and medical school." It also has "a good education program...and an excellent dance department that offers a top-notch dance faculty with a focus on ballet." Students tell us that "the overall academic experience is challenging, yet very rewarding," and that "classroom discussion is not only encouraged, but is a necessity, since many of the grades are derived from participation." Experiential learning is paramount; one student reports, "I have not had a class yet that didn't provide some sort of hands-on experience. I have participated in everything from labs at the Cahaba River in my population ecosystem course to observations at a local Montessori school in my human growth and development class." The small classes mean "Teachers get to know you by name, and many are willing to spend countless hours working with you individually on school matters and helping you plan [your] future. They take an interest in you as a person, not just as a student." Some here point out that "while being small is a benefit, it is also sometimes a downfall. Most classes are available every year, but you must be careful to schedule courses that only occur every other year or once a year carefully in order to graduate on time."

Students Say - Campus Life
Most people live on campus because BSC is a smaller college, students here tell us, and "This allows for an attractive community-like atmosphere." Campus life includes "many student organizations, a very strong Greek system, [and] many different shows throughout the year, from dance to theater to music to art, all produced by the performing arts departments." Youth groups and religious organizations "are also big at the school. Many people attend chapel services." There's fun to be had off campus as well, as "Birmingham is a rockin' city. There is always a concert or something off campus." Exploring Birmingham "is very easy [because] the school is located downtown, although it doesn't feel that way. You can go out to the middle of the academic quad at 11:00 P.M. and feel safe." There's "plenty to do off campus, including shopping visiting the zoo, or going to see a show at one of the many theaters in town." One student sums up, "Fun is either a night out in Birmingham-that's what you do if you have money: You go out to eat, then to the bars, a movie, or a small off-campus party at someone's apartment-or, if you're broke and you want to have fun, you usually end up on fraternity row. At least one of the fraternities is usually having a party, and there are always people down there."

Students Say - Student Body
BSC undergrads "typically come from the Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia areas," although "there are some students here from elsewhere." Many "are involved in Greek life, probably about 50 percent. Many more girls go Greek than guys, and the independents are still like their own Greek group," as they "find their own groups in which to socialize, such as the ultimate Frisbee team or service clubs such as Students Offering Support." Most here agree that "the school could do better at attracting minorities and people of color" but point out that "with the size of our school you can only expect so much."

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