Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Laie, HI, USA

Reviews

Brigham Young University-Hawaii

Cammie from Laie, HI

a current student here
12 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The classes are only the beginning; I am learning SO much from the diverse student and faculty body at this institution. There are students from over 70 countries represented here, and it leads to many wonderful intercultural learning opportunities.
Am enjoying being here
What a wonderful place to study! The location is beautiful and I am surrounded by men and women who uphold good morals and values. It is truly the ideal environment for students seeking for an uplifting educational experience.
Bang for the buck
The tuition is more affordable for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but (especially for a private college) it is still a very good deal.
Tips for prospective students
If you wish to attend Brigham Young University- Hawaii campus, you must be willing to uphold certain standards outlined in the University's Honor Code. Before applying, become familiar with the standards and decide whether or not you're willing to abide by these rules. (They are strict enforcers of the Honor Code).
Great for these types of students
Men and women who love exploring new cultures (especially cultures of the Pacific and Asian communities) will love coming here. Also, students who live like Latter-Day Saints will find they are more compatible with the students and curriculum.

Caitlin from Pittsburg, CA

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
It's a bit like high-school classes. Easy if you understand the subject, impossible if you don't. But the teachers are always willing to help and there are tutors for nearly every subject.
Am enjoying being here
Its in HAWAII!! Whats not to like about it? The school is a 5 min walk to the beach and a grocery store for all my college needs. However, I do miss being in a city with excitment and things to do. If you don't enjoy hiking, surfing, or lounging at the beach you could get a bit bored after about a mnoth or so.
Bang for the buck
Very cheap considering it's a private school. Great staff, good courses, amazing location! Air fare isn't all that cheap though..
Tips for prospective students
This is an LDS-run school (Mormon). Therefore, before every class we pray and every student is required to take religion courses. However, being that this is a church school, there is no theft, immodesty, or cheating so its a very good school if you have high morals. Make sure to have a lot of extracurricular activities and a great reccomendation.
Great for these types of students
Dedicated, beach-bums, hardworking, sun-bathers, and Mormon. Great if you're an international student because this school has one of the highest international student populations, with students from over 70 different countries!

Beth from Redlands, CA

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors are all for going above and beyond to teach the students what will make them successful in the future.
Am enjoying being here
The atmosphere is so friendly, not to mention the five minute walk to the beach.
Bang for the buck
Attending this school is a steal compared to other schools in the state of Hawaii.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you are understanding and respectful of other people's cultures, as this is an international school.
Great for these types of students
LDS students as well as international students. Definitely for students that are not super competitive.

Joebob from Laie, HI

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Beautiful Campus with great location. Classes and professors often fairly laid back, but not always. Overall great, administration is the largest annoyance, probably not unlike most campuses in that way.
Tips for prospective students
Be mindful and respectful of the huge cultural melting pot and you'll love it here. The Honor code can get on your nerves, but overall is helpful and is not as strictly enforced as other BYUs.
What to do for fun
Beach. Temple. Hike. Bike. Chill on the point. Seven Eleven. Great food places all over really. There's always someone jamming somewhere and they're up for another person to join in with a Ukulele, guitar, sing along whatever. Surf. PCC a couple times. Dive (fishing or just look around). etc.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Culture night happens once a year. Each regional/georgraphical/ethnic club with students mostly from that part of the world put on a show. It's a unique authentic cultural celebration that is amazing. It spans two nights. Must see.
Great for these types of students
Not interested in partying. Prefer a more clean lifestyle. Out in the Hawaiian countryside. Prefers relatively empty and pristine beaches.
Clubs and Activities
You need to make your own fun for the most part.
Campus Safety
Sleepy town. Mostly good people. Sometimes stuff happens but it's real rare and almost always because someone does something stupid and spontaneous.

Alexander from Chesapeake, VA

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Small class sizes allow for a lot of student-teacher interaction. Teachers are often people who have already had experience in the field in which they are teaching. International student body makes for a diverse learning experience, though it also means that some of the classes are dumbed down a bit to compensate for the lower English language comprehension of the student body.
Am enjoying being here
The school is located right on the coast of the North Shore of Oahu, meaning that it is in a beautiful location. There is plenty of outdoor stuff to do, and plenty of friendly people to do it with. The place does get pretty empty in the summer, so less school activities and less people around. I am LDS, so I don't mind that one can't buy alcohol at the grocery store, and there are no bars close by, and you aren't allowed to drink as a student anyway. Some would hate this. I would prefer to be closer to the city, and finding good housing can be difficult, but overall I really enjoy my time here.
Bang for the buck
The school is incredibly cheap for LDS students, and affordable for non-LDS students. The amount you pay for the education you get is amazing.
Tips for prospective students
Try to check out places in person before moving in, because the place may not be what you are used to if you come from the mainland.

A friend of mine once said, If you ever hear of anyone going on a hike, or swimming to an island, or anything like that, drop what you are doing and go. Just go. You won't regret it.
Great for these types of students
People who don't mind living LDS standards. People who don't mind living in the country. People who are seeking a diverse student body.

Jiawen from Laie, HI

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
BYU-Hawaii definitely is a honorable school with its special Honor Code. The size of school is small, which means students can have a close relationship with professors and classmates. BYU-Hawaii has students come from over 70 countries.
Tips for prospective students
It is a CES school under the LDS church. If you are not a church member, please be sure you will be able to obey the Honor Code and attend seven religion classes.
Academic Rigor
School can be very difficult or easy. That totally depends on your attitude. Cheating is not acceptable. The Honor Code will send student home once they find student who cheat. Professors are super nice and helpful on your education.
Dorm Life
New dorms are pretty good for students. School is also constructing on old dorms. Also, you can choose to live off-campus.
Food and Dining
If you live on-campus, you have to have meal plans with cafeteria. The food of cafeteria is okay. Sometimes is really good. But most of time they are just food.
What to do for fun
Here is Hawaii! You can always go out to beaches! The views are the best on the planet.
Bang for the buck
I think BYU-Hawaii is the cheapest 4-year university in U.S because the LDS church pays parts of tuition. The professors are awesome and you can learn a lot from them if you want.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
We wear sandals everyday here.
Great for these types of students
Great for students who cannot afford high expense college. Great for students who want to know different people from different cultures.
Campus Safety
This is a church school. The Honor Code program assures the campus safety is at a high level.

Morgan from Hamilton, MO

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
I love this campus and school! The teachers are engaging and my classes are enjoyable. There's no better place to be than at BYUH.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure that BYUH has your major that you want to get. Also, make sure that your previous credits will transfer.
Academic Rigor
This college is very competitive and has a lot to offer. Get with an academic advisor to make sure you're taking the right classes though. But I love my classes!
Dorm Life
If you are in the new Hales, then life is great! If you're in the old Hales then it's not quite as nice. Dorm renovations are in the process, though! So soon all of the dorms will be nice! The only downfall is no AC in the rooms, but with the windows cracked, it's not bad at all!
Food and Dining
The food at BYUH is pretty good, especially for cafeteria food. There is always a cereal bar, waffle makers, and salad bar available which is nice! The food is diverse too because of the cultural diversity. Flex dollars are so nice! I didn't think I would ever spend mine, but it's really hard not too! The Seasider has great snacks and the best milkshakes ever!
What to do for fun
The beach is just a 10 minute walk but if you want to stay on campus, then go to the Game Center! If you want to get off of campus, go to the movies by Foodland, snorkeling at sharks cove, or just catch a bus for only $2.50 for Honolulu.
Bang for the buck
For being a private college in Hawaii, this school is so cheap! Always look for scholarships from the University and even the teachers. The only expensive aspect of BYUH is Hawaii. The prices in stores are much higher compared to the mainland. Also, traveling (flying) is expensive too.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Every Tuesday in the Cannon Activity Center, there is an hour devotional. They are always really good! Also, behind the new Heber Grant Building is a quiet place to study, I love it! No one knows about the benches back there.
Great for these types of students
BYUH is great for students who are looking for an adventure while getting the best education available. BYUH is also better for students who like to get involved and be apart of group activities. The social life here is awesome, so if you're a wallflower, I wouldn't recommend it.
Clubs and Activities
Get involved in as much as you can. There are so many clubs and chapters, all of them do a lot of fun activities. Also, they are a great way to meet new people and network!
Greek Life
There is no Greek Life at BYUH.
Campus Safety
Security is everywhere, this campus is very safe. I'm never worried about my safety on campus.

Anne from Lindon, UT

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
There is an opportunity for a close relationship between instructor and pupil. It is a positive and healthy atmosphere. It is culturally diverse and there are plenty of opportunities to familiarize yourself with the rest of the world without even leaving campus.
Tips for prospective students
Be open minded about learning about new cultures and ways of living. It's hard to be so far away from family, but making friends is easy because everyone is so inviting, just make sure you are accepting of all types of people. The experience is unlike any other college in the world with over 70 different countries represented in a population just over 2,500.
Academic Rigor
GE's are about at a high school level. Upper level classes are challenging, but if you work hard they are definitely passable. Most teachers are willing to work with you personally to make it possible for you to pass.
Dorm Life
It can be loud, but the Hale Mom is always working towards making things better by taking surveys, and holding Hale meetings every so often.
Food and Dining
The food is tolerable. There are not the healthiest menu choices, but there is always a salad bar with pineapple. By the end of two semesters you are ready to be done eating at the cafeteria. Thankfully there is a shopping center 15 minutes away from campus walking.
What to do for fun
The beach is always an option! Snorkeling, body surfing, hiking, and surfing are all less than 20 minutes from campus. Going into town is fun, but unless you have a car it's 2 hours on the bus. There are campus activities nightly. Social and academic groups are always getting together!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Culture night is so fun! Clubs for every different country are created and certain groups such as Tongan, Samoan, Japanese, and African club will present dances in a type of assembly. It's always the biggest event of the school year.
Great for these types of students
If you are not from the united states, or are in search of a cultural experience.
Clubs and Activities
Hundreds of clubs for things from culture to astronomy. The best part is that you don't have to be Tongan to join Tongan Club, or African to join African Club, or an astronomy major to join the group and go on hikes and late night beach trips to look at stars!!
Campus Safety
There is one way for cars to get in and out of campus at night and that is by passing a security guard. The surrounding community is safe and secure as well. The only problem with campus is that there is a minor theft problem, but if you are smart about shutting your door when you leave, and locking your bike up, there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Andrew from Holladay, UT

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Excellent school, plenty of great education environment. Small school means better attention from teachers and faculty. Beaches.
Tips for prospective students
A lot of students here are surprised that they got in. Don't not apply just because its BYU Hawaii, go ahead and give it a try!
Academic Rigor
Challenging but not too bad.
Dorm Life
Lots of fun on campus.
Food and Dining
Food is offered on campus in the cafeteria and at the Seasider grill.
What to do for fun
Beaches, local movie theater, cultural and school events. Beaches.
Bang for the buck
Not too expensive, lots of services offered on campus.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Polynesian culture center nearby offers look at life in the islands. Its entertaining and instructive.
Great for these types of students
Students who are looking to go in to sciences, political science, or computers.
Clubs and Activities
Lots of clubs and activities going on here.
Greek Life
None.
Campus Safety
Very safe and secure campus.

Erin from Honolulu, HI

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
BYU-Hawaii is an awesome school where I am not only learning a lot in the classroom, but just with meeting new people. The diversity on this campus is amazing and I have met people from islands and countries I have never heard of before. Not only is my education being enhanced, but also my spiritual knowledge as I take religion courses and as teachers bring Gospel insights into their classrooms.
Am enjoying being here
The experiences I have had here and memories I have created will stay with me throughout my entire life. I have really branched out with attending school here by trying new things and becoming more adventurous. There is so much to do on this island that you can never get bored. So many interesting people to meet and beautiful places to explore.
Bang for the buck
Although living on the island is expensive, our tuition is cheap cheap cheap! If you're not a member of the church, it is more expensive. Housing and a food plan is decently priced too.
Tips for prospective students
Do not attend this school if you have to have air conditioning-there is none in the dorms or houses. Honestly though, more often than not we get a real nice breeze on our North Shore. Also, stay on top of everything because the administration does not.
Great for these types of students
adventurous, seeking to increase their testimony, laid back