John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR, USA

Reviews

John Brown University

Crystal from W. MIDDLESEX, PA

accepted here and planning to attend soon
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
JBU is amazing from what I have read, saw on virtual tour, and heard. the people there are from all over the country. It is a religious school, so (as at all schools) I am sure there will be SOME drinking, but when you go there, you sign an agreement saying you won't do that on or off campus. It seems like the perfect place for me. The only thing about JBU i don't like is that it is in Arkansas and I am in PA. I will have to be far from my family for a long time, and I'm not yet sure how I will handle that. To counter-set this fact is the fct that they have host families that will take you in, pray for you, hang out with you, and become your second (or third) family. JBU seems like a really genuine place, and when I call, all I have to do is say my first name and Ryan (my admissions counselor) knows EXACTLY who I am. I love the intimacy there. I haven't even gone and I can already picture myself there for the next four years
Will enjoy being here
deffinetly
Bang for the buck
US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT:listed JBU as having the highest grad rateamoung southern Baccalaureate colleges and ranked them as No. 2 best college in southern region
FORBES:lists NW Arkansas as NO. 4 on its list of best places for careers in the whole country
plus, there is TONS of activities, worship services, live bands, sports,ect ect
only 25,756 total. tuition=18,032 room and board=6,876 fees=848
Tips for prospective students
ask tons of questions. this is the next four years of your life (mine too, i know, scary)! make sure you are comfortable with the college and that it seems good for you.
Great for these types of students
religious
down-to-earth but hyper
people like me, not sure HOW to describe that (lol)

Chrissy

a current student here
7 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I love learning everything from a Christian worldview. All of my classes always intertwine somehow. What I'm learning in one will carry over to the next. I don't just have to learn what they are teaching me. I want to learn it. Also, the art classes are the best I've ever taken. And those gen ed classes that no one wants to take are still good and I end up looking back on them and realizing just how much I am using what the professor taught me.
Am enjoying being here
JBU is amazing. We have something going on all the time from concerts to late-skates to athletic games to cultural lunches. Who else has a Toilet Paper basketball game? We also have amazing people that make ordinary life awesome. And I actually enjoy going to class.
Bang for the buck
Eh, I'm still figuring out how to pay for this college without being too much in debt, but I believe God will find a way if He wants me here :)
Tips for prospective students
Ask lots and lots of questions and don't be afraid to stay up later than normal and get up at the same time in order to enjoy student dorm life. And relax, God knows what He's doing. :)
Great for these types of students
Anyone who doesn't like wearing shoes to class, who likes smaller private schools, who loves Christ or wants to know what that's all about or wants to further their love for Christ.

Timothy from Fort Worth, TX

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Academic Rigor
I am a freshman in JBU. After studying there for only one semester, I feel like I have learned more in those six month's then I have learned during my whole life. Professor's are amazing! I loved all of them. Students are very kind and you are able to find a study group for your class really easy (if you are looking for one).
Dorm Life
JBU has four dorms and each one is unique in it's own way. I live in Hutchenson Hall and it is the newest dorm that was build on campus. Rooms are big, you have your personal sink that only you and your roommate share and, also, bathroom that you share with roommate and sweetemates (2 of them).
Food and Dining
Food is awesome. You will have several kinds of food. We have Mexican, salad bar, pizza, vegetarian, sandwiches, ice cream, and several others stations that always have new dishes for every meal.

Katelyn from Kansas City, KS

accepted here and planning to attend soon
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
John Brown has a beautiful campus. President Pollard is awesome, and truly cares for each student. Dorms are clean.
Tips for prospective students
Take a college tour to see the whole campus before judging the location. If you get car sick take the less scenic route on your way to the college by staying on the main highway--even if it takes a little longer.
Academic Rigor
I have not attended as a student, but expect the rigor to be high. I sat in on a couple of classes and the professors were great.
Dorm Life
Had a few overnight stays and they were a lot of fun. Dorm life is happening!
Food and Dining
Food was awesome. There are many choices.
What to do for fun
Go into the town around there or just hang with your friends.

Sarah from Colorado

accepted here and planning to attend soon
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
john brown university is a fantastic school filled with wonderful people and opportunities. there is an overwhelming sense of community when you get to campus. people just genuinely care for each other and love jesus, and you experience this love in every dorm, class, and office you visit.
Tips for prospective students
-visit the campus, you haven't experienced the real jbu until you set foot on campus.
-stay in a dorm, it is the best way to get to know students and see what going to jbu will be like.
-visit a class in your future field of study, this is what you life is going to be like for the next four years. do you enjoy what you see / experience? if not, you might want to examine your intended major or school.
-ask any and all questions, the people at jbu are there and ready to help.
-ask god for guidance. jbu is the school for me, but that doesn't mean it is the school for you. god has a plan for your life and he is ready to show you if you ask him. but i do hope that plan brings you to john brown university, because it truly is a wonderful school.
Academic Rigor
to be honest, i don't know yet, but all the class i sat in on seemed to be very challenging, beneficial, and engaging.
Dorm Life
again, i haven't lived on campus yet, but when i have stayed in the dorms everyone seemed to get along really well and there were plenty of hall activities and everyone seemed to love their neighbors.
Food and Dining
lots of choices and a great salad bar.
What to do for fun
cute downtown and lots of fun hikes.

Ryan

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The most fantastic business school you will find. One on one interaction with a premium education. Located next to one of the largest areas of business in the world, it is easy to make connections with people who are already prominent in the business world.
Tips for prospective students
Come visit. I did not think much of JBU until I visited but it soon became very clear to me that this is the perfect college. As Mr. Donald Soderquist puts it John Brown is one of Arkansas' hidden gems. In addition to business we have top programs in nearly every single major.
Academic Rigor
You will be challenged but it won't be entirely daunting.
Dorm Life
Fantastic community! Everyone here is very open minded and come from unique backgrounds!
Food and Dining
Could be better but there are definitely days where the food is awesome!
What to do for fun
One of the multiple activites that are always going on around campus. One time, a group of people put up an inflatable bouncy house in the middle of the quad because why not! There's also a lot of good hiking in the area!
Bang for the buck
Ranked #1 in Best Value in the entire southern region of the United States by the US News and World Report. Considering the price of tuition that really says something.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
So many....
Great for these types of students
Open minded
Clubs and Activities
There are like a thousand different clubs, some for fun, others for experience. And many clubs are activley involved in campus life.
Campus Safety
We had an incident last year with the Siloam Spanker, some guy who would attempt to spank people walking on the trails in the middle of the day. And that's about as crazy as the crime gets around here. The Siloam Spanker was quickly taken care of.

Kiera from Rogers, AR

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
JBU is a friendly and academically challenging school for Christian students. It boasts a very diverse student body from many different states and across the world. It is affordable and worth the cost.
Tips for prospective students
If you're certain that you want to attend a Christian school, I can't think of a better one to go to. People are so friendly here, and the academics are challenging. Professional experience is built into the majors. If you are interested in a career in engineering, art, or education, come to JBU!
Academic Rigor
My courses have been challenging so far. The assignments may seem overwhelming, but if managed properly, they are doable. The assignments are almost always practical and apply to your life, your faith, or your future career. The honors program provides further opportunities for rigor.
Dorm Life
Each of the dorms has its own quirks--Mayfield and J-Alvin, the all-girls and all-guys dorms, have the best community and dorm pride, although they may be slightly run-down. Walker and Hutch are beautiful and polished, but they lack some of the personality that makes the other two dorms really special. The friendships I've made in the dorms has been a highlight of my experience so far!
Food and Dining
The food is flavorful and fairly varied. I wish it was healthier sometimes, but they do their best to cater to everyone. The desserts are absolutely amazing.
What to do for fun
Hang out with friends, walk in the graveyard at night, wade in the creek, walk to downtown Siloam, drive to Fayetteville, watch a movie
Bang for the buck
It's an expensive school, but the financial aid department helps a lot, and there are a ton of workstudy positions available. For a private school, too, it's not too expensive.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Walker Dorm hosts an absolutely amazing Christmas party in which they go all-out to decorate halls so that the building is absolutely unrecognizable. Each hall has a theme and competes for first place. It looks so incredible!
Great for these types of students
Christian, hardworking, fun-loving, friendly, involved, service-oriented

Mountain Lover

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
JBU is a wonderful place to live and study! The motto, head, heart, hand, exemplifies their focus on educating the whole person. You are NOT just a number here!
Tips for prospective students
Come for a campus visit so you can get a feel for the community. The genuine friendliness I experienced on my visit was a big factor in my decision to attend.
Academic Rigor
So far, I have experienced what I feel is an appropriate level of academic rigor. I am taking 17 hours, which is more than the average freshman load, but I feel it is just the right combination of challenging, yet manageable.

The professors genuinely want you to succeed, and for the most part they are very approachable. They are interested in you as a person, not only a student. It is common for professors to have students over for dinner or movies!

The academic environment here is very unique. The profs are dedicated to your growth, not just intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. It will be a challenge, but not impossible or ridiculous.
Dorm Life
Dorm life so far is awesome! Each dorm has it's own unique community. There are co-ed dorms, an all-girls dorm, and an all-guys dorm.

The RA's are very caring and kind, and the dorm room is bigger than I expected. Everyone I've met is really nice, and you can choose how social you want to be. If you're an extrovert, there will be plenty of opportunities for hanging out, meeting people, etc. But if not, that's okay too, and you can still have a very positive experience.
Food and Dining
The food-service provider is new this year, and according to upperclassmen, it is much better!
Of course, it's caf food, so it's not going to be the same as a home cooked meal, but overall they have LOTS of variety and options for every meal. Here's the low-down on what they offer every day:
Breakfast: waffles, omelets, biscuits and gravy, eggs, hashbrowns, yogurt, fruit, granola, and cereal
Lunch/Dinner: Taco station, sandwich and wrap bar, pizza and pasta station, vegetarian/gluten free station, salad bar, home cooked station (stuff like baked chicken, mixed veggies, mashed potatoes), all American station (burgers, fries, etc), and a fresh station that serves up more ethnic inspired foods.
And of course, tons of desserts and ice cream, soft drinks, coffee, and tea.
What to do for fun
Siloam Springs is a small town, but if you are looking for something to do there is nearly always something going on at JBU. Seriously, it's crazy how alive this campus is. Whatever your interest, there is bound to be a club or group for you.

There is also a cute downtown area, and awesome hiking trails near by. We're also just about 45 minutes from lots of bigger cities, like Rogers and Fayetteville, that offer shopping, concerts, restaurants, etc.
Bang for the buck
Yes, it is a private college, so it's going to be more expensive than staying in state. That being said, it is very reasonable for a college of it's quality. (In fact, U.S. News just rated it the #1 value Southern college!). Also, they are pretty generous with financial aid, but you still need to try to apply for as many scholarships as possible!!
Great for these types of students
Friendly, motivated, curious, honest/genuine, hard-working, fun-loving, and of course, Christian.

side note: The campus and classroom have a distinct Christian emphasis, so be aware of this. If this is what you are looking for, then JBU is just about as good as it gets! But if you don't want this, consider attending somewhere else, or just be prepared for it.
Clubs and Activities
Just about anything you could imagine! Here's what I can think of off the top of my head: swing dancing club, anime club, intramural sports, Dead Poets Society, student government, student ministry, missions trips, Enactus (formerly known as SIFE), honors program, Visual Arts club, choir, band, orchestra, plays....the list goes on!
Greek Life
Doesn't exist! But you'll make friends through your dorm pretty fast. :)
Campus Safety
There haven't been any issues so far. There are on-campus police cars and a 24/7 safety hotline you can call for any reason. They will also escort you across campus at night if you feel unsafe.

Alyssa from Springdale, AR

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The atmosphere is inviting as the incoming and current students welcoming each new member and student as a part of the new family of John Brown University. Although it is more from one's budget it is worth it from not only the strong Christian foundation but also to a modern campus that provides a home like environment with an individualized system in matching roommates and events that include all students. the most important factor would have to be the interest that each professor has for each student to succeed to their full potential and striving to live out the Christian faith as an example for others.
Tips for prospective students
this is an excellent university and although it is a bit more expensive than some other colleges and universities, it provides not only a top notch education but also knows the students individually and works with each student in whatever they need help in. They take a personal interest in you and try to have you reaching your full potential. In short this is one of top schools for continuing one's education.
Academic Rigor
though very intense academically it does not seem that one is doing as much work as they are doing.
Dorm Life
The dorms are amazing. There has been a lot of remodeling of the dorms to ensure that they are more modern and appealing not only to those returning but also to make the new students to feel as though they are at home.
Food and Dining
John Brown offers a wide variety of choices for every meal to accommodate any health problem and eating habits.
What to do for fun
There are a great many things that a student can do for fun from clubs to sports or even tutoring others.
Clubs and Activities
JBU offers several clubs and activities to keep students active in the student community while also being able to socialize. The activities range from sports whether it be club or attending a sport to even community outreach programs.
Campus Safety
The campus is amazing in that it is not only wonderful landscaped but also very secure. The inaction of the buddy system has ensured a very safe campus.

Amy from Siloam Springs, AR

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The staff here at JBU really know their stuff. My calculus professor wrote our entire text book. My Islamic art teacher doesn't only teach it, he goes on archeological digs in Jordan every summer.
Am enjoying being here
The community at JBU is amazing. People are always so warm and welcoming, not to mention willing to help. I love being surrounded by people of similar faith.
Bang for the buck
Although JBU is a little pricey, it was ranked by US World Report as the #1 Christian college in the south! I'm so glad I made the decision to come here. They strive to take care of you, no matter your financial background, which is a major factor in school choice.
Tips for prospective students
Start early on applying for financial aid. JBU is VERY generous with their scholarship fund, you just have to apply sooner rather than later.
Great for these types of students
JBU is an amazing place for students who wish to accel academically, socially, and spiritually. I've grown closer to God since I've been here, made more friends than I ever could've expected, and learned more than I ever did in high school.