Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL, USA

Reviews

Olivet Nazarene University

Andy from Peoria, IL

a current student here
14 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Because I was an undeclared major my freshman year I took a lot of different classes. I learned a lot of things in all of them. All the teachers that I had were very good and really cared about their students.
Am enjoying being here
Great kids to meet and make friends with. Also, because it's located in a decent sized town there are things to do outside of the school. Also, the school is pretty good about having things going on during the weekends so you have options.
Bang for the buck
It's fairly expensive but it is very nice. And the food really isn't that bad either.
Tips for prospective students
For Freshmen: Get involved in Ollies Follies at the beginning of the year. It's a great way to meet people and is a LOT of fun. Also, get involved in intramural sports or some sort of club of whatever you are interested in. College is a lot more fun if you're not just doing homework all the time.
Don't stress over what dorm you get in your first year. You hear a lot of talk about which dorms are best but when it comes down to it, they're all awesome.

Nicole

a current student here
11 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Because Olivet is such a small school, students can develop relationships with professors very easily. I always feel like I learn the most in classes in which I know the professors. For classes that I have struggled with, asking questions and meeting with the professors has helped me figure out what it is exactly that they want me to learn.
Most of the general education classes are interesting because they cover only the basics and what is most applicable to every kind of student. On the other hand, some general education classes are frustrating because the professor goes very in depth and expects such a thorough understanding of the area of study. While these classes are a pain, they are still not a ton of work and are scarce.
Am enjoying being here
As I take more and more of my major classes, I have become more involved in my classes and they are more enjoyable. It has been great getting to know other students within my major. While I am receiving a great education, I am learning a lot about myself and life while at ONU. There are so many people around campus that I have formed great relationships with and have learned so much from. It is the people that make this school such a great place.
Bang for the buck
Olivet is fairly expensive compared to state universities. I am responsible for paying for my education and I think ONU is worth all of the student loans that I will have to pay off. The education is top notch and the professors are very student-centered. The dorms were great to live in my freshman year and I am especially liking living in the apartments my sophomore year. Although we complain about the food a lot, it really is not as bad as it could be. There are a lot of different types of food to chose from in the main dining hall. If all else fails, you are pretty safe getting a burger from the grille and a salad.
Tips for prospective students
On a small campus like ONU, it is not hard to get involved in some way or another. The first week has a lot of opportunities with everything involved in Ollies Follies and JumpStart. It is also easy to find a group of friends at the beginning of the year and narrow yourself too much. My advice is to get to know as many different people as you can freshman year. College can be a fresh start and no one has to fit into any stereotype that they might have had in high school. Put yourself out there and you will make so many amazing friends.
Great for these types of students
Olivet is a well rounded school that fits so many different types of people. It is great for those who have grown up in the Church and want to continue to surround themselves with those of similar beliefs. It is also a great school for those who are looking for something more to do with their lives. Education with a Christian Purpose really exemplifies what you can get out of ONU. I am learning how to lead a life that mirrors what I believe.

Kyle from Springfield, IL

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors here are great in their field. Do not be afraid of the academics because it is not Harvard or a big school like that, we still have amazing professors who teach us about the subject field and life from a Christian perspective. Olivet is really great for the fields of Ministry/Theology, Education, and Nursing, but is great at everything else as well.
Am enjoying being here
Everyone here is extremely friendly, and the student council creates many exciting events, especially at the beginning of the semester, to help students get to know each other much better. The professor, RA's, staff, and students are extremely personable and friendly and most are willing to help you through any struggles academically or in life.
Bang for the buck
Let's be honest, it is expensive, but for being a private school, it is actually average in price. It is definitely worth the price to go though, the campus is becoming more beautiful everyday, the staff is incredible, and the experience is unrivaled!
Tips for prospective students
Go to as many events as you can, such as Ollies Follies, and meet as many people as possible. Also sign up for as many scholarships with the University and on sites such as Cappex and Fastweb as you can. Do not be discouraged if you have a lot to pay for Olivet the first year there are several opportunities at the end of your Freshman year that you can sign up for such as Traveling Bands and Foundation Scholarships. Also take advantage of the skills that you have like playing an instrument or playing a sport by playing on a team or band because they give out pretty good money for being a part of those.
Great for these types of students
Christian students, hard workers, Ministry/Religion majors, Education majors, Nursing majors, Those looking for a not tiny but not huge school (there is about 2,600 full-time undergraduate students) and those looking for an awesome college experience and opportunities such as study abroad and short term missions trips.

Melyssa from Parma, MI

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Olivet is a place that is both spiritually and academically challenging. It offers a close knit community that supports you as you grow and learn. The community as a whole works together, and offers a full and exciting campus life.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure this is the kind of college you want to go to. If your looking for a place to grow spiritually and get an education, this is a really awesome place. But there are rules here, so you have to make sure that this is the kind of campus life that you will accept and follow. When you really enjoy a challenging and Christ centered lifestyle the atmosphere is really enjoyable.
Academic Rigor
The classes are challenging, but applicable. The material is current and meaningful, and there are so many resources all over campus that available for you to use if you need help or more information.
Dorm Life
Dorm and campus life is great. The RA's are handpicked to make your life easier and more fun. The people are friendly, everyone is helpful, and the buildings are clean and comfortable.
Food and Dining
For mass produced meals, they do a pretty good job. Sometimes you go right to the pizza counter, but for the most part there's a wide variety and even healthy and vegetarian options.
What to do for fun
You can do anything you want for fun. Olivet offers so many campus activities, from Ultimate Frisbee to men's volleyball, to different bands, choirs and theater opportunities, to even business and political science clubs. If there's something that you want to do, there's probably a team or club for it somewhere. These are also great places to meet new people, and to make professional connections.
Bang for the buck
Yea, it's expensive. On a scale of expensive colleges, Olivet is really expensive. But I can see all of my dollars being to put to use all the time. We have tons of resources available for study help, a great chapel where we can all go to service together, wonderful professors, great custodial staff, which makes for clean bathrooms, and really nice sidewalks. There's a ton of campus activities that anyone can participate in, lots of apartments for housing, clean buildings, work study opportunities, and 99% of the students here receive financial aid. It starts off expensive, but they give you a lot of help if you really want to come here, and they put the money to really good use.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
At the beginning of every year all the classes get together and have a huge competition called Ollies Follies that involves theater performances, wheelbarrow races, tug of war and all kinds of other competitions. It brings the whole campus together and is a great place to meet new people at the beginning of the year. It's especially great for freshman, because they can meet a lot of people and get comfortable with the campus before school starts.
Great for these types of students
Olivet is great for students that want a Liberal Arts degree, and want to be educated in lots of different areas. It's really great for students who want to grow in their spiritual life, who like small classes and a small community. And it's good for students who want to meet a lot of great professional connections and get a lot of experience in their field.
Clubs and Activities
Olivet's campus has every kind of club and activity that you could ever ask for. They're all available to anyone who wants to join, and they all meet at times that don't clash with classes, so they're accessible to everyone's schedules.
Campus Safety
The campus is really secluded, and public safety is always on campus to ensure everyone's comfort and safety.

Corey from Merrillville, IN

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Olivet Nazarene University is a wonderful school that focuses on educating students for their future careers with an emphasis on how their Christian faith will affect their careers and their lives. The Christian atmosphere allows for great opportunities for in depth discussions about a wide variety of topics, ranging from spiritual matters to future career goals and beyond. Students here receive a top notch academic education, as well as spiritual formation that can affect the rest of their lives, if they are willing to let it.
Tips for prospective students
Participating in on-campus ministry groups and going on mission trips is a great way to meet people and serve God in fun ways. Participating in dorm events also helps build community among the residents, and these friendships can last a long time.
Academic Rigor
Olivet offers a strong academic education, and the professors are high quality individuals, both intellectually and spiritually. Most of the faculty integrate their faith with their teaching, which adds an awesomely unique element to classes. The professors expect a lot from their students, so students must be hard working, though if they are good at balancing schedules they will still have plenty of time for fun and relaxation.
Dorm Life
The RA's and RD's of the dorms are always looking for fun ways to get the people of the dorm interacting together, whether it's having fun contests, movie nights, or just getting together for a meal. If you are willing to open your door and interact with people, many good relationships can form.
Food and Dining
While many students complain about Olivet's food provider, I think the variety that Sodexo (the supplying company) offers is good. Four on-campus dining locations exist, two of which use meals from the students' meal plans and two of which accept both cash and Olivet's Tiger Dollars or Flex Dollars. These various locations offer different options for food, whether it's subs and sandwiches, a fast food type menu, or the classic campus buffet selection.
What to do for fun
Plenty of on-campus groups exist with which students can get involved, and these all offer opportunities for fun and friendship. The student center basement has a game room with video game systems, televisions, and gaming computers, plus a wide variety of board and card games, pool and Foosball tables, and a ping-pong table.
Great for these types of students
Students who are Christians and interested in receiving an education that focuses on God's role in their future career goals will find Olivet to be a truly enriching place to attend.
Campus Safety
Olivet's Public Safety officers patrol the campus regularly, day and night, and are available to offer assistance to any student who needs it.

accepted here and planning to attend soon
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
olivet has a nice campus, and i am really looking forward to the new student life and recreation center. the professors that i have talked to seem nice and they all offer a different teaching style.
Academic Rigor
i'm not so sure since i don't actually attend, but the teachers seem good, and the art program is really good for a private school.
Food and Dining
well, i don't go here yet, but i had a meal in the caf and i thought that it was great. the salad bar is really cool, too.
Great for these types of students
students who can deal with rules, like the no drug policy, and curfews.

Alexis from Trotwood, OH

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The teachers are wonderful and are very informative in their area of study. Some of the teachers are also very funny and know how to keep the material entertaining. They are also welcomed to you sharing your ideas to make the class better.
Am enjoying being here
I really enjoy the people at this school. For me to be very shy it was very easy to make friends. Everyone on my dorm floor supports everyone else anyway they can. Whether they play a sport, in the arts, or in an intermural, someone will be there cheering them on.
Bang for the buck
This school is pricey but they help out as much as they can with scholarships and financial aid. They will inform you of any change to your account and also help you understand what your paying and why.
Tips for prospective students
If you want to go to this school, be sure you know it is a religious school and they do have certain rules that they uphold. You have to attend chapel and follow their dress policy. Certain things aren't aloud and if your okay with that then this is the school for you.

Hayley from Normal, IL

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I have learned so much this semester at Olivet! I absolutely love my professors because they are so willing to help me with anything and they really know the information that they are teaching!
Am enjoying being here
I enjoy being on Olivet's campus so much! It is a great environment and everyone is friendly. Being here makes you feel like you are at home.
Bang for the buck
Olivet is pretty good about giving out scholarships for academic and sports related things. There are also plenty of scholarships that you can apply for. I don't think that I have wasted any money coming to this school.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you visit, even if you aren't sure if it's the right college for you. By visiting the school you can see what they campus is like, meet a professor, sit in on a class, and much more! It really helps you see if the college will be a good fit or not! If you can you should definitely try to stay overnight in a dorm because it really gives you an idea of what staying in a dorm is like.
Great for these types of students
Olivet is a great school for anyone, but it is a Christian school. That means that there is a focus on Christianity and some theology classes are required, but even if you don't belong to a church it is still a great school to come to because of the great professors here!

Lauren from Modesto, CA

a past student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
A very clean and beautiful campus, located in a small college town on the outskirts of Kankakee Community. The professors are extremely helpful. Though it is small, you cant beat the spiritual environment that surrounds you through both students and staff.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you are prepared for heavy coursework. It is very doable, but demanding. Get to know your professors, and use the extra help they offer.
Academic Rigor
Every class I attended I felt the professor knew what they were talking about, and where able to teach the material.
Dorm Life
Both the dorms, and the apartments are very appealing. Freshman are required to live on campus the first year. This is extremely convenient.
Food and Dining
While Sodexo food service isnt terrible, it had its good and bad days. It offers a nice dinning hall, with a buffet style. There are a couple other food options. The Tiger Den, very good grilled and wrapped sandwiches, and the Red Room grilled burgers and such. For on the go, you can use your meal plan with Nesbit, another location on campus to dine or take out.
What to do for fun
Play in the snow. Go out to the movies. Campus activities, such as the variety of concerts and plays offered throughout the school year. There are also Indian Caves close by at Perry Farms, it is a nice spot to hangout and do some exploring.
Bang for the buck
Though very costly, there are a variety of scholarships to look into. Army ROTC, and sports scholarship are just two of the many.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The beginning of every year there is a class competition called Ollies Follies. It is extremely entertaining and is a great way to meet new people.
Great for these types of students
Christian or Religious Affiliation
Clubs and Activities
Get in with a group you are interested in. This is the best way to make friends and get to know people. They offer mission trips, IJM, Criminal Justice clubs, and many more.
Greek Life
None.
Campus Safety
Keep their number in your phone. You never know when you'll need it.

Virginia from Wheaton, IL

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Academically challenging, yet the professors are willing to go above and beyond for students. The students are inviting and still willing to get to know people. The admissions offices are will prepared and laid out, all that you need is at your fingertips.
Tips for prospective students
be prepared to work with others, and challenge yourself academically, socially and spiritually.
Academic Rigor
All professors DO TRUELY believe that their class is the ONLY class you are taking. Your nose becomes best friends with text books.
Dorm Life
Splendid!! you have so many options, apartment, shared bathrooms or not. Everything is clean and upkept.
Food and Dining
If you want to be skinny come here! although, there are a few other food options other than the dining hall, so make sure to pick a block plan!
What to do for fun
So may activities are planned by the dorms and other branches of campus.
Bang for the buck
You definitely earn it and feel like a better person!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
the brick beach is a huge place that people walk through to go to class and it is used to hang out and play around after dinner!
Clubs and Activities
TONS of intermurals and no on is left out!
Greek Life
not allowed
Campus Safety
Alway patrolling and available!