Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH, USA

Reviews

Baldwin Wallace University

Shane from Brunswick, OH

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
There is no way to beat the class sizes here at Baldwin Wallace. The small size allows me to learn alot and have all my questions answered immediately.
Am enjoying being here
This campus has turned into a second home for myself as well as alot of other students. Whether studying or just relaxing and watching a movie with some friends, we all have a great time.
Bang for the buck
The financial aid situation went fairly well for me. Taking advantage of every opportunity available requires alot of research and questions. It helps to have a back up plan thats cheaper too.
Tips for prospective students
As soon as you get your foot through the door find an organization that interests you and become involved. Stay busy and take advantage of every opportunity. Your experience here is what you make of it.
Great for these types of students
This is great for students who want to learn and like more individual attention when a problem occurs. Students who attend Baldwin Wallace need to be self motivated and outgoing.

Colin from Upper Sandusky, OH

accepted here and planning to attend soon
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
B-W's conservatory is ranked in the top of the nation, and especially in Musical Theatre - my intended major. Their MT program is rigorous, but still holds enough bend to personalize the experience for each individual student.
Will enjoy being here
Admittedly, when I first visited the campus during the summer, I didn't like it. Sure, it was nice to look at, but it felt pretty dead. The second time I visited I fell in love. My second visit was during the school year, and the students and faculty gave such a spark to the college, that I knew I HAD to attend.
Bang for the buck
At face value, B-W seems pretty darn steep. The classrooms and dorms are very comfortable, but not luxurious as you might expect from a $36,000 a year ($37,000 for conservatory students) college. The reason I give its bang for the buck a five-star rating is because of their generosity. Being a private school B-W is able to award a LOT more money than a state school. My accumulative GPA for high school was a 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale), yet I got a $7,500 4-year renewable scholarship; not only that, but they gave me $10,500 in 4-year renewable grants. That totals out to a whooping $18,000 renewable each year!
Tips for prospective students
Call or e-mail the school for information on your intended major; everyone there is more than happy to take the time to talk with you personally. Also, make sure to plan your visit during an active time of year, so you can see the campus in action. The wonderful admissions officers have numerous events planned throughout the year, so call (they are more than happy to talk) and see what campus events might be planned.

Most importantly:
Apply early!!! The earlier you apply, the more money B-W can give you!

If you are applying for musical theatre:

First: From my own personal experience, B-W had the best audition process - the faculty and students were all very kind and eager to give advice; they provided a free lunch; the showcased their seniors; the actual audition was very organized and time-effective - not to mention the dance portion of the audition was very fun for all levels of dancers.

Second: opt to audition in November. This is their only early notice audition and I found out on December 5th that I was admitted. For the other auditions you typically have to wait til March to find out if you made the cut.

Finally: realize that they only accept about 15 students a year into the MT program with over 500 applicants auditioning, so it is very competitive. Please know not to take it personally if you do not get accepted.
Great for these types of students
Any student who: is social; loves to learn and be challenged; likes the small town feel while still having easy access to the city (Cleveland is only fifteen minutes away from Berea); is interested in a liberal arts education; wants to get the full bang for their buck; enjoys sports or clubs or even both; is looking for a great place to start their adult lives and work towards their desired career - even if he or she doesn't know what career that is yet.

The Scientist

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I'm a neuroscience & psychology double-major and the reputation of the neuroscience program here is the reason I came in the first place. The classes are challenging and you have the opportunity to learn a lot if you apply yourself. You can really tell when a teacher knows their stuff, as well as when a teacher is very passionate about what they do. A lot of professors in the science department are doing their own research, so they need students to help in the labs. The experience you can get from working with a professor on their research is very valuable, both while you're a student and in the future. The head of our neuroscience department is also very highly regarded, and works very closely with students. You don't always get that at many other schools, especially the bigger ones, where they may still have really great researchers teaching and mentoring, but who mainly focus on grad students. I know freshman who have come in already working in the neuroscience labs their first semester.

Our music conservatory is very highly regarded, and while I'm not in it myself, I know many, many people in the conservatory and they all seem to be highly skilled indeed, from my perspective. They feel that the program pushes them and drives them to do their best, and they always seem to be enjoying themselves.

I also know some education majors, and from what I've seen, the program is quite rigorous. If you want to be a teacher, they'll definitely make you work for it, but many of the education majors and minors I know also get to have a lot of field experience in schools throughout the area.

On the other hand, the math program is quite horrible. I'm not too far up in the program since it isn't much required for my major, but in my experience and that of people I know, the Precalculus and Calculus courses at least are not very well-taught. Some teachers just need to retire. You probably know what I mean. I've heard it said that some consider that math program to just...
Am enjoying being here
The campus has a nice comfortable feel to it. It's not the most lively, and not very sluggish either. It's relatively small compared to many out there, and nestled in a relatively small town, but it has a nice homey feel to it.

There are many types of people here, and many activities and organizations to get involved in. It's not too hard to find your niche, in my opinion, especially if you get involved with activities on campus, which is very easy to do. The campus is full of musicians and artists, as well as business and sports management majors, and of course scientists and philosophers. There are also several fraternities and sororities on campus, and Greek life constitutes about 20% of the student body, if I'm not mistaken, which is nice because if you want to go Greek, it's there for you and very much active, and if you don't then no one's going to push it on you. Furthermore, the Greeks here aren't your stereotypical frat bros (plus hazing is strictly forbidden), but oftentimes fill most of the leadership positions on campus. There are many upstanding Greeks who have leadership positions as RAs around campus, as well as leading other organizations for the whole student populace. If you don't want to go Greek, there are still clubs like the Art Club and Psychology Club where you can find people who share common interests. All in all, there will always be people out there that you can connect with, if you look for them.

Also, the Metroparks run nearby, so if you want to go for a jog, bike ride, or just a nice walk, they're there, and run for miles and miles, making it easy to stay active outdoors. Speaking of staying active, the Recreation Center is pretty nice, and if you want to stay in shape, you'll definitely have all the resources and equipment for it.

One con about the school though is that, since it's a fairly small school in a fairly small town, there's not much to do on the weekends if you don't have a car. I'd say most of the students here...
Bang for the buck
The school is not the cheapest out there, but for the personal atmosphere and quality education, I think it does pretty well. The school is also pretty good about giving out scholarships to incoming students, so it's very unlikely you'll have to pay the full tuition price in your time here.

Your meal plan is handled through your Jacket Express card, which usually carries about $2000, which you load it with at the beginning of the year from your tuition. You can use that on food, vending machines, the bookstore, or wherever. The nice thing is that if you don't use all of the money by the end of the semester, you get the rest back or it goes towards your next semester's tuition, which the school likes to advertise since you don't get that at a lot of other schools. I got $600 back last semester, but it all depends on how much you spend throughout the year.

Furthermore, admission to the football games is free, as is access to the Recreational Facilities and many other activities on campus. You also get three sessions with a personal trainer per semester, and there are things such as free kick boxing classes and water aerobics that you can take.

The food is overpriced in my opinion, and not the best quality, but I feel like that describes that food at most colleges. Again, you don't have a set meal plan where you pay x money in your tuition for y meals each week, so you can spend as little or as much as you want for food.


Tips for prospective students
To get the best value out of your time here, I'd highly recommend joining the Honors Program, if you qualify. It may change in the future, but right now there's a lot of funding that goes into it, and students in the Honors Program get perks like getting to choose their classes before everyone else (which is a very big deal), and being reimbursed up to $35 for any culturally related activities, such as seeing a play or visiting a museum. They also fund trips for honors students to go places. Last semester, they went white water rafting and visited Fallingwater in PA, then went to see the Niagara Falls, and in a few weeks they'll be visiting Boston. All paid for (except personal expenses like food and such). And while being competitive and having fairly high standards (you must maintain a 3.5 average), those standards aren't too unreasonable, and so getting into the program is very attainable. Plus, the people tend to be really cool. You have your really studious people (who are still pretty cool), and you also have really chill, laid-back people who will turn out to be fun to hang out with, and not as nerdy as you'd expected. At least, not nerdier than you are. :)

Unless you happen to be particularly good at math (to the point where you don't actually need to be taught), are willing to reteach yourself everything the teacher tried to teach you, and/or want to be a math major, I'd suggest taking your required math courses elsewhere.

Get involved. If there's anyone in college who is particularly unhappy with their experience, they tend to be people who didn't bother getting involved in any activities or organizations. Seriously. There will be many organizations trying to get you to go to their events, and somewhere in there, there's at least a handful that you'll enjoy. I wouldn't have known most of the people I'm friends with if I hadn't been in the organizations I joined. It'll do wonders, trust me.

Check out Greek life. Especially if you're a guy (I don...
Great for these types of students
- Hard workers
- Students who could be hard workers but are looking for that motivations or inspiration
- Open-minded students
- Students who like to have fun
- Students looking to become leaders
- Musicians
- Writers
- Scientists
- Psychologists, especially those looking at Neuroscience
- Biologists and Chemists
- Artists
- People who like music they think no one else likes
- People who like intelligent thought
- People whose happiness doesn't rely on whether or not the football team wins most or any of their games. XD

Katie from Munroe Falls, OH

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I actually look forward to going to class. The saying You learn something new everyday is definitely true for B-W. However I can say I am learning more than just one new thing each day. What you learn in each class is somehow applicable to your life, even in the smallest sense and I have no doubt this material will benefit me in life.
Am enjoying being here
Everyone is so friendly. That is one of the things that drew me here. Officers, faculty and staff truly care about the students. Just the other day I saw a faculty member sit down at lunch with a student who was eating alone just to meet them and go out of their way to make their day. As for the students, everyone is here for a different reason and all of us embrace it! It is amazing how quickly the smiles spread throughout campus.
Bang for the buck
B-W offers every student some sort of financial aid. The sticker price fronts a large amount but after financial aid and scholarships are applied, the price is just the same as other state schools or even less. For out-of-state students, the B-W Grant is a higher amount so that the out-pf-state price is nearly the same as in in state student. Academically, the professors are professionals in their fields, not just teachers. They actually know what they are talking about. It is amazing that all of them know so much and are so dedicated to teaching students the subject matter from the text and experiences.
Tips for prospective students
Visit! You never know how you fell about the campus until you do.
Talk with current students! Find your tour guide on Facebook, Twitter, Cappex, and other sites. They are more than willing to talk and share their advice with you.
Keep an open mind! Just because you heard it gets cold in the winter in Ohio doesn't mean some cute boots and jacket won't keep you from class.
Great for these types of students
All types! We are very diverse here and embrace it! If there's one place where everyone fits in, it's B-W!

Jenna from Canton, OH

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
So far all of the teachers that I have had are wonderful! You are treated like a person here, not a number...which is one main reason i accepted to BW. Overall there are great teachers here who really care about your learning experience
Am enjoying being here
I love being here at Baldwin-Wallace. There is always something to do. As well as so many activities that you can join...if and if they aren't right for you...create your own!
Bang for the buck
I love BW but I wish I could love the price a little more. While it is costly, I do believe it was worth it for me. I could've gone to a cheaper public school but I don't believe I would have done as well in classes with so many people in them.
Tips for prospective students
APPLY for scholarships! Since BW is costly I highly suggested applying for everything you get your hands on. And make sure to come to an overnight visit. That is what sold me in my decision making last year.
Great for these types of students
BW is great for everyone. There is such a melting pot of students here. I can assure that anyone will feel comfortable at BW.

Basem Fort Washington, MD

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Baldwin Wallace University is located in Berea,Ohio which is about twenty miles from Cleveland. The campus is just the right size with plenty of activities to keep any student active. The university staff is accessible, professional and friendly.
Tips for prospective students
To be a successful student, utilize time management effectively to avoid missing any assignments and to provide yourself opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities. There is a wonderful computer lab available 24 x 7 so if you are an out-of-state student, you do not have to pack extra weight with a computer and printer. Stay in contact with your advisor so you stay on track for graduation.
Academic Rigor
The professors will challenge you--classes are only easy if you work really hard and do all the assignments. The school does provide study labs so there is no reason why any student would not pass a class. Students have access to Blackboard to stay on top of their academics and financial information.
Dorm Life
Residence Life is fine and I have found the floor advisors are accessible. There are meetings to keep the floor informed as well as activites throughout the year to keep the residents socially active. The dorms are pretty standard with other schools
Food and Dining
The cafeterias throughout the campus provide a variety of options for all dietary needs. The Union also has a smaller hot bar/ salad bar option with additional food options and a wonderful cafe on the lower level that includes ice-cream and smoothies. The athletic center also has a nutrional smoothie bar.
What to do for fun
The town of Berea and Middleburg Heights provide a Regal Cinema, restaurants, shopping, nature trails. The Higgins Center is the athletic center and has something for everyone, including an indoor track and swimming pool. There is also a work-out area with weights and treadmills to stay healthy.
Bang for the buck
The school is worth every penny with a multitude of jobs and internships availble to the student body. The careet center has a resource library available to every student with advisors to guide students to meet their aspirations. The school also provides the students with a resource center to launch their innovative ideas.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Nothing unusual about the school or the area. The area makes you feel like your home in your own neighborhood. The streets surrounding the school are quiet with a multitude of places to worship.
Great for these types of students
Great school for everyone of all ages. Many of the students are residents of Ohio but there are also international students. Every year the school is becoming more diverse in its population.
Clubs and Activities
There is a club or activity for everyone--athletes and non-athletes. There is a broadcating club as well as a Harry Potter Club. There are clubs even for the spiritual seeking individuals.
Greek Life
Fraternities and Sororities are housed within Heritage Hall with a lot of sponsored events throughout the campus. There is no apparent hazing and the school has a zero tolerance for any discriminatory actions or activites. The Greek organizations host many activities that support the local community.
Campus Safety
This a very safe school with security operations that are seamless and responsive. Security is available around the clock. The school provides an annual survey to ensure the school is meeting the needs of its student and community.

Courtney from Cleveland Heights, OH

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Baldwin-Wallace College is great place to be. The institution is warm and welcoming; it feels like every student and faculty member are apart of your family. Aside from the humble atmosphere, BW offers many community service, internship, and job opportunities to help its student be the best they can be.
Tips for prospective students
My tip to prospective students would be for them to get as involved on campus as they possibly can. Involvement looks good on a resume, allows you to get to know people campus easily, and highly enjoyable.
Academic Rigor
The academic rigor of course depends on your major, but no matter what class you are taking you are constantly being challenged to push your thinking to the next level.
Dorm Life
Living in a dorm is probably the best part about college. The people on your floor become your best friends. It's comforting to know that when you come in from class there will always be someone there to share a laugh a with.
Food and Dining
I think the food in our dinning hall is pretty good. I mean it's college you're not going to have 5 star chefs come in and cook for you. College is definitely not a place to a picky eater.
What to do for fun
I'm currently a member of Greek life so there are always fun things to do. Aside from sorority and fraternity gatherings it's fun to go downtown with a few friends and spend the day.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Every year in April BW has an event called April Reign. In short the event involves physical activities such as Tug of war, boat races, human pyramid, and obstacle courses in which Greeks and non Greeks compete against each other. There is always a concert (this year we had Jeremih) and a cookout.
Great for these types of students
Great for Musical Theater students; our conservatory program is one of the top ten in the nation. Great for athletes, although we are a D3 school out school takes a lot of pride in out sports. Baldwin-Wallace also has one of the top childhood educational program.
Clubs and Activities
Even though we are a small campus, you can find just about any club you could think of and if it doesn't exist Student Activities encourages students to create clubs as they desire. Our newest club: Lacrosse.
Greek Life
I am a member of Greek life and I think that everyone should be apart of it. Not only is Greek life a great way to network, get internships, and job opportunities, but it is a way to get involved on campus and have the time of your life. Being in a sisterhood is the best thing that's ever happened to me and I know I'm not alone. I am proud to be Greek and I believe everyone should be able to feel that feeling.
Campus Safety
Although it may be annoying at times, Campus Security is always circling the area and keeping everything in line. Also, because the campus is so close to the Berea Police Department it is not uncommon to see the Berea Police riding around campus. Aside from Campus Security, throughout campus there are Blue Light Stations which are stations equip with a phone and emergency button. When the button is pressed Campus Security will respond immediately to your location and take you where ever you need to go. I appreciate the immense amount of safety here at BW

Rina from Dublin, OH

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
An amazing music education program, however some other academic areas lack.
Am enjoying being here
I love being here! I can ask for nothing more from this school!
Bang for the buck
It is pretty expensive even for a college, however, they do give out a lot of scholarships to deserving students and the professors are on your side to try to get you financial aid.
Tips for prospective students
Go out of your way to meet new people, because there are so many great people here!
Great for these types of students
Anybody will find a place to fit in here. This school is very unique and unlike a university or a typical college town. You will find a home here!

David from Warrensville Heights, OH

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I've had a great experience thus far at B-W. The professors have been very open and I have had a truly enjoyable experience in all of the classes I have taken so far.