BYU Best University to Work For

[Paperback Writer]

Found that last chart interesting. So 2/3 of BYU students attend to "Prepare for a career" while 1/3 attend "To find a spouse"? I also find the 38% attending BYU for "BYU's reputation in area of interest" to be shockingly low. A diligent student can "Develop intellectual skills" at any good university so one might as well attend one that has a good reputation in the student's chosen area of study. That "Participate in social life" is ranked higher than "BYU's reputation in area of interest" is somewhat telling.

I don't mean to be critical. BYU is an excellent university in many areas of study and social life is (or should be) important to a student. And BYU continues to be an outstanding value (am amazed that BYU can be more affordable than in-state tuition). It's also an expensive way "To find a spouse".

[Paperback Writer]

Absolutely, that most certainly affects overall job satisfaction. What is more interesting to me is the high ratings relative to very specific features.

One of my favorite BYU professors was brand new; just completed his Phd at a Big Ten school. It was clear he loved his job (would be interesting to check up on him now after 25 years). Anyway, a couple of us asked him after class what he liked so much about teaching at BYU. His answer was the students. He liked and appreciated the caliber of BYU student. (he was teaching 300-400 level classes in a competitive program so that had something to do with it). He said we would "blow away" those students at his Big Ten alma mater.

And to prove his point, he gave us a "pop test" the following week. He had taught a similar course the previous year at this Big Ten school and wanted to see how we would measure up by giving us an identical test he had used the year before with his Big Ten students. His rule was that if a student did better on this "pop test" than he did on the last test, then he could use the higer score. The class average on this "pop test" was higher than his other tests. Going from memory, it was something like 82%; his Big Ten students scored an average of about 62%.

[byu71]

It's also an expensive way "To find a spouse".

One thing that has interested me since moving to Davis County, joining Oakridge and thus having a lot of very conservative, religious Ute fans, is their children attending BYU.

These are not only Ute fans, but have expressed dislike for BYU and the arrogance that is BYU. In addition to that, most of these kids have, like their parents, remained "Ute" fans.

I have asked at times why the apparent contradiction? These kids and their parents consider them to be highly intelligent (excellent grades) and very active in the church. If they have those qualities, BYU attendance is a status thing. It is confirmed they are the best of the best in the church and will associate and marry those who also are the best of the best.

Not knocking it. Not bad aspirations for 18 year olds.

None of the kids I knew chose BYU for intellectual pursuits. As a matter of fact, most of them had opportunites to pursue their academics at Universities peceived to be upper tier.

[Clark Addison]

One of my favorite BYU professors was brand new; just completed his Phd at a Big Ten school. It was clear he loved his job (would be interesting to check up on him now after 25 years). Anyway, a couple of us asked him after class what he liked so much about teaching at BYU. His answer was the students. He liked and appreciated the caliber of BYU student. (he was teaching 300-400 level classes in a competitive program so that had something to do with it). He said we would "blow away" those students at his Big Ten alma mater.

And to prove his point, he gave us a "pop test" the following week. He had taught a similar course the previous year at this Big Ten school and wanted to see how we would measure up by giving us an identical test he had used the year before with his Big Ten students. His rule was that if a student did better on this "pop test" than he did on the last test, then he could use the higer score. The class average on this "pop test" was higher than his other tests. Going from memory, it was something like 82%; his Big Ten students scored an average of about 62%.

Kind of similar to what one of my Chinese professors (a non-member) said. BYU obviously has an advantage due to missionaries, but he said that BYU was the best place to be for teaching language because of the number and quality of students. Nowhere else would he be able to find the number of students interested in Chinese, and his students in his 200 level classes were better conversationally than 400 level students in other universities.

[Pelado]

Found that last chart interesting. So 2/3 of BYU students attend to "Prepare for a career" while 1/3 attend "To find a spouse"? I also find the 38% attending BYU for "BYU's reputation in area of interest" to be shockingly low. A diligent student can "Develop intellectual skills" at any good university so one might as well attend one that has a good reputation in the student's chosen area of study. That "Participate in social life" is ranked higher than "BYU's reputation in area of interest" is somewhat telling.

I don't mean to be critical. BYU is an excellent university in many areas of study and social life is (or should be) important to a student. And BYU continues to be an outstanding value (am amazed that BYU can be more affordable than in-state tuition). It's also an expensive way "To find a spouse".

How much of the student body knew exactly what area of study they wanted to pursue before attending? If they weren't sure of their area of study, how could that have been a decisive factor in their selecting BYU?

[byu71]

lol. What is the correct answer? Find a spouse?

Based on the few I know, I would say area of interest. Area of interest would be associating with those I consider my peer group.

Good grades, very religious and basically the best of the best when it comes to mormon youth.

I think that is how these 18 year olds think.

[Jeff Lebowski]

One thing that has interested me since moving to Davis County, joining Oakridge and thus having a lot of very conservative, religious Ute fans, is their children attending BYU.

These are not only Ute fans, but have expressed dislike for BYU and the arrogance that is BYU. In addition to that, most of these kids have, like their parents, remained "Ute" fans.

I have asked at times why the apparent contradiction? These kids and their parents consider them to be highly intelligent (excellent grades) and very active in the church. If they have those qualities, BYU attendance is a status thing. It is confirmed they are the best of the best in the church and will associate and marry those who also are the best of the best.

Not knocking it. Not bad aspirations for 18 year olds.

None of the kids I knew chose BYU for intellectual pursuits. As a matter of fact, most of them had opportunites to pursue their academics at Universities peceived to be upper tier.

You are creating a false dichotomy. This simply means that developing intellectual skills is extremely important to the students and (in addition to the other factors) they believe that they can accomplish this at BYU. It does not mean (as you are implying) that they think BYU is the best place in the world to develop intellectual skills.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Based on the few I know, I would say area of interest. Area of interest would be associating with those I consider my peer group.

Good grades, very religious and basically the best of the best when it comes to mormon youth.

I think that is how these 18 year olds think.

I hate to break it to you, but these graphs are based on hard data.

[byu71]

You are creating a false dichotomy. This simply means that developing intellectual skills is extremely important to the students and (in addition to the other factors) they believe that they can accomplish this at BYU. It does not mean (as you are implying) that they think BYU is the best place in the world to develop intellectual skills.

All I am saying is they are giving the "right" answer.

It is like me saying I am interested in going out with this 36 year old good looking gal because I hear she is "intellectually" stimulating. That is definitely what I would tell all of my friends and family.

[Katy Lied]

You are creating a false dichotomy. This simply means that developing intellectual skills is extremely important to the students and (in addition to the other factors) they believe that they can accomplish this at BYU. It does not mean (as you are implying) that they think BYU is the best place in the world to develop intellectual skills.

yes

[ERCougar]

I think UD's right in that there is a selection bias here. BYU is such a unique environment that for many, I imagine it is their "Harvard", so they're likely to be very satisfied with it. That doesn't mean it's right for many or even any significant number of professors.

On the other hand, however, I think the BYU RM/married student is probably a pretty nice one to teach. For the past few years, I've been teaching a premed seminar type class at SUU. It's full of dorky students I would never really want to hang out with, but they're motivated, they do their homework, and they pay attention in class. It's a fun class to teach.

[Jeff Lebowski]

All I am saying is they are giving the "right" answer.

It is like me saying I am interested in going out with this 36 year old good looking gal because I hear she is "intellectually" stimulating. That is definitely what I would tell all of my friends and family.

What do you mean by "right" answer? When you participate in an anonymous survey, do you give answers that you think will impress your friends and family?

[byu71]

What do you mean by "right" answer? When you participate in an anonymous survey, do you give answers that you think will impress your friends and family?

Yep, I am a product of my culture.

Your very sensitivity to this proves my point. Why so put out with my opinion?

Go look up the definition of "intellectual skills" and then tell me if anyone outside of our culture would not also doubt the validity or accuracy of the answer given.

However, if it sooths your soul, go ahead and believe I am full of crap in thinking a majority of students choosing BYU do not have "pursuit of intellectual skills" as their main reason.

Being intellectually correct on this means a lot more to you than it does me.

[DU Ute]

Wo!

And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

[UtahDan]

And by the way, I think this same dynamic would apply to most faculty. I would assume that most faculty pick a university environment (research vs teaching emphasis, large vs small, etc.) that is aligned with their overall career objectives and personal preferences.

Right, I'm just saying that the religious overlay has a magnifying effect on that.