The Asbury Bias
Written: Dec 22 '03 (Updated Jan 26 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Small class sizes, high academic standards, available professors
Cons: tuition, policies, chapel services
The Bottom Line: You decide! You make your college experience what it is. No school can make or break it for you!
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| freeburne's Full Review: Asbury College |
I attended Asbury in 1994 and graduated in 1999. I participated in a dual degree program with Asbury and the University of Kentucky. I received a BS in Health Science from Asbury and a BS in Nursing from UK. Since my graduation Asbury has eliminated there dual degree programs.
This review represents my own bias of Asbury College. The information here will only help you decide if this college is a good choice for you. My experience is completely different from the thousands of others who have attended.
HISTORY
Asbury was founded in 1890 (some of the original professors still work there J). There is a rich history at the school. As you walk through campus you can still walk in and visit some of the original buildings. It is an eerie feeling knowing that the founders once stood and taught in the same spot you are standing. The campus and surrounding landscape are beautiful. Students can be found studying and hanging out in the large lush green spaces overshadowed by the humongous trees. Thousands of students before my time could be found in these areas sitting on numerous benches scattered around the campus.
STUDENT BODY
The college claims to be a nondenominational, independent, Christian college, but the college stands firm on fundamental Methodist beliefs and practices. The majority of the student body is nondenominational, but somehow the Methodist idealism still prevails.
The study body attempts to be extremely diverse. The brochures typically over represent the African American population at Asbury. The majority of students are Caucasian from middle to upper class families. Asbury does however draw individuals from all parts of the United States as well as many international students.
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY
Asbury is located in Wilmore, Kentucky. The main road into campus divides Asbury College from Asbury Theological Seminary located across the street. The campus is located 20 minutes from Lexington. The road to Lexington used to be a beautiful but dangerous 2 lane highway.
A short drive south will bring you to the Kentucky river and a place called "High Bridge" and "the locks." High Bridge used to be a popular place for the community of Wilmore to gather but was in disrepair when I attended. More recently the area has been under restoration.
Most of the winding roads leading away from the College take you on scenic drives of the countryside and the many rivers and creeks surrounding the area. The native Kentuckians attending the college usually know the good fishing spots and hunting areas.
Icthus is a Christian version of woodstock which draws thousands of people to the quaint city of Wilmore. This festival usually last for 3 days and is staffed by many of the college students. Students who work there are allowed to go to the concerts for free.
CLASSES AND CHAPEL
Asbury’s grading scale was always different than the University of Kentucky’s. Most of the professors used a grading scale similar to this one: A 94-100, B 87-93, C 80-86, D 72-79, F less than 71. Don’t expect to go to Asbury and take it easy your first year into your college career. I can tell you from experience that Asbury’s general education classes are much more difficult that the University of Kentucky’s. Many students who weren’t prepared to achieve, were put on probation for being unable to maintain above a C average. If you do not meet the academic requirements you are given one semester of probation. If you fail to maintain you grade average after the second semester then you will not be able to attend Asbury.
I laughed out loud when I saw the description of Asbury. It says, and I quote, "Attending Chapel together three mornings each week also helps students bond." HAH! HAH! Bonds are developed by agreeing with the other students about how mundane and boring the chapel service was. Every once in a while (once a semester) there would be a speaker who energized the student body but the following chapel would return to the same old routine. One thing they do forget to mention in their brochures and tours are the "CHAPEL CHECKERS." Yes, I said checkers! These are your fellow upperclassmen who get paid to sit in chapel and check to see if you are sitting in your assigned seat! They also monitor your behavior in chapel. If you are caught sleeping, goofing off, or anything else then you are reprimanded. Give me a break!!! One more thing…You are only allowed to skip 6 chapels in a semester. If you skip more than six you have to write a paper for each additional chapel skip and are place on probation next semester (Yes, I do speak from experience!).
PROFESSORS
The majority of professors are genuinely concerned for your well-being and are able to offer one on one help to any student who desires assistance. The quality of education at Asbury is A . There is no comparison between Asbury and the University of Kentucky. More is expected of the Asbury student, but more is given to them.
ATHLETICS
I played on the soccer team during my years at Asbury and can honestly say it was an unforgettable experience. The small school atmosphere allows you to see all of your friends and family cheering you on over on the sidelines. Fans who attended the games would frequently bring their couches out of the dorm rooms and watch the games.
Don’t expect to win any championships while at Asbury. Athletic scholarships have just recently been introduced and they are few and far between. Academic education is a priority at Asbury not athletics.
FACILITIES
As the school grows older, so do the dorm rooms. Major renovations are needed make the dorms nice for students. However, I was comfortable during my years there. The rooms have individual heating and air conditioning. Some of the dorm halls also have large living room areas for the guys to hang out and do whatever guys do (that usually got me into trouble!).
The athletic facility is top notch. The "Luce center" is a fairly new construction with a walking track, multiple basketball courts, indoor tennis room, weight room, indoor swimming pool, and racket ball courts.
The classrooms are as old as the dorm rooms but are comfortable and adequate for the student body.
The library is a state of the art construction which was built in 1999, just after I graduated. Frustratingly it is always closed on Sundays when I usually needed it most!
STANDARDS
I met my wife at Asbury and always thought it was funny that the discipline was stricter on the females. Men would frequently get away with much more than the women. There was an 12:00 curfew at Asbury on weekdays but somehow the men could always get around it. Women were not so fortunate. Student are allowed curfew extensions depending on you status (upper or lower classmen)
If you are caught drinking or partying, your degree of discipline depends who you know and who your parents are. I knew several people who were caught many times but were given 9 lives, others were expelled immediately. If you want to drink and party at college you can get away with it at Asbury, but why risk throwing you educational future away.
FUNNY THINGS
The pressure to find a spouse by the end of your college career is unbearable at Asbury. If you decide to attend Asbury you will find out what I mean. Take some advice. Life is too short and your college life doesn’t last forever. Enjoy college without a serious relationship. There’s pleanty of time left in life for marriage. The biggest mistake people at Asbury make is thinking they have met "the one" during freshman orientation!
Decide for yourself. If you think Asbury is right for you then go for it! You make your college experience what it is. No school can make or break it for you!
HAVE A HAPPY EDUCATION
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
freeburne
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Location: Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Registered Nurse, hobbies include, basketball, soccer, gardening, paintball, guitar, chess, and eating!
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