Birmingham-Southern College Reviews

The dorms are generally pretty...

The dorms are generally pretty good. New Men’s (the freshman male dorm) is absolutely terrible, with furniture that doesn’t move and a smell that doesn’t leave. If you can make it through your first year, though, you can move into Hanson (with its very large rooms) or one of the fraternity houses which were all built a few years ago (and have yet to be trashed, amazingly enough).

The girls are extremely attractive...

The girls are extremely attractive and tend to be pretty open to new friendships. The small-college atmosphere tends to help with meeting people.

Greek life is pretty big on...

Greek life is pretty big on campus, but I think we have a pretty even percentage. I say it is pretty big because, even if you aren’t in a fraternity or sorority, you will more than likely go to parties thrown by them. Most people participate in campus-wide Greek events, and just about everyone, at some point in time, is somehow affiliated with a fraternity or a sorority.

It does dominate the social scene,...

It does dominate the social scene, but for the most part, it does not affect the good time that I have on campus. I do not feel closed off from anything or any part of campus, and I am a very socially-active non-Greek.

This school is so Greek it isn’t...

This school is so Greek it isn’t even funny. Seriously, I think BSC is the only school in the world in which I would’ve joined a fraternity. It’s ridiculous. I went from not knowing jack about fraternities to Mr. Frat Boy in a matter of weeks.

BSC has opened up so many new...

BSC has opened up so many new doors for me. I wouldn’t trade anything for the memories I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned. Would I be anywhere else? No way. You learn to love everything about what you ‘hate.’ The dorms can be the worst place in the world at times, but you learn to love them because of the people you meet and the memories you make while you are there. The faculty can drive you up the wall, but they’d also bend over backwards to help you if you really needed it, and they push you to succeed because they want you to be the best and do your best. The food may be so bad that you don’t eat for a few days, but all the fun road trips with your new friends to Wendy’s at one in the morning because you’re starving makes you appreciate the ‘bad food’ after all. BSC is a great place to get an education, and I wouldn’t change anything about it!

Teachers at BSC are like friends...

Teachers at BSC are like friends who know a lot, and when they lecture, it’s sometimes like sitting down with a cup of coffee and listening to your friend talk about his favorite hobby.

The campus café is not bad at all,...

The campus café is not bad at all, but the selection is such that you start desiring different types of food after the second month or so.

Just a few examples of great...

Just a few examples of great places to eat as a BSC student are: SPR in Five Points (sushi lunch buffet on Mondays and Fridays), Momma Goldberg's in Homewood (free nachos for students on Thursdays), Al's Downtown (24-hour college grub), Nikki's West (cafeteria-style Southern food), Moe's all over the city, and Five Guys on Lakeshore (great burgers, good place to meet people).

Since the school switched to DIII,...

Since the school switched to DIII, fewer people go to the games. That being said, it seems like most teams have a loyal, although small, following. Intramural sports are both fun and well-organized—they are a great way to destress and get some exercise.

For the most part, the faculty is...

For the most part, the faculty is great. They're qualified, motivated, and student-oriented. You definitely can't "just get by" at BSC. You are going to have to do some hard work, but it's not back-breaking, and you'll have plenty of time to socialize and party, as well. It's often described as a "work hard/play hard" kind of place, which I would say is pretty accurate.

Greek life at BSC is pretty...

Greek life at BSC is pretty intense. People get caught up in it, and that can lead to some undue rivalries between organizations. That being said, going Greek is a great way to make lifelong friends very quickly. Additionally, most people in leadership positions on campus are Greek, and the Greek GPA is considerably higher than the independent GPA. So, there are pros and cons, but if you're motivated and sociable, you won't have a problem either way.

BSC dining services have added...

BSC dining services have added organic products to the lineup of healthy food items. Now we can nourish ourselves with healthier choices. It’s more expensive but, nonetheless, healthier.

There are a lot of chain...

There are a lot of chain restaurants in Birmingham, but even more home-owned restaurants. The great Thai, Greek, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Italian restaurants have been my favorites.

There’s not really much in walking...

There’s not really much in walking distance, and because of the rough neighborhood right outside the gate, I wouldn’t walk there anyway. If you get on the expressway, we’re only minutes from downtown and a host of different restaurants and bars. Southside is particularly popular. Niki’s West, Mellow Mushroom pizza, The Purple Onion, and Jim N’ Nicks Bar-B-Q are some favorites.

There are an infinite number of...

There are an infinite number of places to eat in Birmingham. My personal favorites are crepes in the Summit, Jim N’ Nicks, Surin West, and Mellow Mushroom. There’s a Hooters nearby. Those are always fun.

The spots around town vary on your...

The spots around town vary on your personal tastes. Charlie’s, which is located just down the street from campus, is a country, home-style place. It’s pretty small, but the service is very friendly, and the food is delicious. Off the Lakeshore exit, you’ll find a variety, and also down Highway 280 you have a great selection. There are many more, but most students stick to Purple Onion, Wendy’s, Chili’s, O’Charley’s, Outback, Taco Bell, and anywhere that can be considered cheap.

The restaurants off campus are...

The restaurants off campus are fabulous. We go to Surin West downtown, Five Points Grill, and the Summit shopping center, where we have California Pizza Kitchen, the Cheesecake Factory, and PF Chang’s.

There are all kinds of great...

There are all kinds of great restaurants around Birmingham. One fun place to go is Charlie’s. It’s a place nearby campus that is family owned and serves great Southern food. Most of the good restaurants are either in downtown Birmingham or in the neighboring towns of Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia, or Mountain Brook. There are all kinds of places to eat. One of my favorites is Giano’s, an Italian, family-owned restaurant that has awesome food for a very low price and great service.

The restaurants are all great off...

The restaurants are all great off campus. There is any number of regular fast food places as well as local spots. A pizzeria named Mellow Mushroom is a decent hangout spot for the local university students, including BSC. There are also a good variety of different cultural restaurants like Nabeel’s in Homewood and Taj India.

Restaurants in Birmingham are...

Restaurants in Birmingham are surprisingly excellent. Charlie’s and Niki’s West right by campus are excellent, and Surin West downtown is a hit with students. You have to look around, really, to find small places to call your own, but they are there.

Some professors excel at...

Some professors excel at discussion-based classes, some with lecture style, and some with collaborative learning. You just have to figure out what kind of class you’re signing up for, and pick the professor accordingly. Once you learn who to avoid, it’s smooth sailing.

Most of my teachers are great, and...

Most of my teachers are great, and I really enjoy the classes for my major and the faculty in the education department. I’ve found that the entire faculty is very open to any questions I might have, and they are always willing to lend any help they can give in any situation.

Overall, I’ve found the teachers...

Overall, I’ve found the teachers to be very good. I’ve had several who do a great job of making sure they are available for questions and that their students understand the material. BSC offers some interesting classes that you might not find at other schools, especially the ones offered during interim.

All of the teachers who I...

All of the teachers who I encountered during my first year went above and beyond the call of duty. Professors did everything from having classes over for dinner and study sessions before finals to promptly answering e-mails and requests for meetings. I found an earnest desire in each of my professors to help students achieve their big dreams.