Azusa Pacific University Top Questions

To be honest, I wanted to transfer my Freshman year. I had not figured out how APU worked. Three years later I would not have wanted to be anywhere else. This school provides so many opportunities for growth and experience. They really encourage student involvement on campus. This is the best way to find your niche. The best part of Azusa is the faculty. I am yet to take a class that the professor does not want to see you succeed. That does not mean that success if passing the class with an "A" but instead grasping the concepts and growing through. I would change the food on campus. The food is good and we are well fed. However this is really the only area that I would change. I would say that student population is really relevant to the person. For me this is just right. I am constantly seeing new faces, but there is still a sense of community on campus. People always notice the sticker on my car from Azusa Pacific. It is the start of many great conversations. I most often hear that people go to the community college across the street and really want to to transfer to APU. They ask how I like it and what kind of classes I get to take. I love hanging out with my friends at their apartments, going to library for study groups, or the coffee shop to catch up with a friend. The city of Azusa is very supportive of APU. However it is not solely a city for APU. This provides a great opportunity for service though. APU is committed to providing service to the community. This would be difficult if the city was a college town. I love the administration at Azusa. I have been fortunate enough to take a class with the President of the university. It is amazing that he would take the time to really invest in a group of students in this way. The most recent controversy was for a veterans day chapel. Azusa Pacific invited a pacifist to speak to the student body. There was quite a bit of hostility from certain parts of the student body. However the speaker did a fantastic job of paying respect to service members while speaking about his beliefs on war.

The best thing about APU is that the staff care whether you succeed or not. Some may pull you into meetings to talk about how you could do better if you are failing a class. APU is fantastic and I wouldn't change a thing.

I have full confidence when I say Azusa Pacific is an amazing school. It has just the right amount of students to be able to be comfortable and get connected but it is big enough to meet new people often. Our teachers are great role models and want to get to know each student personally and invest in our lives. Freshmen year I spent a lot of my time on Trinity lawn because everyone would be hanging out listening to music, reading a book, or talking to friends. One thing that is very unusual about our school is the study abroad for the same price as tuition. I had the opportunity to go to South Africa, that is one experience I will never forget. Four months in an amazing, God-filled place.

The best thing about this school is that everyone is literally the nicest people in the world. Whether or not they are being genuine, they are all so nice and generous. The other great thing is that because the school is not crowded just yet (it's expanding exponentially every year), people don't psychologically feel claustrophobic. It is true that this school is not the most well-known but as far as Christian universities go, it is in the top three. There is a lot of school pride especially when it comes to sports, obviously. My school has a great baseball team as well as an acrobatic and tumbling team. There are different venues at this school that people could hang out at like the coffee shop, with indoor and outdoor seating; cougar walk, an outdoor seating area; the Rose garden with a "romantic" atmosphere; the amphitheatre with the gorgeous sun hitting your face; and so much more. One thing that is a bummer, however, is that all undergrad students are required to attend three chapel services a week. Although it is only an hour, I feel that it is unnecessary. APU also has an amazing music program with a great cello studio (which I am part of) as well as a Jazz combo group with amazing directors like Rusty Higgins, who used to frequently play with the Jazz bigs like Count Basie.

Azusa, just like any school, has it's bright spots and it's challenges. A walk across campus is inspiring, from the beautiful landscaping to the amazing Southern California weather. The atmosphere is kinder and more welcoming than other schools I have visited. Admissions was an easy process, made easier by a wonderful staff. Across from campus are several fast food places, shops and even a movie theater, all within walking distance. However, with that being said, one has to prepare for the pitfalls. I have observed that the libraries are not ideal study places, and campus food is very pricey. As a commuter student, there are very few, if any, comfortable places to sit down and have a meal while browsing your laptop. With those drawbacks aside, the benefits of attending a well-respected school such as Azusa Pacific University outweigh the downfalls. And sitting outside in the grass on a sunny autumn day is a bright spot unlike any other.

I have really enjoyed being at Azusa Pacific. As a freshman, I can always find something to do and love the atmosphere of it. There are just the right amount of students. It is not overwhelming but not too small. You get the classes you want and are able to connect with your professors. The feel is amazing and God centered. The school has pride for our athletics down to the theater program. Some days are slow but for the most part, there is always something to do and someone to talk too.

APU is a wonderful school that is filled with people who are committed to learning, loving one another, and creating a community for our students, which is one of our greatest attributes. Although we are committed to change, we still need to continue to work on things such as parking, food, and our discussion around diversity. Because APU is in Azusa, 30 minutes from LA, our campus is very urban. The campus size is around 5000 which is not too big or too small, but it feels perfect because it is so close to a big city. One thing to keep in mind is that because we are in such a urban area, we have had a few problems with security issues, but no more than any other urban campus that is being sought out for.