Academics
As a 鈥淕od-centered Christian university鈥 in Southern California, Azusa Pacific boasts 鈥渁wesome鈥 nursing and music programs, 鈥渟mall鈥 class sizes, and a 鈥渇riendly鈥 campus atmosphere, not to mention the added benefit of year-round 鈥淐alifornia sun.鈥 One student explains that, in addition to being accomplished in their fields, the faculty at APU are also 鈥減assionate about the students and [strive] to see us succeed in the classroom, in our faith in Christ, and in life.鈥 When it comes to the workload, 鈥淎PU is somewhat challenging, depending on your major.鈥 However, students reassure us that 鈥減rofessors do their best to make the learning experience enjoyable and not stressful.鈥 鈥淭he classes are challenging yet manageable,鈥 says one. To ensure that students don鈥檛 get run under with course work, professors at Azusa 鈥渢ry to make themselves accessible even in matters that aren鈥檛 academic.鈥 Likewise, administrators play an active role in the student community. A freshman tells us, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there is any place else in the world where you can walk around campus on a Saturday, and see the president walking around in his shorts and baseball cap, and ask to take a picture with him.鈥
Student Body
There are many common threads throughout the APU student body, one being a shared Christian faith, another being a 鈥渢ypical Southern Californian鈥 attitude. Most students come from middle-class families, and many 鈥渟hare similar worldviews, theologies, and religious convictions.鈥 But don鈥檛 judge a book by its cover: 鈥淎lthough many students look quite similar, everyone has their own unique life story, and oftentimes the least-suspected person has the most incredible stories.鈥 Students further insist that the open-minded community at Azusa tends to have a positive effect on their classmates. A sophomore explains, 鈥淢any of the students come from similar backgrounds and places in life, but all of them change once they get here. College helps people to grow and find themselves, and therefore, those typical students become quite atypical by the time they are ready to leave the APU bubble.鈥
Campus Life
Boasting new and spacious dormitories, residence life at Azusa is a blast---so much so that some students compare the experience to 鈥渓iving in a hotel with all your friends!鈥 Get ready for some serious collegiate bonding as 鈥淒orms are literally open door . . . families and freshmen spill onto Trinity Lawn where they remain talking or throwing the football or studying until 3:00, 4:00, or 5:00 A.M.鈥 Thanks to an active arts community on campus, 鈥渢he theater program here puts on around 10 shows a semester, and there are a few music performances both by individual students and performing groups a few times every week.鈥 When they aren鈥檛 chilling on campus, 鈥淪tudents hang out at Starbucks鈥 or 鈥済o to the movies, Disneyland, the beach, hiking, or to the mountains.鈥 When it comes to partying, the school maintains a 鈥渧ery strict鈥 policy when it comes 鈥渢o parties involving alcohol or drugs,鈥 and, as such, few students indulge. Even so, you can expect your share of silly antics at APU: 鈥淪ome people party; others run around dressed up as ninja turtles completely sober.鈥
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