Last day of School, 1st Semester

Today was the last day of my 1st semester of Grad school at the University of Utah. After my time at BYU, I have some distinct impressions of the differences in my education experience. 

1) The U is a much more relaxed, open environment for learning.

2) The U has been much more responsive to student feedback than BYU. Teachers pay attention to feedback about difficulty of exams and take interest in the abilities of students to successfully complete the tasks they require.

3) The educational quality I received was definitely better a BYU, where I feel I got a more unbiased education, with the exception of a few religion classes and one psychology class. The U has proven that there is a definite agenda in my school. If not in the instructional material, in the opinions of the student body themselves. I have all but given up on getting to know two sides of an argument in Urban Planning. BYU almost never failed to provide a highly critical environment of the different arguments presented.

4) The teachers at the U almost all have a day job. They relate their teaching directly from their experiences in working for Salt Lake City, federal agencies, or corporate entities. It makes learning a lot more interesting and applicable. 

5) Community involvement is often required as part of course requirements at the U. Another very good thing.

6) BYU often did a great job of relating many subjects to religion, bridging the gap between academic learning and spiritual growth. Those moments are prized moments in my education.

Now, if there was only a school that was a mix of these things.