Biola University
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Attracting people with scooters. You know, Razors. You think that's just a childhood mode of transportation? Have no fear. I'm bringing it back.
- Keepin' it classy. People actually dress up most of the time. Guys comb their hair, girls wear dresses when they feel like it and avoid Uggs at all costs. Students don't usually wear sweats to class, but when they do…you know it's finals week.
- Pretending I'm hipster. Our guys have all the beards and man-buns imaginable and I like to wear my Ray Bans and flannels, but if you look beyond that…I'm really down-to-earth. Shhh. Don't tell anyone.
- Nursing, business, intercultural studies, and, of course, theology. All students will graduate with a Bible minor, too.
- Clubs (not the night kind). Some of our most interesting clubs on campus include: the Adventure Club (for you hiking-enthusiasts), Hide and Seek club, Swing and Line dancing clubs, and the Guerrilla Film Society.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Disneyland season pass. You're twenty minutes away. Are you really going to miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance?
- Flip-flops. Preferably Rainbows. You can't be a true Californian or survive the heat without 'em.
- Nalgene water bottle. Look outdoorsy and stay cool at the same time.
- Some big, fat, ugly sweaters for days when you just "can't even." Wear them. Unabashedly. You do you.
- A guitar, or the occasional accordion and banjo. Gather friends for a jam sesh on the lawn. Play it loud. And pa-raise the Lord.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- Fourth Worst Party School in the Nation? You know it. And I'm proud of it.
- I have the largest student-run Missions Conference in the world, which is prepared for months in advance. We invite about a hundred missions organizations and more than fifty missionaries to attend. They network with students and share stories of their experiences as missionaries.
- Wonderful professors. It's not unlikely that at some point you'll find yourself laughing at the dinner table with a prof's family, crying in front of their desk, or getting blown away in the middle of a lecture. These people love what they do.
- People going barefoot. If you see one, don't be alarmed: they do own shoes; they just choose not to wear them. For whatever reason, principle or personal preference, our barefoot brethren walk tall and shoeless.
- Rockin' honors program. Torrey Honors Institute is a Christian great books program established in 1995. Their goal is to "pursue truth, goodness and beauty in intellectual and spiritual community, enabling them to be strong Christian leaders." They read an insane amount of books, but they aren't snobs.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
- I love getting people together for movie marathons, often Hot Rod and occasionally Lord of the Rings, Mean Girls, or old Harrison Ford movies from the '80s.
- Late night food runs are also quite common. Tacos, donuts, boba, and fro-yo are just a few of the common student cravings for when the kitchens on campus are closed.
- Check out the inaccurately named dollar theater. Only five minutes away from campus, you can see a recently produced movie for a mere $3, and matinees are $2. Score.
- If you need a quick get-away, pack up a car with some friends, a few sleeping bags, and drive two hours to Joshua Tree National Park for camping. There's nothing quite like getting out into nature and sleeping under the stars. If you need PE units, the backpacking class is one of my best-kept secrets. Go have fun out in the wilderness and get credit for it.
Favorite Hangouts:
You can always find people in the Student Union Building doing one of three things:
1. Doing homework
2. Pretending to do homework (but really just talking)
3. Playing an amateur game of pool
My campus coffee shop, Common Grounds, lovingly nicknamed "Commons" by the locals, is filled with chatting, studying, and the intoxicating smells of espresso. If you want coffee off campus, just up the street lies Cream and Sugar. They have everything from Nutella mochas to lavender lattes.
The world-famous Huntington Beach is a forty-five-minute drive west. There, you can find everything from sand in your toes to hipster juice shops. However, just a few miles south is Newport Beach. It's not as well-known, but it's much more quiet and peaceful.
Quirks:
- I'm basically Ted Mosby: always looking for my future spouse. Dating here is serious. And "Ring by Spring" is a thing. Over 90% of Biola men will graduate either married or engaged. Bum bum ba-dum. (Those were wedding bells.)
- GYRADs [Get Your Roommate A Date]. That's right. As a long-standing Biola tradition, roommates set each other up with blind dates and go out with a group of other couples. GYRADs usually consist of: laser tag, ice skating, ballroom dancing, hot air ballooning (yes, that's actually been done before), or just going to the beach.
- Everyone worships Trader Joe's and Starbucks. Those are some vital college staples. And both are well within reach of campus.
- Chapels. Students are required to attend thirty chapels per semester or pay a hefty fine. Attend two or three a week and you'll be fine. These chapels cover a wide range of topics, with speakers from foreign countries, local churches, and our own faculty.
- After enrollment is completed, students must sign a contract to refrain from the use of drugs and alcohol, gambling, and sexual activity.
Famous Alumni:
- Zach King, Vine and YouTube star and film-maker
- Tony Hale, actor from Arrested Development and Stranger Than Fiction
- Andy Luckey, producer Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Adventures from the Book of Virtues
- Josh McDowell, Christian apologist, evangelist, and writer. One of his most famous books is More Than a Carpenter.
- Scott Derrickson, director of Sinister and Dr. Strange for Marvel in 2016