Bradley University is a top-ranked educational institution harboring around 5,900 total students. It was founded by Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897 and, since 1995, has stayed within the top 10 Best Midwest Universities. Despite the ongoing pandemic, Bradley is among the top 25 private universities in the nation for student engagement.
While it is clear that Bradley is a successful institution, it would not be what it is today without the students that make up the growing community. Current students share their experience on campus for the last couple of years.
“I will and always do recommend Bradley University to those looking into higher education,” says junior Hannah Mays. After taking a tour of the campus in high school, she knew that this was where she could pursue her interests. She then decided to major in Political Science and minor in Religious Studies when coming in as a freshman.
“No matter what class, or professor, I walk out with something valuable. That may be an expanded vocabulary or a new perspective, but everyday I am reminded of the worth of my education and all the hard work that goes into it.”
Bradley offers over 185 programs of study so students with interests across the spectrum will find something for them. From Hannah’s Religious Studies to Matt Lalas’ Game Design and Music studies, most students find comfort in Bradley’s offers. Matt is a current student at Bradley who has taken advantage of many of the school’s perks. He stated, “I heard that the Game Design program was one of the best in the country, but even before then I knew that Bradley was well-known for its professional connections.”
More often than not, academic institutions are ranked based on academic performances; however, there are smaller aspects about a university that should be considered. Taking a look back on the changes that have taken place since March of 2019, mental health struggles have been a huge hurdle for many individuals cooped up inside. Luckily, those associated with Bradley can take advantage of the valuable resources offered by Health Services.
“Not all campuses offer the truly valuable mental health services that Bradley does. This makes Bradley stand out–not just because of the services, but because of the hard working mental professionals that are there to help students every single day,” said Hannah. She thought that mental health workers at colleges were not talked about enough.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that this is a large factor for students to consider in their higher education nowadays. Fortunately for current students and those to come, Bradley offers a variety of services to help both academically and mentally. The last couple of semesters have put an immense amount of strain on faculty and students, but it is clear that the community built on the Hilltop is strong enough to keep the morale alive.