With a 4.0 and a 34 ACT out of high school, Chad Bell had many options for where he could pursue his degree, but BYU-Idaho was the only university where he chose to apply.
“God Led Me Here”
“My siblings actually both went to BYU-Idaho, and I think that was a big influence on me,” Chad said. “They also could have chosen other schools, but they had great experiences here at BYUI in different ways, and I think that inspired me growing up and probably made that decision a lot easier for me.”
While researching his options, Chad toured other colleges, paying attention to how each college made him feel, until the Spirit told him to apply to BYU-Idaho.
“I knew that BYU-Idaho was the right place for me and where I needed to be,” Chad said. “So BYUI is the only place where I submitted an application. I was excited to get in.”
The Underdog Story
“I feel like the people in Rexburg are there because God has led them here. And I feel that for me, too, that God led me there,” Chad said.
He identified with BYU-Idaho's “underdog mentality,” Chad said, explaining how BYU-Idaho students are scrappy, resourceful, and innovative. “We’re going to find ways to do more with less,” he added, referencing President Henry B. Eyring’s “A Steady, Upward Course” address.
Speaking to students who might be interested in attended BYU-Idaho, Chad said, “There are probably more prestigious universities, but if you like the story of an underdog, the come-from-behind win, then BYUI could be right for you.”
Leadership with a “Small L”
As a BYU-Idaho student, Chad has loved incorporating past-president Kim B. Clark’s lesson of “small L” leadership.
“I love that idea, and I think BYUI really helped me incorporate that into who I am,” Chad said. “I had lots of leadership opportunities with little Ls here at BYUI. Whether it was a calling in the ward or being in the classroom and lifting those around you, I loved that idea that we could lift and encourage and be disciple-leaders every day.”
Student-Focused Instruction
Chad also had excellent experiences with BYU-Idaho faculty.
“I loved the faculty at BYUI,” Chad said. “Honestly, they’re some of the best people I’ve ever met, and they’re definitely the best instructors I’ve ever had.”
From his first-semester English professor who helped him learn to love writing after hating it for years, to his statistics professor who inspired him with his love for students, learning, and the gospel, Chad’s education has been greatly impacted by these faculty.
“The best thing about the BYUI instructors is their love for you as the student,” Chad said. “Because they're not focused on graduate programs and research, they can focus on students individually. They're always trying to meet with students and learn their names and things like that.”
Growing as a Disciple
Chad received a great education at BYU-Idaho, but his experience went beyond that as he grew as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
“There is a spirit on the campus of BYU-Idaho, and it's God's spirit,” Chad said. “Sometimes we identify it as the Spirit of Ricks, the spirit of belonging and love that we feel with the faculty and with the other students. It's through God's spirit that we're able to draw closer to God and to Christ. And I loved that spirit while I was at BYUI. And I'm grateful that I could be there to strengthen that relationship with my Savior, especially as I loved those around me and the other students.”
Life After BYU-Idaho
Chad graduated from BYU-Idaho in Winter 2024 with his bachelor’s degree in computer science. He is currently earning his master’s in analytics at the Georgia Institute of Technology and works as the lead developer at DataThink.io.