"Catholic" College Searching- Help!

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Rach620

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Hello all!

I will be graduating from high school next year, so I’ve been looking for the “right” college for awhile now. I am certain that I want to attend a Catholic university, but I am torn. I want to get a true Catholic education and I want to be taught about my religion by true Catholics who are faithful to the Church, but I also want to earn a degree from an institution that will be respected in the secular world. I’m not sure that the educational quality of a place such as Franciscan University of Steubenville or Ave Maria University would be on par with a more respected, although albeit less truly Catholic, institution, such as Notre Dame and the like.

I’ve seen posts about Catholic colleges on the forums here before, but I believe what I’m bringing up here is a bit different. Will an orthodox Catholic education at a small, relatively unknown college be “worth it”? Would I be sacrificing possible future opportunities and educational quality? Or should I simply go where Christ leads me and not worry so much about the future?
 
I have friends whose 3 oldest children have attended U of Dallas and they rave about what a good school it is. Both in it’s Catholicity and it’s educational quality. Have you checked it out yet?
 
You may consider looking into the University of Dallas. It is a relatively small Catholic liberal arts college with a wonderful core curriculum and the opportunity to study in Rome for a semester. Fr. Pacwa of EWTN used to teach there as did Janet Smith (#1 defender of the Church’s position on contraception, etc.). Even though they are no longer there, they still recommend it. George Weigel also did an article about the college that was very good. Fr. Pacwa also mentioned that Texas A & M has a great Catholic environment and the University of Illinois even has an all-Catholic dorm. I know the University of Dallas grads have a high acceptance rate into medical school. I know my kids’ pediatrician went there as did his wife and their daughter will graduate from UD next year. I don’t know that the small liberal arts colleges have the status of Notre Dame, but I’ll bet the graduates you are going to hear from will stack their educations up against Notre Dame’s any time. Have you read the ISI guide, “Choosing the Right College, the Whole Truth about America’s Top Schools”? We found it much more helpful than all the other biased guides that come out. You can read all about why they are different at www.isibooks.org Most of all, pray for discernment. That will be the best way to be at peace with your decision.
 
Hi Rach,

Congratulations! You are very articulate and you are asking some very intelligent questions.

Making a decision about which college to attend in this day & age
**is ** very difficult, precisely because of the dilemma you describe.

To answer your question, I don’t think you should sacrifice quality of education either to attend a more “Catholic” college or to attend a school that is respected in the secular world.

I’d like to warn you that public opinion (religious or secular) is not neccessarily the best indication of the quality of a college. Sadly, today the reputation of a school is not the always best gage of the quality of its education. There is a great deal of decay in American higher education and many people, even those in academia, have forgotten (or never knew) what a good college education is.

That said, I wouldn’t disregard schools like Notre Dame, simply because they are not entirely Catholic any longer.

If I were in your shoes, I would ask advice of a Catholic professor teaching in the field I was interested in. Many professors will be able to tell you which schools have the best departments in your subject and what the quality of education in the school is. Don’t be surprised if you are reccommended colleges which are ** not ** well-known in the secular world.

I think it’s most important that you get a thorough, effective education, regardless of the affiliation or reputation of the school you attend. It is possible to attend a non-Catholic college and preserved your faith - a true education will only strengthen it.

BTW, in case you couldn’t tell, I attended a college which doesn’t have a particularly strong reputation in the secular world and wasn’t particularly Catholic. My area of study is even less well-regarded than my college, but I don’t have any regrets. I’ve never lacked for opportunities (it’s a myth that you only get opportunities if you go to a good school and major in something “useful”) and my college education has immensurably enriched my life.

I could go into what I think makes up a good higher education, but that would take at least another post. 🙂

Anyhow, that’s my rambling $0.02. I hope I’ve addressed your questions. Sorry to be long-winded :p.

What are you interested in studying, by the way?
 
I think you are right to think of such things, Rach. Clearly it is a concern for you!

My opinion, for what it’s worth (2 whole cents!), is that it doesn’t matter if you attend some “prestigious” college like Notre Dame, or a smaller, more faithful school like Christendom. It’s just a piece of paper to hang on the wall. Really. You won’t get any further in life with a piece of paper that cost you $150,000 and ost you your faith…than you would with a piece of paper that cost you $50,000 and strengthened your faith!

See what I’m saying? I’m not comparing Yale and a local community college. Among decent schools, a school is a school is a school.

Here’s your plan:

Sit before the Blessed Sacrament and pray about it. Ask Him for guidance and blessings, and then do what you need to do. I don’t know what the right school for you is. But a piece of paper is a piece of paper. Study hard, do well.

Good luck!
 
I agree with what Kristalyn said about the work mattering more than the piece of paper, but if you want a truely AWESOME catholic college, look in to Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. It was established by the Benedictine Monks and has a wonderfully spiritual student-life. I attended there in the early 90’s, and DID NOT take advantage of the opportunities it offered at that time. I stayed at the monestary a couple of months ago for 3 days, for a short retreat, and found the campus was brimming with enthusiasm and love for the Catholic Church. Daily mass, when I was there, was attended by a couple of people. Now, almost 150 students attend daily mass!!! What a blessing. Dr. Ted Sri, if you have heard of him, is an alumni of Benedictine. He loved his experience there. He now is an accomplished author and speaker. Google Benedictine College and check it out. You WILL NOT be disappointed.
 
I think it depends on what you wish to pursue in college. I would say find out what you want to pursue, and judge the college according to the academic excellence of that field. For instance, Franciscan University has an excellent Philosophy, Theology and Nursing program…whereas its Education Program could be better. Christendom has an excellent Liberal Arts and Philosophy classes. The ‘smaller’ colleges I would not advise attending because not only are they not well known, but the courses they offer are rather limited. Unless, of course, it is your attention to get a Liberal Arts degree. I would judge the school not only in general, but also according to your interests, and rate how their courses would best correlate with what you want to do. Hope this helps! God bless your day.
 
Speaking from my own limited experience, in five years after you graduate, all that will matter is that you graduated from somewhere, with some degree in something. Not where, not what. Your first employer MIGHT care where you went to college. (None of mine every have.) After that your employers usually only care what your last few jobs were, and why you left them.

However, your college experience is truly a formative one and may very well change your life. I’d be far more concerned with what the “tone” of campus life is, than with the academic reputation of the college. If it’s accredited, great, but even if it’s not, don’t discount it on that lack alone. A party school is not likely to help you become a mature adult, for example, despite it’s national standing in the GRE testing or whatever.

That said, UD is only a few miles from my home and is both a wonderfully Catholic and highly respected academic institution, with a lovely campus. Stuenbenville (Franciscan Univeristy), Ave Maria, Christendom, and Thomas Aquinas are also excellent and very Catholic unviersities, and there is a wonderful Catholic subculture alive and well at Texas A&M, has been for 25 years or more now.

Best of luck to you in your search. pray pray pray!
 
I am strongly in favor of the Liberal Arts education, especially for a faithful Catholic, since it does broaden your mind, and puts all future studies in the context of a well grounded intellect. That said, Thomas Aquinas College is very compelling. I have visited, and went to a very similar, though secular school (St. John’s College). The curriculum is all required, and sacramental life is vibrant–and the location is BEAUTIFUL (california). The College is very small, allowing for the attention that is necessary when struggling with the larger issues of our western tradition. If you really like reading (there are no text books, just origional sources) I would encourage you to look into it.

Allison
 
You can’t go wrong with Thomas Aquinas College (TAC). Our priest is a TAC grad as well as some fellow parishioners. We attended graduation ceremonies there last month. Cardinal Arinze was the keynote speaker. Good luck.
 
I have a daughter who will be a sophomore at Thomas Aquinas College in the fall.

IF you are interested in discovering the real sources of Western Civilization - of understanding the deepest foundations of the Church - then challenge yourself to grow at Thomas Aquinas College. It is a rigorous process, if my daughter’s first year is any indication. Yet I truly believe they have a vision for providing an optimium environment for discovering the timeless truths of the Faith from those who first found them. It is an experience that I envy her undertaking…
 
I attended Christendom and loved it. I also found my vocation (wife) there. Great academics and a wonderful atmosphere.

God bless,
-Stylite
 
I attended FUS. As mentioned before, the school may not matter much in regards to getting a job. Now the big corps. or firms may have a preference and the big med schools and law schools also may have a preference, but I would say that most employers want the education degree and also hire the person (intellect and personality). What does matter a little more is what you study and where you want to live in the future. For instance, I live in an semi-industrial city and liberal arts are not that popular in order to get a good paying job unless you have a masters or are a lawyer. I studied Theology, I have no regrets on that, but I should have gotten a dual degree in something else too.

My experience at FUS was incredible! Are there problems there? Sure, but the community is one of a kind! The education is very good, maybe not well known, but it is challenging (esp. Theology, Phil., Humanities, and other liberal arts).
 
You can go to school with me here in Erie, PA at Gannon University, “Northwestern Pennsylvania’s Premier Catholic University” lol
 
I went to Seattle University in Seattle Washington and it was great. The campus is beautiful, just blocks from downtown Seattle. The Nursing school (I’m an RN) was then (1985) ranked best of all 4 yr universities on the west coast, and the campus now supports a nursing home. It has wonderful Math and Law schools and the Jesuits are really great. I would recommend SU to any student (Catholic or not) pursuing any degree.
👍 Good Luck and et us know what you decide.
 
Thanks everyone for your wonderful (name removed by moderator)ut!

For all who were wondering, I’m interested in the liberal arts… leaning towards history or political science as a major with a minor in theology. I’m not sure how I feel about the “Great Books” schools (like Thomas Aquinas). I guess I should look into them more…

As many times as I have heard before that going to a well-known school really doesn’t matter in the end, it is helpful to hear it from you all. My high school really pushes all the students to apply to the “big names” so that it can say their students were accepted there… sometimes it doesn’t seem as if we’re as encouraged to find a school that is “right” for us as one that reflects well on the school. It’s confusing and difficult to work through it all…

I have a list of several schools at the moment… anyone know anything (good or bad) about:
  • Assumption College: Worcester, MA
  • John Carroll University: Cleveland, OH
  • Providence College: Providence, RI
  • Salve Regina University: Newport, RI
  • Stonehill College: Worcester, MA
Notre Dame is still on my list (partly because my dad desperately wants me to go there), but it seems that every time I read a review of it by a Catholic source, I hear that some are very unhappy that they didn’t get the respectable Catholic university that they paid for. Anyone have experience with Notre Dame? Any recent grads? I plan on visiting, but does anyone know the current situation there?

Eh, this post is getting longish, but if there are any other teens in my situation, I’d love to hear from you!

God bless you all!
 
I appreciate all of the above posts. However, I would suggest that you broaden your search. You have plenty of time. Look at universities with expertise in your areas of interest, and look at the Catholic communities on and around their campuses. I attended a large secular university in a moderately large city, and I found a large, active Catholic community on my campus and many, many Catholic communities nearby and on neighboring Campuses. Also, there were many people of other faiths there, including many Jewish people of all levels of practice, both on the faculty and in the student body. This gave me wonderful opportunities to expand my understanding and knowledge. There is something to be said for being surrounded by Catholics during your college years. However, if you are commited to your Catholic faith, you will grow by becoming part of a Catholic community and yet remaining in contact with non-Catholics.

Best wishes in your search and keep praying!

Ellen
 
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Rach620:
Thanks everyone for your wonderful (name removed by moderator)ut!

Eh, this post is getting longish, but if there are any other teens in my situation, I’d love to hear from you!

God bless you all!
Click to expand...
Hi! I am also a “teen in your situation”! I am going to be a senoir next year and have been looking at my options. UD is looking very very good, I visited it last weekend and it is awesome! I think I am just going to apply to as many good Catholic schools as I can and then pray to see where God leads me!!
 
Here is my two cents: I graduated from Franciscan University 4 years ago with a BS in Economics and a Masters in Finance. Now I work in the auto industry which is highly competitive but rewards me with a high salary. I actually make more then my husband who went to the University of Michigan for his Engineering BS and Masters.

You can go to a place like Franciscan and get the knowledge you need to get ahead after college. Is it harder? Certainly. I work along side graduates from Notre Dame and University of Michigan that were recruited right on their college campuses. (My company recruits most college graduates directly from the top 10 schools in the country.) Also, while I am in one special “future leaders” program with my company, I was not eligible for another similar program that only accepts Harvard graduates.

I would highly suggest you give schools like Franciscan a good look, if you are drawn to them. They can give you a solid foundation in your faith at a critical point in your life. They can also give you good friends that share your convictions who will remain in your life (but probably not your home state!) for the rest of your life. If you have the drive to gain knowledge and succeed in the secular world, you still can. You just have to fight a little bit hard for maintain your faith and your career. I, for one, thought the challenge was worth it.
 
hey im in the exact same situation as well! i am trying to find a good Catholic college to attend in the fall of 06, but i never imagined it would be so hard! im trying to find one on the east coast (a little closer to home), but most of these schools have appeared to have become the more liberal ‘catholic’ schools, ie BC, Holy Cross, ect. my advice is - visit the school, get a feel for the spiritual life, and then if u get the impression that at least SOME of the students fully practice the faith, then at least you will have people to have that in common with, and perhaps there are good Catholic groups you can join and still have a good spiritual life, even if the college itself is not comendable.
 
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