Need some college input

[The_Murray]

Just about to finish up 2 years at my local community college and was looking to transfer to a 4 year school.

I have guaranteed admission to the University of Virginia, The College of William and Mary, and Virginia Tech. However, after living in Richmond’s VCU area for the past 2 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t want to go to a secular school. Joining Catholic groups and being involved is great and all but I really desire a strong overall Catholic culture. Thus why I’m here.

I have a perfect GPA and stellar scores, acceptance isn’t really an issue; with that said here are the short list of my schools.

-Georgetown University (seems far too secular, but has stellar academics)
-**Ave Maria University **( seems to be lacking the academic prestige I’m looking for but definitely has the culture I desire)
-St. Anselm College (I know absolutely nothing about its catholic culture -or even its existence. Just familiar with its academics).
-The College of The Holy Cross (from what I’ve read it has a vibrant Liberal Catholic Culture along with stellar academics)

Also, I’m majoring in Physics but I’m not too concerned about wether or not the school is science oriented as I plan on going directly to graduate school (just in case anybody had that question). And price; I worked on an oil rig for a couple years prior to attending community college, I have money. I’m far more concerned with finding a school with a strong academic and Catholic culture than worrying about price or school academic focus.

So… Any advice! I don’t know too much about the culture of many of these schools so it’d be great if somebody had some info to fill me in. The websites make it seem like they’re all vibrantly Catholic, but I get the feeling that just aint so (see georgetown).

I’m not just relegated to these school’s either, just the short list I came up with through some basic research.

 

[kozlosap]

Going to a school, especially as a transfer from a JC with wonderful stats like you have, needs to be thought out with your future goals in mind, most especially grad school. If you want a Catholic Campus, then Georgetown or Boston College would be my choice since they are awesome schools and their rates of acceptance to Med school and law school are phenomenal. Other than Cal, I don’t think you could find a better public school than UV. Have a wonderful time looking at the different schools and dreaming of what you will be doing a year from now!

 

[ejlo1]

You may want to look ahead to the graduate program you plan to apply to and see if they will accept courses from those colleges. Otherwise, you will have to make up courses before really starting in on your graduate degree.

As an alum from Franciscan University of Steubenville I highly recommend it for it’s Catholic culture. Academically it is also very good. When I was there the science majors were a little lacking, but I understand that has been much improved over the past decade since I graduated.

 

[1990Domer]

Just about to finish up 2 years at my local community college and was looking to transfer to a 4 year school.

I have guaranteed admission to the University of Virginia, The College of William and Mary, and Virginia Tech. However, after living in Richmond’s VCU area for the past 2 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t want to go to a secular school. Joining Catholic groups and being involved is great and all but I really desire a strong overall Catholic culture. Thus why I’m here.

I have a perfect GPA and stellar scores, acceptance isn’t really an issue; with that said here are the short list of my schools.

-Georgetown University (seems far too secular, but has stellar academics)
-**Ave Maria University **( seems to be lacking the academic prestige I’m looking for but definitely has the culture I desire)
-St. Anselm College (I know absolutely nothing about its catholic culture -or even its existence. Just familiar with its academics).
-The College of The Holy Cross (from what I’ve read it has a vibrant Liberal Catholic Culture along with stellar academics)

Also, I’m majoring in Physics but I’m not too concerned about wether or not the school is science oriented as I plan on going directly to graduate school (just in case anybody had that question). And price; I worked on an oil rig for a couple years prior to attending community college, I have money. I’m far more concerned with finding a school with a strong academic and Catholic culture than worrying about price or school academic focus.

So… Any advice! I don’t know too much about the culture of many of these schools so it’d be great if somebody had some info to fill me in. The websites make it seem like they’re all vibrantly Catholic, but I get the feeling that just aint so (see georgetown).

I’m not just relegated to these school’s either, just the short list I came up with through some basic research.

Biased, but Notre Dame rocks and is trending orthodox since the Obama debacle. Best alumni association in the world. Set for life. Holy Cross priests. Excellent academics…all subjects.

Ave Maria…not strong in sciences.

De Sales U in Allentown. Very orthodox and excellent in science.

Biggest thing…ND can connect you in ways you can’t even imagine. It’s really special.

Holy Cross college…barf. Knew too many pedophine priests that started there (no lie).

GT barely Catholic. Pretty secular.

Ave Maria

 

[The_Murray]

Biased, but Notre Dame rocks and is trending orthodox since the Obama debacle. Best alumni association in the world. Set for life. Holy Cross priests. Excellent academics…all subjects.

Ave Maria…not strong in sciences.

De Sales U in Allentown. Very orthodox and excellent in science.

Biggest thing…ND can connect you in ways you can’t even imagine. It’s really special.

Holy Cross college…barf. Knew too many pedophine priests that started there (no lie).

GT barely Catholic. Pretty secular.

Ave Maria

I wish I could transfer to ND; they don’t accept 2 year credits though. It’s funny, basically every single institution (including harvard, yale, cornell, et cetera) accepts 2 year credits. ND, not so much. I was so bummed when I saw that.

That is a grim statistic for Holy Cross; quite shocking.

 

[1990Domer]

Just about to finish up 2 years at my local community college and was looking to transfer to a 4 year school.

I have guaranteed admission to the University of Virginia, The College of William and Mary, and Virginia Tech. However, after living in Richmond’s VCU area for the past 2 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t want to go to a secular school. Joining Catholic groups and being involved is great and all but I really desire a strong overall Catholic culture. Thus why I’m here.

I have a perfect GPA and stellar scores, acceptance isn’t really an issue; with that said here are the short list of my schools.

-Georgetown University (seems far too secular, but has stellar academics)
-**Ave Maria University **( seems to be lacking the academic prestige I’m looking for but definitely has the culture I desire)
-St. Anselm College (I know absolutely nothing about its catholic culture -or even its existence. Just familiar with its academics).
-The College of The Holy Cross (from what I’ve read it has a vibrant Liberal Catholic Culture along with stellar academics)

Also, I’m majoring in Physics but I’m not too concerned about wether or not the school is science oriented as I plan on going directly to graduate school (just in case anybody had that question). And price; I worked on an oil rig for a couple years prior to attending community college, I have money. I’m far more concerned with finding a school with a strong academic and Catholic culture than worrying about price or school academic focus.

So… Any advice! I don’t know too much about the culture of many of these schools so it’d be great if somebody had some info to fill me in. The websites make it seem like they’re all vibrantly Catholic, but I get the feeling that just aint so (see georgetown).

I’m not just relegated to these school’s either, just the short list I came up with through some basic research.

Also, the grades may not get you into the elite Catholic schools. GT is elite, so it rejects many good candidates, but it undermines the faith. Catholic U of America, however, does not undermine the faith.

Creighton is a very strong school. BC is a little sketchy…Catholic ID issues. Ask Peter Kreeft that question.

Villanova is a good choice. Obviously, my choice, ND. Yes, proud alum but equally proud that they literally forced the closure of the only abortion center in South Bend.

 

[The_Murray]

I love how the majority of the Catholic Universities I’ve looked up have an exceedingly large gender gap. Average has to be 40-60. That’s pretty funny.

 

[The_Murray]

Also, the grades may not get you into the elite Catholic schools. GT is elite, so it rejects many good candidates, but it undermines the faith. Catholic U of America, however, does not undermine the faith.

Creighton is a very strong school. BC is a little sketchy…Catholic ID issues. Ask Peter Kreeft that question.

Villanova is a good choice. Obviously, my choice, ND. Yes, proud alum but equally proud that they literally forced the closure of the only abortion center in South Bend.

Again; how I wish I could get into ND. Where’s the crying emoji?

 

[The_Murray]

I’m not sure how I’d like the enormous schools either. Living near (basically in) VCU has really left a bad taste for 10k+ schools. Maybe that’s just because it’s secular…

 

[fencersmother]

I might recommend Hillsdale College in Michigan. It is NOT a Catholic institution but has a very very strong Catholic community, with the addition of excellent academics. No Jesuit malarky, no Notre Dame “Vagina Monologues”… good solid education, at a relatively reasonable price, with academic panache.

So many of the “Catholic” colleges are, as y ou know, hardly Catholic at all, and basically just liberal indoctrination zones.

I’ll pray for y ou.

 

[The_Murray]

I might recommend Hillsdale College in Michigan. It is NOT a Catholic institution but has a very very strong Catholic community, with the addition of excellent academics. No Jesuit malarky, no Notre Dame “Vagina Monologues”… good solid education, at a relatively reasonable price, with academic panache.

So many of the “Catholic” colleges are, as y ou know, hardly Catholic at all, and basically just liberal indoctrination zones.

I’ll pray for y ou.

I’ve read about the “Vagina Monologues.” It’s very disturbing that so many renowned Catholic institutions allowed such vile nonsense to have a platform at their school.

 

[Cathoholic]

The Murray

Some people today look at College as a glorified trade school. Nothing wrong with trade school but don’t look at college that way.

I don’t think you are doing that incidentally.

When you go to a University you want to prioritize growing in your faith. Then getting a great education.

Ave Maria would be an excellent choice.

Consider TAC or Wyoming Catholic College as well. Franciscan University of Steubenville would also be very good.

Objection: But I am a physics major!

Answer: As you yourself said: “but I’m not too concerned about wether or not the school is science oriented as I plan on going directly to graduate school”.

The important thing about “education” isn’t what you learn (yes this important but there is more), so much as it is teaching you HOW to learn and teach yourself the rest of your life. This is a lifelong joy/endeavor.

You can take a few summer school classes at a major university, or do a post-baccalaureate (post-bac) year afterwards if you have difficulty getting into your grad school. Lots of people at Thomas Aquinas College (TAC) for example have gone on to Medical School. TAC does not offer many Med school prerequisite courses (but the students fill those pre-recs by doing some summer school or a post bac year).

This is my suggestion if you REALLY want to get into the Catholic culture, have a great education, then do the grad school thing. I suspect you will not regret carrying out these suggestions.

Interesting side note. Several people (almost all at once) were asking me advice on this years ago. I told them there is a 50-50 chance they’d meet their future spouse and 100% chance they will meet a LOT of great people. 60% of them met their future spouse there.

Praying for you.

God bless.

Cathoholic

 

[Ridgerunner]

I am given to understand that the “largest Catholic university” in the U.S. is Texas A&M. Yes, it’s a state school, but there are more Catholic students there than in any other university in the U.S. I understand it has terrific Catholic organizations.

And one expects that a person can study physics there.

 

[1990Domer]

I wish I could transfer to ND; they don’t accept 2 year credits though. It’s funny, basically every single institution (including harvard, yale, cornell, et cetera) accepts 2 year credits. ND, not so much. I was so bummed when I saw that.

That is a grim statistic for Holy Cross; quite shocking.

It’s because ND usually reserves those spots for applicants from Holy Cross Junior College (remember Rudy). My son wants to go there for their seminary. When you mentioned physics–also a love of my son–I thought ND because my uncle went there and majored in engineering/nuclear physics and became the head of the old Bell Labs.

Key to getting accepted at ND…pray to Mary. She was the one who got me in.

 

[1990Domer]

I am given to understand that the “largest Catholic university” in the U.S. is Texas A&M. Yes, it’s a state school, but there are more Catholic students there than in any other university in the U.S. I understand it has terrific Catholic organizations.

And one expects that a person can study physics there.

I think there is an A&M alum here…

However, being a Catholic university means that the religion penetrates all that happens there. At ND, there were chapels in every dorm. Masses every evening. Prayer before class began, University celebrations that started and ended with Mass, religious icons, the Grotto and the Basilica. Finally, the library mural and beloved Golden Dome with Notre Dame du Lac looking down on her son. The Catholic faith surrounds you from the moment you step on campus.

 

[ejlo1]

FUS takes most credits from two year colleges. Also, their engineering program has a 3+2 program in conjunction with ND. At the end of the program you have two bachelor’s degrees, one from FUS and one from ND.

 

[fastenatingguy]

If you go to (virtually) any Catholic school in New England, you will be greatly disappointed unless you are looking for a school that is nominally Catholic. “Orthodoxy be damned” is pretty much the battle cry.

My daughter graduated from College of the Holy Cross in 2009. As an Economics major, she had Socialists, centrist and center right profs within that school. For the rest of her classes–with one exception in four years–the faculty were leftists, regardless of school.
Her religion classes were heavily based on Latin American Liberation Theology. She had some feminist profs in Religion and Philosophy that advocated openly in class and on campus for abortion, LBGT rights, etc.

HC is NOT the school to attend unless you are seeking a progressive catholic education. The student body is comprised mostly of smart, East coast preppie liberals, children of upper middle class, nominally Catholic themselves. Naturally, there are a few exceptions to the rule–but the are just that–few.

I graduated from Notre Dame in 1980. Back then ND was FAR more centrist and conservative than it is today. In my dorm I was a coordinator for our lone CSC priest (among several CSC brothers). Our Sunday evening masses were always standing room only–even for those in a robe or sweats. 85% of our dorm attended Sunday mass.

My niece is ND’11 and she was a Theology major. She attended mass about half the time. She said that was better than most. There is still a fairly strong Catholic moral character at ND, although it is reflected more culturally. There are still problems with drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, etc although not remotely close to secular schools.

My son is a sophomore in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Kansas. For a state school, it is very Catholic friendly. There is a parish adjacent to campus with priests and nuns whose mission is to spread the gospel to college kids. There is also a Lutheran church and an active Jewish service club within walking distance. In my experiences there it appears that the kids respect those who choose to worship. I think midwesterners generally are a little more conscious of their faith life than those on the coasts, for whatever reasons.

To the OP: as you said, you probably want to go to grad school. Make sure you research and visit (and overnight on campus when possible) before you make a decision, wahtever that may be. You want to be happy for those two years.

 

[jaimeleglise]

I don’t think Boston College is very Catholic any longer.Have you looked into Catholic University of America? It might be better. Or St. John Paul University? Or a Benedictine or Dominican University?

 

[fencersmother]

That 3+2 at Franciscan is a good program.

One caveat: Steubenville Ohio is not exactly paradise.

 

[Kelfa28]

Maybe it’s just me but I wouldn’t worry so much about the cultural background of the school you plan on attending.

I would worry far more about my impressionable and naive 18 year old daughter attending University for the first time then an adult who is looking to finish our his/her bachelor’s degree.

I’m currently attending one the UMASS campuses and I am majoring in a hard science.

The school is very, very liberal. It’s a state school in one of the most liberal states in the country.

It doesn’t bother me too much. A vast majority of my classes are science classes with attached labs.
There is no time for liberal propaganda in these classes.

I find solace at a near by Orthodox Parish with my family. That is where I’m fed spiritually and I don’t really worry about what is going on at the University I attend.

If I were you…I’d focus a little more on the quality of the education you’ll receive at the school and it’s alumni and the kinds of career that will hire from graduating from such a good school.