So...

[corarca33]

Well I’m graduating next year from high school, and I was planning on just going into a year or whatever of postulancy (if my parents let me) in this religious order. Since I’m not absolutely certain about my vocation (though I would certainly want a vocation in religious life or priesthood), I just want to know want to know about applying to colleges or scholarships, etc. I don’t want to go to college; it’s only my back up plan, but if I discover that religious life/the priesthood isn’t my calling, I want to know my options. Like, should I still apply for scholarships, send SAT/AP exam scores, get recommendation letters, etc. now with everyone else? Would my applications and scores still, I don’t know if this is the right word, matter after would could be a year? I’m sorry if this isn’t on topic, I just wanted to ask this question somewhere with a more Catholic identity.

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

I cant give you much advice except this, references are always worth getting and hanging on no matter what you decide to do it is amazing what a good reference can do for you so get all the references you can.

The rest would depend on how the further education and scholarship system works where you are and I am afraid I don’t know about those subjects.

 

[JRKH]

Not much help here either but it may depend on the specific order/vocation you are considering. If the priesthood is a possiblility college will definitely be part of the picture anyway.
This is something that you would need to address with your spiritual councilor.

Peace
James

 

[smithm29]

I work in higher education and I’m Catholic, so I hope that’s the perspective you want.

I’m not offering any advice on your vocation, just on the mechanics of college prep.

Go ahead and take your tests. They’re still good after a year (for five years, in fact), so take them while your mind is fresh. Even if you’re accepted as a novice, your order may want you to go to college- God doesn’t want powerful minds to go to waste.

Unless a scholarship specifically says that you can “put it on hold”, don’t apply for it. You’ll just be taking up a spot that someone else needs. Most colleges will allow you to put off admission for up to a year after acceptance, so it’s OK to apply as long as you check with the admissions counselors/recruiters/enrollment coordinators about their specific policies. Wait for recommendation letters unless they’re required at the time of admission. Many schools have their own forms they want your references to fill out, so getting them in advance doesn’t help anything.

 

[corarca33]

I guess what I meant to say about not wanting to go to college was more like I didn’t really want to do anything besides entering, I knew there would be schooling involved somewhere along the road, but yeah…

Thanks for all the advice, it was really helpful!

 

[jdc209]

Corarca33, I’m in the same boat with you too! haha

In fact, I just got off the phone with my friend and I was telling him how I was thinking of maybe not taking an art class since everyone knows I’m discerning a vocation to the priesthood. In California, one of the requirements for UC or CSU entrance is like one year of performing arts, but I think my friend was correct when he said that I performing arts credit is necessary for graduation! Apparently, we have two requirements: one set for graduation and another for whether you want to be eligible for the California university system. Since I want to be a priest, I figure why would I need to waste my time with a class I need just to be able to attend a UC or CSU.

But I knew I would in the end probably take the class to meet the requirements since I’m like you and don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket and find out I’m not called to the priesthood… But as I start senior year next Tuesday, I have some time to discern some more. Class of 2011 too

On another note, I’m also the Press and Publicity Manager for www.catholicpriest.me.uk and we like featuring stories of teenagers discerning vocations to the priesthood: catholicpriest.me.uk/stories.html

Look around the site and read some stories too (mine’s Jeremy Dela Cruz) and feel free to send me yours at jeremy@catholicpriest.me.uk

 

[corarca33]

Oh, you’re from California too? That’s cool. I almost wanted to just graduate early since I would have the minimum credits for both graduating and UC/CSU, but then that would’ve meant a shorter time to work on this one senior project at my school and then I made it in the good choir at my school so I decided not to.

The site seems interesting, I’ll check it out.

 

[Young_Thinker]

Another possibility would be to attend a minor seminary rather than a university or liberal arts college. However, that might be more preferable for one wishes to become a secular priest.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Another possibility would be to attend a minor seminary rather than a university or liberal arts college. However, that might be more preferable for one wishes to become a secular priest.

Not necessarily.

Those who enter our pre-novitiate program without a degree attend St Joseph College Seminary in Chicago while living at the pre-novitiate. That is if they will complete college in two years. If longer then they live at the College Seminary until the two year mark but still participate in functions at the pre-novitiate.

 

[jdc209]

Oh, you’re from California too? That’s cool. I almost wanted to just graduate early since I would have the minimum credits for both graduating and UC/CSU, but then that would’ve meant a shorter time to work on this one senior project at my school and then I made it in the good choir at my school so I decided not to.

The site seems interesting, I’ll check it out.

Luckily for me, they abolished the senior project at my high school a while ago. Yeah graduating early kind of deprives you of the whole high school experience, which can be helpful when ministering to a youth in the future as a priest right?

Well, we’ll be looking forward to publishing your story online if you’re interested.

 

[Young_Thinker]

Not necessarily.

Those who enter our pre-novitiate program without a degree attend St Joseph College Seminary in Chicago while living at the pre-novitiate. That is if they will complete college in two years. If longer then they live at the College Seminary until the two year mark but still participate in functions at the pre-novitiate.

I see. Thank you for your clarification, Brother.