Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA ?

[mom2boys]

Don't know anything about the college, but Lynchburg is a beautiful place.

 

[LukenDC]

OT: sorry
My dad brought this up the other day, he read about it in our local newspaper, I told him not to get his hopes up. While I'm a good student, the closest I'm getting to an Ivy is UVA or William and Mary(and those are probably reach schools). Out of curiosity, have other Ivy league schools, besides the ones you've mentioned, taken up the same financial policies?

Dartmouth just announced changes to its financial aid plans, but I do not know the details. The generous financial aid policies at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton are pressuring other private schools with highly selective admissions to follow suit. The financial aid situation is very fluid right now.

 

[kt_mom]

Originally Posted by sassyat30
I would do your homework very very carefully before allowing your DD to go there.

I too would like to know what this meant? If you are aware that it is a Christian school then what's the problem? People may have differing views of Dr. Falwell, but he did alot for the students of his schools and the community as a whole.

I graduated from Liberty in 2000. I'm also from Lynchburg. Its a nice town, with low crime rate. Liberty is a good school and sounds like it would be perfect if she is looking for a Christian college. They are strict, but from what I've heard they are loosening up a bit as the years go on. But if you are aware of the rules and okay with them going in then you should be fine.

 

[PlainJane]

Dartmouth just announced changes to its financial aid plans, but I do not know the details. The generous financial aid policies at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton are pressuring other private schools with highly selective admissions to follow suit. The financial aid situation is very fluid right now.

Thanks for the quick reply

 

[JawsCPA]

OP: I would do your research on Liberty as you would any college. We had a pastor who graduated from Liberty and he had nothing but praise for it.

Two issues:
#1 - Academic - review their catalog for the degree your DD wants and look at the offerings. Most Christian colleges do have good education programs.

#2 - Social/Beliefs - again review their catalog. They will tell you what the religous beliefs/doctrine is. Thus, if you disagree then you know this college is not for you. Also, the catalog should tell you the "rules" for student behavior. From my recollection, some of the "rules" were dress codes, mandatory chapel attendance, etc. Again, if you disagree with the "rules" then you know this college is not for you.

I think you can tell if this college is good for DD if you and she visit their website and request a catalog.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

2 of ds friends go there now, one for nursing and one for pre med I think. They both like it. I think the biggest problem is transportation home to the metro NY area. Sometimes they carpool other times its a 10 hour trip down etc. The one boy gets lots of financial aid I know. Ds other 2 friends hated it and both lasted a semester. One girl I dont know her reasons why and the boy didnt like the religious aspect which he said differed from what he was brought up with practiced etc. DS also has friends who go to messiah and grove city in penn. which are christian and also southeastern in florida which I heard has a good reputation. All these kids went to a christian school before so they are pretty much used to rules, religion etc. The ones there now did comment it can get boring sometimes as its a small town etc.

 

[NewJersey]

Being in NJ--there are tons of school with a great education college/department.

TCNJ
Rutgers
and
Rowan come to mind immediately.

If you need/desire the Christian route, my nephews go to Messiah (It's in PA --not as far as VA)

I graduated from TCNJ in 2006- a TERRIFIC school. Consistently ranked up there with UVA, UNC, etc. And a great bargain school.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I too would like to know what this meant? If you are aware that it is a Christian school then what's the problem? People may have differing views of Dr. Falwell, but he did alot for the students of his schools and the community as a whole.

There are plenty of people who are Christian but don't want to go to college in such a restrictive environment.

 

[jodifla]

Well, how can I put this (without getting points)?: If I found out my kid's teacher got his/her degree from Liberty, I'd ask for a different teacher.



I agree with PP. Do your homework on Liberty.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Like any other college-if she's considering it seriously she should make a visit. If possible an overnight with a student. When I was in school, I was a host for potential freshman and I really enjoyed it. Sometimes the person would come there, sometimes not-but they had a really good idea what the classes and the environment were like after they stayed for an overnight. What you get on the tour isn't always what it's really like, and reading in a catalog doesn't cut it either.

Good luck to her whatever she chooses!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

OT: sorry
My dad brought this up the other day, he read about it in our local newspaper, I told him not to get his hopes up. While I'm a good student, the closest I'm getting to an Ivy is UVA or William and Mary(and those are probably reach schools). Out of curiosity, have other Ivy league schools, besides the ones you've mentioned, taken up the same financial policies?

All top-tier ranked schools guarantee to meet 100% of a student's demonstrated need. That may still mean taking out federally-subsidized loans, but that debt load is far less onerous than what you might encounter if the school did not guarantee to meet need. The new wave for these schools is to eliminate the need for the subsidized loans for many students. In addition to several of the Ivy League colleges, the University of Chicago and other similar institutions have begun to cover loans through larger grants.

As far as Libery is concerned, I see two main problems. First, you should get your education degree in the state where you plan to teach. While it's not impossible to meet state X's requirements while attending school in state Y, do you really want to add to the work that you'll need to do? Second, a degree from Liberty comes with a negative stigma. Although some may look at it positively, I doubt that the positive responses will outweigh the negative responses, especially if your DD wants to teach in NJ or northeast.

 

[annej]

My husband and I head up the Youth Group at our church and Liberty is one of the top schools we recommend to our youth. It offers the academics of a University while keeping a wholesome environment. While it has some rules you may not find elsewhere, they have been relaxed and are not anything over the top or negative. As for it carrying a negative stigma - not sure what was meant by that but I have never heard that from anyone. Any student we have ever seen go there has loved it and has gone on to be successful, in or outside of the christian environment. It is a great school in a beautiful location. My DD15 has her sites on it as her first choice. Let your DD go take a look. It might just be what she is looking for.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I have a friend from HS who went there and he got "demerits" b/c he "touched" a girl---she had fallen and he was helping her up by the arm. I have no reason to doubt this, I dated this guy and he was nothing but a complete gentleman the whole time we dated. There were several other VERY STRICT rules they had to abide by.

Also, DH used to manage a store in the mall in Lynchburg and many of his employees were Liberty students. It was a known fact that Liberty would send people to the mall to watch the students and make sure they weren't breaking any rules. They also had restrictions on the movies they could see.

I would say that is an inkling to why a PP said to do your homework. Some people would be fine in a situation like that, others wouldn't.

 

[jodifla]

I have a friend from HS who went there and he got "demerits" b/c he "touched" a girl---she had fallen and he was helping her up by the arm. I have no reason to doubt this, I dated this guy and he was nothing but a complete gentleman the whole time we dated. There were several other VERY STRICT rules they had to abide by.

Also, DH used to manage a store in the mall in Lynchburg and many of his employees were Liberty students. It was a known fact that Liberty would send people to the mall to watch the students and make sure they weren't breaking any rules. They also had restrictions on the movies they could see.

I would say that is an inkling to why a PP said to do your homework. Some people would be fine in a situation like that, others wouldn't.

Falwell liked to call Liberty a "Bible Boot Camp."

I agree, it comes with VERY NEGATIVE IMAGE. They teach creationism, not evolution. They are out of step with the mainstream.

It's not hard to imagine that a resume with Liberty University on it would fall to the bottom of most hiring managers stacks of resumes.

 

[Alztybrn]

It is so funny to read some of what people consider "truths" about Liberty. People are going to believe what ever they hear. I worked at LU for 10 years, and have lived in Lynchburg for the past 12 years. You should absolutely visit the college with your daughter. Nobody should attend a college without visiting it and having EVERY question answered before you make such a large commitment. Bring her down for one of their "college for a weekend". She will get to stay in the dorms and get a good idea of what life will be like if she were to attend.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

 

[PlainJane]

I have a friend from HS who went there and he got "demerits" b/c he "touched" a girl---she had fallen and he was helping her up by the arm. I have no reason to doubt this, I dated this guy and he was nothing but a complete gentleman the whole time we dated. There were several other VERY STRICT rules they had to abide by.

I've visited the University twice within the last 4 years, and can tell you from being there and reading the rules section of their handbook that within those years things have been relaxed.

Boys as of only a couple years ago had to go to class in khakis, dress shirt, and a tie. I'm not sure what the girls were allowed to wear honestly, I know they had to follow the khakis rule though. Now they are more concerned about modesty than looking professional (couldn't think of a better word). Jeans and t-shirts are now the normal dress for in class. Outside of class modest tank tops and shorts are perfectly acceptable.

As far as touching goes, boys and girls are allowed to touch nowadays. Basically kissing on campus isn't allowed. When I asked students about if they could do so off campus the answer I got from pretty much everyone was " they just don't want you to do it on campus". I never asked an employee, so I don't know the official answer.

Rated R movies aren't allowed on campus, and your not allowed to watch rated R movies at the local theaters.

I know, these rules are still strict to many. Considering what wasn't allowed even 4 years ago, I don't think they're that bad. It is a Christian University, so they're going to be more strict than mainstream colleges. If anyone wants to see a list of their rules in their entirety, you can find them on Liberty's website.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Rated R movies aren't allowed on campus, and your not allowed to watch rated R movies at the local theaters.

Guess they couldn't see "The Passion of the Christ" then? Wasn't it rated R?

I just have a problem w/ my college telling me what movies I can and can't see w/ I am old enough to get in.

**PlainJane, I'm just using your text to quote, not meaning to argue w/ you or anything.**

 

[Cindy B]

As far as Libery is concerned, I see two main problems. First, you should get your education degree in the state where you plan to teach. While it's not impossible to meet state X's requirements while attending school in state Y, do you really want to add to the work that you'll need to do? Second, a degree from Liberty comes with a negative stigma. Although some may look at it positively, I doubt that the positive responses will outweigh the negative responses, especially if your DD wants to teach in NJ or northeast.

That is so true. The criteria for a teaching degree (PRAXIS scores, Dept. of Education requirements) are different from VA to NJ. I know the passing scores of the Praxis are definetely different.

It's a heck of a lot of work to get the degree and then have to additional requirements because of different states.

Stick with a NJ based education school. You really won't regret it.

 

[Cindy B]

Rated R movies aren't allowed on campus, and your not allowed to watch rated R movies at the local theaters.

How do they know? If you are of age, what is stopping you from going to the movies with friends? Do they have a movie police person there at the local theater? Or even worse, is there a Liberty student representative spying on the students?

That just seems bizarre for an off campus rule. I understand on campus, but off campus is just nutty.

 

[kt_mom]

It is so funny to read some of what people consider "truths" about Liberty. People are going to believe what ever they hear. I worked at LU for 10 years, and have lived in Lynchburg for the past 12 years. You should absolutely visit the college with your daughter. Nobody should attend a college without visiting it and having EVERY question answered before you make such a large commitment. Bring her down for one of their "college for a weekend". She will get to stay in the dorms and get a good idea of what life will be like if she were to attend.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

I live in Lynchburg as well. Grew up here actually. Small world.


Anyway, I agree, don't believe everything you hear about Liberty. I went there from 1995 to 2000, and I can't believe that anyone would get demerits for helping someone up off the floor. There must have been some serious exageration there. I just don't believe that. They didn't want you walking around groping eachother, but I saw people holding hands and stuff all the time.

I have friends that have gone on from there to become very succesful in all different fields. They also have a good teaching program and an excellent nursing program. It is a Christian college and they do teach Creationism, which was fine by me, because that's what I believe. Their rules are stricter than a lot of other schools, but for the most part the students seem to be happy. I was a local and lived off campus and I sort of flew under the radar and did as I pleased. But I have known plenty of people that lived on campus and were happy. But don't go there if you don't believe the doctrine they teach or you're not prepared to follow the rules, because you will end up unhappy, that does not though, make it a bad school.