Liberty University??

[daisax]

There is also a Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. Not sure how people tell the two apart, but I don't see the Mass one as particularly religious in nature. Mel Gibson's son does go there, though!

 

[SorcererDonald16]

It is a very political place. And not accepting of differing opinions.

Just wanted to say my university was the exact same way. Except it was a public college, one of the top rated colleges for academics. The difference being the only opinion accepted by most professors and leaders was the liberal perspective. From my perspective, at least LU offers a counterpoint to that.

Liberty has right around 18,000 students. It's a big school. Some may not like it, but everyone I know who went there had the time of their lives and wishes it wasn't over. The best advice for any student is to visit the campus, take a tour, talk to current science students, and arrange an overnight visit if possible. If not, stay in a nearby hotel and meet up with a student assigned by the school as an ambassador/tour guide early in the morning, if they have a program like that.

 

[HamTown]

OP, has your daughter considered a all-female school? I don't think I could have done it, but two of my best friends from high school went to Meredith College. They loved it. Because it is all female, they had similar rules to those at Liberty but the rules were only enforced ON campus. Meredith has a great reputation and has a reciprocal program with NC State so that if Meredith doesn't offer a class that you need for your chosen path, you can take it at NCSU and vice versa (there were a few guys in elementary ed classes with my friends). I'm sure there are other great female schools with similar programs. It is a way to stay "insulated" if you want. I believe it is still a Baptist affiliated school.

SorcererDonald16 I went to a top five state university which I'm guessing is one state south of where you went. I too found non-Christian professors, including my favorite religion professor. He was atheist. But I found it to be a great way to really define my own faith and beliefs. He didn't try to persuade us but to think critically about our beliefs. There are religious organizations at almost every campus, public and private.

For the record, I would not want my children to go to Liberty. I've heard one too many stories about receiving credit for proselytizing at the mall and for driving the church bus for there not to be some truth behind it. (I used to live in Lynchburg). I think the academics have improved tremendously in the last 10-15 years, but it is still not what I would consider a "strong" school.

 

[disney junky]

Holy Cow! Unbelievable comprehensive fee! That looks like one from about 20 years ago!!! Most privates are at least $20K a year more!

And, they take NO federal money. High retention rates. They like to assure the people they admit will make it there.

And they don't have tenured professors. Continued employment their is abased on performance. Your classes are taught by the Ph.D's. Not graduate assistants.

I found it a remarkable school.

Sorry. This thread isn't about Grove City College.

 

[Quiksilvr]

U.S. News ranking system is extremely flawed. Many "high ranking" schools almost boycotted it, but were too damn chicken to do so. Many schools recruit far more students than they would ever enroll to artificially raise the number of students turned down...etc.

Please note my caveat re the US News ranking methodology.

My point was that it is still the most well-known and widely-used ranking system for US colleges and universities. Because of that, it's the one I went to.

Also, the schools at the top of the US News rankings seem to be the schools that belong there. I don't think anyone would argue that Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, MIT, CalTech, etc. don't belong at the top of the list.

 

[Quiksilvr]

Define setting the world on fire? Well known?

http://www.gcc.edu/Frequently_Asked_Questions.php

Since my kids went there, I'll offer that. Notice, no minimum SAT requirement. Sounds too easy.

Very interesting read. Sounds like a deal.

My "world on fire" comment was geared specifically towards rankings placement.

 

[stahshee]

The Columbia University thread isn't getting nearly the responses this one is.

4th tier in a regional classification is just really, really low. There are some top schools that do not participate in supplying the required documentation, but to be fourth tier not even in the national classification is putting graduate school and future marketability in real question.

OP: Is your daughter in a rigorous college prep high school? If she is a good student, I would think she might be bored to tears moving into what could be an unchallenging environment.

Someone earlier said the difference between Liberty, Bob Jones, Regent are they were founded by specific pastors who are well known for a certain something. Other Christian schools follow principles and encourage learning in not such a political environment. This year Liberty was going to give every student who registered to vote in Virginia an iphone to help ensure McCain wins in what has become a pivotal state. They ultimately couldn't because of the perception of buying votes. It is a very political place. And not accepting of differing opinions. Another school might offer stronger academics, plenty of Christian friends and influences but not carry the Jerry Falwell moniker. (and not have those awful prefab metal barracks!)

My child is a college freshman. Over parents weekend he waved to countless friends as we were in his room. All were going off to church. He said "everyone here goes to church." She can find a good fit at a college, be it Liberty or elsewhere.

Just ask a lot of questions on the visit and maybe talk to some graduate programs that she might ultimately want to attend.

DD is on the high honor role. Also in her school any thing below 85 is failing . She works her off to get great grades

 

[NotUrsula]

...
Also, the schools at the top of the US News rankings seem to be the schools that belong there. I don't think anyone would argue that Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, MIT, CalTech, etc. don't belong at the top of the list.

I'd agree when it comes to the TOP of the list (top 10, maybe top 15). It's when you go a little ways down that opinions really start to diversify. The reality for MOST people are those schools on the very top of the list are out of reach, either for financial or academic reasons. The most useful part of the list is the middle, where the schools that not so many people have heard of start to creep in.

Have you looked at the Forbes list? It's not perfect either, by any means, but it uses different criteria and thus gives a different perspective. (Caveat: you can't search the danged thing, you have to page through it.)
Interestingly, they put the little-known Centre College just ahead of MIT within the top 15. They also rank Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst and Wellesley ahead of Yale and Columbia. Of the various Christian schools that people have mentioned in this thread, the top-ranked in the Forbes survey appears to be Wheaton (IL) -- it comes in at 91. (I gave up before I found Liberty, so I'm not sure it's anywhere on the list.)

I think that the reality is that in 95% of situations, no one gives a flying flip where you went to college once you are about 5-8 years past graduation. Of that 5%, I'd say that some of those circumstance where it would count include the one you are in (partnership track at a white-shoe law firm), or in a situation where the name of the school loudly telegraphs details about your religious affiliation AND your probable political position.

Again, context counts, and in the context the OP mentions, the religious/political issue has much greater potential ramifications, I think.
As someone else said, this isn't just any Christian college, this is Falwell's Christian college.

 

[Green Tea]

A book I really liked was "Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools that will change the way you think about college." (If you are looking at guidebooks.) It isn't a ranking type of book. It has sections about various schools, all types, and how they impact students. Also liked Looking Beyond the Ivy League; Finding the College that's Right for You. (Lauren Pope authored both). DS really only looked at the Princeton Review though.

Senior year is a very exciting time. (maybe the week leading up to April 1 decision letters was a little more stressful than exciting. )

 

[mangocanon]

A book I really liked was "Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools that will change the way you think about college." (If you are looking at guidebooks.) It isn't a ranking type of book. It has sections about various schools, all types, and how they impact students. Also liked Looking Beyond the Ivy League; Finding the College that's Right for You. (Lauren Pope authored both). DS really only looked at the Princeton Review though.

Senior year is a very exciting time. (maybe the week leading up to April 1 decision letters was a little more stressful than exciting. )

We liked "Finding the College that is right for you."

My son felt it addressed far more common sense type questions about the right college. To think that there are only a dozen good colleges is silly. And, 2 years out, nobody gives a crap where you went to school. (With the exception of those who are too full of themselves.)

 

[mangocanon]

Please note my caveat re the US News ranking methodology.

My point was that it is still the most well-known and widely-used ranking system for US colleges and universities. Because of that, it's the one I went to.

Also, the schools at the top of the US News rankings seem to be the schools that belong there. I don't think anyone would argue that Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, MIT, CalTech, etc. don't belong at the top of the list.

My son attends CalTech, so I'd agree! But I am concerned for those students who think that Ohio State isn't good enough because it isn't in those top few. In the end, there are few fields for which it really matters.

A student attending Baldwin Wallace is not on the path to poverty and unemployment because they made that choice.

I wish people understood the US News rankings.

Another good book about the process is "The Gate Keepers." It goes through a season in the recruitment and acceptance process at one of the schools.

 

[stahshee]

Well this thread dose give me something to think about . DD wants to do Gentic counsling. I have to wonder if she will be limited because she chooses to go to Liberty or any other Christian college. I guess only time will tell. It seems like a really hard major.

Its all up to my DD where she wants to go. She has the grades and I am going to cheer her on. I would like to have her visit a couple more colleges and perhaps talk with someone who dose Gentic counsling..

 

[Green Tea]

I read this article by a Washington Post writer. It was good, I thought. Your DD might like to see the "day in the life" kind of thing. It was a nice story, I thought: http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/god_country_and_mccain/10030/