Feedback on few specific colleges

[acmom]

My DD is starting to create her initial college list in conjunction with the recruiting process. She wants to play in college and is trying to cast an early wide net to explore that, especially because she is hoping to find schools that could be good fits academically, socially and athletically and wants to put her energy into schools that may meet all 3 of those areas. A few of the schools that have come up in that process area religiously affiliated. Does anyone have any information on any of these specific schools?

Holy Cross
Fairfield
Mulhenberg
Merrimack

DD is hoping to gauge to how (and to what extent) religion plays a role in the everyday environment and curriculum, how someone of a differing religion might be accepted and how accepting the campus community is in general. DD (and we) do not want to rule out a school simply based on religious affiliation as we know that would rule out a lot of great schools! We also know that many religious affiliated schools are wonderful environments for students from differing religious backgrounds as well. But at the same time, we want to ask the right questions to figure out if these schools would be a good fit for DD. This type of information seems challenging to find.

For context, our family is not super religious, but do attend an Episcopalian church for major holidays and I would say we are a spiritual family. DH and I both grew up going to church regularly and experienced the benefits of belonging to a church community, but we have just not found a great church fit for us and our lives / schedule. We are not opposed to the presence of religion at all and have friends/family that practice many different religions, all to varying degrees. But as a family, we also lean liberal, particularly around social issues including women's rights and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. DD is not looking for strictly liberal student colleges/communities in anyway, but she does want a place that all students and ideas will be accepted and welcomed, including liberal ones.

[gatorsmom]

Well, I can tell you that none of them are on the Newman’s Guide of devout Catholic schools. So if these colleges are Catholic (and to be honest I don’t know much about these schools), they would be very accepting of other faiths. Most Catholic schools are accepting but the ones on the Newman’s Guide list are different. There is an emphasis on the Catholic faith and your dd would feel left out. Those schools are where the really devout Catholics go. Hth.

ETA- Holy Cross might be the exception. There might be more of an emphasis on faith than the others. I don’t know much about that religious order. However, if the others are Jesuit run, you have no worries. They are the most liberal of the Catholic orders.

[carolinamama]

I have limited first hand experience with Fairfield as it's on DS1's short list. It's Jesuit run and while there is a chapel on campus offering daily mass, the school also welcomes leaders from other religions to campus to worship and teach. It sounds like our religious background is similar to yours in that we are Episcopalians and don't attend church super regularly. He's a politically moderate kid that leans liberal. Unfortunately I don't think it's terribly diverse if that's important to your DD. It's a beautiful campus and DS liked the feel. We have local friends with a daughter running track at Fairfield. She loves it.

[heatherlynn]

I don't know about Mulhenburg, but from what I know from my kids' friends, the other 3 are not especially religious! Also, what sport is she looking to play?

[acmom]

Thanks all! All that input is helpful. And Gatorsmom, thank you for that specific resource too! Looks like the 2 of the 4 are Jesuit run (Holy Cross and Fairfield) and Merrimack's website states that it is "Driven by an Augustine Catholic mission". Muhlenberg says it "honors its historical heritage with the Lutheran Church and continues its connection with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America while encouraging, welcoming and supporting a variety of faith traditions and spiritual perspectives".

It seems so hard to judge the actual feel on campus from these statements on websites though!

[SnuggleBuggles]

Jesuit run ones should be just fine. They are open minded and inclusive, ime.

[DualvansMommy]

Agree with snugglebuggles. Jesuit schools is fine, and I’m a former Catholic who have lots to say abut the church, and not good way too.

My nephew is currently a sophomore at Holy Cross and really loves it there. My cousins have graduated from Fairfield and enjoyed their time there, and don’t recall a lot of religious/catholic influence.

Can’t comment on other schools since i don’t of anyone who is currently there or attended in past.


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[georgiegirl]

We have a friend with a DD at Mulhenberg. Very liberal and not religious at all. She loves it there. She got a generous financial package.


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[anonomom]

I'm a Fairfield alum, and when I was there, religion was not central to the school experience. In fact, it was at Fairfield that I realized I was an atheist (after having been raised Catholic).

I did have a few classes taught by Jesuit priests, but I didn't find them to be dogmatic in any way. We had to take a religion class as part of the core curriculum, but the intro-level class was, at least back then, more of a survey of different religions. I do seem to recall that volunteer activities/community outreach were mostly coordinated through campus ministry. And there were a few hardcore Catholics on campus that definitely leaned toward the mean/hypocritical/judgmental end of the spectrum (for example, one used to have a column in the student newspaper where he would mock and deride atheists), but I assume jerks can be found on every campus.

DC is considering Muhlenberg, and from what they saw on their campus tour last summer, there wasn't enough of a religious influence to turn them off. They're going back for admitted students day this weekend, and I'll be happy to update if their impression changes.