<p>D is a liberal Californian and isn't interested in a school with a strongly religious and/or conservative student body. I've read that COE is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Is that merely an historical connection, or is there still an active affiliation?
Collegeboard.com lists a number of clubs including Christian Fellowship and Christian Athletes and I haven't found anything to suggest that there are equivalent groups for non-Christian religions, also no mention of LGBT groups.
Final question - how big is the Greek scene?</p>
<p>My cousin went there and really liked it. FYI Coe is affiliated with the Presbyterian (USA) church. The (USA) branch is very liberal when compared to other protestant churches. It is not ultra conservative by any means. Most Presbyterian USA churches have a mixed congregation, but the PCUSA has been known in the past to push the button on more liberal topics. I think this mission statement below may make you feel more comfortable.</p>
<p>Here is their mission statement:
Mission Statement
It is the mission of Coe College to provide students an education of superior quality that aims at preparing them for life following graduation. Our reason to exist as an institution is to ready students intellectually, professionally, and socially to lead productive and satisfying lives in the global society of the 21st century. As such, our success as a College will be measured according to the success of our graduates.
We believe that a liberal arts education is the best preparation for life. We believe that such an education allows students to discover what their real talents and interests are, and that it develops in them the skills, abilities, and habits of mind that will make possible a successful career in any field of endeavor, including ones that do not yet exist. Indeed, we believe that what defines a liberal arts education is its focus on cultivating in students certain fundamental abilities: the ability to think logically and analytically; the ability to communicate clearly, both in writing and speaking; the ability to use effectively computer technology; the ability to work productively as a member of a group seeking to achieve a common objective; the ability to make informed judgments, whether in the realm of ethical behavior or in that of aesthetic appreciation; the ability to foster and sustain an attitude of intellectual curiosity and creativity; and the ability to recognize and honor true excellence when found in any form or context. Furthermore, we believe that it is important for a liberal arts education to cultivate in students a desire to understand, a capacity for tolerance, and an ability to appreciate the ethnic and cultural diversity that make up humankind. It is the mission of the College to develop in students these abilities and attitudes, and in so doing to provide them an education that directs them toward a meaningful and successful life.
Coe College admits students without regard to sex, race, creed, color, handicap, sexual orientation, national, or ethnic origin. All students have equal access to the facilities, financial aid, and programs of the College.</p>
<p>One of my nephews went there, and really liked it. He isn’t particularly religious, but he isn’t particularly anti-religious either. He did join the music fraternity and they had their own floor (or most of a floor) for a couple of years.</p>
<p>If you’d like details, send me a PM and I’ll put you in touch with him.</p>
<p>Coe’s affliation with the Presbyterian church is historical only. No real involvement by the church in the last 25 years. It is in an academic consortium with Grinnell, Carleton, Macalster, Knox, Beloit, Cornell College, Colorado College and some others. Academically it is most comperable to Knox, Beloit and St. Olaf. It is strong in physics ( a lot of opportunity for student research), art, math, philosophy, english (in particular writing). Cedar Rapids is not the most exciting place, but the campus is fairly self contained and students find lots to do. </p>
<p>LGBT students are a definate prescence on campus, as are fraternities, but they seem to get along. I would say both are more noticable then the religious groups on campus. LGBT students tend to run publications, the arts, the academic groups, etc., Fraternities tend to student governemnt and athletics, but they do mix it up. It is a small campus, so many kids are involved in a lot of different things.</p>
<p>Lots of off campus opportunites, both overseas and within the US.</p>
<p>Not familiar with Coe College, but I agree that it’s somewhat troubling that there does not appear to be an LGBT group and/or resource center on campus. Every college that I looked into had one, from Georgetown to BC to Duke, and, of course, to non-religiously affiliated private unis, state flagships and small LACs. </p>
<p>A Google search reveals Coe College formerly had an LGBT group but the last update on that webpage was ~8 yrs ago in 2002. </p>
<p>Certainly it doesn’t seem like a great place for LGBT people to go, since there’s not even enough of them there to warrant a steady student organization, but I suppose it doesn’t /necessarily/ indicate an overly conservative student body…though it seems to allude it for sure.</p>
<p>I am 2005 graduate of Coe College. I found my campus social experience to be very neutral; not overly liberal, but not conservative by any stretch. Coe is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian church, but is not currently affiliated beyond a Chaplin who works with students of all faiths (No services on campus or required religion classes).</p>
<p>When I attend Coe, there was a fairly active glbt organization called Coe Alliance. I am confidant that it still exists and plays an active role on campus. I really found Coe to be a unique blend of personalities with a student body of varying geographical, cultural and social backgrounds. In fact, one of my favorite parts about Coe was interacting with different students a regular basis. </p>
<p>I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the unique blend of students.</p>
<p>Supposed to be a great school. Good friend of mine went there–a number of her siblings did too as they lived in Iowa. She went on to UCH Business School for MBA.</p>
<p>I visited with my daughter and niece a few years ago. I was really impressed with the warmth and community feel. The girls wound up choosing Knox and Whitman but I think both could have had a great time at Coe. I seem to remember they have a very well developed internship program and lots of community engagement. I liked the town too. Iowa is a much more liberal and academic state than many folks on the coasts ever seem to realize.</p>
<p>I second that. I think many of the CC denizens would be pleasantly surprised to see how laid-back the folks of Iowa are when it comes to things like LGBT rights, etc. There’s a stereotype of Iowa as being backwards which isn’t true at all, compared to plenty of other more-rural states. All else being equal, I would expect a college in Iowa to be tolerant / supportive of gay students.</p>
<p>Coe College was one of my safety schools when I applied to college. As others have said, the Presbyterian affiliation is purely historical and doesn’t really have any current presence on campus. The student body is pretty traditionally college-student liberal. I don’t recall learning much about the Greek or LGBT presence, but the school seemed like it would be pretty accepting to all. The student body, faculty, staff, and admissions office were all incredibly friendly and accessible to me. The admissions office even called me to let me know about my acceptance before I got the letter and called me later about additional scholarship opportunities.</p>
<p>The school does give out fabulous aid (I didn’t have great grades in high school and got a nice merit scholarship). I was impressed by the classes I sat in on, particularly a classics class. Cedar Rapids is a very boring generic Midwestern larger town, but the campus itself is nice.</p>
<p>I ended up going elsewhere because I wanted a school that was a bit more cosmopolitan and diverse (the majority of students are from Iowa and nearly all are from the Midwest), but Coe College is definitely a nice college for the right person.</p>
<p>I am an advocate of these smaller, local LACs that are very interested in their students and make a real attempt to attract kids with potential. Time and again, I have seen them work what I consider miracles on kids that are burned out, indifferent and/or uninterested in academics.</p>
<p>Another Iowa school that really impressed me with the personable, personal quality of the education they offered is Cornell College in Iowa (not far from Coe). Like Colorado College, they run on the block plan. Most of these schools offset their small town setting by actively encouraging travel abroad terms/years as well and they often do a great job of getting kids who were not necessarily academic stars in high school successfully into good graduate programs/medical school.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who give info. We visited last week and it just didn’t sing for my daughter despite getting to see her first fireflies! We toured Cornell that afternoon and she did like that. Ripon and St Olaf were the surprise hits of the trip. Knox was okay, too. She didn’t like Beloit or Hamline. The midwest sure has a bunch of great schools for various academic levels.</p>