I feel that Holy Cross has managed to develop a reputation for being a fratty, conservative school. Is this true? And if so, to what extent is it really that prominent on campus/at school? As an LGBT student with centrist views, will I feel out of place at all? I really love Holy Cross and don’t want an unfortunate stereotype to sway my opinion or make me not want to attend the school, so please help!
As a recent graduate, I can honestly say that I don’t believe the labeling of Holy Cross as fratty or conservative is particularly accurate. I always felt as though there was a wealth of political opinions on campus, and a general openness to progressive, inclusive policies/ideologies both inside and outside of the classroom. There is no Greek life at Holy Cross, but in terms of campus atmosphere I believe it’s largely what you make of it and that there is something there for everyone. Like most colleges/universities, if one is seeking a more “fratty” experience at Holy Cross it’s likely they’ll find it, though, I certainly never felt that it overwhelmed our campus or college identity. Beyond extracurricular engagements, most Holy Cross students I encountered were pretty serious about academics and worked hard to excel in classes. I can’t really speak to any experiences navigating campus as a LGBTQ+ student, but in general, the campus climate was very friendly and supportive-- (I think there are other HC threads that go into more depth about LGBTQ+ experiences on campus that are probably more helpful than anything I can provide!) All in all, as a student with more liberal leaning political views I never felt out of place at HC and really cherish the time I was able to spend as a student there! Good luck!