Being non-religious going to a religious school?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m a high school senior in Indiana who is looking to apply to schools in Washington State. All three of my siblings live and attend colleges there, it’s like my second home. I have been contacted by many schools out that way but quite a few are religious but seem like really great schools.

To be truthful, I am very athetist, very liberal, and very lesbian. Indiana isn’t the most accepting place BUT I am surrounded by many loving and supporting Christians here at home. I tolerate religion and actually think it can be very interesting. Seattle Pacific University has sent me a priority application and seems like a lovely place.

Advice? Should I apply to religious schools? Does anyone have info if religion is integrated into the curriculums at various WA schools? would love to hear from native WAs too!

2

There are 2 types of religious schools.

  1. Nominally religions - don’t have any specific policies regarding interaction between genders, sexual activity, stuff like that. They make you take a couple classes but there’s no big emphasis.
  2. Super religious schools make you sign a contract that you won’t drink (even if it’s legal), you can’t have premarital sex, etc. Sometimes they force you to go to chapel/mass.

I think SPU is pretty religious, but it seemed like Seattle U wasn’t when I was applying.

3

Seattle Pacific is pretty conservative and might not be the best fit. Have you looked at Pacific Lutheran, in Tacoma? They are more progressive and a great school, particularly in the sciences, nursing, and music. There is no contract to sign and no mandatory chapel, just a couple of religion course requirements, and you can choose from a selection. But there are many opportunities if religion does interest you.

4

I don’t know about Seattle Pacific’s policies, but one of my daughter’s good friends from high school went there and was very happy. She was quite liberal both in her theology and her politics, although she was straight. I think you should definitely ask about on-campus groups for LGBT people before applying to any religious school. It would be terrible to get to a place and find you weren’t welcome.

5

http://spu.edu/administration/office-of-student-life/handbook/behavioral-community-expectations/student-standards-of-conduct

"Behaviors for which students or student organizations are subject to disciplinary action include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Cohabitation and related forms of premarital, extramarital, or homosexual sexual activities. Cohabitation means unmarried students in an amorous relationship living together."
6

Oh yikes! It’s fine because I wasn’t super keen on applying anyway but a lot of WA colleges seem to be religious? Kind of odd if you ask me

7

Okay, I’m a strong PLU fan and I just checked out their website for LGBTQ clubs. They have a center for Gender Equity, and celebrated LGBTQ pride month in October.

Take a look at this page: https://www.plu.edu/gender-equity/

BTW, many Lutherans are very affirming and progressive. And the campus is BEAUTIFUL. I truly think you should research this school.

And for housing: https://www.plu.edu/residential-life/residence-halls/themed-residential-learning-communities/gender-inclusive-housing/lavender/

8

Pacific Lutheran would be a better fit. What about UPuget Sound, even Seattle U?
Another good school is WWU.

(However as a lesbian you wouldn’t even be able to apply to Seattle Pacific.)

9

I know many people who relate themselves to Pacific Lutheran