<p>So I've been accepted to St. Louis, Marquette, Boston College, and Fordham. In what order would you rank these colleges?</p>
<p>Boston College
Fordham
Marquette
St. Louis</p>
<p>agree with Zfox.</p>
<p>do you think the kids at boston college are too snobby? (i know i'm generalizing, but that seems to be the consensus)</p>
<p>you also got georgetown and loyola chicago</p>
<p>Georgetown, BC, and Holy Cross are the top 3. So BC is the best of the ones you list.</p>
<p>Villanova is Jesuit as well and I would say it's better than Marquette and SLU</p>
<p>I don't think Nova is Jesuit.</p>
<p>Georgetown is actually ranked higher than BC.</p>
<p>my bad Villanova is Augustinian. I guess I should start a new thread about the best Augustinian university</p>
<p>Isn't it interesting that the board moderators have not moved this thread to the "Christian Colleges" sub-fourm? I think they need to get rid of that sub-forum due to many people's narrow-mindedness on what constitutes "Christian".</p>
<p>DONT pick a school for prestige or ranking. Big mistake. Pick a school because its the best fit for you personally. Fit is a subjective collection of factors, but is generally an epiphany or very strong gut feeling in you after considering every factor you deem important. There is no such thing as one size fits all. Further, there are brilliant kids at most every college and the Jesuit schools are no exception. Visit each campus if you possibly can before May 1 when your decision is due. Talk to professors (schedule them ahead of time if you can). Talk to students in the cafeteria, in the dorms, outside playing frisbee etc. Look at programs and faculty credentials online. What is your particular interest. If you were offered money at any of them, does that factor into your family situation or your personal situation? </p>
<p>ALL 28 Jesuit schools are wonderful. Yes, there is a general pecking order, but that is not as relevant as what is important to you. And finally, the "Jesuitness" varies from school to school. </p>
<p>Congratulations on your admissions to these fine schools. You can't go wrong with any of them.</p>
<p>EXCELLENT post, southernbbq!</p>
<p>Toledo - I think that most people's concept of "Christian" colleges is limited to schools at which the curricula are impacted by their religious doctrines, not just schools affiliated with Christian denominations. Jesuit institutions, though affiliated with a Catholic society, have never allowed their religious affiliation to impact academic freedom. My sense is that in the public's opinion, Jesuit schools would not be lumped under the heading of "Christian colleges" in the same way that no one thinks of Duke as a "Southern" school, despite the fact that it's geographically located in the South.</p>
<p>Amen, gadad. Jesuit colleges are entirely about academic freedom and mutual respect. </p>
<p>dbwes: you're welcome.</p>
<p>With all due respect, Jesuit universities, like all sectarian Universities, are prone to step heavily where religious doctrine is concerned. Marquette, for example, has several times disciplined students involved in the campus newspaper for opining about or allowing advertisements from abortion services providers or supporters. And recently there have been complaints by conservative and fundamentalist voices that their opinions are being suppressed in a sort of counter-reaction.</p>
<p>I attended a Jesuit high school and agree that in many respects the Jesuits have a deserved reputation for intellectual rigor and curiosity, but having then attended public, secular universities I soon realized that there were also very real constraints on ideas that profoundly affected Jesuit educators, notwithstanding their reputation. While it might not be a deal-breaker for me, for this reason I would prefer not to send either of my children to any sectarian college or university, Jesuit or otherwise.</p>
<p>One of my own alma maters has this famous principle emblazoned on the wall of its most historic structure. You would not find such an expression at any Jesuit or sectarian institution, as it most likely would not be true:</p>
<p>“WHATEVER MAY BE THE LIMITATIONS WHICH TRAMMEL INQUIRY ELSEWHERE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE GREAT STATE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SHOULD EVER ENCOURAGE THAT CONTINUAL AND FEARLESS SIFTING AND WINNOWING BY WHICH ALONE THE TRUTH CAN BE FOUND.”</p>
<p>Jesuit colleges are private and owe no duty to be completely anti religious. If that is not your bag, don't go there. The Church has a duty to teach correct Church doctrine and if you disagree you have other options. I support Marquette for objecting to advertisements in its student newspaper for abortion clinics. Shame on the students who thought that would fly or be funny or be "provocative." </p>
<p>Jesuit colleges teach theology and normally two classes are required for graduation. Among the choices are: Judaism, Islamic studies, comparative religion, Catholic Social Thought in the 20th Century, Catholic History, Papal Encyclicals, etc.</p>
<p>If you really object to Catholic teaching that is no slam on Marquette and certainly would not put them in the category of other "religious colleges", nor does it make them "step heavily in religious doctrine." </p>
<p>You are of course entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.</p>
<p>Jesuit colleges have normally 60% Catholic student body and the rest are either other Christian denominations, Jewish, Agnostic or even a few muslims. The Jesuits in fact have raised the rancor of the Vatican from time to time for their own liberal views of Church teachings. </p>
<p>I can argue with you all day long about how some of the flagship state schools that taxpayers are paying for are engaged in their own political and irreligious agendas, often extremely left wing and hostile to any conservative thought.</p>
<p>So it appears to me that some of them fall into the category of being "prone to step heavily on doctrine."</p>
<p>Just my humble opinion, mind you.</p>
<p>But at Jesuit Schools, DOGMA is not their agenda. Not in the least.</p>
<p>University of Notre Dame is one :)</p>
<p>southernbbq, I completely agree with you that religious schools have no obligation to be "completely antireligious." (By the way, the secular public universities I attended were in no way "anti religious" that I could perceive.) And I entirely understand and respect that a sectarian school feels obligated to teach the doctrine of its church or faith and to require its faculty and students to hew to it. This is their right. But it is also why it is somewhat facetious to suggest that such schools are committed to academic freedom. Inherently, they cannot be. </p>
<p>Some students will not care, because they agree with the doctrines. Some won't care because they have the intellectual wherewithal to understand the constraints on what they are being taught and will come to their own conclusions regardless, and the schools offer other programs that in their view overcome this deficit, if they even see it as a deficit. For my part, I simply prefer untrammeled inquiry. I am not trying to convince anyone that my preference is better; I was merely observing that it is not correct to say that Jesuit schools are committed to academic freedom.</p>
<p>MilwDad - "Disciplined" students for expressing opinions? Literally disciplined them?</p>