@homerdog you bring up a good thread discussion. At face value, BC would also check the box for D20 but with a less than 2% (200 students) that are Jewish, it gives us pause.
Exactly. It’s not just about tolerating crucifixes or priests on campus or finding a crowd that doesn’t go to mass. It’s about being the lone person who doesn’t get the cultural references, who doesn’t have the shared childhood experiences of the rest of his/her classmates, who isn’t part of the network. Some kids are fine with that, others not. What feels inclusive to a member of the majority at the school may not feel so inclusive to the person coming from the minority perspective.
Imagine your non-Jewish kids at a school like Yeshiva U, particularly at one of their grad programs (law, medicine, social work, business) which reach out to non-Jews. Would it feel uncomfortable or weird to your kid to see a big group of people singing grace after meals even if your kid wasn’t obliged to join in? Or celebrating a holiday like Sukkot or Tu B’Shevat that your kid had never seen before? Or peppering speech with Yiddish or Hebrew phrases and watching everyone else laugh?
I’m not putting down BC or saying that it can’t appeal to people of other religions, practicing or non-practicing. For some kids it’s a great fit. Judging from the enthusiastic responses of students and alums on this thread, it’s a nice, welcoming school. I’m only observing that it may be a nice, welcoming school with top notch academics and still not be a fit from the perspective of a non-Catholic kid. That doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with that kid. It means it’s not a fit for everyone and that, I think, is what the OP is trying to figure out.
@3girls3cats 100% this!
I think there are some religious schools where the majority of students not of the sponsoring religious will not feel comfortable - BYU, Yeshiva, Bob Jones, Liberty, Ave Maria. Even non practicing Catholics will feel outnumbered at Ave Maria very quickly.
I wouldn’t put BC in the same category as these. Yes, it’s ‘really’ Catholic and not pretending to be so. Yes, you can’t just ignore it and if it bothers you that the mission of the school includes the teachings, then don’t go. But one thing that is different about BC is that it is in a city that has other schools with larger religious student groups, with guest speakers from other religious groups (if that’s what you are looking for), for a bigger dating pool. You aren’t going to find that at more rural schools.
@3girls3cats You make an excellent point and. Jewish or Muslim or Hindu kid may not feel comfortable at all at a Catholic school. But in terms of the cultural references and shared childhood experiences, that you reference, I do think those are much more similar than different among Catholics and most Protestant religions. I don’t think a Protestant kid would feel out of place at BC because he/she would have had the same holidays and many shared traditions. But All the same I do get why a Protestant kid would prefer a non Catholic school.
How do we learn to get along with each other if there isn’t a mixing that takes place?
If the point of diversity is to sub group within the walls, it’s a bit of a failed experiment. .
There are 5.3 million Jewish Americans and 72 million Catholics. We should not be surprised that the numbers are not higher at many universities.
Just a side note. My daughter is taking a class next semester at BC on Israel. The entire class is going there as a group after the holidays to visit what they’ve learned. It’s a sold out class that requires an essay to be accepted. So popular they have a premiering with all of the candidates to discuss the process of enrolling and the room had enough for three classes over. The biggest activist events of the semester where against racism and a prolife speaker that cmse onto campus. They had a sit in to take up all the seats.
It’s not the place some posters think it is. It’s very liberal. It’s very open in 2019. Don’t think it would be unwelcoming. My daughter is not a catholic.
Just a different viewpoint. But no reason to apply if you’d be uncomfortable.
@privatebanker With all due respect, the Catholic students choosing to attend BC aren’t exactly diversifying either. I don’t see many of those students considering a school like Brandeis.
It really isn’t a case of BC feeling unwelcoming. No one here has said that. Again, it’s easy as a Catholic to say how Jews might feel. I would love to hear from a Jewish person regarding this. But with less than 200 Jews on campus it’s pretty unlikely we will find one here.
I think it’s a good point that non-Catholic kids might feel left out because they aren’t familiar with what Catholic teenagers have experienced growing up. I’m 100 percent sure the Catholic kids are welcoming but it’s still easy to feel like one is out of the loop. Our agnostic kids even get that feeling in some of their history classes at school where Christian (including Catholic kids of course) know the Bible and the history of western religion. They always felt at a disadvantage during those chapters! When D21 took AP Euro this year, she had quite a few times when she wondered how do these kids know this stuff?! Lol. Add in the traditions of the church and the political angle and our kids would be lost or flat out disagree. Now, that’s not to say that they won’t go to college and fall in love with a Catholic (or someone of any religion) but a school that’s 70 percent any religion could make them feel like outsiders. 70 percent of the kids know what to do during a Catholic mass. Sounds like a decent percentage of those kids might like going to a mass with a friendly priest. Good for them. I just don’t see D21 ever going to mass for fun or contemplation. If she went to a mass with a Catholic friend at a non-Jesuit university because a friend invited her, that would be one thing. Going to a mass at BC would be different and maybe show her how much of an outsider she might be. I’m just pontificating now as I can’t know how she would feel for sure but it seems likely she would feel left out.
Now watch. She’s will visit and love it. I’ll be sure to keep the thread updated. 
So I have known many Jewish kids going to BC. Not an issue. I didn’t read the full thread but in Chicago we have Loyola and DePaul and just not an issue for the kids.
My Jewish daughter went for her first two years to Illinois Wesleyan. Not exactly a haven for Jewish kids. Very few but my daughter never felt out of place. Everyone respected each other there.
She actually hosted with other kids in a professor home a Passover learning dinner. All faiths came and was well attended. After one of the high holidays we brought in brisket and kugel etc for her 20 housemates. The world got out that there was “real” food on campus and the house was flooded with students. Some even remarked that Halah bread /food is awesome!.
Many came up to me and my wife and besides thanking us for the food was “after any Jewish Holiday, please bring this great food.” ??. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference.
Let me depart conjecture for the benefit of reality. There are no crucifixes on campus, no nuns or priests roaming about in flowing robes, no Sunday night mass church service. We have 20% of the student body who are Asian, and from my perspective not practicing Catholics. They are accepting of the academic and social environment and don’t appear to be overly personalizing their experience, along religious lines, everyone gets along nicely and Catholicism as a topic rarely if ever comes up in any conversation I have witnessed or been part of. So, for one who is currently living the BC experience, much of what is being posted is Fubah. For those who do not attend BC, ever attended BC or have a child who doesn’t attend, doesn’t wish to attend, or decided against attending and still posting here, I scratch my head on how anything offered is relevant to this BC thread and therefore has any merit at all, unless we are here to discuss our feelings.
And yet BC’s website says there are Masses on Sunday nights and more than 100 Jesuits who call BC their home at all times, not to mention other Religious who may be working there or attending as students.
The crucifixes were a big issue in 2009 and a review of the issue was recently discuss in The Torch. This article says there are crucifixes all over campus, in almost every classroom, dining hall, and residence hall. https://www.thetorchbc.com/2019/05/01/crucifixes-of-boston-college/
The library has many stained glass windows with religious themes. "one cannot help but be reminded of the school’s Catholic foundations when circling through Bapst Library. "
Most orders, including Jesuits, no longer wear “flowing robes” on a daily basis.
@bbfan1927 Your posts show not being Catholic at BC doesn’t bother YOU but it may be an issue to others. I think the OP is right to question whether being Catholic would bother her/her daughter. After she investigates she may find it isn’t an issue or at least isn’t a negative, but she needs to decide.
And by the way, my daughter is Catholic and Asian. Quite a few Asian countries have large Catholic populations.
I have a close friend whose son went to BC. They are Jewish ( non practicing) and she was very concerned about it before he began. It was never an issue. She did mention crucifixes and other things (mainly symbolic) which seemed to bother her but did not faze him in the least. When it comes to religion, I think many younger people are very open to all faiths and the concept of someone who has no faith as well. His girlfriend is Catholic and there was never a single issue.
I do know that BC has many Catholics on campus. They might not be trying to convince someone to join their faith but they live and breathe their faith. This is also intrinsic in the Jesuit concept of social justice, etc. You might not think about it as a student or you might. Some people feel if they are not part of the majority that someone is against them or they will feel strange.
Honestly, I have no issue with my kids going to any school with any faith foundation/or none at all. I went to college in another country (not study abroad) and learned to love other cultures, languages etc. I think college is a good time to think about life and learn from others. I know many people want to make sure their kids are with others like them, but I want my kids to learn from others who are unlike them as well.
From this discussion, it seems like some feel BC is pretty agnostic and other feel like they don’t belong. After everything with an acceptance in hand, it just comes down to fit.
Yes @Happytimes2001 I do want our kids to meet all types of kids while in college. That’s why 70 percent Catholic gives me pause.
@homerdog, Well then BC sounds like it isn’t the school for YOU. But it may/or may not be right for your daughter. Someone’s religion is just one aspect of their being. There are definitely all types of kids at BC but I have no dog in the hunt, truly. Not an alumni or even related to one. Hope your daughter finds a good spot for HER.
I have to agree here. BC was one of the top destinations for graduates from my private, non-sectarian Eastern MA HS. I have no idea if they were all Catholic as I never did a poll, but even if they were, none of them were what I would call ardent Catholics. But for your daughter, or any applicant, it’s one piece in the fit puzzle.
[QUOTE=""]
This article says there are crucifixes all over campus, in almost every classroom, dining hall, and residence hall<<
[/QUOTE]
Sorry but I take issue with the accuracy of that statement. I have been here 2 years, and unless I am totally oblivious, or my class selection affords me to avoid viewing crucifixes , I truly don’t recall seeing any crucifixes that made any impression on me. Are they there? Well, the article says so, but, I don’t recall truly seeing any!
[QUOTE=""]
The library has many stained glass windows with religious themes. "one cannot help but be reminded of the school’s Catholic foundations when circling through Bapst Library.<<
[/QUOTE]
If one visits the art and architecture of Europe, do they view the art and architecture as a object of history and appreciate it’s beauty and craftsmanship or do you view it solely as a form of persuasive religious content? For me, I appreciate art and history and am not offended or persuaded to contemplate my own belief system when observing and appreciating art and architecture. I don’t consider myself hyper sensitive, so for me, content is secondary. I cant imagine anyone of a different religious background looking at the intricate and beautiful Baptst stain glass and feeling threatened or insecure about the content, that it becomes pivotal in their decision making.
[QUOTE=""]
Yes @Happytimes2001 I do want our kids to meet all types of kids while in college. That’s why 70 percent Catholic gives me pause<<<
[/QUOTE]
Assuming religion defines most students here, you would have a point, but it doesn’t. Just a bunch of college students who work hard, play hard and support each other. As a side note, one could also point out that non secular environments have their issues as well.
Bapst is gorgeous, but not the main library. The modern main library, O’Neill, is quite a contrast to Bapst and the architecture of the main quad. (Apparently Gasson was some sort of national influence for the Collegiate Gothic style of architecture. Its 110th anniversary was recently celebrated.)
With Cushing being replaced by the new Schiller Institute STEM building, it seems like they may be systematically getting rid of the less-attractive structures built in the 1950s. I may have read a plan somewhere that even McElroy will be replaced in the future.
We will need to wait for the homerdog family visit this fall to see what her D thinks. In the meantime, anyone interested in the decoration (or lack thereof) of buildings and classrooms can also check that out online.
Edit, interesting - I googled O’Neill and came across some architectural firm’s facade drawings. I wonder if a change is planned.
Most non-Catholic Christians or agnostic/atheists would feel completely comfortable at BC As the parent of an incoming BC freshman (who is nominally Catholic, but not very religious) I can say that his decision to enroll at BC had almost nothing to do with its Jesuit identity. He was looking for a well-regarded academic school with a strong undergraduate business program. He also wanted top tier Division 1 sports/school spirit and an attractive campus setting To the original poster, I would encourage your daughter to visit BC and see how she likes it. We have family and friends with children at BC. The Catholic experience is easy to find if you want it, and easy to ignore if you don’t. Yes, there are crosses on some buildings and classrooms at BC. Same at Georgetown and especially ND. Some students may find this jarring or uncomfortable. All Catholic schools will have some Christian iconography on campus. Indeed, many secular schools also have Christian imagery. A Methodist Chapel is the focal point of the Duke campus. A mural of Jesus presenting the sermon on the mount towers over the main quad at Stanford. It’s one of the first things you see when visiting the Stanford campus.
I would make a distinction between non-Catholic Christians (including non believers who come from a Christian background) and Jews. Jewish students traditionally prefer to attend schools which have a significant Jewish presence on campus. In part, this is because Judaism is both a religion and an ethnic/cultural group. Methodists or Presbyterians rarely care who many of their particular denomination go to a school.
For many complicated historical reasons (which we don’t need to get into on a CC forum about Boston College) Jewish students usually want to go to schools where they are not only welcome, but also common. Hence, even in secular colleges, Jewish applicants often choose Yale over Princeton, Wash U over Vanderbilt, Michigan over UVa, Lehigh over Bucknell, etc., in part because of the percentage of fellow Jewish students is relatively high. Ultimately, this is a question of comfort/ fit, not religion.
@bbfan1927 I think we are here to discuss our feelings. Feelings are a huge part of why we select the schools we do. Feelings are part of our decision making process.
I understand you don’t get it. Having empathy for others would include trying to understand how others might feel.
Asking a Catholic how a non Catholic might fit at a school with 70% of the students identifying as Catholic isn’t really a fair question. I appreciate how much you love your school. BC is a wonderful school. Like every other school on the planet it’s not for everyone. I promise you that’s ok.