Christian colleges for a student who is not politically conservative?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Any suggestions? Our daughter wants to apply to both secular and Christian colleges. She publican does not want to be the only centrist, non Right Wing Republican there.</p>

<p>I understand. We attend a church that is pretty well mixed politically. It's a non denominational church that is loosely Charismatic. </p>

<p>Are any Christian colleges like that? She would want College Democrats to be permited on campus, for example.</p>

<p>My husband graduated from The King's College in Briarclif Manor (in it's previous incarnation) and I am a graduate of Stony Brook University (secular SUNY Flag Ship college.</p>

<p>I'd prefer not to argue about this with anyone. By that, I mean her political beliefs.<br>
Honestly, we would both prefer to see her at a Christian school.</p>

<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated,</p>

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<p>I definitely think she should check out Azusa Pacific. Very committed Christians in an atmosphere of political and intellectual freedom.</p>

<p>Just checked and yes, they have College Democrats among their registered student organizations.</p>

3

<p>I should have said - we live in Eastern Ohio. Not more than 5 or 600 miles away.</p>

<p>Thanks though.</p>

4

<p>Is she looking urban, suburban or rural? What major? What stats? There are plenty out there - too many to name without knowing a little more than location. In general, stay away from the noted conservative types (Cedarville, Liberty, Grove City) and she’d probably be fine. Eastern? Messiah?</p>

5

<p>This is sort of absurd. I am a dedicated conservative who is going to apply to Cornell, and I don’t freak out when I realize that I’ll be one of the few people there who isn’t a left wing nut. If she loves the school, then she should go for it…don’t like political boundaries stop her…</p>

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<p>@vipstephen - I would say there is big difference between being a conservative on a massive campus like Cornell and being a liberal on a far smaller campus. No matter how left leaning the majority of students at Cornell may be the sheer size of the campus means you’re far more likely to also find an active and vibrant conservative minority, both in students and professors. On the other hand, going to a school with maybe 2000 students makes it harder to find that minority. Sure, you may find a small number of liberal leaning students, but far fewer than in a large school, and they will be a far less active portion of the community.</p>

<p>To put it another way, I’d bet on seeing a pro-life group at Cornell long before I would bet on a pro-choice group at Cedarville.</p>

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<p>Take a look at Wheaton College in Illinois. Possibly also Houghton in New York.</p>

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<p>Look at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. It is Catholic, but very laid back and hands off. Austin is a liberal oasis and she will find many students there that are not politically conservative, but are Christians.</p>

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<p>Sorry, missed you mentioning 600 miles or less. Just dismiss my comment.</p>

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<p>I second Wheaton College in Illinois. The administration is generally apolitical, and there’s a significant number of liberal students. There is also a College Democrats club and a Feminists Club on campus.</p>

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<p>Stop with the US-versus-THEM mentality. If you want to relate open-minded colleges to “left-wing nuts” who actually make progress in the fields of science and education than so be it. Maybe your daughter could afford to expand her mind and have her preconceived notions of the world challenged rather than packing her into an institution with people who have narrow minded views of the world (<em>cough</em> any institution that adheres itself to a dogma). In the end, prestigious universities have a high correlation with liberal ideologies.</p>

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<p>It’s not at all absurd. You will be fine at Cornell. I am sure that they have a chapter of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship on Campus, College Republicans, or Campus Crusade.
Places that are liberal, offer those types of things. </p>

<p>My daughter’s stats are 3.70, SAT 620 verbal 650 math 650 writing. Her extracurricular activities are solid and include secular and non secular activities. </p>

<p>Secular colleges that she is intending to apply to include Colgate,(NY) Clark University (Massachusetts) Union College, (NY) Skidmore College (NY) Rochester Institute of Technology (depending on her major) College of Wooster (Ohio) and Earlham in Indiana.</p>

<p>She is unsure of her major and beginning her Junior year in the fall.</p>

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<p>RIT? That seems odd compared to her other schools - the rest all “fit.” If I were to see a Rochester school I’d expect UofR more than RIT, but…</p>

<p>For other suggestions…</p>

<p>You’ll want some of the higher level Christian schools so you could keep Messiah on the list, but I personally would eliminate Eastern. Have you checked into Hope, St Olaf or Calvin (the latter might be ‘borderline’ for you)? Wheaton should also still be looked at IMO. Taylor too (in IN). Is MA too far away? If not, I’ve heard good things about Gordon…</p>

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<p>how about the Jesuit schools such as Georgetown, Marquette, etc … these schools are built on a religious underpinning and have pretty even handed student bodies and education practices.</p>

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<p>I second mellorunner. A large secular campus is inclusive by nature. Not supportive, of your beliefs, but they don’t care about them. If you are friendly, a good study group member, and willing to supply notes for missed classes, you are OK.</p>

<p>I am a graduate of such a college and I spent my first 3 years at Clark University which while not terribly large, is known for it’s social and political atmosphere. There were several Christian fellowship groups at both.</p>

<p>She would not be comfortable at a college with an “Us or Them” mentality. We have raving liberals and raving conservatives at our church - with many somewhere in the middle yet willing to talk about such issues.</p>

<p>She is excited about voting and she will not be voting for a Republican candidate in any election. Her father and I have never voted Republican.</p>

<p>One of the reasons why we are suggesting a Christian college, is the very real possibility of meeting her future spouse at college. It happens all the time at college - especially Christian college.</p>

<p>We would also like her to make friendships that build her faith and nourish it. She currently attends a very small Christian school where she is a decided minority when it comes to all things political and social. She is also an ethical vegetarian and a few of the male students are hunters. A few means half of the boys in her class, which numbers six.</p>

<p>She would not date a hunter. </p>

<p>I know that Wheaten has a good academic reputation, however I thought that it was very conservative. I will look into it with her. </p>

<p>How about - Gordon, Eastern University, Roberts Wesleyan, Indiana Wesleyan, (the last may be way too Conservative) and Evangel. The last would seem really too conservative to us, but there is a girl in church who is moderate who loved it.</p>

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<p>R.I.T. because she is interested an Architecture, Art and possibly engineering.
She is also interested in Art and design and RIT has all of that.
It’s a little atypical as institutes of technology go. Liberal arts are also solid there.</p>

17

<p>Creekland, Massachusetts is on the “far end” of where we would like her to attend, but we would be OK with it. </p>

<p>You have some good ideas.</p>

<p>Essentially, places that are <em>NOT</em> like Liberty, Bob Jones and Oral Roberts. She has two cousins who went to the last and she terms them “Holy Rollers”. </p>

<p>She also listens to a mix of secular and Christian music. Alternative type music - nothing “pop”. CCM makes her gag.</p>

<p>She does not “dress Christian” as do her cousins. </p>

<p>Shops at thrift stores and boutiques, makes some of her own clothes, goes to Forever 21.</p>

<p>Typical church outfit - a thrift store vintage sweater over a camisole, skinny jeans and sandals, or a skirt and Doctor Marten boots with tights or leggings.</p>

<p>My FIL attended Houghton and he is ultra conservative.</p>

18

<p>

I know a counter-example, so you might want to look at whether there is a spectrum there. I think they do have a college Democrats group.</p>

<p>I suppose you could also look at non-religious schools where there are likely to be strong Christian groups–this will be true of many in the Southeast.</p>

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<p>I should also add - she does not want anyplace “Southern”. She does not really like anyplace or any thing “Southern”. </p>

<p>Florida might be an exception, because airfare from Cleveland is inexpensive. And Florida isn’t “Southern” in the same way.</p>

<p>The “possibility of meeting her spouse” thing is driving this to some degree as is an opportunity to meet Christian peers who share her beliefs. At church, she has been able to do this. At school, not so much.</p>

<p>Catholic colleges would not fill the bill in terms of a place to meet a future spouse - although there are arguably more good Catholic schools, and more students that share her perspectives at RC colleges than at Evangelical Christian colleges.</p>

20

<p>You asked about Eastern… culturally, yes, it would work. Academically I think they would be a little light considering her scores. You’d have to decide how much that mattered.</p>

<p>Definitely don’t dismiss the secular schools based on finding a spouse or whatever. There are very nice Christian groups at most secular schools. There are also those at Christian schools who are only there because mom + dad would only pay for Christian…</p>

<p>On a different note… it is annoying whenever I hear of someone who “would never vote for a ______” (insert party of choice). Being rather independent and often having a split ticket when I vote - totally based upon individuals running and how well I feel they could do their job - it just bugs me to hear of such closed minds. When I get a student who mentions something like that at school we often have a conversation… usually ending well IMO. :wink: But I digress…</p>