Christian-friendly Colleges and Great CS Programs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello everyone!</p>

<p>I am an international student from Romania and (obviously) I am intending to apply in America.
Many of the colleges I am considering are LACs and I had a few questions about the ones I am considering.
Firstly, I am a devoted christian and I am interested in attending a college where I would be tolerated this way. Sorry if this doesn't make sense to you but as I am coming from Romania, I am used to societies that are very anti-christian. So, I am intending to go to a college where I would find people that share my interest for their christian belief.
(Actually Princeton Review scared me with their top Non-religious college list)
My favorite LACs are:
-Hamilton
-Wesleyan/Vassar (for some reason I find them very similar)
-Grinnell
-Pomona
-Middlebury
Also, the other thing I am interested in is that the college I will be attending would have a great CS program. (I have two international medals in Computer Science and I am interested in a school where the program would be pretty serious).</p>

<p>PS: About the CS program I would also like to get info about Wheaton C (IL).</p>

<p>Thank you very much,
Matt.</p>

2

<p>You could look into Marist College in NY, great for CS, used to be all Christian, now open to all.</p>

3

<p>Thanks chocchipcookie!
I am looking for colleges that could offer full ride scholarships also :-s. (I wouldn’t be able to afford attending otherwise)</p>

4

<p>Wheaton has neither a high reputation in CS, nor does it have [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.abet.org%5DABET%5B/url”&gt;http://www.abet.org]ABET[/url</a>] accreditation in CS. While some of the top schools in CS do not have ABET accreditation in CS, ABET accreditation in CS can serve to validate that a CS degree program meets minimum standards at schools without high reputations in the subject.</p>

<p>Note that there is a distinction between schools with a highly religious environment which may be desired by very religious students of the exact same religion or denomination but undesirable for the less religious or those with strong beliefs in a different religion or denomination, and those where any religious beliefs are generally accepted, and those where strong religious beliefs are frowned upon.</p>

<p>If you are Orthodox as is most common in Romania, be aware that it is less common than the Protestant and Catholic denominations of Christianity in the US.</p>

<p>Most of the strongest schools in CS in the US are not religion affiliated, though the religious beliefs of the students varies. Many of them are large state universities, so it may be more likely to find a religious community of your religion there than at a small school, if your religion is not one of the larger ones in the US.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your answer!
I am not necessarily looking for a college that is religiously affiliated. (See the other universities I have been speaking about)
I am looking for colleges where I can find at least 10 people that would resemble me in my faith. (Somehow practically)
PS. I’m a Pentecostal…
I am not considering big state U’s as they are usually public and so, they don’t offer full scholarships.
Any thoughts on the other colleges (add Berea C to the deal).
Thanks again!</p>

6

<p>[Top</a> 25 Financial Aid Colleges in US for International Students (Need-aware) - Desperate Guide: Undergraduate College Financial Aid, Scholarship](<a href=“http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware]Top”>http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware)</p>

<p>[Top</a> 6 Need-blind Colleges in US for International Students - Desperate Guide: Undergraduate College Financial Aid, Scholarship](<a href=“http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-6-need-blind-colleges-in-us-for-international-students]Top”>http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-6-need-blind-colleges-in-us-for-international-students)</p>

<p>People are not likely to be intolerant of your religious beliefs at any of the schools you list, as long as you don’t zealously try to convert them. On the other hand, finding 10 other active Pentacostals at a small, non-religious, rural LAC might be a problem. Ask in the Middlebury, Grinnell, and Hamilton forums if there is a Pentacostal community on campus or in town.</p>

7

<p>Thanks!
Now… About CS at LAC’s? I’m aiming at a Google Internship :-s.</p>

8

<p>Look for a school that is either well known for CS (very few LACs qualify) or has [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.abet.org%5DABET%5B/url”&gt;http://www.abet.org]ABET[/url</a>] accreditation for CS.</p>

9

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<p>Given that you are an international student, I think you should first search for colleges/universities that offer merit awards and/or need-based aid to internationals. Many schools restrict financial aid to US citizens and permanent residents. (I haven’t checked out your list for this information–perhaps you already have.)</p>

10

<p>I know!
This is the first step I take when considering a college.</p>

11

<p>^^ Many public universities do not offer aid to internationals. However, some of the most selective private LACs like the ones on the OP’s list do offer aid to internationals, and the average awards tend to be very high. At Middlebury, for example, the average award is about $45K. At Pomona, the average is ~$40K.</p>

<p>The averages are shown in section H of the Common Data Set, which usually is available for download on the school’s site.</p>