<p>GC is a very conservative place. In every way one can imagine. They will not accept federal finacial aid, for example. </p>
<p>I think it is fair to say most christian colleges require some sort of chapel attendance, etc. Even ND requires two theology classes.</p>
<p><a href=“Colleges Where Chapel Attendance is Required | CollegeXpress”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/lists/list/colleges-where-chapel-attendance-is-required/2091/</a></p>
<p>Have you visited Liberty? Due to the growth of the school in recent years there are more moderate Christians at the school than ever before. The academic reputation is greatly improving. In my opinion, a non-Christian wouldn’t have any more issue with the Religion requirements than a conservative would in a sociology class at a liberal school. While you may not agree with the way the course is instructed you wouldn’t have problems in the course and will be challenged which will help your critical thinking and rhetoric development.</p>
<p>Now, that isn’t to say that you should attend any of these schools but don’t be too quick to judge them. There are actually a lot of kids at these schools just like you that are only there because their parents want them there. When you see the post where someone overheard students debating religion you have to wonder why they are debating. Typically it is due to a disagreement. You say you keep your mouth shut but I have found that kids at Christian colleges have no problem hearing different views, they often hear them and discuss them. I have known atheist that have attended and graduated from Christian schools just as I have known people that regularly drink, do drugs, and have sex at Christian schools. It is very much similar to Christian or Catholic High Schools. Part of the reason you don’t hear about all this is because the schools don’t advertise it. But these schools are actually a lot more diverse than people assume.</p>
<p>^the debate can go “should we try to preach to the homosexuals next door or threaten them by telling them they’ll go to hell”; if your answer is “I think they should get married and adopt children, and that it’s not my business plus hell doesn’t exist so threaten all you like but you’ll look like fools”, it’s better to keep your mouth shut. Or “Was the earth created in 6 days, or in 6,000?” which, well, most scientists wouldn’t consider a debate at all. (And yes I heard such “debates”, many times, by well-meaning people.) So just because people are talking about religion and debating doesn’t mean they differ greatly, and not in the way a Fundamentalist Christian and an Atheist would.</p>
<p>BTW, I think OP has left the discussion :)</p>
<p>With National Merit, you seriously shouldn’t be resorting to Liberty. Try Texas A&M. They even throw in a potential trip to Italy.</p>
<p>If you want Christian, try Texas Christian University. Stay away from Liberty!</p>
<p>Ditto that there are many other options if you are a NMF. Personally, while finding secular friends is certainly possible at such a university, it sounds to me like someone may end up being potentially unhappy given the circumstances the university surrounds itself with. Also, there are many schools that are Christian affiliated, but don’t necessarily require mass or other activities that you may feel uncomfortable with.</p>
<p>Anyhow, taken from @allyphoe’s thread, a full list of possibilities if you have NMF. Edited out to include mainly universities that offer full rides. Check out the main thread for a full list of opportunities</p>
<p>Key:</p>
<p>NMF: National Merit Finalist
NMSF: National Merit Semi-Finalist
NMCS: National Merit Commended Student
Full Tuition: covers the cost of tuition for 4 years
Full Ride: covers Tuition, Room, and Board for 4 years (may include other benefits as well)</p>
<p>==== ALABAMA ====</p>
<p>University of Alabama
NMSF Award: Full Tuition (NMSF + 3.5 GPA required)
NMF Award: Full Tuition (up to 5 years) + 1 year housing + $3,500/year + $2,000 exp + iPad
National Merit and National Achievement Scholarships - Undergraduate Scholarships - The University of Alabama</p>
<p>University of Alabama-Huntsville
NMSF Award: Full Tuition+Fees+$500/year book stipend
NMF Award: Full Ride
UAH - Financial Aid - Entering Freshmen - General Information</p>
<p>University of Alabama-Birmingham
NMF Award: Full Tuition + fees + housing +$2,500 exp
<a href=“Error 404 | Not Found”>Error 404 | Not Found;
<p>Faulkner University
NMSF Award: Full Tuition
NMF Award: Full Ride
Faulkner University - Scholarships</p>
<p>Oakwood University
NMF Award: Full Tuition + room
NMSF Award: Full Tuition
<a href=“Oakwood University”>Oakwood University;
<p>Troy University
NMF Award: Full Ride
Undergraduate :: Troy Scholarships</p>
<p>==== ALASKA ====</p>
<p>University of Alaska-Anchorage
NMF Award: Full Tuition
National Merit Tuition Waiver Scholarship</p>
<p>==== ARIZONA ====</p>
<p>University of Arizona
NMF Award: Full Tuition+ ($30,000/year + iPad + $1,500 exp)
2013-2014 Terms and Conditions | financialaid.arizona.edu</p>
<p>==== ARKANSAS ====</p>
<p>University of Arkansas Monticello
NMF Award: Full Ride
University of Arkansas at Monticello</p>
<p>==== FLORIDA ====</p>
<p>Florida A&M
NMF Award: Full Ride + $2000/year books/stipend + laptop
<a href=“Page Not Found”>Page Not Found;
Note: Must major in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics, or Physics</p>
<p>Florida International University
NMF Award: Full Tuition + room
Scholarships - Costs & Aid - Florida International University - FIU</p>
<p>University of Central Florida
NMF Award: Full Ride ($36,000/year + departmental benefit)
<a href=“https://admissions.ucf.edu/files/2012/09/NatMerit_2013.pdf”>https://admissions.ucf.edu/files/2012/09/NatMerit_2013.pdf</a></p>
<p>==== IDAHO ====</p>
<p>University of Idaho
NMF Award: Full Ride
National Merit Scholars-Financial Aid & Scholarships-University of Idaho</p>
<p>==== KANSAS ====</p>
<p>Fort Hays State University
NMF Award: Full Ride+
Opportunities for High-Achieving Students - Fort Hays State University</p>
<p>Wichita State University
NMF Award: Full Ride
<a href=“http://webs.wichita.edu/depttools/depttoolsmemberfiles/fa_performingarts/Scholarships/pa_scholarships.pdf”>http://webs.wichita.edu/depttools/depttoolsmemberfiles/fa_performingarts/Scholarships/pa_scholarships.pdf</a></p>
<p>==== KENTUCKY ====</p>
<p>University of Kentucky
Award: Full Ride+
Academic Scholarships for Freshmen | UK Student Financial Aid and Scholarships</p>
<p>==== LOUISIANA ====</p>
<p>Louisiana Tech University
NMF Award: Full Ride+
<a href=“http://www.latech.edu/admissions/Scholarship%20updates%20for%20website.pdf”>http://www.latech.edu/admissions/Scholarship%20updates%20for%20website.pdf</a>
Note: Requires 3.0 GPA</p>
<p>==== MISSISSIPPI ====</p>
<p>Mississippi State University
NMF Award: Full Tuition, Fees, Books, and Room
NSMF Award: Full Tuition, Fees, and Books
Academic Scholarships for Entering Freshmen - Scholarships || Office of Admissions and Scholarships || Mississippi State University</p>
<p>University of Southern Mississippi
NMF Award: Full Ride + $4,000 exp
NMSF Award: Full Tuiton + fees
Freshman Scholarships | The University of Southern Mississippi</p>
<p>University of Mississippi
NMF Award: Full Tuition + room
The University of Mississippi Office of Financial Aid</p>
<p>==== NEVADA ====</p>
<p>University of Nevada Las Vegas
NMF Award: Full Ride + study abroad
President’s Scholarship | Financial Aid & Scholarships | University of Nevada, Las Vegas</p>
<p>==== NEW JERSEY ====</p>
<p>New Jersey Institute of Technology
NMF Award: Full Ride
NJIT: Financial Aid: NJIT - Merit-based awards</p>
<p>==== NEW MEXICO ====</p>
<p>University of New Mexico
NMF Award: Full Ride
NMSF Award: Full Tuition+
Undergraduate Scholarships :: | The University of New Mexico</p>
<p>==== NORTH CAROLINA ====</p>
<p>North Carolina Central University
NMF/NMSF Award: Full Ride+ (Tuition and fees, room, board, books, $1000/year, internships, and a laptop)
Page Not Found</p>
<p>==== OKLAHOMA ====</p>
<p>Oklahoma State University
NMF Award: Full Ride
<a href=“404 | Oklahoma State University”>404 | Oklahoma State University;
<p>Oklahoma Christian University
NMF Award: Full Ride
Academic Merit Scholarships*| Oklahoma Christian University</p>
<p>==== TENNESSEE ====</p>
<p>Lipscomb University
NMF Award: Full Ride
NMSF Award: Full Tuition + $2,000/year
<a href=“Admissions | Lipscomb University”>Admissions | Lipscomb University;
<p>==== TEXAS ====</p>
<p>University of Houston
NMF Award: Full Ride
National Merit Scholarship</p>
<p>University of Texas Arlington
NMF Award: Full Tuition + room
Scholarships</p>
<p>University of Texas Dallas
NMF Award: Full Ride (Tuition + $8,000/year + $2,000 exp)
National Merit Scholarships - Office of Undergraduate Education - The University of Texas at Dallas</p>
<p>University of Texas Tyler
NMF Award: Full Ride
UT Tyler Scholarships | New Freshman Scholarship, National Merit, Regent</p>
<p>University of North Texas
NMF Award: Full Ride
UNT Meritorious Scholarship for National Merit Finalists | Student Financial Aid and Scholarships</p>
<p>UAlabama, UArizona, UCF, UT-Dallas (as you’d have a shot at McDermott Scholars on top of it), UKentucky, would be the best combination of full ride (or very close) + academic quality + secular university with lots of Christian activities (ie., if you wanted Christians groups for your parents’ peace of mind, there’d be lots of them, but if you wanted secular friends and secular activities, there’d be lots of them too)</p>
<p>Don’t go! If your instincts are persistently telling you that you won’t enjoy yourself, don’t do it. It sounds like you could get several full ride scholarships if you apply to the right schools. Sounds lame but you should stay true to yourself, always. </p>
<p>What about Texas Christian, Wheaton or Calvin?</p>
Don’t do it. Liberty is a very conservative, Christian school. It’s good for a guy like me (Evangelical Christian) but I have a feeling you wouldn’t like the atmosphere of the school. Like I said, I’m an Evangelical Christian, and I think Liberty might even be too strict for me! I have many friends who went there, but I warn you, it is not very competitive academically. Schools like Grove City, Gordon College, and Wheaton College are FAR superior to Liberty. Go to Grove City, or check out Hillsdale. It’s not affiliated with a Christian church, but it is fairly Christian, so maybe your parents will pay for that. Also, if I may ask, what is an Agnostic Atheist? Agnostics don’t know if God exists, Atheists say there is NO God.
Forgot to mention, I’m a hih school junior with an in-depth knowledge of pretty much every Christian School.(I have friends who went to Bob Jones, Liberty, Grove City, Gordon, Eastern Nazarene, Wheaton, Hillsdale, Pensacola Christian, Clearwater Christian, Regent, and many other universities, both Christian and secular.) Definitely PM me if you need any help with your school choices. I’m Anglican by the way!
Amen to that! Please, people, do not advise a young person to lie on college applications. One should begin one’s young adulthood with integrity. Lying for one’s own personal gain is . . . evil.
I’m a Christian who went to two prestigious secular schools and have been watching LU out of academic interest. LU has perfected online learning and all private colleges are taking notice because of the huge revenue stream. That said, attending a Christian college will be hard for a non believer, and would be akin to a LU Christian attending BYU. But academically, you’re no worse off than BYU because, for all of its controversies, LU is growing in stature, especially in size, brand recognition, alumni strength and athletics, which will only improve.
Faith is a big part of Liberty, and if you don’t see yourself being able to sit through a chapel service or Bible class, I would really think through the benefits of attending there, in your case.
Yes, you are going to feel like people are trying to convert you. Your options are to be polite, listen, and then share your thoughts, or to be defensive and constantly feel like you are under scrutiny. All about perspective.
Keep in mind, there are more “liberal” faith-based schools across the country, where the ethics of the school are more faith-based, but you don’t have to take Bible classes or attend chapel services. If you feel that there may be better opportunities for you at a school like that, certainly look around a bit more.
Question: I’m really, really into contemporary Christian rock music and am a member of New Life Church in Renton, WA, a mega evangelical church. Does LU allow such alternative forms of worship?
I know they have it at some convocations and Winterfest.
http://www.liberty.edu/winterfest/index.cfm?PID=14482
http://www.liberty.edu/winterfest/
That is awesome. I wonder if Falwell is turning in his grave…jk. Remember Christians: It’s not how you worship, but that you worship!
OP, where did you decide to go? If you’ll be at UK in the fall, see you there!
First off, you need to ask yourself are you “really” agnostic or is it just a rebellious stage. No offense meant, but if you think of yourself as a “Lifelong Atheist” or “In My 20’s Atheist” it makes a big difference in my answer. If it is the latter I would say you may as well go to Liberty if it is free and grin and bear it. I’m sure their is at least little Greek life (by that I mean partying) around and may quench your doubts in religion. If it is the former, however, and you think you will be a life long atheist I suggest a more secular college than LU.
Good luck.
Edit: Not trying to force religion on anyone here but if you are an ex-protestant you should check out Eastern Orthodox. I find it to be a much more fulfilling (Intellectually and culturally) tradition than (most) forms of protestantism and actually want to attend a service one day.