<p>anima: I’m interested in doing some advanced religious studies. I’ve also gone to Catholic school for years, and really like the schools’ philosophy and overall environment.</p>
<p>University of Dayton is good</p>
<p>and don’t forget all the great catholic schools on the west coast like Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, St. Mary’s Of California, University of San Diego etc…</p>
<p>I strongly support catholic higher education. I applaud your search. BUT…its more than just “is it Catholic?” Its “whether its a good fit for you.” Which is more than just comparing stats and finding the ubiquitous, reach-match-safety schools. Its about a program you like, your interests, objectives, social scene, background, geography, weather, campus structure, campus architecture, sports, religious views (not all Catholics think alike as you know), financial issues, on and on…the list is…endless…lol.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is not Providence College which is not Boston College which is not Villanova which is not Fordham which is not Notre Dame which is not Georgetown which is not Assumption College which is not Trinity College-Texas which is not Loyola (Chicago, New Orleans, LA-Marymount, Maryland) which is not Seattle University which is not Creighton which is not Marquette on and on.</p>
<p>Some kids would prefer to be challenged to the maximum and can live with the fact that they may end up in the middle of their college class, other kids prefer to be bigger fish in a smaller pond and go into the Honors Program somewhere and gain a huge scholarship in the process. </p>
<p>Some want to live close to home. Some want to be as far away from home as possible to become their own person and experience a new culture and lifestyle. </p>
<p>Some are religious on Sunday and secular the rest of the week. Some are religious 24-7. Some want to meet someone special in college and get married. Some want a career and could care less about the other sex. Some want to continue a same sex environment. Some want to work for the Church as a dedicated religious, taking vows of poverty and chastity. Some want to remain “a civilian” but work in social work overseas. Some want to make money. Some want to become artists. </p>
<p>In other words its about YOU (in so far as the college selection process goes). </p>
<p>Start by writing down YOUR goals and ambitions. Take an honest (and perhaps highly private) inventory of yourself, attributes and weaknesses. Then try and formulate a list of colleges (start with 25 or less and whittle it down over time) that either accentuates your strengths, or…if you are a contrarian…helps you grow as person and makes you address your weaknesses…or…brings you out of your own shell. </p>
<p>If you are a northerner, perhaps look south or west. If you are a westerner, perhaps look east. And so forth.</p>
<p>Its arbitrary and capricious at first. Its that way for everyone, so dont fret about it. Its only critical when you get down to the 8-10 schools where you apply, and eventually to the 4-6 which accept you (maybe more) and then YOU have to decide where YOU WANT TO ATTEND, for YOUR PERSONAL REASONS. </p>
<p>Do I have favorites? Of course I do. But I am not you. I have already gone to college (and graduate school). This is funny website. All kinds of obsessed personalities here. All kinds of agendas. Yes, they can be “helpful”. To a point. But they should NOT decide it for you. Anymore than Princeton Review should be your “deciding factor.”</p>
<p>There is a pecking order in Catholic colleges, like in most schools. But its relative. You can find outstanding professors and programs in remote places, obscure colleges, just as you can find them at famous and popular big name schools. </p>
<p>Are you a sports fanatic? Does it even matter to you? Or do you like a sport that is not on the front pages of the sports section (lacrosse, waterpolo, fencing, etc). What makes YOU tick? What gets your cerebral juices flowing in a POSITIVE direction and what makes you angry and upset? Are you a social justice fanatic or a conformist who wants a classic education and then a classic well paying job in the business world? Are you risk averse or risk taking? Do you like challenges…like mountain climbing and hiking or do you like an urban setting and dealing with high energy COMPETITIVE people who are “in your face?” Do you want to challenge your faith or underscore your faith and values? </p>
<p>NONE of which has anything to do with USNWR rankings or really even your personal stats.</p>
<p>Some people just don’t get that and pick colleges for the wrong reasons. Even so, they often adjust and move on. Or they bomb. Or they are okay but need to transfer to a different environment. Or they are maleable and can get along with anyone anywhere and it sorta doesnt matter where they go to college.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>for you, I would go UND, Gtown, BC, Holy Cross, Nova…then some women’s colleges thrown in the mix.</p>
<p>Princeton Review rates the academics at College of the Holy Cross a 98 which is the highest ranking given to any Catholic college or university. You can look this up yourself at [Test</a> Prep: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, and More](<a href=“http://www.princetonreview.com%5DTest”>http://www.princetonreview.com)</p>