How accepting are the Ivies?

<p>GolfFather, this thread, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, resurfaces every year or so. It contains information that people seem to want, and this is probably the right subforum for it. At least in this one we didn’t have to argue about what constitutes a “Christian” school.</p>

<p>Ha, the thread’s featured now.</p>

<p>What am I reading?</p>

<p>Brown and Columbia are AVOIDS - most students wouldnt be tolerant
Yale is very liberal but tolerant.
Harvard, Cornell - you would be in the minority, but could find your niche and survive.</p>

<h2>Princeton, Dartmouth, UPenn - would likely be the best comparatively.</h2>

<p>Definitely check out Notre Dame and Vanderbilt - both top 20 schools that have strong religious communities </p>

<p>Vanderbilt Prayer Group:
[Vandy+Catholic</a> Night Prayer - YouTube](<a href=“Vandy+Catholic Night Prayer - YouTube”>Vandy+Catholic Night Prayer - YouTube)
[All types of Christian groups are well represented on campus]</p>

<p>Whistle - *It will be the rare professor who encourages, nurtures, and/or embraces biblical views of many social issues. *</p>

<p>Biblical views figure in history, art, lit, languages and the social sciences. OTOH, in a class exploring different events, philosophies, interpretations and perpectives, it is not enough to try to “prove” by referring to just one source, ONLY one source, the Bible. </p>

<p>Many devouts can comprehend that; often, the exploration deepens their religious beliefs. </p>

<p>But, if your purpose in college is to study the Bible as your primary focus or study topics primarily relying on the Bible, sure, go to a Bible-based college. </p>

<p>How many colleges do you have experience with, Whistle? Can you speak for those you have no experience with- because many of us know a variety of schools, work for them, have kids at them, read the professional journals, follow the ethics discussions, etc.</p>

<p>And, we know about college religious clubs, pastors, activities (including religious and some meant to bring in new members) - AND we have no problems with very religious people-</p>

<ul>
<li>as long as they are not telling us they alone know what’s up and we don’t.<br></li>
</ul>

<p>Remember, modesty is a virtue.<br>
OP, see how we do accept?</p>

<p>Sbj, good comments and I believe you and your son explored to find what would work best for him. That’s what kids should do- not take another’s hearsay.</p>

<p>Towards that point, way back in the 1980s, the Ivy I went to (not one of the four you listed) had signs all around campus that said that “3 out of 10 people are gay”. Gay rights were so huge to the point that our RA had pornographic posters on his wall of gay “interactions” and everyone was afraid to be accused of being homophobic if they complained. And we had to have floor meetings in his room.</p>

<p>Honestly, if you are that devout, you should consider one or two schools that present a campus population more supportive of your belief. Harvard for example just approved a sex toy/bondage club. If that bothers you, you should give yourself other options.</p>

<p>Going to an Ivy is not the only road to success.</p>

<p>I’ve got a couple of thoughts relating to the original question.</p>

<p>I grew up in the Bible Belt, and I was the most liberal person in my high school. When I got to Yale, I was the most conservative person any of my roommates had ever met. There were many Yalies more conservative than me - but the first weeks were a big adjustment in terms of how I perceived myself compared to how others perceived me. </p>

<p>My first job out of college, I had two Pentacostal women as coworkers. (It’s been a while, but I’m 95% sure they were Pentacostal - uncut hair bunned up with a poof in the front, ankle-length skirts, no makeup, no jewelry.) They were great coworkers, hard working and intelligent, and we got along fine. One of them was offered a promotion, and said she was happy to do the work, but didn’t want the title or the raise, because she felt it was inappropriate for her to have a higher-paying job than her husband had, or to take a job where she’d be in a position of power over a man. And her very bright daughter was not going to go to college, because it wasn’t appropriate for a woman to be more educated than her husband was, and college would interfere with marriage. </p>

<p>It would not surprise me if most Yalies (20 years ago or today) would react very strongly and negatively to a woman making those choices for herself, to say nothing of how they’d react to a man espousing those beliefs. In our (Bible Belt, conservative) office, people talked negatively behind the coworker’s back. In college, they’d say it to your face, too.</p>

<p>Let’s simply call a spade a spade here…all of the Ivies are extremely liberal and being an outspoken Christian will be tough. Now wasn’t that easy?</p>

<p>You should look at Reed College.</p>

<p>OP: Are you applying only to Harvard, Yale, Princeton & Dartmouth ?</p>

<p>I know 2 recent grads from Brown who both came from very fundamental, “born-again” Christian families. They both love the school and their time there. They both love the open atmosphere which allowed them to respectfully discuss their background and beliefs with students of very different backgrounds and beliefs. As others have stated, one of the hallmarks of a “liberal” education in the best sense is respect and tolerance. If you are interested in that, you will enjoy your time. If not, you should go to a school where most others will think the same as you. (and will you be really educated?) There is a very interesting article a while back from a Brown student who decided to take the same type of challenge educationally and spent a “year abroad” from Brown at Liberty University. In the case of one of the students I know, who was home schooled, he appreciated the “friendly” and supportive atmosphere at Brown, as well as the open curriculum, which enabled him to follow the same type of “follow your interests” education he had as a home schooler. The other student realized while at Brown that he is gay, and had the support of fellow students who could help him feel good about himself, (and his decision to remain celibate until he found his life partner) especially in the struggle with how to tell his loving parents. Brown students do include some “radical, close minded liberals” but closed mindedness is frowned upon.</p>