<p>Starting to look at some of the CTCLs and Colleges of Distinction for my Jr. D (Archaeology) and Soph. S (Creative Writing). Lots and lots of colleges out there, for both kids who are looking for smaller, LAC type schools, but I'm trying to slog through them now, and my preliminary scan shows a lot of them are "church affiliated." I'm not exactly sure what that means.</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr, I know, was founded by Quakers, but now has no religious affiliation, or so I was told.</p>
<p>My kids were basically "raised by wolves" with regards to religion (my fault) but what I don't want to do is eliminate a school that seems like a good fit based on its affiliation with any particular religion. I realize that some may have only a loose affiliation, and it's really irrelevant with regards to the student makeup and atmosphere, and others may be more predominant. It's just a little hard to tell unless it's plastered there on the web page.</p>
<p>I am not meaning to sound disrespectful to any religious based schools, and I apologize in advance if this post seems that way. It's just that if a school is self-described "Jesuit" or states that it is founded by/affiliated with whatever sect, how predominant is it? Guess it depends on the individual school, but there are so many, and I haven't yet found a good method for going through them.</p>
<p>There is a huge spectrum. For instance, Wheaton (IL) is very religious (to the point where non-protestants don't seem to be welcome), whereas Georgetown, not so much. Also, some schools may be very religious, but not exclusively so. Maybe you could list some of these "religiously-affiliated" schools you are looking into, and people could give you feedback on how religious each of the schools are.</p>
<p>I don't know of any that make you go to chapel or anything like that. They're not like high schools, where there are religious requirements. but im just assuming, i dunno really.</p>
<p>I went to a Methodist school where even our own Chaplain wasn't Methodist (and no, chapel was never required; neither were any classes in religion or theology).</p>
<p>It's very hard to generalize--you have to dig deeper with each school.</p>
<p>one of my friends attended a church-affiliated school where all students were required to minor in bible studies. another attended a different church-affiliated school where he complained that there were very few christians on campus. as others have said, theres significant variance.</p>
<p>some things that may give you clues:</p>
<p>does the school require or recommend a letter of recommendation from a religious advisor?
are all students required to take a religion class? a bible studies class? minor in bible studies?
does the school have coed dormitory floors? buildings? are males even allowed in the female dorms?
how much is religion emphasized on the webpage? do you have to look on the 'quick facts' or 'history' pages to find an affiliation? or does the school have a motto about god and a link to summer service and ministry opportunities on its main page?</p>
<p>There is a lot of variation. My D and I have visited Wheaton (IL), Hope College, Calvin College, St. Olaf, Valparaiso, and Gustavus Adolphus. She wants to minor in religion and was looking for schools that have a religious affiliation. </p>
<p>Wheaton - Not Christian? Not welcome. Mandatory chapel.</p>
<p>Calvin - can be non-Christian but you would be uncomfortable. I recall there is some level of mandatory chapel attendance.</p>
<p>Hope/Valpo/Gustavus/St. Olaf - There are chapel services on campus daily and many attend, but also many do not. Good environment to explore your faith if you want to but no problem if that is not your desire. I liken these schools to a school with a great music program. There are ample opportunities even for non music majors to performa/participate but you won't be bad vibed if you can't carry a tune.</p>
<p>I'm looking at schools also now and have considered or looked at some of the relious affiliated schools and finding it for me not to be the best fit. I was raised with an unpopular philosophy. Not that it's evil just that not many practice it here in the US. It's a little hard to fit in and feel welcome. That's just my own opinion though. I know and respect that many other people will agree and disagree. It does depend on the person and school though.</p>
<p>erica - thanks for the advice. I've made a little headway with eliminating/including some on my list just based on the websites alone.</p>
<p>shellzie - Lycoming? Ohio Wesleyan? I'm just not sure what Wesleyan means, when compared to Wesleyan in CT (which I don't think supports any religion). I don't get a religious feel for the latter, but I'm so ignorant.....</p>
<p>kapalua - at least in my state (CA) there are a lot of options that have no religious affiliation at all. You may have to stick to "big" schools in order to feel comfortable. I know I did.</p>
<p>My problem is my kids want to go out of state, and small college. I'm finding lots of good, small colleges, but just not sure.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, for reading/posting to my OP.</p>
<p>Fitting in for a lot of kids is awkward enough as is without feeling like something as personal as your own religion is ostracizing you. Good luck to you though. I will definately keep in mind the bigger university idea.</p>
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Fitting in for a lot of kids is awkward enough as is without feeling like something as personal as your own religion is ostracizing you.
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<p>I couldn't even tell you what denomination my roommate was, and I know my best friend was completely agnostic. People just didn't care. I don't recall my friend feeling "ostracized."</p>
<p>I think people here are being sincere and credible when they say that it does vary, and in fact it varies so much it can be a complete non-issue.</p>
<p>I wasn't making a broad statement for all schools. There are definitely some schools that have a certain religious affiliation that go with them. This is fine if that is what youre looking for and feel comfortable fitting in even if its not your own religion. That's all I meant by it. I didn't mean all schools.</p>
<p>I've don't know about Lycoming, but from what I have heard, Ohio Wesleyan, although officially methodist, is not exclusively so. On their website, there is an article about a student who decorated the chapel for their senior project. The student states that she "wanted to create a sacred space undefined by a religion" and it sounds like the project was wholeheartedly supported by the chaplain. Also, there are very few references to religion on the webpage as far as I can see. Although there is a Wesleyan church, I think for most colleges, the title "Wesleyan" is fairly irrelevant, since Welseyan and Illinois-Wesleyan do not have any religious focus either. Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.</p>
<p>Ohio Wesleyan University's affiliation with the Methodist Church is ironic in the sense that the college is a very non-religious one. The number of Muslim students at OWU is more than the one of Methodist students. The affiliation is largely historic only and it has remained over the years but is tenuous at best. I am a current student at Ohio Wesleyan and I can assure you that OWU could even make it to a list "Students ignore God on a regular basis". The affiliation should be removed from the school's website because it does not reflect the leanings of the students.</p>
<p>There are "liberal" schools where it makes a serious difference. Earlham is a good example. A Quaker school that enrolls (for example) fewer Quakers than Jews. BUT, the school operates by consensus, is officially dry, has a major emphasis on both peace and global studies and directed study abroad programs, and substantial emphasis on mediation and conflict resolution.</p>
<p>At Georgetown, you'll quickly notice the ubiquity of religious symbolism:</p>
<p>"Crucifixes and Religious Symbolism. The University has placed a wide variety of crosses and crucifixes, with descriptions of their particular significance, in all Main Campus classroom buildings, with the exception of the Bunn Intercultural Center, where there are rotating symbols of the various faith traditions represented on campus."</p>
<p>I should have mentioned Earlham College, too. Just like Ohio Wesleyan, Earlham is affiliated with a church but is notoriously liberal and not a religious school at all. Kenyon College is another school like that although Kenyon is not a CTCL school.</p>
<p>In the Ohio Wesleyan University's student newspaper there was an article called "How Methodist affiliation manifests self today" recently. The article mentions a few statements by a school administratror stating "liberal and secular values are flourishing at an institution that had lost its strong religious following...Pluralism is the model that operates here". Hope this helps.</p>
<p>"I should have mentioned Earlham College, too. Just like Ohio Wesleyan, Earlham is affiliated with a church but is notoriously liberal and not a religious school at all."</p>
<p>It is actually quite religious, if you know about Friends, and it is manifested throughout the school's governance and practices.</p>