<p>I was admitted to High Point EA, but my one concern about the school is that the Methodist affiliation is too affluent on campus. Do a lot of students attend church on Sundays? Are there any parts of campus life that could make non-Christian students feel left out (or uncomfortable)? I'm Jewish, and while I'm not super religious or anything, I just want to make sure that I'm going to feel comfortable on campus as one of very few Jewish students (according to Hillel's site, HPU has 75 Jewish students, total).</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know much about the Religion credit requirement?</p>
<p>Mdgirl–my D just finished her first semester. There is a chapel service on Wednesday. It is not mandatory but completely optional. There is not a campus service on Sunday. There is a religion class requirement but there are a lot of options-you might want to check out the course catalog to see what the class offerings are to satisfy the requirement. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>KYParent - thank you so much! It’s mainly my parents who are concerned about this; given all of the areas HPU recruits from, I doubt the affiliation will be a problem for me. Do a lot of students attend the Wednesday chapel service?</p>
<p>It turns out HPU has 80 Jews, according to Hillel; last time I looked it was 75 (sorry). If you Google “hillel high point,” the first thing that will pop up is Hillel’s page for HPU. Hillel is a Jewish life organization with chapters at most colleges. They also keep data about the number of Jewish students at schools and things like that.</p>
<p>My son is a sophmore at HPU, and he doesn’t know anyone who attends services. He also took World Religions as his religion requirement.</p>
<p>As I recall, you don’t have to complete your religious affiliation on the application. It is optional. Therefore, not sure how accurate Hillel’s figures are. My son’s dad is Jewish, and I am Catholic. We are not overly relgious. He doesn’t feel any religious pressure at HPU. It is not a factor.</p>
<p>mdgirl93, like cathyl111 said and verified by my son who is a Freshman at HPU, there is no pressure to attend Wed. evening services. Like her son, my son has parents of two different religions. He took his Religion requirement class this semester and said it went fine. He loved the teacher! There is a variety of classes offered so you should be able to find one that is right for you.</p>
<p>mdgirl, over on the Parents’ board, there is a long thread called “Colleges for the Jewish B student.” Many of the parents on that board have looked into High Point and considered the issue of Jewish life there. They’ve shared experiences of students of their acquaintance who have gone there, their impressions from visits, and so on. I think if you asked the participants in that thread to share what they’ve learned, you might get some more information specific to your parents’ concerns.</p>
<p>mdgirl93 - I am active on the Jewish Parent thread that DeskPotato just referenced and happened to see your post. I personally find High Point to be iffy at best for a Jewish student, but a lot will depend on how you have been raised and how actively Jewish you seek to be at college. </p>
<p>The stats on the number of Jewish students at High Point are hard to come by. The figures on the national Hillel site are generally out of date. I have spoken with the faculty advisor for Hillel and an admissions rep - and believe the number to be anywhere from 80 - 150.</p>
<p>When I look at a college from a Jewish parent perspective - I look at 2 levels. The first level is safety and socializing. Is there anti-Semitism on this campus? Will you be ostracized as a Jewish student? Will you encounter people who have never met a Jewish student before and look at you like you have two heads? Will you have difficulty finding dating possibilities?</p>
<p>When answering these questions about High Point - I have had mixed responses. Some people report no problems - some have had some very disturbing experiences. </p>
<p>The 2nd level I look at is Jewish life. Is there a Hillel? Is it active? After speaking with the Hillel advisor, my conclusion is that there is a small Hillel (they actually call it the Jewish Students Association) and that it has not been able to gain much traction.</p>
<p>This is an issue that every Jewish family has to evaluate for themselves. I would suggest speaking with as many current High Point students as possible - ask them if they have Jewish friends. If you can find a current Jewish student - ask them what their experience has been. If you can be on campus for that Wednesday evening service - that would be interesting. The fact that High Point does not have Wednesday evening classes so as to facilitate attendance at this service speaks volumes to me. </p>
<p>But really - it comes down to you. If you participate in any Jewish life now or are active in any Jewish teen groups - USY, BBYO, etc., - than I cannot in good conscience see how High Point would fit you. On the other hand - If you are a reform Jew and not terribly religious - than it might not be a problem for you. But I think you are wise to investigate this question thoroughly before deciding to attend High Point.</p>
<p>I would be curious to hear more of what you find - I am always willing to be corrected if new info turns up. Please let me know what other opinions you gather and what you ultimately decide to do. Good luck.</p>
<p>Worship services at High Point University are held Wednesday evenings, 5:30-6:15 p.m. These ecumenical services are scheduled during this time slot for many reasons. Students indicate that the day and time are conducive to their needs and interests as they navigate tests, papers, and the academic week. No Evening Degree classes are held on Wednesdays so the Chapel truly is a place where the whole student body can gather. By not competing with local churches, we are able to utilize their numerous and quality choirs to supplement our own choirs (Chapel Choir PDF), and can encourage students to attend one on the Sabbath. For additional information about some local churches, click here (Local Churches PDF). In addition to the Dean of the Chapel, Dr. Tom Stockton serves as our Bishop in Residence. Bishop Stockton provides invaluable assistance to the campus by offering professional counsel to those preparing for a church vocation, working with students to handle personal problems, relating to concerns of parents, and visiting students in the hospital. The University provides a variety of religious organizations (Campus Groups and Students PDF), and these groups are worthy of your involvement and respect. Last but not least, students find a willing and caring faculty and a competent Student Life Office to support their college experience. Read more from the 2010-11 Chapel Newspaper (Chapel Newspaper PDF)</p>
<p>“Each week, services in the Charles E. Hayworth Sr. Memorial Chapel are packed with students, faculty, and staff who commune together in a time of Christian fellowship. Without question or exception, these Chapel services nourish our souls and feed our hearts. Dr. Hal Warlick, Dean of the Chapel, is masterful at leading students and adult volunteers in meaningful worship and in service projects which reach out to our community. These stewards of Christian service stand as examples to the rest of the campus. We are grateful for their commitment to the University, and we give them our full support.”</p>
<p>What is the Jewish community like at High Point? How large is the Jewish population?</p>
<p>Approximately 75 Jewish students currently attend High Point University, a number that has doubled in the past year with 38 Jewish students in the freshman class. Jewish students at High Point come from a wide variety of religious backgrounds. Some come from families that have made Judaism an integral part of their lives, and some from families that have little or no tradition of practicing Judaism. We have students who come from families with two Jewish parents and others from families with one Jewish parent. We even have some non-Jewish students who have become interested in Jewish culture, history and theology. All students are welcome at our events, and a number of Jewish faculty members are also active participants in the community.</p>
<p>Just a quick note on the scheduling of classes and church services (I haven’t read through the whole thread)- it looks like it specifies “no evening degree classes” meaning students that only attend at night. I only know this as my daughter, a full time student, had a regularly scheduled Wednesday evening class during the time that was indicated for the chapel service.</p>