<p>Went to see Marist and LOVED everything about it! Couldnt help but noticed that it seemed very catholic. Especially that each dorm had Brothers living in them. Is there a jewish population at all?</p>
<p>According to another college review website, Marist has Catholic roots and the largest organization on campus is the campus ministry…</p>
<p>It is not listed on the Hillel.org website…</p>
<p>My son is a freshman this year and I am Jewish (his dad is Catholic.) He is an athiest, and so far has a bazillion friends and loves the place. Although the Catholic history still plays a part, the school really takes pains to present itself as an INDEPENDENT liberal arts institution. There is no pressure to participate in anything religious. But yes, the campus ministry is the biggest club on campus, lol.</p>
<p>Im not too concerned that she would be pressured. Just that mybe 80% of the kids come from catholic schools and that even if they dont pressure her, that she wouldnt have many other jewish kids there.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman there and is not Catholic and hasn’t indicated any discomfort with being there. From what he tells me there are a diverse set of religious backgrounds with the students he has met, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. My memory of Marist goes back over 40 years as my parents both taught there and even back in the 60’s when it was a Catholic Institution there was a sense of ecumenism and inclusiveness. The only religious influence I have seen is that everyone seems to treat everyone else there very kindly. I hope you spend some more time at the school and get comfortable with the atmosphere and the positive environment.</p>
<p>@names1-my son is a sophomore, and we are catholic. He feels no pressure to go to mass or anything religious (so he doesn’t ) I actually wish it was more of a religious vibe, but as someone else said, people are very nice to one another. The campus ministry is the largest organization on campus because it is the easiest one to join and get those priority points (which get you your choice housing, and classes) and there is very little asked of the students who join. That being said, my daughter went to Wesleyan University in Ct., and I believe it was the tables turned, the population was at least 85% non-Christian, with the bulk of them being Jewish. They couldnt even keep a Catholic Priest on campus, and masses were sparsely attended. She joined a vespers group which was all encompassing and she loved it, and loved the school, and its population. One of the biggest events on campus was the shabbat, services and dinners, which she attended and enjoyed. She did not feel excluded because she was Catholic. So for a opposite stand point, it can work if you are in a religious school not of your religion! You make your own way, find your own friends.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your responses. They were very helpful</p>
<p>@names1
To insure you that Marist considers all populations, this is a FB post from Marist today I thought you might find interesting:</p>
<p>"You may be familiar with Fiddler on the Roof, but are you familiar with the man whose tales of Tevye the Milkman were the basis of the musical? Learn about him tonight as Yiddish Scholar Dr. Jeremy Dauber discusses the life of Sholem Aleichem at Marist’s 35th Annual Effron Lecture. <a href="http://■■■■■■/nwbm3O">http://■■■■■■/nwbm3O</a>"</p>
<p>My son is a senior at Marist. According to him, the largest club is the Campus Ministry because it’s the easiest way for the students to earn priority points (and not because there is a large religious attitude on campus). Honestly, religion has never played a role in his on campus experience.</p>
<p>Thank you petcat for posting that, I was intrigued to see that from Marist the other day as well. As everyone has said, the campus has a very inclusive feel, regardless of affiliation. I don’t get the impression that alot of students come from private parochial schools.</p>
<p>PetCat great and very accurate post. We also have children (Catholic) at both Wesleyan and Marist (son at Wes, D at Marist). Two distinctly different schools in many ways, however both great schools and great fits for our children. They both love their schools and enjoy visiting each other and experiencing the differences as we are 1000 miles away from both!</p>
<p>@onesecure- Thank you! and amazing! Two different schools is right, but like me you probably have two very different children. 1,000 miles away? 
That has to be hard-I have 2-3 hrs from each, and that seems too far! Although my D is now in Med school in Va, so yea, I have the distance as well, but she is older, and has lived in NYC for 2 years before Med School, so that cushioned the blow a bit.
Glad your kids visit one another, that is a real blessing!</p>
<p>@picktails, You’re welcome lol! No I dont get that feel either, although I do think some do, my sons roomie last year was from Chaminade, and I feel there is a certain number accepted from there every year. But it is definately not the majority. Most are from public High Schools in the tri-state area, I think.</p>
<p>It is a blessing that they are so different, however they get along real well. We are originally from Long Island and the Boston area so they have lots of support and emergency access from family and friends. We do attend all their homecomings and family weekends. So very different at each school, however both are awesome in their own way. Son is a senior at Wes and looking forward to my raise!! Lol</p>