Negative reviews are written by ‘worldly’ students who have not been able to adjust to the atmosphere of a ‘Christian’ college and are whining! Right? Well, as a prospective student, that is what I thought and I couldn’t have been more wrong. I majored in nursing at Pensacola Christian College (PCC) for three years (2013-2016), and, besides making good friends, would not wish to repeat the experience. I am now redoing my entire education elsewhere. Please understand, I am not posting a negative review out of spite, but in response to legitimate concerns about significant problems at PCC.
I was an excited Freshman. I had been homeschooled on a farm in a loving Christian family and chose PCC because I wanted a quality, Christian college education. I was disappointed to find a ‘lookism’ culture pervading the campus: I felt the administration cared more about my appearance and obedience to their rules than they did about me or my spiritual condition. Any discussion PCC had about dressing or behaving to please God was ultimately tied to the need for a ‘PCC testimony,’ which was equal with or more important than a Christian testimony. There were monitors everywhere to ensure students acted and dressed a certain way. I know modesty is needed, however, PCC culture is something more. The wealthy Proverbs 31 woman is extolled and the shamefaced 1 Timothy woman is ignored – excess jewelry and makeup are expected (but not required outright). I was even told that modesty required jewelry - to draw attention away from the body towards the face. I became discontented and felt outdated in my simple attire and sought to ‘fit in’ better. While at PCC, the only demerits I received were for wearing knee-length shorts my RA had approved.
Still, my friends and I believed PCC was a good place to be because they were trying to do right. By Sophomore year though, some things, such as their manipulative nature – mental, spiritual, and emotional, couldn’t be ignored. Beginning with Freshman orientation, I was told that PCC had God-given authority over me and that to disobey them was to disobey God, even if their rules were not supported Biblically. They used Romans 13 as the basis of this claim, although it is discussing governmental authority. In any case, the combined threat of PCC’s displeasure (and subsequent demerits or expulsion) and the wrath of God, cited so often, began to erode my simple faith into a fearful faith. What if I didn’t agree with or completely follow their standards? Was I sinning terribly and deserving of punishment? After all, they told me their rules were necessary to have a clean conscience. I struggled: if they had meant to control me (or others) through fear and guilt, it was working. I began to equate being a perfect PCC student to being a good Christian, besides it kept me out of trouble. I became so focused on their demands and expectations, I began to forget what God really wanted: me.
By Junior year, I was calloused: I neither feared nor felt guilty for disagreeing with PCC. I simply felt trapped. Lost between my buried faith and the pressures of PCC, I struggled to read my Bible. I had returned reluctantly for the semester, moody and crying, but determined that I would do my best because God had put me there (PCC endorsed this notion – if you’re at PCC, God sent you, and leaving is usually against His will). Besides struggling spiritually, I was also struggling physically from suppressed stress with nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, etc. My family and friends encouraged me and I prayed, but eventually, I ceased to care about anything. In fact, I was disappointed that one day I would have to call myself a ‘PCC Graduate.’
Told that I had to repeat a class, I tried to transfer, since they had announced full accreditation of their Nursing Department. This announcement was misleading - they need more than CCNE accreditation. I could take no more. Though I temporarily felt guilty for leaving, I felt God was leading me, in fact rescuing me. My faith has been returning and my physical symptoms are gone. Some friends who retook classes either graduated, failed again, or were expelled a few weeks before graduation because they were not ‘professional’ enough.
Try a community college. I have found the classes to be more practical to life (i.e. instead of practicing poems/skits in speech class, I am learning how to inform and persuade audiences about workplace policies, ideas, etc) If students read their Bible and pray, they should be fine. Also read Why Christian’s Can’t Trust Psychology and Creation: Facts of Life (two good things from PCC) and use Answers in Genesis. Until PCC abandons the self-righteous façade of false humility and manipulation disguised as molding Christians, they will not be a truly Christian college. They need to both teach and practice sincere love and humility towards God and others. At this time, I cannot in good conscience recommend Pensacola Christian College to anyone.
Finances & the Government
• You CANNOT claim tax deductions (1098-T form) for a PCC education.
• Federal and State financial helps are not accepted (no Pell grants, FAFSA, etc.)
Accreditation
• PCC has TRACS accreditation – a recognized Christian college accreditation group (http://www.tracs.org/TRACS_About-Us.html). Some colleges/jobs will NOT accept this accreditation. For example, my sister, who had been a PCC Art major, could not transfer anything.
• The Nursing Program is fully CCNE accredited, but this is national accreditation only. Regional or State accreditation is needed to transfer credits.
• The Engineering department is Abet accredited (independent group)
For the Student
• Read the Pathway! https://www.pcci.edu/pathway/
• Read the Bible and Pray! Pray for a desire to do so.
• Bring a Fine Arts (Prom) dress. My favorite play was the Scarlet Pimpernel.
• Bring bathroom cleaning supplies – especially a small vacuum if possible.
• You will need winter clothing. I experienced an ice storm there.
• No unnatural hair colors, flamboyant nail polish, facial/tongue piercings, or tattoos (at least try to cover them)
• If you are being harassed about something (i.e. medical issues) I’ve often noted that parents are more respected than students and can obtain results.
• Joining a collegian is required. Some students enjoyed theirs. Mine was boring. I felt like it was a forced time waster – I could have been studying instead of playing telephone. Research the collegians: once you join one, you CANNOT switch.
• There are different elevators and stairs for the girls and the boys – don’t get mixed up!