<p>Just general, in regards to basic academics and social life of the three: which is the all around best. I understand it varies from person to person, but I'd appreciate thoughts. Thanks!</p>
<p>In terms of academics: Holy Cross, Providence, Stonehill. </p>
<p>It really depends on the person though. I really liked stonehill’s location, right next to Boston. I know the social life is pretty tight at Holy Cross and PC, not too sure about stonehill. </p>
<p>I applied to all three, got into stonehill and providence, and I’m waiting on Holy cross. Stonehill is the easiest to get into, and Holy Cross is the hardest.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is in the “Catholic Ivy League” per a Time Magazine article. The others mentioned were Notre Dame, Georgetown, Catholic, Fordham, St Louis, Boston College.</p>
<p>PWilcox, I also applied to all three and am simply waiting on HC. Stonehill is rumored to be an overpowering religious school (and snobby) while the Providence Western Civ class intimidates me a bit and the school has quite the drinking problem. I only applied to HC since my parents attended and they sent a free app. Plus the cost of all three factors in as well…</p>
<p>HC is ranked #35 on US News & World Reports and Stonehill is #112. Providence is not
ranked on the national rankings list so hard to compare.</p>
<p>Princeton Review Academic Rating:</p>
<p>Holy Cross 98
Stonehill 90
Providence 80</p>
<p>^Providence is not on the liberal arts list but is 2nd on the north masters list, right behind villanova (which is probably on par with holy cross). i am also curious of the reputation of providence.</p>
<p>my sister goes to holy cross and really loves it…i’ve visited a few times and it’s a lot of fun. the social life’s good. i’m a hs senior this year too and i applied to providence. i really love holy cross, but i didn’t apply. i didn’t really think i’d get in, and i thought the workload might be a little too demanding for me, plus i’m not a huge fan of worcester.</p>
<p>Providence seems to me to be a BIG safety school for the Viilanovas, BC’s, Holy Cross etc.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is definitely the most rigorous in terms of academics.</p>
<p>Not sure why you would say Providence is more highly regarded than Stonehill. PC isn’t even ranked on the top liberal arts colleges in U.S. News; it scored an 80 compared to Stonehill’s 90 in Princeton Review; it has exactly the same accept rate of 45% as Stonehill.</p>
<p>Most ratings services don’t classify PC as a liberal arts college–they place it with master’s level regional universities (like Villanova, for example)</p>
<p>Traditionally liberal arts schools concentrate on undergrads with few/no graduate programs.</p>
<p>PC is bigger than Stonehill, has D-1 sports and is a member of a 2 major conferences (Big East and Hockey East)</p>
<p>So, MADad, you are evaluating the quality of a school based on its population (size) and its athletic conference??? And the schools in that category in U.S. News (Master/Northeast or whatever) are the schools that aren’t good enough to go in the larger Liberal Arts category. Of course PC is a liberal arts college!!! Have you ever researched the school???</p>
<p>chef4–don’t be a ■■■■■–and put away the ax you have to grind.</p>
<p>I graduated from PC magna cum laude and am quite successful in my field. I am not discussing the quality of the school–READ MY POST!!</p>
<p>I am talking about how PC is classified by the various publications. Liberal arts colleges (Amherst, Williams, and many less prestigious ones) concentrate on undergraduates–many offer just BA’s.</p>
<p>PC has many graduate programs (few if any PhD’s but many masters’ programs). In that category (northeast regional master’s universities) PC ranks quite well, usually just behind Villanova.</p>
<p>AND IT IS A FACT that PC is bigger than Stonehill. Some prefer a larger school, and some do not.</p>
<p>My comment about sports conferences refers to perceptions. Students at schools in larger conferences tend to have more school spirit. </p>
<p>If you love Stonehill above all others, that’s fine. But the attitude is not appreciated.</p>
<p>Woah, MADad. I never once suggested one school was “better than” another. Merely responded that the comment that PC was a better school did not seem supported by external (as opposed to alumni-based) ratings. And, further, I never suggested PC didn’t have more students. Go back and read more carefully. Yes, PC has more students and plays D1 sports. And, you have to agree, Stonehill’s academic rating by Princeton is much higher at a 90, as opposed to PC’s 80. Truce. They’re both equally fine schools. No argument there.</p>
<p>One of my daughters applied to all 3, she liked something about all of them and they are all good colleges. For business, which is a possibility for her, none have business or accounting accreditation yet, although Providence is 3/4 through the long process, Stonehill is starting and I don’t think Holy Cross wants it or they didn’t mention it.
Stonehill was 1 in another catagory of the USNews but they were asked to join the Liberal Arts catagory and of course, dropped, in relation to other LAC’s for now. I think they will climb the ladder a bit over the years and I think that’s why US News said they were “an up and coming college”. Providence has always held it’s own with Villanova in the Masters catagory.
My daughter worried about the drinking at Providence also, but talked to some students about alternatives and not everyone drinks. I didn’t find Stonehill snobby at all, but I hope my daughter could stay a day at each, if possible to get more of a feel of the campus and classes.
For us though, the FA package will help decide things also, I just hope she likes something in them all, so the decision isn’t too hard.</p>
<p>Stonehill is working on getting AACSB accreditation for its business program. I’m a business student there. There are a wide range of business classes offered that are challenging and interesting. Not sure about PC but Holy Cross doesn’t have a business program (I believe).</p>
<p>I’m also an athlete at Stonehill. Most of my friends are too. We enjoy competing in the NE-10 conference and it’s a nice balance between athletics, academics, and having a good time. </p>
<p>PC is in the Big East conference with other schools like Syracuse and Villanova. It’s bigger than Stonehill and therefore has more fans than participating athletes.</p>
<p>I’ve been to all three schools. HC has older-looking buildings and is situated on a hill in Worcester. I know some students live across the street in houses. Much more of an urban setting than Stonehill. I’m assuming they have challenging classes and great programs, but they also enjoy partying on the weekends.</p>
<p>PC also has a much more urban setting than Stonehill. I visited someone who lived in a townhouse off campus. Didn’t see the campus, just a bar down the road.</p>
<p>I know most people live on campus at Stonehill. Currently building a new five story dorm next to my current dorm, and just opened a nice science building that I only occasionally visit for Dunkin’ Donuts coffee (science students probably find more use for it). </p>
<p>It’s also ranked by Princeton Review for having a top study abroad program (I know a lot of people who have studied abroad and loved it) and for other things like happiest students (not sure how you can measure such a thing).</p>
<p>I enjoy visiting other schools like HC and PC, but it’s nice coming home to the Hill.</p>