<p>I'm a Dutch Reformed student who comes from a background that really values Christian education (I've been going to a small Christian school since preschool). I love my school, mainly because Christ is fully integrated in all aspects of education and not just left for Religion classes. I'm looking for a college that shares this value. (All classes are taught from a Christian perspective, not just the Bible ones.) </p>
<p>To give you a benchmark, Calvin and Dordt are affiliated with my denomination and do this well, from what I've heard from current students. Any other ideas for a high-achieving student (4.0 GPA, 2270 SAT, 36 ACT) looking to go into the sciences?</p>
<p>HI, One of my daughters attends Dordt and loves it. (We’re not of the Reformed Denominations or Dutch, but she still feels comfortable there, it’s very friendly). Northwestern, is right next to Dordt in Orange City. Excellent school for academics and I believe is one of the top schools in the nation for pre med students. I’d try that one. It’s also reformed denomination and I think you’d be very comfortable there too.</p>
<p>Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA would definitely meet that requirement. My son is going there next year. Union University in Jackson, TN would also fit. It’s another he applied to and would have been his 2nd choice. Calvin was his third choice, but you obviously know about that one.</p>
<p>Wheaton in IL, Cedarville in Ohio, Houghton in NY, Le Tourneau in TX and Liberty in VA would also likely fit, but we haven’t checked into those as much. </p>
<p>I’m not certain about any of them for the sciences to be honest. I overheard that Covenant has an 85% acceptance rate into medical school, but I’m not sure how many applicants they have. It’s a small school. I know of a National Merit Scholar that chose Liberty for next year (in the sciences), but I know they are anti-evolution so that would require someone with a similar belief I suspect.</p>
<p>My Chemistry teacher actually went to Covanent–he loved it. Unfortunately, I live in Seattle, so Grand Rapids or Iowa would be the farthest from home my parents are willing to send me. I need to look into Northwestern, though–for some reason I haven’t heard of it. Any ideas for colleges a little farther west?</p>
<p>Biola? I don’t know much about that school, but it generally gets good kudos on here. It’s in CA. </p>
<p>Glad to hear of another satisfied Covenant alumni. For what it’s worth, there are students from WA and ID that we met. They fly in. That said, I understand sticking a bit closer to home. We told our boys “eastern half of the US” for that reason, so we’re pretty similar to your folks.</p>
<p>If you really want a school that integrates Christian teaching into all the curriculum, I think you need to take a close look at the particular doctrines that will be integrated. I don’t know anything about Dutch Reformed theology, but at some of the evangelical Christian schools, you will find (for example) that integratione means teaching that evolution is a false doctrine. You might also not want a school that integrates Catholic theology.</p>
<p>My HS actually teaches that evolution is a “false doctrine”. (they teach evolution, but show some of the flaws in the theory–but this forum is really the wrong place and time to have a debate about this!), so I wouldn’t mind this. I also wouldn’t mind a school that does teach evolution, as long as they let me make up my own mind. </p>
<p>My main problem is getting this kind of information out of admissions reps–they aren’t about to tell me that their college is “Christian in name only” or that I won’t be welcome if I don’t believe in evolution–so I have to rely on students and alumni.</p>
<p>Calvin College Grand Rapids, Michigan
Trinity Christian College
Dordt College
Kuyper College
Redeemer University College
The King’s University College</p>
<p>I’ll mention this as it came up in my son’s search even though it wasn’t a main concern of ours… Calvin appears to be an “evolution-only” science school (in science classes) based on a tidbit he read when looking at schools. Hope is too (and less Christian-emphasis in the classes). Since he’s not going into a science major we didn’t even research any of what he found to see if it was true or not. It didn’t matter for us. If it matters to you, that might be something to look into. At this point it’s hearsay from “contacts.”</p>
<p>Why would you spend thousands and thousands of dollars over four years to be sure that you aren’t exposed to any thoughts or ideas that differ from those you encountered in HS? Are you looking for a higher education or just an affirmation of yourself where you currently are?</p>
<p>You could ask that same question of thousands of college students, not just those with a conservative Christian bent. That’s why there is even a “left leaning” option to check on the cc college search. It’s quite common to want to study under a similar philosophy as to that which one already holds or feels is best. It’s not just with science either. I’ve seen people choose school A or school B based on which economic theory they profess (Chicago, Austrian, etc). My own son selected his college based on his professors holding a similar philosophy to his with regards to world development and assisting the poor. He feels current “aid” philosophies simply do not work and the stats I see agree with his assessment. It makes sense to study with someone you’d like as a mentor. </p>
<p>I guess the better question is more of why would one spend thousands of dollars to study somewhere where no one believes as you do about _____ ? That seems FAR more foolish to me, but, to each our own. Some, I’m sure, like to be the “different” one on campus and relish that role.</p>
<p>I suppose if your children went to public schools you encouraged them to go to Christian/Muslim/Jewish colleges to broaden their horizon and not just get more of the same?</p>
<p>gadad–I can see what you’re saying. Christian school and college kids do have a potential to be very sheltered, but I don’t feel the same way you do. At my school, we are exposed to all these different ideas–and to the teacher’s opinion. We aren’t forced to believe any one thing, but given the pros/cons of each theory, etc. Again, I really don’t want to go into a debate about this. </p>
<p>I work at a museum where I am the only Christian on staff. My co-workers assume I’m a Christian (the first question I’m asked is, “Where do you go to school?”, and my school has Christian in its name). It is heartbreaking to discuss the intricasies of the human ear with visitors and be only able to say “that’s amazing,” rather than “God’s creation amazing.” </p>
<p>To quote from “Our World Belongs to God,” (can you tell I’m CRC?) “we support sound education in our communities,and we foster schools and teaching in which Gods truth shines in all learning.”</p>
<p>I know wherever I go to college, I will be exposed to new ideas (as Creekland was saying, one of my favorite colleges disagrees with me). I’m looking for a place where God’s absolute truth shines through all aspects of life–including academics. I’m planning to go to a secular state university for grad school, so I also see my undergrad as a bit of a stepping stone–going from a class of 20 to a class of hundreds, so that the transition to a class of thousands isn’t so difficult. I’m also looking for a college that will equip me to shine God’s truth through the rest of my life, where I won’t have the support that a Christian school would give me. </p>
<p>I apologize for my novel of a post–quality Christian education has a place very close to my heart. I also know that sometimes, Christian education can be a “vaccine”–you get a little Jesus in school every day and start to get lazy. For me, it has been a catalyst for my relationship with Christ. I’ve thought, and more importantly, prayed, alot about this, and I wholeheartedly believe that God wants me to go to a college committed to Christian education.</p>
<p>Please have a look at Crown College ([Crown</a> College - A Private Christian College in Minnesota](<a href=“http://www.crown.edu%5DCrown”>http://www.crown.edu)) just west of Minneapolis. Strong Christian environment with outstanding academics.</p>