Religion at Villanova

<p>I am very interested in accounting so Villanova has drawn alot of my interest. I was wondering how prevelant the Roman Catholic influence is. Would an agnostic Jew have trouble integrating with the school.</p>

<p>I'm going to be starting my third year at villanova in the fall and I am a catholic. I would say that Villanova is most certainly a catholic school and unlike some other places(cough cough georgetown cough cough), you definitely won't forget that. That being said I don't think that they shove the religion down your throat. After you get through the required intro theology class (most people take a course focused on Catholicism, but you can take a class which caters to your theological liking to fulfill the requirement), you can take as much or as little from the religious community on campus as you like and you won't feel ostracized. Even though sunday evening masses are crowded, you won't feel like an outcast if you don't go because you would still be in the company of the majority of the student body who don't attend. Very few classes are taught by the priests. If you are going to be going into the business school, you will be able to get through your four years with minimal religious doctrine without too much effort. However, if you have a serious problem with Catholicism or religion in general, then you might not be comfortable at Villanova. That being said, Villanova is a very welcoming place and I know many non catholics and non christians who love Villanova more than I do and I've never heard anyone say that the school's Catholic background makes them uncomfortable</p>

<p>My daughter graduated from Villanova in '05. Her father is Catholic and I am Jewish. The OP above(^^^) put it perfectly. One of the first people my D met at orientation was a Jewish girl from Florida. Villanova seems to be looking to shed the "Vanilla-nova" label and add diversity. If you know someone currently attending, an overnight might be a good idea to get a feel for the school or try sitting in on some classes. My son will be an incoming freshman and Nova was his first choice as well as my daughter's. They both felt very comfortable there. Good luck with your college search.</p>

<p>Villanova is definately shedding the Vanillanova moniker! I am a current sophomore at Villanova, btw. I find that Villanova is taking more and more steps to becoming the diverse campus it strives to be. While it is definately known that Villanova is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, it is definately not force fed to you throughout your years here. What IS really huge on the Villanova campus, however, is community service. There are a plethora of clubs & organizations whose primary focus is serving the community & helping the less fortunate. I'm sure Villanova will be a great fit for you!</p>

<p>P.S. The Villanova students I have encountered my freshman year were all very welcoming regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or any other factors. The students here seem much more mature and accepting than at some of the other college campuses I had visited while making enduring my college search. Good luck!</p>