Christian VS Public (Full Version)

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captaindiabetes -> Christian VS Public (6/5/2009 11:18:44 PM)

Hello out there! I hope everyone is well.

I was wondering if you all had any opinions on colleges. I am at a Junior College now, but will be transferring eventually. There are about six different colleges in the metro area i live in, one of which happens to be Baptist. They're all great schools and I am very blessed to have so many great options close to home! I was wondering what you all thought about going to a public college or nondenominational versus a Christian one. Any stories, advice, opinions would be greatly appreciated.



rebakahblam -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/7/2009 8:09:48 PM)

I did not go to a public college and I did not go to a christian college. I went to a private college.

I have found several similarities with my small, private college and friends who went to small, christian colleges. The biggest similarity is the price tag.

My tuition was 5 times as much as a public university.

What did this buy me?
Well, it bought me individualized attention (class sizes around 5-12 at most), extensive business experience, several professional contacts, and tons of student life experiences.

As far as student life - private schools typically have a higher greek life and surprisingly that often translates into a larger percentage of alcohol related issues compared with a public school...but we're getting off topic here...

When considering any college you need to make a lists of must haves, would really likes, and awesome extras. You also need to consider any deal-breakers. Use these lists to compare colleges and prayerfully consider each one.

Think about how much debt you'll incur and if the cost will be worth it (by giving you a better education, more contacts, a higher success probability once you get into the field).

Even though my price tag was really big, I was able to plan well enough to graduate a year early even with a double major.

If you are smart about things, if you really research it, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised and satisfied with where God ends up placing you.

If you have any more questions (as I know this was really off topic to the specifics of your OP), feel free to ask.
-reba.



vicbhe -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/11/2009 10:37:38 AM)

quote:

I was able to plan well enough to graduate a year early even with a double major.

rebakablam, I would like to hear more about this. Will you share more on how to accomplish this?

captaindiabetes,
This won't be of any value to you in your decision making I'm sure but I will share my story...

My son started his first year at a public college. The same one many of his high school buddies were going to. They pretty much partied the entire first year. After flunking the first year he transferred to a private Baptist college to retake all the classes and is doing much better on grades and the party life is no longer an issue.

My observation: the public college actually expected him to study and know the material for the test (imagine that). The private college he says is "like high school". The instructors told him if he came to class everyday he would pass. He goes to class everyday and has made the honor role. He never studies, never even brings home a book. He may very well graduate with honors and have learned nothing. Sad. Do you detect my disgust with this?

I am going to a community college and then moving to a four year public university. I study pretty much every minute I'm not working. I have many essays to write and research work that has to be turned in. It is hard but I am making it. The instructors expect me to know the material and I can not pass a test I have not studied for.

So, is it the individual attention he is getting making the difference? Yeah, and the fact that he doesn't have to study. When it comes to school (or anything he doesn't want to do) he is not self disciplined and if someone is not on top of him every minute he will not do his work.



ta_mosquito -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/11/2009 12:24:53 PM)

quote:

My observation: the public college actually expected him to study and know the material for the test (imagine that). The private college he says is "like high school".

That's definitely dependent on the school. The private Christian college I went to wasn't like high school.



Sideways -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/11/2009 1:57:48 PM)

I went to a highly rated public school for my engineering degree. I got a degree that would be recognized and accepted anywhere for a fraction of the price. I was still able to have a Christian experience because of the choices I made. I made Christian friends, was able to worship twice a week or more on campus, you get the idea.

You could probably go to a private Christian school and still get drunk and do drugs, and you can go to a public school and still honor God with your conduct and surround yourself with strong, Christian friends. It's all about the choices.



moon_mouse -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/11/2009 3:53:06 PM)

Also, not all Christian colleges are the same. Some have a Christian tradition, but require few, if any, theology, Bible, or religion classes. Others require such classes, but don't require much in the way of involvement in campus religious activities. Others have strict requirements for church and Bible study attendance, as well as personal behavior, in many cases including behavior off campus.

I started at a college with a Christian background, but no Christian requirements, and ended up in a public school. I enjoyed both, and had opportunities for Christian growth and fellowship at both. I also saw a lot of the "way of the World" in both.

I think it's all a matter of what you want as far as the experience, and what you feel you need in terms of support. (This is assuming seeking God's will first as a given, of course!)



GroupW -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/11/2009 4:37:07 PM)

For what it's worth, I went to two different private schools. One major catholic university in Indiana, one small private all male liberal arts college, also in Indiana. (Shouldn't be much of a mystery which schools.)

I chose not to go to a Christian school as an undergrad for some very specific reasons:

1) The small liberal arts school paid half of my tuition ;)

2) I liked the freedom from rules and nosyness that I perceived to be present at the Christian schools. I was an adult, acted like one, and wanted to be treated like one in return. (I may have been a bit more mature than my peers in that regard.) This school gave us all the freedom to manage our own affairs in an adult manner & make our own choices. That was extremely important to me.

3) I wanted the challenge of a secular school. I felt a bit sheltered and wanted the exposure to new thoughts.

4) I liked the smaller class sizes and intellectual rigor of the smaller school. It wasn't enough to memorize the material. You had to be able to synthesize it into a real view on things and be able to express it coherently along with some original thoughts of your own.

5) Did I mention the small liberal arts school gave me money?

As a grad, I picked the catholic university because I was able to get my master's degree faster without having to quit work & go full time. Faith had nothing to do with it. Convenience and overall cost/affordability won the day.



zoebob -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/12/2009 7:25:26 PM)

quote:

nondenominational versus a Christian on


Who says these are opposites? Nondenominational just means something doesn't adhere to a particular denomination...not that it isn't Christian.



JuliaHop -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 9:13:42 AM)

quote:

The private college he says is "like high school". The instructors told him if he came to class everyday he would pass. He goes to class everyday and has made the honor role.


Definitely not my children's experience in their Christian university!! Not only did they receive Christian training but their academic education was outstanding!! My ds is now a senior and has had very little sleep during the last 3 years as he works to meet his professor's standards!! (Oh, and if you were to just "show up for class" you would definitely fail the courses!!)



zoebob -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 1:27:17 PM)

My experience with Christian college was similar. My husband, who went to public school and skated through without hardly studying had a very hard time his first year because he didn't know how to study and had to do it there.



solo_soprano23 -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 2:21:32 PM)

Hmm, I went to a private/Southern Baptist college that costs a pretty penny. :) I chose that place because I honestly thought it was the best education I could get in the area, and although I'd like for things to be easy, when getting a degree, I know that shouldn't have been my goal (so, it wasn't my goal). I went to the largest private institution in the state, and there are some smaller ones, as well as larger public universities.

I noticed that many of my friends transferred to public colleges to get their degree because (in their words) it was easier...but honestly, some were having issues passing, and if it's between dropping out and going somewhere else, then I would. But some just didn't want to put in the effort/time it took, and I think that was the issue with many of my friends who transferred out. Most of my friends who graduated from where we attended college, went on to graduate school at public universities and were actually disappointed with the easiness. I went to public colleges over summers and noticed that the work, compared to what I was used to, was far too easy for a college-level student (IMO). But I also noticed that the students at the institutions were probably used to the level of hardness/easiness at the school, because many of them were complaining how hard the work was... I was complaining that it was too easy-- but we were used to two totally different levels of hardness. I do know of some public colleges that are challenging around here, so I can't say it's inherent to them. :) But, I suggest that if you want to be challenged, you just check out all the schools thoroughly. Sit in on classes if possible for a while... I never did that, but within my first week of classes, I could tell what level of difficulty these places (or professors) believed in. It wasn't easy getting the degree, but I can say I earned it and worked for it. :) Never did get much sleep though...

I also chose my institution because they didn't have any of the rules that were outlandish like some religious institutions are infamous/famous for having. Although it is a Baptist college, professors had many different viewpoints, political stances and denominations-- which I don't see much at other places. Students were free to have their own opinions (as long as we respected each other), and have their own beliefs without getting into some kind of trouble, unless one took it too far.

I don't think I can paint any type of college with one brush... they all differ. I think you probably need to take the colleges you're considering and scope them out individually. I'd strongly suggest looking at the quality of the academics, in addition to everything else.



blessedinnyc -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 6:23:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GroupW

For what it's worth, I went to two different private schools. One major catholic university in Indiana, one small private all male liberal arts college, also in Indiana. (Shouldn't be much of a mystery which schools.)

Uhoh- don't tell me you're a football fan. [:D]
quote:

I was wondering if you all had any opinions on colleges. I am at a Junior College now, but will be transferring eventually. There are about six different colleges in the metro area i live in, one of which happens to be Baptist. They're all great schools and I am very blessed to have so many great options close to home! I was wondering what you all thought about going to a public college or nondenominational versus a Christian one. Any stories, advice, opinions would be greatly appreciated.

You can absolutely get a Christian school experience at a public school. At UIUC, we had IVCF, Campus Crusade, Franklin Graham's Great Commission Ministries, and dozens of other groups on campus. Half of my classmates were involved in Christian worship at least twice a week, so it did not feel like your typical secular school. The situation might be a little different in big cities, the northeast, or a handful of prestigious private schools, but I'm pretty sure it's generally the same throughout the Big Ten and SEC.



zoebob -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 6:55:33 PM)

Unless you want teachers and advisers who teach from a Christian world view



blessedinnyc -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 7:46:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: zoebob

Unless you want teachers and advisers who teach from a Christian world view

I'm totally cool with going to a school because of the values the students and teachers share- you can find a very Christian atmosphere at a lot of top-notch Midwestern and Southern state schools. But when we start talking about "teaching from a Christian worldview", I get kinda nervous. Does this mean that certain topics and ideas get left out of my education when it is inconvenient to a school's worldview? And how do we know that a school's worldview isn't too narrow and therefore filtering out (or worse- modifying) important parts of the truth?



zoebob -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 7:54:59 PM)

No it doesn't mean leaving things out but it does mean that certain things are assumptions: ie the Bible is true and our ultimate authority and that God exists and is all the Bible says it is. It means that debatable topics are taught based on those assumptions vs the assumption that everything is by chance and that there is no ultimate authority.



blessedinnyc -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/14/2009 8:11:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: zoebob

No it doesn't mean leaving things out but it does mean that certain things are assumptions: ie the Bible is true and our ultimate authority and that God exists and is all the Bible says it is. It means that debatable topics are taught based on those assumptions vs the assumption that everything is by chance and that there is no ultimate authority.

I guess it depends on how narrow those assumptions are, and I think there's a huge difference in the breadth (and possibly quality) of education between Christian schools that assume the Bible is the literal word of God and those that assume the Gospel is factually correct as God intended it to be understood.

Paul writes that though we're not of this world we must live and interact with it, and for the Christian who wanted to be a geologist, I find it difficult to imagine how he could feasibly be a part of this world or influence our culture after graduating from one of the colleges that takes a narrower understanding of Genesis.



GroupW -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/15/2009 11:55:24 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: blessedinnyc
Uhoh- don't tell me you're a football fan. [:D]


Well, not anymore ! Even for a Domer, there is a limit to how much self-flaggelation one can endure.



Auben -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/15/2009 12:27:15 PM)

I attended a small, Baptist college in the Midwest and here's what I think.

*Any small liberal arts school (Christian or non) will probably be somewhat lax in the sciences.

*Private colleges are almost always more expensive than public. Sometimes A LOT more expensive.

*Small, private colleges mean a lot more attention from professors. I actually got to eat with them, work with them, hang out with them. everything. It made a difference.

*A small Christian college was perfect for me because I was still healing from my years in public school and the atmosphere was 'safe,' meaning that people were generally kind and went out of their way to befriend others. No fraternities/sororities. Everyone knew each other. Adults went out of their way to enter mentoring relationships with students.

*In any school the qualities of individual departments vary. If you're looking for quality you have to study the department heads and the other professors to see what you're going to get. A school with an excellent psychology or architecture department may have a terrible computer science curriculum. Part of this has to do with the instructors and part of it with the resources the Dean allows them. Visit. Talk. Research.


In all, my husband and I were very satisfied with our time at a small Christian school. It was just what we needed at the time. Neither of us might need that kind of positive Christian support and role models now, but it was good for both of us at the time and we've never begrudged the money.



Palyxandra -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/15/2009 1:25:29 PM)

Hi, Captain. I just graduated from a public college a month ago. I attended there for four years. I attended a Christian high school up until my senior year, so I have been able to see some notable differences. Firstly, there are more rules in a private/Christian institution (obviously). That is not always a bad thing, but sometimes forces people to do things they wouldn't normally do (when my mother attended a Christian college there was a strict curfew and no co-ed dormitories). Secondly, the professors are much more easy to talk to as a fellow Christian. It allows you to connect with them in ways you wouldn't be able to connect with a professor in a public institution. And lastly, my mother always says that you don't know what's in a tea bag until you put it in hot water, and in this circumstance, sometimes it is easier to tell who are the serious Christians in a public institution (since they are the minority). Just some thoughts!

Good luck with your decision



zoebob -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/15/2009 1:29:03 PM)

quote:

no co-ed dormitories


And what's wrong with this.



solo_soprano23 -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/15/2009 2:45:50 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Palyxandra

Hi, Captain. I just graduated from a public college a month ago. I attended there for four years. I attended a Christian high school up until my senior year, so I have been able to see some notable differences. Firstly, there are more rules in a private/Christian institution (obviously). That is not always a bad thing, but sometimes forces people to do things they wouldn't normally do (when my mother attended a Christian college there was a strict curfew and no co-ed dormitories). Secondly, the professors are much more easy to talk to as a fellow Christian. It allows you to connect with them in ways you wouldn't be able to connect with a professor in a public institution. And lastly, my mother always says that you don't know what's in a tea bag until you put it in hot water, and in this circumstance, sometimes it is easier to tell who are the serious Christians in a public institution (since they are the minority). Just some thoughts!

Good luck with your decision


Yeah, I'm not too hot about curfews. I went to a private/Baptist institution without curfews and we didn't have issues with it. If you chose to stay out late and it affected classes, you were an adult and took the consequences...or you had to figure out how to manage your outings and your obligations. I think the reason why some think badly of Christian colleges is that certain ones, IMO, have rules that are too numerous and too strict... then some get the idea that that must be what a Christian college is like, but it's not always true.

I was going to say, like the other Tamara did, that my institution was nurturing and my professors knew my name and about my life, although it's not that small.



Palyxandra -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/16/2009 9:22:35 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: zoebob

quote:

no co-ed dormitories


And what's wrong with this.


Nothing at all. It was just one of the differences : )



Sideways -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/16/2009 3:39:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: blessedinnyc
I guess it depends on how narrow those assumptions are, and I think there's a huge difference in the breadth (and possibly quality) of education between Christian schools that assume the Bible is the literal word of God and those that assume the Gospel is factually correct as God intended it to be understood.

Paul writes that though we're not of this world we must live and interact with it, and for the Christian who wanted to be a geologist, I find it difficult to imagine how he could feasibly be a part of this world or influence our culture after graduating from one of the colleges that takes a narrower understanding of Genesis.


I agree with this. There are obviously many different interpretations of the Bible and I am nervous about anyone who claims to have the ultimate interpretation. My public school never taught anything that rocked my faith in Christ, and I didn't need to have all Christian instructors in order to remain strong in my faith.

"Christian world view" is not one view, and I think this board is plenty proof of that.

I also appreciated being treated like an adult, and I found ways to get the sleep I needed and get all my schoolwork done without a curfew, thank you very much. The only coed dorms had men and women under the same roof but not sharing a room or bathroom, so it didn't matter much. But of course, you could always choose a single gender dorm if you wished.



solo_soprano23 -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/16/2009 4:15:00 PM)

quote:

I also appreciated being treated like an adult, and I found ways to get the sleep I needed and get all my schoolwork done without a curfew, thank you very much.


Ditto. I did go to a private/Baptist college, but I can honestly say they expected us to be responsible by ourselves.... they didn't attempt to manage our time for us or tell us when we could/couldn't be outside campus/dorms. :)



stellaluna -> RE: Christian VS Public (6/21/2009 8:58:11 PM)

My thought is that you should go to the best school for your area of study that you can afford...no matter what kind of school it is. I tend to lean more toward public schools, because you are slightly less likely to amass a huge amount of debt, but sometimes private schools have attractive aid packages that make them more financially feasible.

I went to a medium-sized (8,000-10,000) public university and got a great education. If my faith was ever questioned, I don't remember it. I truly believe that the idea of one's faith being "shaken" from liberal professors at public colleges and universities is largely overstated. And honestly, if I was convinced that I was getting the best education I could in computer science, or literature, or agriculture, or whatever...learning about evolution in a required biology class wouldn't bother me in the least. I just don't think things like that are worth getting worked up over.



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