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StephanieA Forum Pro
Joined: May 11 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: July 15 2009 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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Does anyone on this list have kids at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS?
We are going for a campus visit for my 2nd son who is considering transferring there and my 3rd son who will be a freshmen the following year.
My 2nd son will be giving up a full-ride scholarship+ at his current college and his violin teacher. He is studying engineering also and enjoys the structure of his classes. However, he is looking for a better social atmosphere. He really doesn't know if the trade off is worth it and I am on the fence, especially with the debit and other issues, like girls can be in guys rooms till 1:30 in the morning.
TAC, Christendom, Ave Maria, Wyoming College all disallow girls in guy's rooms. This is where I am with it also.
I'd like to know a little more about the atmosphere at Benedictine. It just doesn't seem to be as Catholic as Ave Maria or Christendom and this has me not encouraging my son to give up his current school and go into debt.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: July 15 2009 at 12:33pm | IP Logged
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I don't have children there but both my older sons applied there and considered it. Because of it's proximity to our area we know lots of families with children there or who are graduates. Generally we find them to be happy with the experience.
Not all the students who we know who have gone there went for the Catholic identity though, and didn't make that a part of their experience there. You still have to choose to make that the center of your experience. From what we have heard and what our boys experienced with visits and talking to friends is an awareness that there are multiple cultures there - it is very strong in some areas and culturally more like other colleges in other areas. Like I said there definitely is a strong Catholic support network if that is what a student chooses to seek out. FOCUS started there and continues to be very strong and vibrant. It has an active pro-life community and there is pretty vibrant liturgy and adoration. But a large portion of the student body isn't seeking that out necessarily and so there is a more typical college culture experience to be had if that is what one seeks out.
Academically it is solidly Catholic in theology department and there are definitely other strong Catholic faculty and staff, but not all departments are necessarily so. A good friend of mine who graduated from there about 10 years ago and whose husband taught there until a few years ago, has acknowledged this and says that many other departments are coming along, and she is hopeful for that continued change.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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folklaur Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: July 15 2009 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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StephanieA wrote:
TAC, Christendom, Ave Maria, Wyoming College all disallow girls in guy's rooms. This is where I am with it also.
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there are "freshman only" dorms - however, that just means that only freshman live there.
many of the upperclassmen have apartments on campus.
there are no rules about girls/guys in rooms except during certain times. there are curfews. (i am also told that as long as you were quiet, the curfews could be skirted.)
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Angie Mc Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005 Location: Arizona
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Posted: July 15 2009 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
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StephanieA wrote:
It just doesn't seem to be as Catholic as Ave Maria or Christendom and this has me not encouraging my son to give up his current school and go into debt. |
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I'm not sure how you measure Catholic among the most faithful Catholic colleges, but from what I'm seeing, it comes down to the fit between student and college. I don't have a child at Benedictine but a dear friend has a son there who will be senior this coming year. They all love it. He is heavily into youth ministry and it is a great fit for him and his family. I also have dear adult friends who are alumni of Benedictine. They are sending their dd in the fall. They feel Benedictine is more faithful than when they attended and are happy with the direction it is going. I have another dear friend whose dd had always planned on going to TAC but switched to Benedictine. She will start in the fall and is excited, feeling that this will be a better fit for her. I also know of one friend who went and it wasn't a good fit for her and she is transferring. This "fit" thing sure is tricky!
Since you brought up college debt, here's an old topic that you might find helpful, debt-free college degree.
Love,
__________________ Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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TracyFD Forum Pro
Joined: July 22 2006
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Posted: July 15 2009 at 10:07pm | IP Logged
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My mother is an alumnae! Of course it has changed drastically in 60 years!
I would love to know more about the Catholicity of this school as well because I sense she encouraging me to see Benedictine as a possibility for our children. Her alum magazines tell of how well-endowed the school has become thanks to a generous benefactress.
I'll "hang up and listen"!
__________________ Tracy
Mom to 3 girly girls,
1 absent-minded professor, and one adorable toddling terrorist.
Pinewood Castle
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Patty Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2005 Location: Kansas
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Posted: July 27 2009 at 10:54pm | IP Logged
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Hi! Sorry I am late replying but I just saw this post. Our oldest daughter graduated from Benedictine in 2006 with a degree in psychology and a minor in chemistry. She LOVED it and found a solid Catholic atmosphere there. Yes, there are the "party kids" but they are not the majority. FOCUS is very strong there. Our daughter was involved in their Bible studies and other activities, and met the Little Sisters of the Poor at a FOCUS conference, and is now a novice with that order and very happy! She was also involved in Samuel Group at BC, which is a group focused on discerning vocations. She had an awesome spiritual director for most of her college years...I think three years. He is one of the Benedictine priests there.
Years ago (maybe 20?) BC was known much more as a "party school" but has made a huge turnaround. There are SO many wonderful Catholic students there. Many of them attend daily Mass. Our daughter made some very good friends there with whom she still keeps in touch.
You really should e-mail Maria Rioux! Her husband is head of the philosophy department and has been there for many years.
If you want to know more, send me a PM. God bless!
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LisaR Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 10:30am | IP Logged
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ds is going here for a visit with my dh and a group from his high school this Jan 18th.
I'd love any updates about this school, or experiences.
TIA,
__________________ Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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