<p>I am a Pro-Active Mom and I am already trying to find the best colleges that best “FIT” my individual children…as I took the time, energy and effort to find the best PREP schools for each child. However, it was easier to find the best prep schools in my area as they were within driving distance…colleges are different. To my question: What is the difference between a Marianist Catholic School, a Benedictine Catholic School and a Sacred Heart Catholic School? I have three children…all with my wonderful husband of 20 yrs! Each child has proved to be very different and has chosen a different kind of school. Therefore, I have three kids, in three different schools with three different schedules and actually three different kind of “base” beliefs…although they are all Catholic. I’m not sure I understand the differences…
It’s driving me crazy and if someone is scholared in this area, I’d like to understand the differences. They are NOT Franciscan NOR Jesuit…but we are in St. Louis, MO and my children go to fabulous schools: Chaminade College Preparatory, St. Louis Priory School and Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School…any help would be appreciated. I know Chaminade is based on Blessed Wm. Chaminade who is up for nomination for Sainthood…I know that Willa Duchesne has something to do with St. Rose Duchesne…</p>
<p>I would think that someone at one or more of the high schools would be able to help you.</p>
<p>I do agree with the above poster. But as with high schools, I would think that the best thing to do would be to visit each institution you are interested in and see if it is a good fit for your child. I’d pay more attention to other factors (ex. size, what majors are offered, is it a residential or commuter school, location, how competitive it is, facilities, type of students at the school,…) than I would to which branch of a religion runs the school. When my S looked at schools, we visited a number of Jesuit schools there were some Jesuit schools we liked more than others so it is important to do research/visit if possible and judge each school on its individual merits.</p>
<p>Catholic colleges are different to some degree by emphasis, however faint, of the founder’s order. The Jesuits are famous for being educators, primarily at the college level. So are the Dominicans. The Franciscans. The Augustinians. The Benedictines. The Marianists.</p>
<p>The most important thing you can do in college admissions for your children is to let THEM choose. They are going to college, not you. Its their life, not yours. Its your money. You can offer an opinion and give general advice, but the choice must be theirs. If they don’t own it, you will pay a steep price if they don’t like it. Growing up includes the freedom to make mistakes. </p>
<p>Marist is no longer Marianist. Dayton is Marianist but a more liberal sect within the Order. Providence is Dominican. Siena is Franciscan. Saint Louis U, Loyolas, Fordham, BC, Holy Cross are all Jesuit. Notre Dame is Holy Cross fathers. U Portland is Holy Cross fathers. U San Diego is none of the above and is run by the Diocese. </p>
<p>Pick the school your kid likes, is qualified to attend, and you can afford. I prefer the Jesuits. </p>
<p>Nobody at any of those schools will indoctrinate your kids into one way of thinking, particularly about their order of priests or monks. They do have subtle differences in how they approach problems or how they view history. But mostly its about teaching your kids how to think for themselves. </p>
<p>You should also know that going to a Catholic college doesnt put your kids up for sainthood or make them better Catholics from those who choose a state school or another private college. Kids drink and misbehave at all colleges. The colleges are not their babysitters or parents. They are a place to study and for those seeking the advice, spiritual advisors. But kids can ignore the Church and religion completely at college, except as to required theology courses (usually 2). </p>
<p>Repeat: Its your kid’s choice, not yours. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Frankly, at the college level, I don’t think you’re going to discern big differences with the various “flavors” of Catholic orders who are running those schools.</p>
<p>On each website, you’ll see the mission of each school and perhaps how the religious order’s mission plays into that, but how that really translates at the college level may not be obvious.</p>
<p>I would like to add…</p>
<p>Going to a Catholic college is not like attending Catholic high schools. Yes, there probably will be crucifixes in the classrooms and saint statues on campus, but there’s no mandatory Catholic religion classes or mandatory weekly Masses like there are in K-12. </p>
<p>The mandatory theology classes for college can often be in other religions, world religions or something not Catholic related at all. </p>
<p>In the rest of the classes, they will be taught pretty much like at any college with Catholic and non-Catholic (and even some maybe some atheist) faculty.</p>
<p>momof2bybob, are you requiring your kids to attend a Catholic U? If so, why? Or, are they allowed to look at any school?</p>