<p>Do employers or grad schools look down upon graduates who have degrees from religious universities? Do they think they are any different than a non religious affiliated college? Opinions appreciated! Thank you!(:</p>
<p>I’ve seen it go both ways (some dislike, others prefer), but most IME don’t seem to care.</p>
<p>Employers do tend to have particular schools they like, but I haven’t seen the religious aspect be part of that. It’s generally due to having employed other graduates from that school and liking the performance of those employees.</p>
<p>If considering a school (any school, religious or not) see where recent graduates have gone (employment, grad schools, professional schools) and see if those paths appeal to you.</p>
<p>It really depends on school’s prestige, bias of employer and accredidation</p>
<p>Considering Wall Street hires heavily from Notre Dame and Boston College and that lobbyist and law firms in D.C. recruit heavily from Georgetown, I’m going to go with “no.” </p>
<p>If a school is being discriminated against, it is not likely because of its religious affiliation.</p>
<p>Lol … let’s get real here. ND, BC, GU are NOT viewed, within the context of this question, as “religious universities.” And especially in noting that lobbyist and law firms “recruit heavily.” These and lots more could care less that these have religious affiliations and/or traditions . What recruiters assume about students at these 3 is that they’re bright, competing and completing in selective programs. There are exceptions, of course, as we saw with G-town’s Sandy Fluke. lol</p>
<p>Conversely, kypdurron nailed this one.</p>
<p>Institutions like Wheaton, Taylor, Geneva, Grove City, Liberty, Messiah, etc. would be far more polarizing for recruiters. In most negative cases, the reasons would be downplayed. Conversely, those who are supportive would tout the perceived positives of students studying at these places … strong work ethic, patriotic, traditionalists, more conservative, etc.</p>
<p>Continuing in WhistlePig’s vein, I think the caliber of the school matters a lot. For example, when S1 was in high school, he played on a club sport team with a respected coach. When a coaching vacancy opened at our high school, he applied for the position and was hired; our team won the state championship with this coach.</p>
<p>The next year the coach applied for a math teacher position at our high school. His application did not get past the first round. He had attended Pensacola Christian College, and that was the problem.</p>
<p>I have no opinion on whether he was a good or bad math teacher but the degree was the problem.</p>
<p>Great illustration. Now, had the HS been a Christian school? Perhaps. I’m surprised and saddened when I see very bright, capable Christian students attending places like Pensacola or any number of Christian colleges, that might be wonderful in preparing students to teach, but truth is their grads won’t ever smell a position in many schools because their collegiate alma maters were not accredited by generally accepted accrediting associations, but rather some proprietary associations not recognized in the broader academic world. They received poor counsel in the name of the Lord, imo.</p>
<p>Even if it was a Christian HS, maybe PCC grads usually had a different belief than the HS.</p>
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<p>Here is a thought for Creekland, kypdurron, and Whistlepig: If PCC degrees are as useless as you guys make it out to be, then there would be no students attend the college. Yet they pack the place out year after year, and they continue to grow, and turn out graduates that go on to serve the Lord in whatever capacity God has called them.</p>
<p>No doubt there is some bias against PCC. There is some bias here on this site. Creekland knows (and has shared that story over and over and over) of ONE student who couldn’t transfer credits and makes an assessment based on a single individual. To be bias is your right. To be irrational, well, maybe that is a right also. </p>
<p>I hope you do not assume that students who attend PCC stumble blindly onto campus and discover these “revelations” that you guys have known about for years. Many students at PCC have parents that graduated from there. We laugh at the accusations and the “friendly warnings” that are posted. See, “bright, capable Christian students” have one more factor that you guys may not be familiar with. It is following God’s will. If God directs a student to PCC…or Liberty… or Bob Jones University…or some other Christian college, then that is where that student needs to be. Then God takes care of the rest.</p>
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<p>This was my advice in post 2… what, exactly, was wrong with it?</p>
<p>My advice is ALWAYS to investigate a school carefully - looking at pros and cons of any sort - then make an informed decision based upon that investigation (and for us Christians, prayer). On forums we share pros and cons that we’ve come across IRL. People can use that info as they see fit. I’ve yet to see ANY school without some sort of cons, but not all are dealbreakers for any one student.</p>
<p>The cons I’ve seen with regard to PCC are its rules (excessive to many - obviously not to some) and its lack of accreditation (potential problem to be looked into). People should be informed about these. If they feel the first is not a dealbreaker, then they should take my advice in post 2 (that I quoted above) to see if the latter might be an issue.</p>
<p>Your advice, PCCgrad, seems to be, “Go to PCC no matter what, ignoring all possible cons and diss anyone who dares bring any up.” Our faith is not a blind faith. I expect God wants us to research things carefully while using prayer to discern which items (pros/cons) should be important to us.</p>
<p>If God leads anyone to PCC - fine. If He leads them elsewhere - fine. To each our own in the paths God sends us down. </p>
<p>So far, my two older boys have chosen Covenant and the University of Rochester. God is doing great things in both of their lives. Their decisions were very much in line with His will - and we firmly felt in His will when they made them. Neither have “lost” their faith nor even slipped into a lifestyle that disappoints us (or God). Both have great Christian friends. However, even their top choices aren’t necessarily top for everyone out there looking. Both boys didn’t even end up considering the same schools - not even one common application. It all depends upon the student.</p>
<p>As parents (and students) we all need to consider our goals in our education, look at the possible choices, consider all pros and cons we can find, pray, and go where we felt led.</p>
<p>That’s my advice. And I’ll continually share pros and cons for schools we investigated to assist others in their search. I’ll also share pros and cons from my friends, acquaintances, and experiences from students at school (some of whom choose Liberty without issues at all). Sharing benefits everyone IMO.</p>
<p>Does it depend on your region of the country? What impresses in Tennessee won’t impress in NYC . . . This is all relative. But going to an unaccredited university might not be the best use of one’s money.</p>
<p>Creekland - you mischaracterize and make inaccurate generalizations to anyone who dares disagree with you on these posts. “Go to PCC no matter what” - absurd. I never made any remark even remotely similar to that statement. But if you go back and read all your posts, you will see that PCC seems to be your target…thanks to that one friend of yours who couldn’t transfer any of her credits, etc. etc.
I am glad to hear that you boys have chosen their paths. My son has also made his choice. He chose PCC. He made a 30 on his ACT (his junior year) and graduated with a 4.0. He had scholarship offers from many universities, most with “free rides”. But he chose PCC - and he loves it.<br>
I agree that any potential student should research the schools thoroughly before enrolling. However, YOU are not a viable resource, and should not attempt to portray yourself as such. You give advice as a third-party, basing your ideas on hearsay. Unless you have had first-hand experience or knowledge, then you should refrain from condemning any institution. Build up the ones you are involved with, but don’t try to discourage students from attending other institutions. As I have mentioned before, I know hundreds of PCC grads who have gone on to earn higher degrees in numerous institutions. Take you own advice…see where recent graduates have gone…and allow that to be a factor in your determination.</p>
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<p>And with that, I’ll agree to disagree. 
I 110% trust the experiences of those I have contact with.</p>
<p>Any reader may make their own judgment as well as their own investigation.</p>
<p>FTR, I also seriously wonder about the level of colleges a 30 on the ACT is providing “free rides” at. It’s a good score and can come with decent merit aid at many schools, but it’s not generally in the oodles of free rides territory from what I see of hundreds of students annually where I work.</p>
<p>YMMV</p>
<p>Once again, Creekland, YOU are not all-knowing. The world does not consult you on every decision. When one does a research paper, “Primary Sources” are the most reliable information. You are not a “primary source” in most instances, though you attempt to portray yourself as such.
My son kept his offers from each of these universities. He thought it would be fun to see just how many school made him offers. In most cases, he could have “made money” by going to these schools. The scholarships were higher than the cost of the education. But I doubt you believe that, since you are infallible.</p>
<p>It’s quite possible there are schools - I believe Prairie View is one that comes up on some of the financial aid/merit aid threads, but I don’t remember if it’s for a free ride or free tuition. Do be certain to list others on some of those threads as many parents/students are often looking for good merit aid (esp free ride) options for scores around 30.</p>
<p>LaSalle gave one of our students (from school) a free ride with a similar score last year. It was the only school he got a free ride from, but he did have multiple merit awards from other schools (and no merit money from others). He’s enjoying LaSalle now though two “cons” associated with it (for many) are their strict core curriculum and their location in Philly (not such a great area of town). Those do not bother him. Many reject the place because of them. To each their own.</p>
<p>I share his experience with others who ask too. As I stated, I fully trust those I get information from and consider it a start for anyone else searching and coming across the info. </p>
<p>There are oodles of places to get information about schools in today’s information age. Everyone out there (on this site) can use google to get tons. I opt to use students (and their parents) I come into contact with and share that info with others as questions are asked. You are free to reject that info. Others may appreciate it. ;)</p>
<p>Creekland - I notice that you mention several schools that are located in or near Pennsylvania. Perhaps that is one of the reasons we have different views. Most of the schools from which my son received offers are from the South - though I did see one from the Boston area and a few from the mid-west. I would expect that there are significant regional differences in college costs. The number of colleges in an area also has an impact on cost and scholarships. I live near a town with 50,000 people - and four colleges. Competition is heavy among the schools for good students. Of my son’s graduating class, several students made 28 or 29 on their ACT, and are going to a major local university free of charge. I live in western Tennessee, and most of my students attend a college within three hours drive time. Of those, over half pay no cost, and the others pay less than $5000 per year.</p>
<p>I’m in PA, and, like you, the majority of our students go to school within a 4 hour drive of home - many of them to state schools. Very few get full rides, but many get merit aid. They generally pick accredited colleges, trade schools, and the like. A handful pick Christian schools (Liberty, Grove City, Geneva, Messiah, Eastern, Cedarville, & Lancaster Bible College are all popular - an occasional “other” to Wheaton, Taylor, and Biola), but most go secular. Of Christian schools, I’ve only seen full rides to Liberty, but I think Geneva offers them to NMF. We just don’t get NMF often. Our last one went to Wheaton and the two we have this year have selected Wake Forest (free ride) and Gettysburg.</p>
<p>Regional differences could very possibly come into play - which is why I’m wondering “what” schools are being talked about.</p>
<p>Creekland - I did a quick survey of my students who are graduating on Saturday. I have six students going to the University of Memphis. Anyone with an ACT score of 25 or more is going free of charge. Two made a 28, and will get paid to go to school. One student going to Mississippi State - 28 on ACT - less than $5000. One student with a 33 on ACT - can go anywhere he wants pretty much free (except for Union University - they cut all but 8000 of their 35,000 charge). He and my son are very similar - they could get a free ride to almost any SEC school (except Vanderbilt) or any public college in the South. But like my son, he will probably go to PCC (for 8000 a year). Two former students went to Middle Tennessee State University at no cost, with a 26 and a 27 on the ACT. I do know that Mississippi State and Ole Miss give students from western Tennessee in-state tuition. I believe Arkansas State does the same. My son did remind me that some of his scholarship money came via his French Horn. He is an accomplished French Horn player for which most schools were very interested.
I also notice a regional difference in “Christian College” listing. Around here, when one mentions a Christian college, PCC, Bob Jones, Liberty, Clearwater, Ouachita Baptist, Bryan, Tennessee Temple, and Mississippi College are the ones which come to mind.</p>
<p>Not Belhaven?</p>