GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE

CATHOLIC COLLEGES

VALUE-CENTERED EDUCATION

Catholic Colleges set the stage for excellence

By Brian Lynch, Executive Director, National Catholic College Admission Association

Enthusiastic, compassionate, value-centered and committed to excellence. These terms appear over and over to describe experiences at Catholic colleges and universities across the United States.

Whether you are just beginning to think about college or are putting the final touches on an application, Catholic colleges and universities play an important role in shaping today's students into tomorrow's leaders.

Catholic colleges and universities in the United States are among the world's most prestigious learning institutions. Among the many reasons for this distinction are the awards and honors that praise the professors and administrators for making a difference in society. You have so many colleges to explore — so many choices for your future. High school students have a difficult decision in choosing a college that will be the right “fit” for them. The choice is particularly difficult in the US because we enjoy an incredible number of outstanding colleges, both public and private. Among those choices are 220 Catholic colleges and universities.

The opportunity for a value-oriented education distinguishes Catholic colleges and universities from many of the other options available to you. A recent study showed that Catholic colleges and universities provide an exceptionally supportive academic and social environment for the students they enroll. Professors are profoundly engaged with their students in fulfilling the college's mission and spirit. These professors celebrate the gift of life, and they cherish truth and virtue. They recognize that you are not just preparing for life, but living it. Catholic colleges and universities are unique in that they bring together people of all backgrounds and all faiths. They actually attract a higher percentage of minority students than public four-year colleges or other independent institutions. Catholic colleges were among the first to open their doors to women, minorities and those who found themselves on the margin of society. Their graduates have become among the exemplary leaders, thinkers, artists, athletes and agents for social change in our society.

On these campuses, you will be offered unparalleled opportunities to build lifelong friendships with peers of both similar and diverse worldviews and with people who value worship and community. Catholic colleges and universities have a special commitment to community. Some offer special service opportunities that you will want to explore. Community service is a graduation requirement at certain colleges. This spirit of community adds an invaluable dimension to your education, whatever your choice of career.

It’s no coincidence that students are happier at Catholic colleges and have a better chance of graduating in six years or less than at other institutions. It’s not just good fortune that these institutions have graduated so many of the political, business and artistic leaders in the United States today. It has to do with the essence of a Catholic college. When you have professors, trustees and deans who are committed to nurturing not only the student's mind, but also his body, heart and spirit, you are going to achieve excellence as a learning institution.

High School students have a difficult decision in choosing the college that will be the right "fit" for them. Catholic colleges, like many of their peers in private education, offer a uniquely personalized environment. Most classroom sizes average in the low twenties. This guarantees that a student can engage in meaningful interaction and dialogue in every class and will get the most of the professor's time. Catholic colleges and universities are incredibly diverse. They come in all sizes with enrollments of fewer than 1,000 students to more than 20,000. They are located in large cities and small towns from coast to coast. They are located in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Some are women's colleges; some are major universities with law, medical and other professional schools. Seven of them grant pontifical degrees.

To find the right college for you, start by asking yourself these questions. What are your academic skills? Some people need a challenging academic environment and others don't. What program(s) of study interests you at this time? Do you prefer a rural, suburban or urban environment? Do you want a college that's near your home? Do you like the feel of a large university or a small, intimate campus? Are you active in varsity or intramural sports? How about student government or the arts? One college may be perfect for a computer wizard but awful for a football fanatic. Are you liberal or conservative? An introvert or an extrovert? Are you deeply spiritual? It's important to have some people who are like you on campus.

Most businesses seek employees that have a blend of intelligence, practical skill, moral values and spiritual maturity. Students at Catholic colleges discover and develop these gifts so that they are prepared to offer practical and insightful solutions to real-world problems. Students learn to realize that an essential component of being a person is to take a stand. There are things that must be proclaimed as non-negotiable, even if they are unpopular positions on moral issues. Religion is taken seriously — all religion. This prepares young people to speak honestly with the overwhelming majority of people on the planet who also take religion seriously. People who know what religion is about are better able to discuss and admire different faiths.

Our students understand the words, they appreciate the values, and they comprehend the significance of a transcendent dimension to human life. Most people in our world attend some form of worship for most of their lives. Young people benefit greatly from an understanding of ritual, sacrament, liturgy and worship. These are integral to human life. From our rich faith dimension, Catholic colleges and universities prepare students for life where you learn how to succeed — in marriage, career, child care and the struggles of the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the forgotten. Catholic colleges and universities are not the perfect fit for every student, but one thing is clear: they have provided, for thousands of graduates, a bright future, successful career and a meaningful personal and family life.