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COLLEGE: A CHOICE OF LIFE OR DEATH
COLLEGE: A CHOICE OF LIFE OR DEATH
85% OF CATHOLICS LOSE THEIR FAITH IN COLLEGE
Appearing toward the end of the long list of parental milestones is sending a child off to college. First-timers and empty nesters alike know the complexities of this big decision and the mixed emotions that come with weighing the options, applying, visiting campuses, and, finally, parting ways at freshmen orientation. With over 4,000 possibilities for higher education in the United States, students and parents are ranking cost, location, size, majors, family legacy, athletics, dormitories, meal plans, amenities, and more. While all of these are important considerations in choosing a college, studies have shown as much as 85% of Catholic youth lose their faith in college and most never return. Parents who are hoping their child will wake up for Mass most Sundays may not realize the choice of college is truly, in terms of salvation, a matter of life and death.
It is no secret U.S. colleges have become more than just academics. The dawn of collegiate athletics has radically altered where and why students go to college. Schools across America are fiercely competing to offer the best buildings and recreation centers, the most things to do around campus, all tied together with the biggest scholarships package. We have stopped emphasizing the bachelor’s degree and started emphasizing the “college experience.”
In the panoply of options, choosing a large public university with a good Newman Center doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Many parents are attracted to this plan. Perhaps they’ve adopted the “how bad can it be?” mentality for the sake of a major the school offers or the benefit of reduced tuition. Unfortunately, professors determined to undermine even the most rooted Christians lurk on campuses far and wide. Biases exist in almost all subject areas, many of them propelled by an anti-Christian agenda. Even if the Newman Center is remarkable, college is hard enough without having your beliefs challenged at every turn.
Taking all of this into consideration, many opt for a Catholic college, but even these parents have been misled. If faith formation ranks high on college “musts,” the search may need to be refined beyond just the Catholic-name universities. While many colleges claim to be Catholic, few adhere to Church teaching in the classroom and campus life. Sadly, such schools and their misguided teachings impose worse damage than those claiming no religious affiliation at all.
Here’s a thought exercise: when your child comes home from the first semester of college, what are the ways you hope he or she has changed and grown? Is it possible for noticeable changes to happen in that short of a period of time? What will be the foundation of their identity?
Everyone loves a good deal on tuition. A school close to home may appeal to mom and dad. And, choosing a university whose reputation places them on the cutting-edge of research is a fine place to be. Yet, Ave Maria University gives priority to another factor, faith!
College can be a place of refuge, a faith community, a place where its inhabitants are nourished, developed and supported by peers.
Inherent to all colleges is the community formed by on-campus living arrangements.
The community of state-school dormitories is built on a culture of hook-ups, binge drinking, and drug use. In contrast, the community at Ave Maria University is founded on a shared desire to become virtuous followers of Jesus Christ. The most consistent feedback we receive from our students about why they love Ave Maria is not our new dorms, the warm weather, or even the student events. It is the people that make our University so special. People are attracted to the community at AMU, unlike any other place.
College is a challenging time no matter where a student decides to attend. Students at AMU are transitioning to adult life with the freedom that comes from moving away from home just like any other college student. However, what is available to them during these years makes all the difference, namely, the sacraments. Mass, confession, and adoration are accessible daily. Bible studies, households, retreats, and Catholic speakers are theirs for the taking. While some of these resources can be found at a state school with effort, Ave Maria offers an environment where these events are not just tolerated, but well-attended by the majority of students.
Perhaps you’re in the thick of visiting and applying to colleges with your children, or maybe you are a grandparent, teacher, or coach, in a position to influence someone who is grappling with a college decision. If given the opportunity, share this statistic with them – 85% of Catholics lose their faith in college.
Through an authentically Catholic education and community, four years at Ave Maria University prepares students for this world as well as the next. Faith formation for our youth during the college years has never been more critical for the life of the Church. Instead of the confused and turbulent climate of many colleges, choose a school rooted in the unchanging God and enjoy the college experience done right.
by: Elizabeth O'Donnell '17
elizabeth.odonnell@avemaria.edu
