There seems to be a lot of hatred toward all universities here, especially the ultra-liberal ones. I currently attend one of the Ivy League schools, and I thought I would give a more detailed description of my experience with it in case anyone here knows someone who is interested, or wants an insider’s observations about these universities in today’s world. I am open to any comments, questions, or criticism you may have.
First of all, I grew up in the Novus Ordo as a neo-con (I know, common story), going to a public high school. I experienced a renewed interest in the Faith almost immediately upon starting college, but it wasn’t until later that I learned of traditionalism and the TLM for the first time. I currently attend a diocesan TLM because of lack of access to anything else.
First of all, the bad
Where to begin? There is a Catholic group on campus, though its main focus is socialization and not much else related to the faith. They hold these very modern prayer services every once in a while, do a couple service projects, but really couldn’t be too bothered with absolutely accepting and practicing the True Faith. I’ve heard my fair share of heresy and blasphemy there, almost every girl has never even heard of modesty, there is little male involvement, many members will participate in debauchery as a group, in addition to holding to all the modernist problems in the Church like the Novus Ordo, ecuмenism, etc. I know a few good neo-cons, though, and I’ve been able to take two of them to the TLM once, but Tradition is not alive here.
The student life on campus is one of intense paganism, heathenism, and modernism. Somehow, Jєωs literally make up about 20% of our school, one can take an enormous number of classes on Judaism (only a heretical one or two on Christianity), and they are the only religious group to be offered a special place on campus. The LGBT (lesbian, gαy, bisɛҳuąƖ, and transgender) center is also on campus, and my school is known as one of the most “gαy-friendly” in the US. Sex is everywhere (not just the action, but signs, school-funded presentations, newspaper, etc.) Only the conservative Jєω girls dress modestly and exclusively in skirts—go figure—while the rest of campus, guys and girls, dress as you probably expect. The school is almost entirely liberal, socialistic, and communistic, though a number are fiscally conservative. I might be able to count the socially conservative students on my fingers and toes. I doubt any of them are true proponents of the Kingship of Christ and the Church’s traditional teachings about the State.
As for the education, I am a heavy math and science person, so the only modernism I usually have to hear is evolution. You would be surprised how ubiquitous it is. Every class on biology, biochemistry, and biophysics I’ve taken (and that’s at least a dozen or so) talks about evolution this, evolution that. The only thing I’ve gotten from it all is that evolution is pre-supposed in everything, even if they have to come up with the most whacked-up way of explaining things to make it fit. I could write a lot more about that, but maybe some other time. I took a philosophy class once, and I didn’t know whether to laugh at all the absurdities or despair over what passes for rational thought these days. I tried my best to defend philosophy in line with the Faith, but it only went so far. The worst part of it all is that all my professors are leaders in their respective fields, and none of them are close to being in line with the One True Faith, and so it is disheartening to know the level of brainwashing present in academia today.
The not-so bad
Well, the education is really top notch if you know how to parse out the idiocy (which is rampant, like in modern philosophy, evolution, interpretations of history, biblical scholasticism, etc.) Like I said, I am mostly science and math, so I get to avoid the trash taught in the liberal arts. I love these subjects, but I stay away from them at this university for obvious reasons. Math and engineering are usually perfectly fine. Financial aid has been generous, so I have not had to worry about the cost of attending school here too much. Also, I really hope I don’t come off prideful here (Lord, forgive me if I do!), but I am one of the top students here despite all the awful things I mentioned above. This and the name-brand of the Ivy League open up great career opportunities for the future. I hope to be what’s known as a physician-scientist, who practices medicine and performs scientific research, which my school has helped train me to become. I do it all for the glory of God, that I may help people and promote true science as the Church has always done. And before you call me too worldly, know that I plan to live (and do live now) as any other Catholic ought: ceaselessly praying, evangelizing, living frugally, giving generously to charity, helping the poor and sick, raising a strong Catholic family, etc.
What to take from what I am saying
Basically, I would not recommend to anyone that their child attend any of these so-called elite universities. By the grace of God I have been able to rise above the evil at this university (hopefully all of it), but it has not been easy. One has to have incredibly strong faith and trust in God to be able to make it through this mess. I thank the Holy Ghost daily for bringing me to deeper faith, but I have not made it through thus far unscathed. Honestly, I don’t think the good here is worth the risk of lapsing in your faith.
On the other hand, we Catholics (especially we traditional Catholics) cannot shrink from the world entirely. Knowledge and intelligence are graciously given to us by God Himself. And if traditional Catholics always remain unseen and we hide from intellectualism and academia (or at least what passes for it these days), evangelization of the world will be that much harder. Ultimately, in deciding whether or not to attend, keep all these things in mind. If you’re reading this just to gain a better perspective, know that the Ivy League is perhaps worse than you imagined, but not all souls are lost therein. It's complicated, to say the least Please say a quick prayer for me that I may make it through the rest in strong Faith.
Below is a picture of some of us Ivy Leaguers at the March For Life this year.
Topic: A Traditionalist at the Ivy League (Read 1430 times)