 Posted Monday, May 02, 2005 6:59 PM
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I really enjoy reading the posts on this excellent website. I've learned a lot, thought
a great deal, and processed many emotions, both positive and negative, about CS.
As I was educated in a secular university, I've always been curious about Principia,
the CS prep school and college. How large is it? Growing or declining? Solid or
ho-hum academic standards? How pricey? Do most of the students really follow
the CS "no smoking, drinking, or drugs" rules, or are they more "liberal" on these
issues? I wonder approximately what percentage of graduates actually stay in
CS during later adult life? Any other info? It's the only college for CS students,
but I don't know much about it. I'd like to learn more.
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Posted Wednesday, May 04, 2005 6:35 PM
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I just graduated from Principia College in 2003, so I'll try to answer your questions, but I'm not speaking for the St. Louis campus because I didn't attend there.
1) How large is it? I think there are between 500 and 550 students enrolled at the college now.
2) Growing or declining? Enrollment has declined significantly since a peak in the 70's and 80's (I think at its largest there were nearly 800 students at the college)
3) Solid or ho-hum academic standards? Hard to say. I worked in the admissions office for 3 years and I was always shocked at what low standards there were for admission. It seemed to me that much more emphasis was placed on the answer to the essay question "How will you help to further the CS movement?" than there was on SAT/ACT scores and GPA. They make a lot of exceptions to their academic requirements when it comes to admissions. I witnessed cases of students being denied admission because they used medicine. (Specifically- someone who used an inhaler to control asthma - but I'm sure that person is better off at a school where the use of an inhaler is NOT frowned upon!) However, I do think I got a really good education there. I'm in graduate school now at a public university ranked #1 in the nation for my field, and I think I have a much better academic foundation than most of my peers. However, I don't think all the departments at Prin are equally strong. Most of the professors don't have PhD's and I ran into more than a few who shouldn't have even been teaching high school...
4) How pricey? From their website (http://www.prin.edu/college/admissions/finaid.htm)
2004-2005 Cost
College expenses
Tuition $19,185
Room $3,315
Board $3,516
Student fees $270
Total $26,286
They have pretty generous financial aid. Their requirements for a full ride are MUCH lower than most schools (although their full scholarship only covers tuition).
5) Do most of the students really follow the CS "no smoking, drinking, or drugs" rules, or are they more "liberal" on these
issues? I would guess that about half the college students don't follow the rules ("the pledge"). However, if you get caught, they will not hesitate to put you on probation or kick you out. They also have something called "community board" where people are basically encouraged to tattle when they know that other students are breaking the pledge. In my four years at Prin, I remember several students getting kicked out for marijuana use, the president of the CS org getting reprimanded for sleeping with her boyfriend, a fellow teammate getting kicked out for actively promoting gay rights (and coming out of the closet himself), and more. A lot of students don't get caught for drinking, though.
6) I wonder approximately what percentage of graduates actually stay in CS during later adult life? I don't know about that. I've been wanting to submit a photo of me and my husband to the Principia Purpose (the alumni mag) with a little news update on how we're doing in which I'd mention that we're members of the United Methodist Church. I'm dying to know whether they'd print that or not!!!
7) Any other info? I'm sure I'll think of something more later....
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Posted Wednesday, May 04, 2005 8:00 PM
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I am suspicious of Principia. I'm not sure it has overall been a good thing for the Christian Science Movement. But I imagine people can point to instances where it has done good. I don't want to think about it in terms of black and white.
Principia seems to have attained an almost cult-like status among some Christian Scientists, and I don't think that is a good thing.
The Principia College campus is very beautiful. I visited there one weekend -- my only time to ever see it.
I have also heard that Principia is very dependent on big donors who are socially and politically conservative and that this leads the Principia admistration to be backward on issues such as gay rights, etc. But I don't know if this is true or not.
Anyway, I imagine that there are people who can egage in some very effective apologetics for Principia, and I'm willing to admit my misgivings about it could be mistaken.
tmcl
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Posted Wednesday, May 04, 2005 8:19 PM
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Thanks very much, current Methodist, for your very complete and well-written
answer. I was grateful for your candid response, and I learned a lot. As for
myself, this Midwestern former CS member is an active Lutheran---and lovin' it!
I don't have as many negative feelings about the CS Church as some posters,
but I can understand that their struggles are legitimate. I enjoy "keeping up"
on CS. I've disappointed some CS friends by leaving, but I felt strongly led to
embrace the authentic Gospel in a Bible-based church. Thanks for sharing
your Principia experience with an interested reader.
I was interested that about half the "Prin" students followed the college's
strict moral rules. Actually, a close friend who's Dean of a fairly large Baptist
college tells me that their "drinking, drugs, and sex" rate doesn't differ much
from your CS college assessment. Whether it's Satan or mortal mind,
there's plenty of temptation out there! Thanks again.
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Posted Wednesday, May 04, 2005 8:53 PM
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tmcl,
I am suspicious of Principia. I'm not sure it has overall been a good thing for the Christian Science Movement.
I'm pretty sure that Prin has been a bad thing for CS. My main reason for believing that is the way it undermined CS Orgs by cloistering so many promising CSists into such a false environment. A CS Sunday School teacher compared Prin to hiding the light of CS under a bushel.
My second reason for feeling the way I do is the elitism that Prin students develop (even beyond that of Ivy Leaguers). They always seemed to me to feel only they could bear the true banner of CS. Even though I never attended Prin, I had friends that did and for some time thought perhaps they were right. That was until I discovered what a low percentage of Prin students attended, much less were active in, the Org. Stories about the extremes of Prin further disillusioned me.
Do Go Be Man
<><
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Posted Thursday, May 05, 2005 6:22 AM
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Do Go,
Thanks for your comments about Principia. I find them persuasive.
tmcl
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Posted Thursday, May 05, 2005 10:25 AM
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I'm curious. Do you have to be CS to attend Principia, or is it open to persons of all faiths and backgrounds (like most religious colleges).
John
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Posted Thursday, May 05, 2005 10:45 AM
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John,
Do you have to be CS to attend Principia ...
According to their web site, ... the Admissions Committee will individually review your application, paying close attention to your academic record, your commitment to Christian Science, achievement in extracurricular activities, and your readiness to contribute to the Principia College community. (emphasis added)
They also require two Christian Science references.
... hold on. This just in, I found a direct answer ...
Q: Do I have to be a Christian Scientist to come to Principia?
A: Yes. All faculty, staff, and students are Christian Scientists and are regular attendants at a Christian Science church or Sunday School. It is expected that those who have found Christian Science for themselves will have studied the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, and will have attended Sunday School or church services for a minimum of six months prior to possible enrollment in Principia College.
Do Go Be Man
<><
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Posted Thursday, May 05, 2005 12:45 PM
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| You definitely HAVE to be CS to go to Prin. That's a big part of the college application. You have to have two CS references, and if your references mention that you rarely attend Sunday School, they will often turn the applicant down.
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Posted Thursday, May 05, 2005 5:42 PM
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