Boston College for Jewish Students (2010-present)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you done a tour and info session? We are also reform. We visited and thought the school was great in almost every respect, but we just could not get past the religion piece. Asked our tour guide how non-Catholic students fit in and her response was to say that she was not Catholic but has really enjoyed going to Catholic masses. Not the answer we were looking for…. Another friend had the exact same experience on her tour.

I would call Hillel and speak with current Jewish students. The school really seems wonderful in so many respects, but our DC was pretty turned off by the religion aspect.

It is a Catholic school, after all. I mean, how would you react if someone showed up at your synagogue and said "Yeah, I'd love to hang out here with you guys, but it would be nice if you toned down the Jewish-ness of your events?"

No, the correct answer for our comfort level would have been: It doesn’t matter if you aren’t Catholic. People of all religions can get involved in lots of activities that have no religious component. Not - it’s fine, you’ll get used to mass. We had no issues with it being a Catholic school and like the community service emphasis of Jesuits, but if the majority of kids are regularly going to mass on Sundays, that’s something my kid would not be comfortable with. OP, you may be comfortable with this and it’s not a dig on the school at all. It just wasn’t something we were comfortable with.

But this answer is NOT what BC is like? I think you may be reading into something that just isn't there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you done a tour and info session? We are also reform. We visited and thought the school was great in almost every respect, but we just could not get past the religion piece. Asked our tour guide how non-Catholic students fit in and her response was to say that she was not Catholic but has really enjoyed going to Catholic masses. Not the answer we were looking for…. Another friend had the exact same experience on her tour.

I would call Hillel and speak with current Jewish students. The school really seems wonderful in so many respects, but our DC was pretty turned off by the religion aspect.

It is a Catholic school, after all. I mean, how would you react if someone showed up at your synagogue and said "Yeah, I'd love to hang out here with you guys, but it would be nice if you toned down the Jewish-ness of your events?"

No, the correct answer for our comfort level would have been: It doesn’t matter if you aren’t Catholic. People of all religions can get involved in lots of activities that have no religious component. Not - it’s fine, you’ll get used to mass. We had no issues with it being a Catholic school and like the community service emphasis of Jesuits, but if the majority of kids are regularly going to mass on Sundays, that’s something my kid would not be comfortable with. OP, you may be comfortable with this and it’s not a dig on the school at all. It just wasn’t something we were comfortable with.

But this answer is NOT what BC is like! I think you may be reading into something that just isn't there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you done a tour and info session? We are also reform. We visited and thought the school was great in almost every respect, but we just could not get past the religion piece. Asked our tour guide how non-Catholic students fit in and her response was to say that she was not Catholic but has really enjoyed going to Catholic masses. Not the answer we were looking for…. Another friend had the exact same experience on her tour.

I would call Hillel and speak with current Jewish students. The school really seems wonderful in so many respects, but our DC was pretty turned off by the religion aspect.

It is a Catholic school, after all. I mean, how would you react if someone showed up at your synagogue and said "Yeah, I'd love to hang out here with you guys, but it would be nice if you toned down the Jewish-ness of your events?"

No, the correct answer for our comfort level would have been: It doesn’t matter if you aren’t Catholic. People of all religions can get involved in lots of activities that have no religious component. Not - it’s fine, you’ll get used to mass. We had no issues with it being a Catholic school and like the community service emphasis of Jesuits, but if the majority of kids are regularly going to mass on Sundays, that’s something my kid would not be comfortable with. OP, you may be comfortable with this and it’s not a dig on the school at all. It just wasn’t something we were comfortable with.

No - is is NOT TRUE that most of the kids are going to mass on Sundays - AT ALL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you done a tour and info session? We are also reform. We visited and thought the school was great in almost every respect, but we just could not get past the religion piece. Asked our tour guide how non-Catholic students fit in and her response was to say that she was not Catholic but has really enjoyed going to Catholic masses. Not the answer we were looking for…. Another friend had the exact same experience on her tour.

I would call Hillel and speak with current Jewish students. The school really seems wonderful in so many respects, but our DC was pretty turned off by the religion aspect.

It is a Catholic school, after all. I mean, how would you react if someone showed up at your synagogue and said "Yeah, I'd love to hang out here with you guys, but it would be nice if you toned down the Jewish-ness of your events?"

No, the correct answer for our comfort level would have been: It doesn’t matter if you aren’t Catholic. People of all religions can get involved in lots of activities that have no religious component. Not - it’s fine, you’ll get used to mass. We had no issues with it being a Catholic school and like the community service emphasis of Jesuits, but if the majority of kids are regularly going to mass on Sundays, that’s something my kid would not be comfortable with. OP, you may be comfortable with this and it’s not a dig on the school at all. It just wasn’t something we were comfortable with.

My DD is a senior at BC. We are a Catholic family but we don't go to church. She hasn't been to mass in her almost 4 years there and neither have her roommates or friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we toured BC the admissions director started off his presentation saying something like..."BC is a Catholic school and roughly 70% of our students were raised Catholic so if you aren't comfortable with that then this might not be the best school for you"

It isn't about whether or not the students attend Mass. It's about this shared background. IF a student of another religion accepts this then I would think they would fit in fine. But if you go to BC and think it isn't a Catholic school that would be a mistake.

I don't believe this happened.

+2. Wouldn't even have happened 30 yrs ago.

+3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to BU (not BC) and there were a ton of Jewish students.

Totally different story. BC is Catholic

[Anonymous]

I went to BC. Tons of Jewish students there. It feels secular unless you want to be a practicing Catholic. I’m not Catholic. They had a religion class requirement but it’s more philosophy that liturgy.

[Anonymous]

BC is a top 50 private school for Jews. The only other Catholic schools on the list are Georgetown and Fordham and both rank below it.

https://www.hillel.org/top-60-jewish-colleges/