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Sort By: [Date] [Major] [Rating] Psychology  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Quite Bright A Little About Me: Providence College was definitely not my first choice for school, but upon being waitlisted at a larger, more prestigious and well-known university in Boston, it was pretty much my best choice from there. I entered with an open mind and high hopes, but ended up coming home the first weekend. Social Life: Let me just explain the school to you from the viewpoint of a non-drinker: DON'T COME HERE IF YOU DO NOT PLAN ON GETTING COMPLETELY SMASHED ON THE WEEKENDS. I am a very non-judgmental person, and yet, I felt very, very judged and scrutinized for NOT choosing to drink alcohol. Not only that, but i couldn't find ANYBODY else who didn't drink, or anything else to do that didn't involve alcohol. Every Thursday-Sunday, 90% of the student body drags themselves to one of the several trashy clubs/bars on the outskirts of the school, which are located in the ghetto and require a fake ID to get in, which isn't such a big deal until you're stumbling home drunk past the projects at 2 AM. Then the administration shoots out emails the next day reporting PC students who were "mugged" or "jumped" that weekend...hmmm. Not too bright. And the BEST part of all of this is that the school absolutely encourages this behavior by providing shuttles to and from "CVS" which is coincidentally located across from these "bars,"...if you can even call them that. BUT if you need a ride to CVS during the week for a new printer cartridge to print out your 10 page research paper? Forget it. Food: The food absolutely blows. I had better meals at my public high school, and trust me....that's not sayin' much. Although I am not myself a vegetarian, those who are should rethink their choice to attend PC b/c the vegetarian line is pathetic. Beans, some sort of sliced pepper/onion slop that supposed to pass as the "vegetable," and pasta...EVERY. NIGHT. Oh and you can only swipe in 3 times per day, and the cafeteria closes at 8 PM every night; 6 PM on Fridays. So bring lots of food with you if you plan on studying late. Library: During finals, I frequently could not find a free desk/chair, and had to study in my room with my ipod blasting to drone out the noise in the hallways. The library is VERY small, and the furniture has graffiti up the wazoo, so it's extremely distracting when you're trying to type a paper/read. Overall, it sucks and is a very depressing place to spend your time. Academics: Run very far away from Civ. It meets everyday so there's no escaping it, and you will want to jump out of your dorm window by week 2. They assign an unbelievable amount of reading so that you can never actually catch up if you actually want to sleep/see daylight, so don't plan on ever feeling completely "on top of things" when it comes to that POS class. For the amount of work and time you must devote to this requirement, the school does not get enough recognition for it from other people. Overall, I honestly can say that I tried to like the place for TWO solid years, but it just never happened. Hence, I transferred out after my sophomore year and am glad to start completely over because I know it can only get better. Also, one major issue I found was that NOBODY had heard of Providence College when I brought it up in conversation, and for the amount of time and effort I put into that Civ class, I felt shafted. Civ is a ridiculous and unnecessary 2 year hellhole, and at the end, you will not receive the credit you deserve for suffering through. Go to a more well-known, public university if you can't get into a better one where people will actually recognize the name. Nothing is more annoying than when you bust your behind earning your degree, and then no one has ever heard of your school. Good luck to all those there; I can name at least 20 people who I knew who transferred. My advice: make sure you take a tour and stay over before you commit to PC, it's a real depressing place once you're stuck here. Scholastic Success: A, Surrounding City: F Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Aug 29 2008 2nd Year Female -- Class 2010    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='sr_comment.js?sckey=53924&uid=1230'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Biology  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Quite Bright PC is a great school with a great reputation. Whenever I tell people that I go to PC, they always comment on what a good school it is. The best part is, it is getting more and more competitive- a diploma from PC, while still prestigious, will be more valuable in years to come. People who go here know that the student body is homogeneous...but that doesn't mean that we are all clones. We may come mostly from the East coast and may value dressing nicely, but you can easily find a variety of different opinions and ideas on campus. Every student here was the varsity captain/class president/head of prom committee in high school. There is a majority of Catholic students but there aren't any "Jesus freaks." Theology is taught in DWC VERY objectively. Students work hard and play harder, getting As during the day and getting hammered at night (you can pick a couple of nights between Messed up Mondays, Brown night at Fischo, PC night at Fischo, Thirsty Thursday, and Sunday Funday). My only complaint is that the area around the school is not that great, but a lot of good school are in seedy places. The campus is extremely safe, though. I always walk back from the library at 2am alone without thinking twice. I would not recommend this school to someone who has absolutely no idea what they want to study. The core curriculum is rigorous and it takes at least 12 classes to complete a major...they may say that you do not need to declare until Junior year, but trust me...if you don't declare as soon as possible, you might get screwed! Education Quality: A+, Collaboration/Competitive: B+ Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Aug 27 2008 1st Year Female -- Class 2011    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='sr_comment.js?sckey=53868&uid=1230'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   History/Histories (art history/etc.)  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Quite Bright It is true that PC is a conservative place; there are a lot of deeply religious students on campus and a lot of Republicans (yes they do actually exist on college campuses, I was surprised too). There are parietal rules about the dorms, and while they are somewhat annoying, you can almost always get around them if you're enterprising enough and practically everyone does. That said, they only apply during the first two years when you live in dorms--the apartments on campus have no such rules. When I was there, they really only applied to the female dorms. All I can say about the parietal system is that you will look back on it after college fondly. PC is a quaint type of place where chivalry is still encouraged. Male students hold doors, walk their dates home at night, and still go on actual dates--very different from what I experienced at the state university where "date" consisted of a kegstand at a frat and, if all went well, a groping session before the blackout set in. Providence is not like the state u; there are no frats or sororities and, in this respect, very little cliquishness. You will know most of your class when you graduate. Providence is a school that will make you into a gentleman or a lady--slowly and imperceptibly over four years--and when you graduate that mark will stay with you. There is a sort of "cookie-cutter" image to many PC grads, but it is really only the mark of refinement and manners that stands out because Providence does leave that mark while other schools do not. Providence grads are respectful, honest, honorable, intelligent, witty, and clean-cut; grads leave here as genuinely good (maybe a bit too idealistic, if that is a drawback) human beings and because of this, they stand out. I didn't think the Catholicism was overbearing, but if you are hyper-sensitive to religion and school mixing, you might be a tad uncomfortable at first. I came from a public high school, as a dyed-in-the wool FDR Democrat and an open atheist. I also came to PC with an open mind and I realized right away that the religion on campus is a mix of window-dressing (crucifixes in the classroom, for example) and Church history (western civ and theology courses). I was never proselytized to or pressured to convert or accept Christianity and most of the religion in the classroom is in DWC where you learn how Christianity and the Catholic Church evolved throughout and influenced the course of western history. As a non-religious person, I found this to be one of the most valuable parts of my education because the truth is that for over a thousand years Catholicism had enormous impact on the course of European history; secular schools that gloss over or ignore this fact are not doing their students any favors. Nevertheless, even in DWC, religion is never taught like I imagine Sunday School would be; mostly it is taught historically. The core curriculum is rigorous and very broad. DWC focuses on the western cannon and, especially if you are in the Honors Program, you will read the most important works from Herodotus-->Sartre. You will know the great books, the great philosophers, and the course of western history; PC puts this all together in a single two-year course that really gives the student context. You will write a lot of papers and read a lot more than most of your friends that go to other schools, but you will leave PC with the confidence that only such a challenge can instill. PC students do enjoy an active social scene. There's a lot of late nights spent at seedy nearby bars and neighborhood parties. There is a lot of bonhomie and bonding that the party atmosphere brings on the weekends and it is different than partying at a massive university because you know most of the people you go out with. Naturally some students go overboard but most just sow their wild oats and that's it. PC has several formal events--a "Junior Ring Weekend" and a Commencement Ball which are both black tie events and which most students attend. Like I said, PC does leave a mark--the respect and deference students show their professors and their peers continues after commencement; "unfortunately" you will be a gentleman or a lady for the rest of your life. Education Quality: A+, University Resource Use: B Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Jul 01 2008 5th Year Male -- Class 2004    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='sr_comment.js?sckey=51154&uid=1230'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save   Accounting  Major Salary, Salary Trend, Satisfaction, Unemployment Quite Bright ADMINISTRATION / FINANCIAL: Providence College is one of the most mismanaged institutions I have ever seen. And you wonder why the endowment is so low, and why they must nickel and dime students, and why students turn around as alums, and (rightfully) give NOTHING in return back. Sure, it's fun if you're just up to go out and get drunk every weekend, but if you have any depth as a person, you get tired of that about halfway through sophomore year if not sooner. There is something hypocritical about a school that acknowledges a "drinking problem", then turns around and offers "wine tasting" and "Irish Night" on parents' weekends, and features mugs as the #1 giveaway by the school. A lot of PC's inattention to reality comes from the fact that it is managed by PRIESTS. This school will brag all day about how there are 2 more black students coming this year than last (ie, the basketball team expanded its roster), but yet when it comes to fostering TRUE diversity - diversity of thought, or diversity of opinion - the administration would rather shove the "ONE TRUE" teaching (notice the quote marks) of the Roman Catholic Church on everyone. Likewise, the school KNOWS it is near the bottom in many key metrics, and it's only plan to bridge the gap is to continue to raise tuition (6-7% annually, at least) to obscene levels given the value of the education and services provided. Furthermore, it is dedicated to spendthrift, and lavishness in the halls of the priests who reside on campus, however few of these improvements are worthwhile endeavors, and few actually benefit the students themselves. While you or your parents are paying tuition here, this school will still call you and ask you for money. Additionally, they claim to plan to attract more "high quality learners" yet will be removing merit based aid. Everything done by the administration is a living contradiction, a study in mutually exclusive opposites. ACADEMICS: Quality of academics depends on your field of study. There are GREAT teachers here, and there are horrible ones. Civ is a useful course, but there is way too much religion involved, particularly Catholicism. As a student at PC, expect to be treated like a 5 year old kindergartner. Lots of quizzes, frequent tests, a bunch of busy work, and even "attendance taking" at class. Not saying "no one should go to class" just saying that at 17-22, students should be MATURE enough to deal with the consequences of missing class on their own without someone taking attendance for them. Maturity and self actualization of the student is something that is frowned upon at PC. There are rules and you follow them, unless you have the gumption to convince someone otherwise. Expect a final exam in every class (the exam or paper option is usually nonexistent). That said, there are some very good programs here, but the overall position of the administration on making academics more "rigorous" has in fact failed to do so by instead incorporating more busy work. They are not more "rigorous" as they foster mere short term memorization rather than long term understanding, so they are rather "annoying." Also the bookstore is a ripoff. They will sell you a book for $150, buy it back for $20, then resell it to someone else Used for $120. All in the name of more profit. ATHLETICS PC has division 1 athletics, but don't expect to get excited for anything. Fans are passive, don't know much about the teams or players, don't make road games, and are generally quiet and unsupportive. Likewise the teams themselves continue to live off past glory and fail to achieve present day success, using the "small school" excuse as the reason why. If you're contact with just making a conference tournament and losing, PC is for you. If you've been dreaming of being the guy on ESPN during March Madness deep into the NCAA tournament, forget about PC. You either take the sloppy seconds and be happy, making the playoffs and losing in Round 1, or you stop following PC sports seriously and just do something else. The one and only exception is Track/Cross Country, PC's strongest program, which ironically does not have a home track or course, so is rarely if ever witnessed in competition by the student body. HOUSING Housing is poor. Expect to have one person too many in your room as a freshman, and possibly even as a sophomore. On campus apartments are nice in terms of space, but the facilities are not. Six person apartments don't even have LIGHTS in the bedroom. Off campus offers freedom, but be ready to deal with petty landlords who won't fix anything and substandard housing that makes Section 8 seem like a good time. The housing selection process is also antiquated and ridiculous, as you will be picking apartment/suitemates for NEXT YEAR in the fall. Housing arrangements always change due to transfers, failouts, leaves of absence, and reorganizations, and this is a leading cause of frustration among students. Expect to be fined exorbitant amount for damages at the end of year, many of which won't actually be damages (ie a mess in the hallway = $150 charged to everyone). FOOD Ray food sucks. It's unhealthy, and meats are filled with laxatives so you won't get food poisoning if the food is undercooked. There are some alternatives, but you'll be sick of the same things over and over. Favorites like stuffed shells rarely appear on the menu, inexplicably. Come parents weekend, however, this dining hall will pull out ALL the stops to convince mommy and daddy its money well spent, and you will see stations open you've NEVER seen before... Slavin food is better, but you have to pay cash or charge card to eat there. My advice if you choose to go here, ditch the meal plan as soon as you can and cook for yourself in an apartment or off campus (or commute). You'll save you and your folks HUNDREDS of dollars. STUDENT LIFE There are two stereotypes, and if you don't fit either you are SOL and JWF (a reference to an act by comedian George Carlin). 1 - Drunk partier. 2 - Prudish Church boy/girl. Activities primarily consist of drinking and frequenting the dingy, overcrowded bars around the campus, or spending all free time in Bible studies and service groups. There are few activities designed specifically to promote SOCIAL INTERACTION on campus, and those other activities that do not fall into the above categories do not do this because they either 1) fail to meet frequently enough or 2) fail to encourage interpersonal interaction ABOVE the activity the group is centered around. Intramural sports are limited in scope as well, and fail to provide this. As a result, social growth is stunted, and most people will "hang out" with the same group for all 4 years - usually a group that involves their freshman year roommates or kids on their hall. Additionally, the sameness of everyone, referred to in other posts, creates a virtual certainty that experiences will not be dynamic. Sex is discouraged by the school bigtime, via parietals, which prohibit opposite sex guests during certain hours. As a result there are the rebels - the partiers who want to drink and hook up, etc., and there are the prudes. Therefore there is no casual dating, only serious long term relationship and what Facebook used to describe as "random play". Many students grow disillusioned with the place, and either hide their dissatisfaction behind the facade of a happy drunk, or "socialize" less altogether, finding the people they meet unfulfilling. SPIRITUAL LIFE If you are not Roman catholic, there is no spiritual life for you. End of story. If you are, there MAY be. Religion - CATHOLIC religion - will be forced down your throat at every twist and turn. This school does not give out free condums, as many do. This school incorporates a CATHOLIC mass into most on campus activities involving parents or alumni. Priests are allowed to teach non-religious courses, including Development of Western Civ. Additionally, flyers will be posted all over the place promoting the latest religious initiative. If you are the type of person that is DEFINED by your religion and so happen to be Roman catholic, then you might be happy here. But if you are like the majority that think religion is a secondary concern in the human experience, of another faith, or have NO interest in religion whatsoever, expect to be disappointed and very frustrated. And if you are a casual catholic, this school will likely encourage you to consider converting to another religion. This school is OBSESSED with its "catholic Dominican heritage" and is OVERBEARING to the point of nausea with it. SUMMARY Providence College is not the kind of place you want to go to college if you go with the intention of extending your borders, broadening your horizons, or meeting new people. You may get a decent job out of it, and meet a handful of people that will become great friends, but chances are it will be difficult and you will meet these people outside of the normal channels for human interaction. If drinking, praying, or both do not tickle your fancy, you will find yourself at a loss for activities and bored with the culture of sameness. Many students will pretend that PC is a great place on the surface, but if you engage them a little bit deeper - ask them "what's the worst thing about PC?" and you will scratch the surface - you will see that many people are just putting on a happy face, and they themselves are also unhappy. After all, PC also stands for "politically correct" right? Many students simply cannot wait to graduate, and many would have transferred if other institutions would just accept those Civ credits. Sameness is a problem not because it occurs, but because it is encouraged. Uniformity in thought and appearance is the Dominican catholic way. Education Quality: A-, Individual Value: F Have a Question? Your Response/Question:     To be informed when someone replies to your comment. (private)  More →  Mar 27 2008 3rd Year Female -- Class 2008    Forward  Blog it! Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account: Just copy and paste! <script src='sr_comment.js?sckey=45585&uid=1230'></script> <a href='http://www.studentsreview.com' style='font-size:8pt;'>Data Source: StudentsReview!</a> Rate this comment: Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful       Save      Prev    Select Page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7 ... 9    Next

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