Pensacola Christian College

Date: Sep 17 2004
Major: Business - Management and Administration (This Major's Salary over time)
I grew up in a conservative home, but went to a public high school. I went to PCC with the desire to meet more Christian young people in a more moral climate. PCC was a HUGE letdown. I found a few genuinely decent souls, but the vast majority were so fake, it was nauseating. I even had one (of 3) roommates that came to school (from a Christian school, no less) thinking she was pregnant. Trained clone that she was, she told her parents of her suspicion before she even took a test. Her continued flambouyant personality drew so much attention from PL's, etc. that our room was watched like a hawk rather undeservedly.

Academically speaking, the courses I took were challenging for the most part. Math and Speech were probably my hardest, but most rewarding. English was like 6th grade revisited. Frankly, the review of "subjects" and "predicates" does not belong in a college curriculum. However, I found that if one wrote very simplistic sentences that read like a 12 year old wrote them (but they were 100% correctly punctuated), that student got an "A." Throw in some sentence variety with a preposition or transitional phrase, though, and you were over the instructor's ability to follow your thoughts. I'm ever so thankful that my high school instruction taught me to be articulate. I would have never learned it at PCC.

My biggest complaints (and these still burn me after 15+ years) are as follows:

1) No Christian institution should have more rules than the military. I seriously had a friend in the Coast Guard Academy that had fewer restrictions on his time.

2) Demerits should be handed out for serious offenses only—assuming this system isn't so ridiculously antiquated anyway. I received a sum total of 10 demerits during my stay at PCC. Five were for leaving an unheated iron on my dresser (rather than in the bathroom), and the other five were for signing out for CHRISTIAN SERVICE 10 minutes earlier than I had obtained permission to leave campus. To me, it just doesn't get any more inane than that. Due to my low # of demerits and ability to fly under the patrol radar, however, I now receive documents/letters requesting that I assist in PCC's recruiting efforts. Please.

3)PCC did nothing to encourage students to think for themselves. I happened to attend in a presidential election year. While we were admonished to get out and vote - to exercise our civic duty - we were being told to do so by the very people who viewed us utterly imcompetent to choose our own bedtimes, mealtimes, etc. If you're looking for an environment that fosters stellar decision-making skills, PCC is NOT the place for you. If you are content to ride mom and dad's coat tails and have decisions made for you for the next few decades of your life, give it a shot.

Long story short…DO NOT GO HERE.

I left to go to Liberty University after my first year. 90% of my credits transferred. I still graduated in 4 years, and I had a much better experience. Liberty has rules, but they are FAR more reasonable. There IS a social life there. You can have friends of the opposite , hug them, and not get accused of participating in immoral acts! It is very laid back…and the faculty there truly care. Sure, there are still fake people there too. In all honesty, those folks are everywhere. You can't judge an university or work experience on that alone. All I can say is that they're just as easy to spot at LU, but easier to avoid as well. Despite Jerry's controversial media presence, I can honestly say I had a blast at Liberty. I still keep in touch with friends I made there - and it's been 12 years since I graduated!

I am now on the faculty of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. It is a public university environment, and my dream job. I'm not sure I would have had the opportunity to be here had I stayed at an unaccredited school like PCC.

If you are in high school and looking at where you can possibly serve the Lord, don't always default to the choices your church thinks are the safe bets. There are Christian faculty members everywhere. You might have to make more of an effort to find us, but we exist. Find an academic program that suits you, and visit prospective schools that have the right programs. Finding a group of Christian friends is possible anywhere. And if they exist in a secular setting, chances are they'll be more genuine.