Christendom College

Date: Aug 13 2011
Major: Undecided (This Major's Salary over time)
Since most of this is negative, I'll start off with the one great thing about it: the faculty. I have met some of the most amazing teachers there, who are willing to help you with any aspect of life, whether it's academic or personal.

Christendom is a college where they treat you like a child. Room checks once a week to make sure you can clean up after yourself and make your bed (however, if you're a guy, this never happens because the male RAs are lazy). You also have a curfew unless you're 21 or a junior. I never had a curfew until I came to Christendom.

Healthy relationships are not allowed to flourish in a community that claims to foster a good Catholic atmosphere. Couples are not allowed to kiss on campus-even a peck on the cheek—much less hold hands. If you do, you both get a fine due to the college.

The food is barely edible and if you have special food requirements, you have to fight tooth and nail to be taken off the meal plan, because they have no idea how to actually provide for your specific needs.

Money is spent on pathways in the woods and fountains in the courtyards, while there aren't enough dorms for the men and women, especially the men. They are crammed so tightly into some rooms, it's a fire hazard. There are plans for dorms to be built in the 20 year plan, but that's a long time away. The rooms are in poor shape and even though students are required to vacuum, the appliances are in terrible shape and do absolutely nothing.

Most pop music is forbidden at dances, and the playlists are strictly regulated. No close dancing is permitted, so be prepared to learn swing, contra, and ballroom.

Want a social life? Well, welcome to the backwoods of Virginia. There is little social life on campus (especially after they closed down the school Cafe, which was the ONLY place to hang out with other students really), and town is a 15 minute drive away—if you're lucky enough to have a car. The walk is impossible because the roads are curvy and have no sidewalks.

It's a dry campus, even if you're 21+. And they show favoritism to RAs. One RA who was a sophomore and only 19, drank NyQuil because he had a cold, then went drinking, took a shower, and passed out, causing water damage to the room below as he flooded the bathroom. Even though he had to be taken to the hospital, he claimed he hadn't been drinking and wasn't expelled from his position. Another RA who was a senior and 21 drank in his room, was reported, and expelled from his position.

And lastly, if you're a woman, you are NOT safe on this campus. And this is why I'm posting a false graduating year. But I repeat, you are NOT safe if you are a woman. I was raped as a sophomore off campus and the school treated me like complete garbage when I finally reported it. I was told that it was off campus and they gave me no sympathy. I had to spend the next two years having classes with my rapist, seeing him, putting up with being terrified of walking alone in the dark. They showed him more sympathy than they showed to me. There is no rape crisis center or even any counselors on campus. And honestly, they don't give a damn. They claim to be "in loco parentis" but when it comes down to the tough stuff, the President claims he never said such a thing and this really isn't any of his concern because it happened off campus. They are fine with permitting rapists and perverts on their "breathe Catholic" campus. And from talking to other women, this isn't the first time sexual assault has happened to students and they have been treated just as I was. So if you're a woman, think very carefully about attending this college.