(VFCC) Background: I graduated in 1999

How this student rated the school

Educational Quality	C	Faculty Accessibility	A
Useful Schoolwork	C	Excess Competition	A
Academic Success	C	Creativity/ Innovation	C
Individual Value	C-	University Resource Use	D
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	D	Friendliness	B
Campus Maintenance	D	Social Life	D
Surrounding City	D	Extra Curriculars	D
Safety	B

Describes the student body as: Friendly, Afraid, Approachable, Broken Spirit, Closeminded Describes the faculty as: Friendly, Helpful

Female

Quite Bright

Lowest Rating University Resource Use	D

Highest Rating Faculty Accessibility	A

She cares more about Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty than the average student.

Date: Dec 20 2012
Major: Religion/Religious (This Major's Salary over time)
Background: I graduated in 1999. I have worked in secular academic settings since that time (as administrative staff, graduate student, part-time faculty).

GOOD: When I attended, a few bright, faculty members mentored me and actually challenged me. I had a lot of freedom to learn in certain courses and I enjoyed this. I am still in contact with a few of my former profs and they continue to support me. I also met a few wonderful friends and I am still very close to them.

BAD: Most of my courses, save for those mentioned above, were WAY too easy. Without realizing it at the time, I was doing more work in almost every course to make it bearable and feel like I was learning something. If I had figured out what was happening sooner, I would have transferred to another school.

Also, there were more rules at this place than I had at home as a high school student. Mind you, I'm a good student and have always stayed out of trouble, and even I found this situation incredibly suffocating. Even worse, a few people I knew were expelled for actions that called for dialogue and/or therapy, not abandonment.

I also resented mandatory chapel everyday since the variety of speakers (usually white, male, balding) was quite lacking and the content of the sermons often infuriating. The religious culture in the school can be guilt-inducing, demanding and stifling. I had a lot of stress about this by my senior year and by that time, several friends of mine (bright, loving people) had already left embittered. Some of these people left Christianity altogether after their experience at VFCC. Miraculously, I am still active in a church, but I have left the A/G for good.

When I attended, tuition/board was still reasonably cheap, so I escaped intact financially. I see that other recent grads are talking about $30K/year now and this is mind-boggling. My advice: If you want an evangelical Christian college, find a different school (Messiah, Gordon, Calvin etc.) that will give you more for your money. It bothers me that people are presently leaving VFCC with so much debt with a degree that 1) may not adequately prepare for employment, 2) lead to low-paying employment, or 3) leave them angry and resentful.

Prospective Students: Think carefully about this! All of the negative comments written so far on this site are absolutely true and should be taken seriously.

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