Now we're taking things a bit more seriously earlier this month we visited Dominican University in River Forest, IL. And, this weekend we flew to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit Belmont Abbey College.
Belmont Abbey College is a Newman Guide-recommended Roman Catholic, co-educational, liberal arts college with between 1200 and 1400 students. It is the only Roman Catholic college in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. However, because the Southeast is predominantly Protestant, the student body is not represented by a majority of a Roman Catholics. This is not necessarily a deterrent because the school is in fact highly recommended for its adherence to Roman Catholic doctrine.
As we search for a college for Arianna we are looking for a school that will support and challenge Arianna spiritually, socially, and scholastically. And, as Arianna says, will provide her (opportunities for) adventure. No school is perfect. Pros and cons present themselves at every school we're looking into.
At BAC, we think that although the Honors program is small, it may provide Arianna opportunities to hone critical skills, while at the same time introduce her cultural activities throughout the Charlotte area. Honors students are able to see plays, concerts, tour museums. As well, there is a travel abroad opportunity (Italy and Ireland), which Arianna is keen on.
Both Sharon and Arianna were impressed by the BAC stage in the theater, which is a vibrant campus activity. One need not be studying theater to participate. And, in fact, we were told that even some of the resident Benedictine monks participate in theater activities. The school also participates in the 24 Hour Plays activity that so many other, larger colleges across the U.S. engage in. Essentially, this is a student-run activity where the students barricade themselves in the theater overnight to write, cast, and stage a production for presentation to the public the next evening. Arianna thought this was cool.
The school is, I think, on 40 acres of land owned by the Benedictine order. When we visited some of the magnolias had already bloomed and the azaleas were just about to pop. The campus is wooded, with more holly than I've ever seen in one place. Arianna, Sharon, and I thought the campus pretty. Though most of the facilities are dated. Dorm rooms are cinder block. There's only one classroom building.
All the professors we spoke with were congenial and fee with information. They were at Dominican too. But, leaving an especial impression on us all, I think, were the Abbot -- who it must be said, welcomed all of us attending the event to his home -- and the school's president. Each in his own way summarized the mission and vision of BAC, which is to foster a college experience in which students can learn about themselves and their place in the world not merely by studying to undertake a career, but by exploring the truths of the western tradition and responding to it intellectually and spiritually.
Coming away from Belmont Abbey College I had no doubt that Arianna could thrive here academically. The friendliness of the students we met and spoke with convinced me that she'd make friends without any trouble.
Although the school's small size may pose limits on the degree to which Arianna can expand her horizons, we all felt there was no reason whatsoever to remove it from our short list -- which occurred after we visited Dominican.