Pensacola Christian College

Ok, I have actually gone through every review (good, bad, and in between) and I would like to make some observations that are made by several people. Everything I am about to write I can say with authority because I either encountered people like this while there, or I was in these situations at one point.

1) Pensacola Christian College IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. You will notice this over and over in all the reviews. From my personal experience, here is what I would suggest you determine about yourself to qualify going through four years at this college:

A) You MUST be willing to set aside your personal freedoms, convictions, and lifestyle (probably).
B) You MUST be willing to follow a great number of rules which WILL be added to while you are a student. (The college does a decent job of keeping you abreast of these, however it is quite often a one time announcement of the new or frequently broken rules and some of these are not written, so reference can be difficult.)

C) You MUST have an open mind. Think for yourself; you may not always be able to voice what you think, but develop your convictions, based on the Bible, and dont just simply buy into everything the school says. DON'T BE A DRONE!!!

2) Be sure of God's Will for your life. To often I have met those on the verge of a college choice making it based on what they want. I promise YOU WILL BE MISERABLE if you go to this school out of God's will. I would go so far to say that if there is ANY doubt in your mind, get more info and pray even harder before you decide to go to PCC.

A) DO NOT go this college because it is cheap. Most of us can get financial aid, and if you really can't, try working. I did.

B) DO NOT go to this college because it is in "sunny" Pensacola, FL. No offense to the people that live there, but that town rots. There isn't that much to do and you shouldn't be going to college to go to the beach. If that is your only incentive, save yourself alot of money, and just go to the beach.

C) DO NOT go to this college to get away from your parents. You think your home enviroment is strict... I promise this is much more strict. And if you have a bad home life, for which I am trully sorry, this is not a remedy to your problem. I am not a professional in that field at all, but going to PCC will not magically solve your home situation.

3)Oh, if you go here a year, find out the rules that are not told to you initially, don't like the rules or the experience, and go back... then you have absolutely no one to blame but yourself. This goes back to thinking for yourself. If you spend a year there and hate it, DON'T GO BACK. And don't use your friends as an excuse to return. Eventually you and they will graduate and you won't see each other as much anyway, so that's a lame excuse.

4) If there is any way possible, don't go here because you are forced to (i.e. parents saying they won't pay for your college, being a social outcast if you don't, whatever... you fill in the blanks). There are nearly always alternatives. Pray about them, seek them out and use them if you can. Again, you will be miserable if you come. Now that's not to say you can't adjust; but that is usually a painful and long experience.

5)Do not come to this college expecting perfection, or anything close to it, from the students, faculty, or curriculum. SURPRISE! There are flaws in all of them! If you want, you can find the wrong friends to feed your negativity; or you can find Godly friends to build you up. Trust me there are bad faculty members there. It happens people; just expect it and you won't be dissappointed when your proven wrong! :) Also, some of the curriculum is, well to say it nicely, poor.

6) I must agree with all the people who have said this before me: your experience at PCC will be largely influenced by your attitude. If it is negative, I gaurantee you will find ever negative aspect possible about the college. If it is positive, there will still be the negative, but it won't be nearly as big a deal.So in conclusion, I agree with alot of people about this college. I also disagree with several people about thier views (i.e. those who use foul language: GROW UP! and those who gush over PCC: think for yourselves), but the great thing about America is that I can do that. And anyone out there is free to disagree with me. Think about what I have said as you choose you college. I had my ups and downs, but I grew spiritually, made some awesome friendship, learned a great deal (both academically and life lessons), and I think came away a better person overall. Do I have issues with PCC? Yes. It is a human run college, and is thus falible (sp?). Do I think some things should change? Absolutely. (By the way, if you have no issues with the college and think everything there is GREAT, you are, most likely, a clone of thier system or an Ensemble member, which are usually one in the same.) But guess what: that's not my (or your) job! Let the LORD handle it. I apologize for the length of this, but I really pray it will help you. Be VERY informed about any college you choose, especially PCC. Take what you read (including this) with a grain of salt and think for yourself. If you go to PCC, it can be a very pleasant experience. Make Godly friends while you are there, have a Godly attitude, and above all, follow the LORD's will for your life, not what someone else thinks you should do and not necassarily what you WANT to do.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000