Providence College

Providence College is one of the most mismanaged institutions I have ever seen. And you wonder why the endowment is so low, and why they must nickel and dime students, and why students turn around as alums, and (rightfully) give NOTHING in return back. Sure, it's fun if you're just up to go out and get drunk every weekend, but if you have any depth as a person, you get tired of that about halfway through sophomore year if not sooner. There is something hypocritical about a school that acknowledges a "drinking problem", then turns around and offers "wine tasting" and "Irish Night" on parents' weekends, and features mugs as the #1 giveaway by the school.

A lot of PC's inattention to reality comes from the fact that it is managed by PRIESTS. This school will brag all day about how there are 2 more black students coming this year than last (ie, the basketball team expanded its roster), but yet when it comes to fostering TRUE diversity - diversity of thought, or diversity of opinion - the administration would rather shove the "ONE TRUE" teaching (notice the quote marks) of the Roman Catholic Church on everyone. Likewise, the school KNOWS it is near the bottom in many key metrics, and it's only plan to bridge the gap is to continue to raise tuition (6-7% annually, at least) to obscene levels given the value of the education and services provided. Furthermore, it is dedicated to spendthrift, and lavishness in the halls of the priests who reside on campus, however few of these improvements are worthwhile endeavors, and few actually benefit the students themselves. While you or your parents are paying tuition here, this school will still call you and ask you for money. Additionally, they claim to plan to attract more "high quality learners" yet will be removing merit based aid. Everything done by the administration is a living contradiction, a study in mutually exclusive opposites.

ACADEMICS:
Quality of academics depends on your field of study. There are GREAT teachers here, and there are horrible ones. Civ is a useful course, but there is way too much religion involved, particularly Catholicism. As a student at PC, expect to be treated like a 5 year old kindergartner. Lots of quizzes, frequent tests, a bunch of busy work, and even "attendance taking" at class. Not saying "no one should go to class" just saying that at 17-22, students should be MATURE enough to deal with the consequences of missing class on their own without someone taking attendance for them. Maturity and self actualization of the student is something that is frowned upon at PC. There are rules and you follow them, unless you have the gumption to convince someone otherwise. Expect a final exam in every class (the exam or paper option is usually nonexistent). That said, there are some very good programs here, but the overall position of the administration on making academics more "rigorous" has in fact failed to do so by instead incorporating more busy work. They are not more "rigorous" as they foster mere short term memorization rather than long term understanding, so they are rather "annoying." Also the bookstore is a ripoff. They will sell you a book for $150, buy it back for $20, then resell it to someone else Used for $120. All in the name of more profit.

ATHLETICS
PC has division 1 athletics, but don't expect to get excited for anything. Fans are passive, don't know much about the teams or players, don't make road games, and are generally quiet and unsupportive. Likewise the teams themselves continue to live off past glory and fail to achieve present day success, using the "small school" excuse as the reason why. If you're contact with just making a conference tournament and losing, PC is for you. If you've been dreaming of being the guy on ESPN during March Madness deep into the NCAA tournament, forget about PC. You either take the sloppy seconds and be happy, making the playoffs and losing in Round 1, or you stop following PC sports seriously and just do something else. The one and only exception is Track/Cross Country, PC's strongest program, which ironically does not have a home track or course, so is rarely if ever witnessed in competition by the student body.

HOUSING
Housing is poor. Expect to have one person too many in your room as a freshman, and possibly even as a sophomore. On campus apartments are nice in terms of space, but the facilities are not. Six person apartments don't even have LIGHTS in the bedroom. Off campus offers freedom, but be ready to deal with petty landlords who won't fix anything and substandard housing that makes Section 8 seem like a good time. The housing selection process is also antiquated and ridiculous, as you will be picking apartment/suitemates for NEXT YEAR in the fall. Housing arrangements always change due to transfers, failouts, leaves of absence, and reorganizations, and this is a leading cause of frustration among students. Expect to be fined exorbitant amount for damages at the end of year, many of which won't actually be damages (ie a mess in the hallway = $150 charged to everyone).

FOOD
Ray food sucks. It's unhealthy, and meats are filled with laxatives so you won't get food poisoning if the food is undercooked. There are some alternatives, but you'll be sick of the same things over and over. Favorites like stuffed shells rarely appear on the menu, inexplicably. Come parents weekend, however, this dining hall will pull out ALL the stops to convince mommy and daddy its money well spent, and you will see stations open you've NEVER seen before... Slavin food is better, but you have to pay cash or charge card to eat there. My advice if you choose to go here, ditch the meal plan as soon as you can and cook for yourself in an apartment or off campus (or commute). You'll save you and your folks HUNDREDS of dollars.

STUDENT LIFE
There are two stereotypes, and if you don't fit either you are SOL and JWF (a reference to an act by comedian George Carlin). 1 - Drunk partier. 2 - Prudish Church boy/girl. Activities primarily consist of drinking and frequenting the dingy, overcrowded bars around the campus, or spending all free time in Bible studies and service groups. There are few activities designed specifically to promote SOCIAL INTERACTION on campus, and those other activities that do not fall into the above categories do not do this because they either 1) fail to meet frequently enough or 2) fail to encourage interpersonal interaction ABOVE the activity the group is centered around. Intramural sports are limited in scope as well, and fail to provide this. As a result, social growth is stunted, and most people will "hang out" with the same group for all 4 years - usually a group that involves their freshman year roommates or kids on their hall. Additionally, the sameness of everyone, referred to in other posts, creates a virtual certainty that experiences will not be dynamic. Sex is discouraged by the school bigtime, via parietals, which prohibit opposite sex guests during certain hours. As a result there are the rebels - the partiers who want to drink and hook up, etc., and there are the prudes. Therefore there is no casual dating, only serious long term relationship and what Facebook used to describe as "random play". Many students grow disillusioned with the place, and either hide their dissatisfaction behind the facade of a happy drunk, or "socialize" less altogether, finding the people they meet unfulfilling.

SPIRITUAL LIFE
If you are not Roman catholic, there is no spiritual life for you. End of story. If you are, there MAY be. Religion - CATHOLIC religion - will be forced down your throat at every twist and turn. This school does not give out free condums, as many do. This school incorporates a CATHOLIC mass into most on campus activities involving parents or alumni. Priests are allowed to teach non-religious courses, including Development of Western Civ. Additionally, flyers will be posted all over the place promoting the latest religious initiative. If you are the type of person that is DEFINED by your religion and so happen to be Roman catholic, then you might be happy here. But if you are like the majority that think religion is a secondary concern in the human experience, of another faith, or have NO interest in religion whatsoever, expect to be disappointed and very frustrated. And if you are a casual catholic, this school will likely encourage you to consider converting to another religion. This school is OBSESSED with its "catholic Dominican heritage" and is OVERBEARING to the point of nausea with it.

SUMMARYProvidence College is not the kind of place you want to go to college if you go with the intention of extending your borders, broadening your horizons, or meeting new people. You may get a decent job out of it, and meet a handful of people that will become great friends, but chances are it will be difficult and you will meet these people outside of the normal channels for human interaction. If drinking, praying, or both do not tickle your fancy, you will find yourself at a loss for activities and bored with the culture of sameness. Many students will pretend that PC is a great place on the surface, but if you engage them a little bit deeper - ask them "what's the worst thing about PC?" and you will scratch the surface - you will see that many people are just putting on a happy face, and they themselves are also unhappy. After all, PC also stands for "politically correct" right? Many students simply cannot wait to graduate, and many would have transferred if other institutions would just accept those Civ credits. Sameness is a problem not because it occurs, but because it is encouraged. Uniformity in thought and appearance is the Dominican catholic way.