SJU not in the top ten of Catholic Schools
- Thread starter BrookJersey Redmen
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beast of the east
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On the plus side we did rank among the top ten Vincentian colleges in the U.S.
But there is optimism now with a President who has a business model planned out for the University moving forward. He understands the value of marketing (and if that includes building the basketball program in order to use it as the linchpin for exposure, all the better).
Even the commercials on TV are more crisp and professional. I like the ones that target a student and their achievements, and then end it with the acknowledgement that SJU is a Catholic University.
SJU is in good hands with Gempesaw, imo. He hired the right basketball coach, and must have hired a new marketing company. The building on Astor Place is very nice, and in a hot location. Now SJU neighbors NYU and Cooper Union in the City.
Gempesaw is bright and will foster a change in the University that is long overdue, imo.
L J S A
Well-known member
If you made this list 30 years ago, it would still be in the top 10. It's been a sturdy choice for New York Catholic school kids for a long time now. I know Chaminade has a good relationship with them and we usually have a handful (or two) of kids who go there every year.
beast of the east
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Enrollment was off by 500 students this year. That's a ton of money. College tuition and related costs have spiralled out of control, and SJU is not the only school by a long shot to have encountered fiscal difficulties related to declining enrollment.
The impressive thing is that in the midst of fiscal woes, G has recognized the importance of a strong marquee sport to attract new students and brand the university, and wasn't afraid to spend considerable dollars on a new basketball coach and buy out the existing coach.
Agree 100% with your reaction to the new emphasis on being a Catholic school, but would add that Father Levesque initiated that in his interim year here. It's hard to determine to what extent this was a new initiative and how much of it was related to being free of Harrington's reluctance to emphasize Catholic in the school's identity.
The ship is righting itself, and SJU will emerge better and stronger in all ways under Gempeshaw's leadership. For all the reluctance to name a lay president, this appears to be a great move.
beast of the east
Active member
Don't know the criteria used to rank the schools, but in terms of selectivity, Holy Cross would fall below BC and Villanova. I would rank HC 5th - it is a fine school, but small and liberal arts. Did I miss Fordham on the list? They certainly belong.
Holy Cross is small and liberal arts, along the lines of a Catholic version of say Williams, Amherst, Grinnell, Davidson, Colby, Bates, etc. and those mini-Ivies, that don't have post graduate programs.
So I think this list got it right. (Admittedly I am biased because my daughter graduated there 4 years ago.)
Holy Cross places a tremendous number of graduates in serious post graduate programs nationwide. The college chooses not to have a post graduate program to singularly concentrate on a serious undergraduate program. The HC Bio (pre-Med) and Classics departments are considered among the best anywhere, for example. The number of HC grads who go on to Medical and Law school and PhD programs at renowned Universities is very impressive.
The average HC student spends 5 hours a night during the school year on work outside the classroom, higher than Harvard.
My friend had 5 kids, two Harvard, 1 Williams, 2 HC, he went to Harvard for his MBA, he stated unequivocally that his kids that went to HC got a more robust, well-rounded and better education that the other three.
Our Law School Dean actively recruits HC grads because they are highly sought after.
The Chairman of Boston College's Theology Department told my family that going to HC over BC was a wise choice. That the Jesuits themselves consider HC their hidden gem and their single best college.
Just sayin'.
So I think this list got it right. (Admittedly I am biased because my daughter graduated there 4 years ago.)
Holy Cross places a tremendous number of graduates in serious post graduate programs nationwide. The college chooses not to have a post graduate program to singularly concentrate on a serious undergraduate program. The HC Bio (pre-Med) and Classics departments are considered among the best anywhere, for example. The number of HC grads who go on to Medical and Law school and PhD programs at renowned Universities is very impressive.
The average HC student spends 5 hours a night during the school year on work outside the classroom, higher than Harvard.
My friend had 5 kids, two Harvard, 1 Williams, 2 HC, he went to Harvard for his MBA, he stated unequivocally that his kids that went to HC got a more robust, well-rounded and better education that the other three.
Our Law School Dean actively recruits HC grads because they are highly sought after.
The Chairman of Boston College's Theology Department told my family that going to HC over BC was a wise choice. That the Jesuits themselves consider HC their hidden gem and their single best college.
Just sayin'.
beast of the east
Active member
It's a great school and I love HC, but overall, most of their applicants didn't get into all three of those schools (Gtown, BC, Villanova) that are ranked below it. Georgetown is so competitive that without being a legacy, your SAT had better approach 1500 Math and Verbal. BC isn't far behind in that regard.
Holy Cross is ranked #34 nationally for liberal arts colleges. BC is #31 as a National University, a broader classification that includes all Ivys, and schools like Vanderbilt, MIT, U Chicago, Stanford, etc. Villanova is the number 1 regional university in the North, and is expanding graduate programs to become a national university. Georgetown is the #21 ranked National University. and accepts only 17% of applicants.
Again, I love HC, but it isn't in the same category as the three schools ranked below it.
tom in salem
Well-known member
As a 40 year New England resident, I remember when Holy Cross was superior to BC in every way.
2 things that switched the equation were BC entering the Big East (Holy Cross at the time declined the invitation) and Hail Flutie.
Snobby Cross alums applauded turning down the BE invitation, citing that a big time sports conference and very high academics could not coexist.
When I mention G'town to them this very day, they cringe.
http://colleges.startclass.com/compare/1893-1933/Boston-College-vs-College-of-the-Holy-Cross
beast of the east
Active member
Tom, you really make an excellent point about sports identity and how athletic success translate into academic excellence by the types of students that attracts. Older Georgetown alums have a saying, "Thank God for Patrick Ewing" for increasing the academic prestige of the school. Duke's academic prowess is closely tied to basketball success, which is why Coach K makes almost $10 million per year. ND? Of course. BC? Yes. Nova? Their applications zoomed after their first final four appearance under Jay Wright.
Bobby G. knows all of this, which is whyting in Mullin to restore our program.
Spocky Ramone
Well-known member
BC owes its success to one spectacular pass.
beast of the east
Active member
[attachment]8-doug-flutie-statue.jpg[/attachment]
And he should thank Gerald Phelan.