College of the Holy Cross Top Questions

Generally, yes. Most students seem to be of the higher socio-economic class and may dress in a "preppy" way because of this (girls more so than guys I think) . However, the rest (a very sizable amount),range from the very lower class to upper middle class. It is customary to see people in very casual clothing. Some even show up to class in their pajamas=) The school is indeed academically rigorous and is known for its relatively high level of drinking/partying in comparison to other schools. However, for those who do not drink or party that much, they can find quite a few things to do on or off campus to combat stress and just have a good time(free shuttles to Boston and Providence for example). It is a Jesuit-catholic school and thus, students are mostly catholic. This does not imply however that students are forced to go to mass or are looked down upon for not practicing their religious faith. Holy Cross is very liberal in this sense.People of different religious beliefs or even those of a lack thereof(agnostics and atheists), are all able to feel comfortable in this predominantly catholic environment. Holy Cross students are mostly of caucasian decent(approximately 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}),mostly from the New England region. The other 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} is comprised of students of color and international students. Some countries represented include: Afghanistan, Korea, China,Trinidad,Jamaica, Haiti, Ghana, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Vietnam, Belize, Uganda,Dominican Republic and Columbia. Regarding our ranking by Princeton review as having "little/no race and/or class interaction," this is sadly true. It is noticeable that students tend to be segregated into their different ethnic and racial groups( Asians, Hispanics, blacks and whites for example). However, this does not deter a sizable amount from interacting and exchanging with people of groups differing from their own. So even though there is relatively little race/class interaction, I don't think it is as bad as it is made out to be. The typical holy cross student regardless of race or economic class is friendly and/or is open to learn new things through his/her interactions with others.

More or less i would say that for the students here who drink...we drink....a lot...make a not so fun situation way more hilarious

No - I don't think so. Sure, some of us may dress the same but I don't think I have ever gone to class and worn the same shirt as the girl sitting next to me. We have students from all walks of life, all areas of the world and all different styles. We are definitely not cookie-cutter images of one another. Get to know us and you will see what I mean.

Yes, some students are very preppy. But some aren't. You aren't going to feel left out either way. I am Catholic, so the religious identification of the college matches my own. However, I have never felt that ideals have been forced onto me. You do have to take one religious studies class, but it can be in any religious (from buddhism to Catholicism).

Not at all. When I was going to Holy Cross, I thought the religious aspect was going to be overpowering, but it is quite the opposite. People are very chill and if you go to church then you go, whatev. That is the basic mentality. Of course there are pockets of conservative people, but I would say that we are a pretty liberal school, definatly the most liberal catholic school, look, we have an allies group, a gay group and a support center. Pretty progressive for a catholic school. Holy Cross is more about learning and being there for others, no matter who they are. Pretty sweet, I think. As for the other stereotype, people do like their J. Crew, but it has definatly slowed down since I first got there. Holy Cross is definatly not a snobby, rich "daddy's wallet" school like people think.

absolutely -don't fool yourself into thinking you can live with these things/ people if you're at all individualistic -this place crushes creativity -but the campus is beautiful........

Of course not everyone is an ex-athlete but most people are. It's nice though, because there are always plenty of intramurals and club sports. Yes, there might be more religious student at Holy Cross than most liberal arts colleges, but because of those students we have so many great imersion projects and retreats. Programs like those are for students of any spirituality, not just for Catholics. And, no not everyone is from prep schools. I know a lot more public school kids than prep school kids.

Well, everyone at Holy Cross is very smart; you have to be in order to get in. But they are not all super Catholic; some aren't even Catholic at all!!! Holy Cross fosters diversity and tries to help you become your own person. They offer a non-denominational Mass, and only require you to take one religion course. That course can be on anything from Buddhism to Islam to Hinduism.

the girls being twigs and anorexic is fairly accurate, and there are a large number of rich and stuck up people, but it definitely does not make up the entire college, and as for the catholicism, it isn't true, holy cross doesn't force catholicism on you

Well to some degree it's true. There are many of those people but it is not too hard to find people who aren't. There are a few overweight girls and a few more overweight boys, but they are the minority. Although it may seem impossible at first to find non-drinkers, once you find the first one you find a much larger group of people who do not drink.

Not at all, though some fit this description most of the students are middle class and are very friendly. They all seem like the kids I know from my public high school.

Most are true except that yes the students study real hard and drink hard but some people get around the studying and do more drinking. Also, at the same time there are people who don't go out but they are in there own cliques so people who go out dont miss them and don't think that they exist.

For the most part.

While the academics are challenging, I find them manageable, especially with small classes, accesible professors, and only four courses per semester. I take social science classes though; my friends who are natural science and pre-medical students have more work than me. While there are many stereotypical Holy Cross students on campus, over the years I have found students who have other interests, styles, and personalities.

Some or most of the kids are like this,but not all

For the most part, yes. Weekend parties are mostly sitting around drinking with lots of people, and while someone will always hold the door for you, students are pretty preppy and can have quite a sense of entitlement. There are some that don't fit the mold though!

no, I am not white or racist and certainly, not rich. I also have a lot of friends that are white and that love being around people of different races and cultures. However, there are some snobby people that complain a lot when they don't get what they want.

Yes

Yes.

Sometimes. We do indeed drink quite a bit, and most people are from New England. But there are some minority students, some people from Ohio (like me), and some people who don't drink. But I do feel like those people are vast minorities.