This May Seem Weird

[Poorly Catechized Convert]

I'm currently a college freshman at a secular university. Recently I've been contemplating transfering to a Catholic college to study theology. I know that isn't necessarily the most practical thing, but I can't get it out of my head. Every time someone mentions that they know someone who studied it I get this longing feeling. I don't want to wait much longer. I don't think transferring will be hard, although I'd like to have financial aid opportunities. If it's relevant I currently have a 4.0, although I doubt I'll keep it after my current batch of classes -- I'm expecting a 3.5 this time around. So what are your thoughts? Any advice? How stupid am I for considering this?

So the schools I'm looking at are The University of Dallas, Steubenville, University of St. Thomas (Houston Texas), University of Portland, The Catholic University of America, and Mount St. Mary's

[franciscanheart]

Keep looking. Dig deep. And talk to some academic advisors. Several phatmassers have done what you're considering. Some went to college for theology after being at phatmass a while (where previously they had not been). It's been done with great success, but you should educate yourself completely before making a decision (imo).

[LouisvilleFan]

Do you have a good priest or spiritual director? It's hard to recommend what someone on a message board should do about such an important decision, and your handle along with the impatience for transferring gives me serious reason for pause. If you are a "poorly catechized convert," it would be like jumping into an engineering program with only pre-algebra math skills. If that's where you are, I would focus on building my knowledge first: read the Catechism, Church Fathers, Aquinas, papal encyclicals, etc. If the interest remains after a year or two, and you have a good spiritual advisor who encourages you to take the theology route, then I would take it more seriously. In the meantime, you could transfer to English, philosophy, or another field that ties into theology. Still, it's wise to consult with someone who knows you well enough to give you a sound second opinion.

[Poorly Catechized Convert]

Thanks for the replies. I do have a good priest, but I have yet to bring this up -- the transferring part. He does know of my plan to eventually get a theology degree and doesn't seem to think it is a bad idea. I don't know if I'm being that impatient; I've been thinking about changing my plans for a year -- yes, before I started college. My name doesn't mean I have no knowledge,i was refering to specific areas. It's not really applicable in areas like apologetics and, to a lesser degree, liturgy. Now in areas like moral theology my name does apply, but not in the sense that I don't know what the Church teaches, but in the sense that I'm not good at applying said teachings. I do read alot. I have read the first half of the Catechism, but school has prevented me from reading much further. There have been other books I've read also.

[Luigi]

Also consider: Staying at your current college, continuing to major in your current field, and taking a theology course or two on the side for a couple of semesters. 

 

It might be somewhat expensive - private school and all - but it would give you a chance to test the waters before diving in. 

 

Personally, I'm very interested in all things theological, but I can't study it. Every time I try to read theology, I fall asleep within the first few paragraphs. If the same thing were to happen to you after you had switched colleges, I think you'd be disappointed.

 

Taste and see. Then decide.  

[Poorly Catechized Convert]

Thanks for the reply. It gives me some things to think about.

My school doesn't offer theology courses. Religious Studies is offered, but that's different. So I don't have much of a way to test the water outside of my personal reading and writing (I wrote essays on it for fun). And well my current major doesn't align with my passions. It's just something to in press grad schools.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Poorly Catechized Convert

[Luigi]

I mean, is there some theological school near yours where you could pick up a course or two? Not necessarily as part of your degree, but for your own interest. Is there a seminary nearby? I know that CatherineM takes courses at a seminary, so I thought maybe you could, too. 

 

The problem will be, even one course would be pretty expensive at a seminary or private school, and you'd be paying out of pocket. 

 

 

But then there's the whole problem of your current major. I never really heard of taking an undergraduate degree just to impress grad schools - except maybe if you're aiming for med school? 

 

Talk to a counselor and/or academic advisor. You gotta figure out what you want to be when you grow up, and then take classes that lead you to that kind of work/job/career. 

Edited February 24, 2014 by Luigi

[Poorly Catechized Convert]

I mean, is there some theological school near yours where you could pick up a course or two? Not necessarily as part of your degree, but for your own interest. Is there a seminary nearby? I know that CatherineM takes courses at a seminary, so I thought maybe you could, too.

The problem will be, even one course would be pretty expensive at a seminary or private school, and you'd be paying out of pocket.


But then there's the whole problem of your current major. I never really heard of taking an undergraduate degree just to impress grad schools - except maybe if you're aiming for med school?

Talk to a counselor and/or academic advisor. You gotta figure out what you want to be when you grow up, and then take classes that lead you to that kind of work/job/career.

Thanks for the reply. There's only one Catholic school nearby that offers theology, but it has a reputation for being almost anti-Catholic. I know what you're saying about my current major. I've been feeling that my plan was stupid for a while. My thoughts were that it might come in handy while studying theology later, but it probably won't be that helpful. My future goals are to teach theology or to work for a Catholic apostolate.

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

Some Diocese have theology programs where you can take classes and work on certificates, the archdiocese of Kansas City Kansas has the School of Faith as an example of the kind of program I'm referring to, If I'm not mistaken Maryville has some distance learning courses. You definitely have some good schools on your list of ones to consider, and if you didn't have enough to consider already, I would just like to add my personal favorite Catholic Institution of higher learning is Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. I willing admit I am biased by having many friends who have gone there.

[Basilisa Marie]

I'm currently a college freshman at a secular university. Recently I've been contemplating transfering to a Catholic college to study theology. I know that isn't necessarily the most practical thing, but I can't get it out of my head. Every time someone mentions that they know someone who studied it I get this longing feeling. I don't want to wait much longer. I don't think transferring will be hard, although I'd like to have financial aid opportunities. If it's relevant I currently have a 4.0, although I doubt I'll keep it after my current batch of classes -- I'm expecting a 3.5 this time around. So what are your thoughts? Any advice? How stupid am I for considering this?

So the schools I'm looking at are The University of Dallas, Steubenville, University of St. Thomas (Houston Texas), University of Portland, The Catholic University of America, and Mount St. Mary's

 

1) Don't go into major debt (or a lot more debt than you would at your current school) to transfer to study theology. Probably not worth it. :) Full disclosure - I've just started paying off my student loans, and it smells of elderberries. 

2) Try seeing if you can audit an online class this summer at one of the schools. It's cheaper and you only do the homework you want to do, and it'll give you a taste of whether or not you really want to study theology. Pick a general, entry-level one in something like the bible or church history or systematics or moral theology. Your desire to study theology may just be a desire to learn more about your faith and grow spiritually (which is also good!)

 

3) If you're still not certain you want to major in theology, make sure you pick a school that has good programs in something you can pair it with. This does not include philosophy. Something like accounting or business or communications or education or... you get the idea. 

 

4) Also consider other aspects of the schools you're thinking about. Are you currently at a large or small school? Private or public? How far away from your family are you? These are major things to consider, since you've listed potential schools of a variety of sizes and locations. 

 

4) I'm an alumna of The Mount, and loved it to pieces. :)

Edited February 24, 2014 by Basilisa Marie

[Poorly Catechized Convert]

Thanks for the replies!

Some Diocese have theology programs where you can take classes and work on certificates, the archdiocese of Kansas City Kansas has the School of Faith as an example of the kind of program I'm referring to, If I'm not mistaken Maryville has some distance learning courses. You definitely have some good schools on your list of ones to consider, and if you didn't have enough to consider already, I would just like to add my personal favorite Catholic Institution of higher learning is Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. I willing admit I am biased by having many friends who have gone there.

That's something I should look into, although I don't know if my diocese has such a program.

1) Don't go into major debt (or a lot more debt than you would at your current school) to transfer to study theology. Probably not worth it. :) Full disclosure - I've just started paying off my student loans, and it smells of elderberries. 
2) Try seeing if you can audit an online class this summer at one of the schools. It's cheaper and you only do the homework you want to do, and it'll give you a taste of whether or not you really want to study theology. Pick a general, entry-level one in something like the bible or church history or systematics or moral theology. Your desire to study theology may just be a desire to learn more about your faith and grow spiritually (which is also good!)
 
3) If you're still not certain you want to major in theology, make sure you pick a school that has good programs in something you can pair it with. This does not include philosophy. Something like accounting or business or communications or education or... you get the idea. 
 
4) Also consider other aspects of the schools you're thinking about. Are you currently at a large or small school? Private or public? How far away from your family are you? These are major things to consider, since you've listed potential schools of a variety of sizes and locations. 
 
4) I'm an alumna of The Mount, and loved it to pieces. :)

I concerned about debt and will have to look onto grants or financial aid. Auditing classes would be a good idea, I don't know how I feel about spending money on a class that won't count, but it will be better than spending money on a degree I won't use (I think I will, but just in case).

If I was going to double major or minor in an additional field, it would probably be psychology. I was thinking about that before I decided I wanted to teach theology. Hopefully I could find a Catholic university that has a strong program in both.

Size of the school doesn't matter much to me (as long as it's not bow 1000 students). Currently I'm at a large public university and it has been working well for me. At the same time I would be just as good with a smaller school. Distance from family is a bigger issue; currently I can go home every weekend, which is nice. Sadly, all of the good Catholic schools are far away. So that would be something I would have to learn to deal with.

[NotreDame]

I have a lot of friends that got more applied degrees (tech or business) and went back to UD at night for some sort of theology masters to help them with things like volunteer ministries.  Something to explore if that's an option.

[Basilisa Marie]

I have a lot of friends that got more applied degrees (tech or business) and went back to UD at night for some sort of theology masters to help them with things like volunteer ministries.  Something to explore if that's an option.

 

Yeah, a lot of people go for MA degrees with some other kind of major for their undergrad. So I second that option as a possibility. 

[mortify ii]

I'm a bit at odds with the pham here, perhaps because I'm post-University, an immigrant, and working in one of the most costly parts of the United States, so keep this in mind as I try to discourage you from pursuing a theology degree : )

 

 I would strongly encourage you to pursue the most practical major that is within your natural capacity. I also like theology and philosophy but sadly we are not living in ancient Athens where metaphysical pursuits put bread on the table, so I study these topics in my spare time. Again, I can't emphasize how important it is to get out of college and be able to find a job, start paying off your loans, and being able to reasonably enjoy life. You don't want to finish school, have hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, be unable to find work in your field, and then have to find work in a job you hate anyway but doesn't pay you squat. 

 

Again, the key is practicality. 

 

 

[NotreDame]

What mortify said ^^^ makes sense.  You could add on a part-time theology MA afterwards if you are able.