School Spotlight: Providence College

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: Providence College Providence, RI What does it mean to be a Catholic and Dominican college? For Providence College, a private liberal arts school with 4,100 undergraduates, it means that Sunday night mass is often standing room only; theology and philosophy courses are two requirements of the core curriculum; and faith goes hand-in-hand with reason. At PC, science students can engage in discussions about evolution while still feeling a strong connection to their faith. Volunteerism, too, plays a central role on campus. Students donate approximately 50,000 community service hours each year, either through campus ministry programs, alternative spring breaks, or service learning courses that combine active service with intellectual reflection. Interested students can even major in Public & Community Service Studies , which exposes students to community organizing, leadership skills, and fieldwork experience. Marketing, finance, and biology are the three most popular areas of interest among undergrads, but keep in mind that PC also offers accelerated, combined programs in optometry (through the New England College of Optometry) and engineering (with Washington University in St. Louis or Columbia University). Fun fact: PC’s admissions office has been test optional since 2006. Applicants who choose not to submit their SAT or ACT score will not be penalized in any way!