Belmont Abbey College (BAC)

Belmont Abbey College is ���a small, Catholic, liberal arts college��� that boasts a broad and ���challenging��� core curriculum and intimate classes. Evidence of the school���s Benedictine tradition is all over the place. Belmont Abbey is ���very focused on the Catholic faith��� and on ���trying to teach Catholic principles.��� The administration and the professors ���are very capable and genuinely care.��� ���I love all of my professors,��� gushes one enthusiastic student. ���Unlike at large institutions, you can really get to know your teachers, and your teachers can really get to know you.��� If you fall behind, one-on-one tutoring is available in a number of subjects. BAC was the first school in the country to offer a Motorsports Management concentration in the business degree program. The program includes courses in sports marketing and racing management in addition to traditional business-related course work. Belmont Abbey is also one of the few Catholic colleges in the U.S. that is connected to a monastery. Having ���a monastery full of monks��� on campus is ���really cool��� and ���pretty handy.��� They celebrate Mass ���every day��� and the ���daily common prayer of the monks��� is ���open to all students.���

���Everyone is friendly and easygoing��� at Abbey and ���It���s easy to find a close-knit group of friends.��� Virtually everyone knows everyone else, too, which can cause ���a lot of drama.��� Obviously, many students are Catholic. However, a substantial proportion of students aren���t Catholic, and BAC���s ethnic diversity is noteworthy. There are ���traditional and nontraditional students��� here. ���All the students seem to meld together and work well with each other; it doesn���t matter if they are old or young, male or female, [or of any] race and religious belief.��� Typical Abbey students have ���attended some type of private school��� their whole lives. Many are ���from small high schools.��� There is a large group of ���athletes here on scholarships to play a sport.��� Overall, ���Students are generally happy about being here and very welcoming to all. The ones that are really active in the school���s politics and [extracurricular] groups are really interested in creating an environment where students can grow into healthy, proactive, successful adults---spiritually, mentally, and physically.���

The campus here is ���very peaceful��� and ���especially beautiful.��� ���The view of the Gothic spires of St. Leo���s Hall breaking through the evergreens is enough to take your breath away,��� enthuses one student. Schoolwork keeps students busy, as do intercollegiate and intramural sports. ���There are always sporting events to attend around campus.��� ���Soccer is a huge part of Abbey life in the fall, and just as it winds down, basketball season begins, and lacrosse and baseball after that.��� Concerts and theater performances are a big hit as well. ���It���s fun to watch your fellow student friends compete and perform, because you know everyone on a personal level,��� says one student. Students say Abbey offers ���partying,��� but sometimes ���There isn���t much of a social life on campus.��� ���Most of the time we rent movies from Blockbuster,��� says a first-year student, or ���play board games.��� ���For those who like to go clubbing, there���s a party bus that picks people up [off campus] a few times a week and takes them to Charlotte.��� Students appreciate their ���close proximity to Charlotte���---���only a short, 10-minute drive���---making it easy ���for students to sample the nightlife, go out for dinner at a nice restaurant, or shop.���