Pensacola Christian College

The first thing to realize about PCC is that it is a GREAT school, but it is not for everyone. I went there because I wanted the environment that was created there, full of people who really wanted to serve God and an environment where I didn't really have to worry about a lot of stuff (late night parties, drunken brawls, rampant immorality, etc.) The only way to create and maintain that atmosphere is through institutional rules (and there are MANY!!).

If you are thinking of going there, realize that there are a LOT of rules, but none of them are unmanageable because everybody there is following the same set of rules. You won't be called at 10:30 p.m. to go "out on the town" with your friends because no one there can. And, you won't be an outcast because of your standards because everyone there has to follow the same high standards. No one expects you to live like that outside of PCC, but for the sake of the institution, those rules are there to help it run more smoothly.

The education there is incredible. I am in medical school now and doing very well, partly because of the preparation I had coming into med school. It wasn't just the material, but I had learned a lot of good time-management skills at PCC. They really overload you with required activities and you have to learn to use your time wisely. Also, everything I was taught came straight from a God-centered world-view and that is absolutely critical, especially in the realm of science.

One thing to consider, if you are planning on going into a professional field (medicine, law, etc.), PCC is not accredited. I didn't have any trouble (probably because my school didn't know PCC wasn't accredited and I didn't tell them) but I do know some people who couldn't get in (or had a much harder time of it. Bob Jones University is accredited and is pretty much the same as PCC in every way. They have a great atmosphere like PCC and their programs are very good preparation for professional schools. My best friend here in med school is a BJU grad and his education is comparable to my own.If I had it to do over again, knowing everything I know now, I would definitely go back to PCC.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

PCC provided a very strong academic foundation for law school. I believe I was more prepared than the majority of my classmates in law school. The professors were helpful and encouraging, and no matter how much you hate "Advaced Grammar," it was one of the best preparations for legal writing. Although PCC is accredited, I had no trouble getting into several top tier law schools and competing after law school for jobs at the largest law firms in the country.

On the social side, I mostly hated PCC. I thought the rules were ridiculous, unnecessary, and generally destructive for personal development. You are taught not to question any of the reasoning for the rules (complete opposite of the "real world") and the heavy-handed administration left me feeling frustrated and wishing I had gone elsewhere. It was not the rule book that was the problem, it was the attitudes of the students enforcing the rules and the myrid of "unwritten rules." Common response to "I have never heard of that rule and it's not in the handbook": "It's always been a rule; we are just now enforcing it again."Students considering PCC should simply know what environment they are entering. The education is excellent; the price is unbeatable; but the rules are oppressive. I know plenty of people who went through PCC and greatly enjoyed their time there. But had I known how students were treated by the administration and the Dean's Office, I would have certainly gone elsewhere.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

This is an excellent school, academically-especially in the field of education. I really feel like my education has greatly helped me in my field now. I feel very prepared because of it. However, though I can appreciate and understand a lot of the rules. There are some that are ridiculous. The deans and their assistants can be stiff and uncompassionate. It's as if they question your salvation when you do something wrong. The school is good, but I hope the faculty doesn't bring it down.

4th Year Female -- Class 2004

Useful Schoolwork: A+, Individual Value: C-