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In short, St Mary’s made a HUGE IMPACT!! I attended the College in the fall of 1983 to the spring of 1985. I lived in St. Mary’s, and I was able to attend mass and the sacraments regularly. I later transferred to the University of Minnesota and completed my undergraduate program and then Medical School, and now live in Minnesota where I have been in practice as an Internal Medicine physician for 25 years. My St. Mary’s education allowed me to stay the course and navigate through the rough waters and pitfalls of life in the world of Medicine. It was in St Mary’s where I met my wife, now of 32 years, and we are blessed with 11 children and 10 grandchildren. I have been back to visit multiple times, as St. Mary’s in forever entwined in my life and my family. So, as you can see, the decision to go to St. Mary’s was a huge life-changing decision.
College attendees fresh out of High School are still finding their way and learning so much about life. So, naturally, upon entering St. Mary’s College myself, I did not have a super clear-as-day plan. However, my experience at the college helped me in post-college plans. A vast array of things factored into my life decisions, but notably the retreats, the spiritual direction and spiritual conferences, the stellar example of my professors, and the ready access to the Sacraments made quite the impact. Ultimately, these guiding factors helped lead me to the decision to teach in SSPX schools.
When I think about the good formation I received at St Mary’s College, and the stamp it has made on my life, I must thank God’s Providence for allowing me to come and immerse myself in the rich tradition of Catholic thought which existed and still exists here. As a teacher and a father, I can say from experience that not a day goes by when I do not draw on the instruction and good examples of those teachers and colleagues of my college years.
St. Mary’s College, I believe, is the only truly Catholic educational experience available after high school in the United States, and possibly in the world. Its faculty is very gifted, and each and every member really does desire to make the student better; a person more prepared and more knowledgeable, but also and more importantly a soldier made stronger for the spiritual fights which will undoubtedly occur.
As well as maintaining a very high benchmark for academic excellence, St. Mary’s College strives for higher and nobler goals. It urges the student to improve personally, through spiritual conferences, retreats, the sacraments, advice, and the moral example of the faculty.
My time at SMC helped me build the discipline necessary to keep up with my studies when I transferred to another college. If you can handle the workload here, you will have no problem with the average amount of coursework elsewhere. The education I received at SMC laid the foundation that allowed me to pursue works of literature and history which I enjoy on my own time.
Saint Mary’s is far from “just another option” for those weighing the pros and cons of prospective colleges. It is a unique treasure which affords a breath of fresh air by virtue of its conveyance of and adherence to the reality that is Catholicism. Concerned not so much with facts, numbers and cutting-edge research, the curriculum of Saint Mary’s College gives a spread of knowledge and wisdom that cannot be gleaned from textbooks alone. Between the professors, the courses and the life of Faith that the Campus offers, students have access to a wide and deep understanding of human nature, and in a way which orients the mind, heart and soul towards the real goal of eternity.
I would tell someone who is considering St. Mary’s College as just another option for continuing their schooling, that it is one of the best colleges where you can study liberal arts and further your studies. The college gives you a great education, but also makes you a more versatile thinker and well-rounded person. These two attributes are keys to excel out in the working world and will set you up for a bright future and much success.
The academic formation at St. Mary’s has helped me at my current school, not only with credits, but by giving me the ability to filter the new education I am receiving. Firstly, I was able to transfer about 24 credits either directly or through placement tests. More importantly, the courses at St. Mary’s, all of which were interconnected, have empowered me to define terms, identify erroneous lines of reasoning, and connect modern ideas to historical trends of philosophy, literature, and music in whatever class or situation I find myself. Moreover, if I am ever unsure about how something I learned in St. Mary’s applies to a current problem, I can always contact one of my former professors to help resolve the issue. I don’t know how I would be surviving academically without St. Mary’s College.
Laying aside the partiality every graduate feels towards his Alma Mater, I believe there is something very special about St. Mary’s College. Any good college can educate the mind, but St. Mary’s offers an invaluable education of the heart. She gives her students not only intellectual knowledge but also the chance to grow in appreciation of beauty, strength of character, depth of friendship and, ultimately, in love of God. She provides her students with the formation they need in order to spread the light of Christ to the world.
I found that the College was very inviting and friendly, especially when I first arrived. The camaraderie and friendships created an environment for growth that I had never experienced before in my life.
Some nights here at the college are “folk song nights”. It is hard to describe the joy evidently present at these times … We sing war ballads, love songs, sea shanties, laments, and even silly tunes with sincerity. Every Monday night here the halls ring with harmonies and laughter and clapping hands. Indeed, we do have talented musicians here, but it is their enthusiasm that I delight in the most. Outside of these scheduled folk song nights, it is not uncommon to find someone playing the piano, plucking a banjo, or strumming a guitar.
St. Mary’s is what I expected it to be and so much more. Deo Gratias for this place where learning and prayer and comradeship blossom.
St. Mary’s College is an extraordinary school of which I am a proud graduate. This place is utterly unique among colleges because it gives its students a unified knowledge of the deepest truths of human existence. College is advertised as “preparation for adult life” and what better preparation is there than this? In the confusion and unrest of this age, St. Mary’s College grounds her students in clear truth and firm peace. For this, I am forever grateful.
My favorite class in the second year of college was definitely Theology with Fr Wiseman! With the help of the Summa, he was able to give us a deeper understanding, appreciation, and clearer knowledge of God and His truths. Having such a strong foundation made us able to carry it through to our daily lives.
My favorite class during my second year of St. Mary’s College was certainly Physics/Chemistry. Dr. Strong always came to class with so much enthusiasm and energy that it was impossible not to be excited about the subjects that he loved. He opened up the beauty of science to me and showed us how perfectly ordered and detailed creation is, down to the construction of the smallest atom.
“Take everything in and cherish it—the liturgical life, the sacraments, the intellectual formation, the dedicated professors, the friendships of your classmates, and everything else entailed in the college experience. The more you open yourself to receive and treasure what St. Mary’s gives, the more you will benefit from these years.”
— Catherine J., SMC 2016