John Paul the Great Catholic University — Attraction in Escondido

After spending some time in community college, I transferred to JPCatholic looking for an educational foundation which would ultimately end in getting advanced degrees in biblical studies and theology. I'm so indescribably grateful for my experience here.

Undergrad: I completed the Bachelor's Degree with an emphasis in New Evangelization. It included theology, philosophy, business, and media classes. I came for the theology and philosophy, and dreaded the business and media portion of the degree. My experiences in the business and media classes was most unexpected. The professors had the ability to draw my interest in such a way that I don't regret any of those courses. They taught me about entrepreneurial business and made me really start to like it! I had no interest in film/media, but I acquired the skills to create media from the excellent professors at JPCatholic. And I had a lot of fun doing it! I really came for the philosophy and theology, and I was not disappointed. In the course of my studies, I read the Bible and Catechism in their entirety (how many Catholics can say that nowadays?)! I'm so grateful for the undergraduate preparation I received; it has prepared me to dive into real academic work at the graduate level.

Graduate: I'm currently in the Master's program for biblical theology, and I never cease to be impressed by my humble, but incredible, professors. They have a real command of the subjects, and they do actual work in their field. They're not just professors, they're professional academics impacting the professional culture for Christ and his Church. I was blessed with the opportunities (two years in a row) to observe the professors interact with academia at the annual Society of Biblical Literature conference. In each course, they guide us through Scripture and Theology from a Catholic perspective. We learn to critique, interact with, and contribute to modern biblical scholarship. We also learn to be able to expertly teach the faith at the parish level. My favorite aspect of the program here at JPCatholic is that I'm learning how all branches of theology (e.g. trinitarian, sacramental, moral, etc.) are at their heart, Biblical Theology. As far as I am aware, there isn't another institution in the world which marries Biblical Studies and Theology in the unique way that JPCatholic does. For this I am immensely grateful.

The real highlight of my education here, though, is that my relationship with Christ has flourished. The professors encourage us to do our studying "on our knees." Prayer is so important for the Catholic life, and we learn to do it in an intimate way here at JPCatholic. I'm so glad I came here, and would recommend it to absolutely anyone...

I would not be who I am today without this University. The school is very small, about 220 when I was there. That being said, the student teacher relationship is amazing. The classes are small and intimate and allow for incredible focus and assistance. It's really a very personal experience. The education is well rounded and the philosophy and theology is incredibly helpful. It has helped me define who I am, what I believe, and most importantly why I believe it.

I originally came to the University to study film but after two or so years, I ended up feeling very disgruntled with myself and where I saw my life going. It was not the University's fault at all, in fact, the school helped redeem the situation by allowing me to add some custom elements to my degree and focusing in on something I profoundly enjoy.

The faculty here is incredible and most of the film professors commute from L.A. once a week just to teach. The film students get access to great equipment compared to some other film schools. It's not the very top of the line, but it's certainly not terrible equipment. There are also many film-making opportunities for the students in the area and internships in L.A. to help them hone their craft.

In terms of the other programs, the business education is great. There is a series of classes for the business students during their senior year in which they actually build a business and if they so wish, could launch it and have a running business by the time they graduate. The gaming program is also very well designed and covers a great many important skills for young professionals to have. Lastly, the graduate programs have the same amazing access to awesome faculty and if I'm not mistaken, the MA in Biblical Theology is one of the largest in the nation.

All in all, this is an incredible University that is growing rapidly. I have seen many great things come from their senior classes for the last several years and without the culture, faculty, and spiritual formation, my life would be on a very different track. (Probably a much less enjoyable one.) This is simply a place where students can have an educational college experience that is also constructive and builds true young professionals well...

From the moment I heard about John Paul the Great Catholic University in my Junior year of high school, I knew that I had to be a part of it. There is no other school like it. If you're looking for a world-famous film school, JPCatholic doesn't pretend to be that. But if you're looking for a school that will help you grow personally and grow in your faith, include you in a strong and supportive community, and train you to become professionally and academically excellent, this is the school for you. At JPCatholic there was a place for nerdy Catholic artists like me who are passionate about film, evangelization, business, and the creative arts, and we received stellar instruction that serves as a foundation for our professional careers. Here I found a community network of both peers and mentors who would lead me to professional connections. Here I was not only formed spiritually and personally, but also as an artist. The intersection of art, technology, philosophy, literature, film, and faith in the curriculum here is truly a rare and special thing.

What drew me to JPCatholic besides its unique character and mission was the simple fact that there is no other Newman Guide University that even come close to it in terms of the majors, the professional experience, and the practical and real-world preparedness.

I find most people who are disgruntled with the school find themselves feeling that way because they expected a public college experience out of a school that is clearly not that. If you are looking for an ivy league school where you will find fraternities, classes of a hundred-odd students, and a long history, then yes, you'd be disappointed by JPCatholic and any school that doesn't fit that description. This school is perfect for people like me, who truly sought spiritual growth, a well-rounded liberal arts education, an entrepreneurial environment, personal development, striving for excellence, close mentorship, and a...