KARU - PM me. Seriously. And let's meet up. The Newman Center at Purdue is fantastic. And she could sing in my student chant group! :)

But seriously. PM me and I'd love to arrange meeting with you two sometime.

Stay away from Valpo. I graduated from there a few decades ago and have no sense it has improved at all, but actually diminished. I was Lutheran then and found it very wanting spiritually, and academically; as a Catholic, I think it would be a horror.

You didn't mention Notre Dame. I have a son there now (and one who graduated in '12) who has found his way in those areas you mentioned your daughter wants: "serious Catholic, prefers a high-quality liturgy, likes EF Mass, would probably be involved in choir". ND has issues and is a bit hard to navigate, but there is a lot that is exceptionally good if one is so inclined in that direction.

I was at Valpo 74-76 in the deaconess program (loosely veiled "Christian" feminism), graduating in '76 with majors in theology and Greek. I came from Concordia--Ann Arbor, out of a conservative LCMS upbringing. Liturgy was not my concern at the time but finding God, Who remained hidden my entire time at Valpo. I remember the church services and all the "high church" stuff but I detected no substance, no real belief behind it. (One Sunday, I heard some deaconesses behind me replace the word "brethren" with "sistern", though I thought, "cistern" :-), in a hymn--ugh!) I was made to "preach" a sermon in deaconess hall as part of the feminist indoctrination (I laughed through the whole absurd thing), the goal being we would break open the all-male clergy of the LCMS (my roommate, in fact, went on to become a "bishop" in the ELCA).

I loved my Greek and Hebrew classes because they were free of the liberal agenda. Theology was so hard for me because I was so distrusting of the professors, though not all were horrible. The rector of the campus church taught a class on Worship and Liturgy which was the best of any I recall because instead of preaching his own views, he allowed us to discover the meaning of the liturgy for ourselves. However, looking back on it now as a Catholic, he failed by not setting the Lutheran liturgy in proper historical context. But I wasn't asking Catholic questions at the time.

As a young woman searching for God, I was looking for genuine faith in the instructors and professors. The conservative LCMS types were all about "being right"; the liberals about forming God in their own image. I was sick of the whole thing by the time I left which I see now as part of God's plan to lead me to the Catholic Church.

If she's musical, consider IU. She may not want to major in it, but there's good opportunities for non-majors to continue ensemble work.

KARU,

I have two sons at Thomas Aquinas College (in Southern California). I am satisfied that the school nurtures the faith in its students. My sons are better for being there. (And, fwiw, they have some marvelous pictures from the recent fire!)

That said, sometimes you want to find a place which will make your daughter stand up for her faith, because of the kind of daughter you have. (Not knowing your daughter, except by your description, I can't say if this or the former example applies.)

A man from our parish went to Steubenville for 1 semester and, finding it not at all what he needed or hoped that it would be, he evacuated. I don't know that such a comment reflects badly on the school, merely that it was not what my friend believed it to be, before he arrived.

I have had students gain acceptance to TAC, Wyoming Catholic, Christendom, and other top flight schools. Each school has its charism, so there may not be one simple answer.

obliged to say that their Sunday masses didn't fulfill the Sunday obligation

My mind boggles!

I've heard St. Ben's (which is actually co-ed because it's paired with SJU in nearby Collegeville) isn't good for the Faith. Neither is St. Kate's. It's better to go to a public school and save money because a lot of them have amazing Catholic student centers.

Thank you so much, all of you! I was hoping for specific input. There are so many factors to consider, and her faith life is certainly a significant part of the equation. The financial aid package is another.
I think she is leaning more toward a big public school, with a good Newman Center. She was on a retreat a few months ago, with some Franciscan sisters, and she met young women from several different schools, and I think that gave her hope that she can potentially find kindred spirits in a variety of schools.
Thanks again everyone, you've given some really good input, and raised some more questions that she needs to answer before she decides.

Um, St. Paul and Minneapolis MN are hardly close by for someone considering schools in Indiana.

Yes, my homebody probably doesn't to go too terribly far away. She also did apply to Franciscan and Aquinas (Michigan), and those are about the farthest she wants to go.

only a couple of miles from Purdue

60+ is rather a loose interpretation of a 'few miles'! (Holy Rosary is in Indy, Purdue is in Lafayette.) I know folks who make the trek every Sunday if she is interested, though.

Lafayette itself has a lot of options in and of itself. St. Boniface has a good music program; it may be familiar to many here as the home of the St. Michael's Hymnal. St. Ann also has a budding music program; they're the only parish in the diocese which chants the full English propers on a regular basis. (My chant group helps out there on a regular basis.)

KARU, if you're looking for a good liberal arts school, have you considered Hillsdale? They're just across the border in Michigan. I have plenty of Distributist/Monarchist friends who graduated from there, and the academics as well as the student life there is very encouraging to the conservative lifestyle. (It's the home to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Russell Kirk taught there at one point as well, and many of the faculty have published material by ISI.) Work a look if you haven't.

'Sall good, A.F. An hour's drive isn't actually that far when you own a Lefebvrolet.

Matthew is right. It may be that a 'gap year' is in order. This would allow for more time in choosing the best university for the young lady once she has developed a clearer vision for her future. During her 'gap year' she could find meaningful work and/or service. A retreat to a convent might also be helpful both spiritually and intellectually. Godspeed!

She could always get an MRS degree. ;)

60+ is rather a loose interpretation of a 'few miles'! (Holy Rosary is in Indy, Purdue is in Lafayette.)

You have obviously never been to Texas, Stimson. 60+ miles is just a short trip.

I was ten years at IU in Bloomington. My wife and I liked the town quite a bit, but as suggested, campus ministry might as well be a new age 'support' group. There are a few groups that escape weekly to Holy Rosary, which is a reasonable drive, even by Indiana standards.

I was also a student (graduate student, many years ago) at Notre Dame. Agreed that finding one's place there can be a challenge (and losing one's place somewhat easier), but there certainly are seriousl Catholics to be found, and if sought with purpose, can provide an excellent community.

I have heard good things about the community in Purdue, although it must be said that the academic strengths of Purdue are a little more specialized than they are at some other places (but if she is leaning in the direction of the areas of strength of Purdue, it is arguably the best choice, academically, in those areas).

Your daughter can safely rule out Wabash College! (You know, for a Danny, it's surprising how many of my close friends are Wally grads or professors. And any school that kicked out Ezra Pound can't be all that bad.)