Prospectus
Rivendell does not take an elitist approach regarding GPA’s and college entrance exams (e.g. ACT and SAT) for a couple of reasons. First, Christ did not choose his students based on academic merit, yet His students produced the greatest results the world has ever seen. Second, we believe that most students, with rare exceptions, have great ability but lack desire. Rivendell is a witness to what happens in the lives of students once they are given a reason to learn. Often they become passionate lovers of God and learning. We are confident that our IN-COMM program can take virtually any student, achiever as well as underachiever, and in 18 months have them thinking and producing at a graduate level.Even though our program is designed so that achievers as well as underachievers can succeed, the workload is not light. Therefore, the Acceptance Committee seeks students who have reached a point of maturity in their lives where they exhibit self-motivation and a willingness to work hard. An unmotivated and lazy student will find the program difficult.
In addition, Rivendell applies a much broader definition to the word “education”. We believe it to be more than an academic pursuit. We see education holistically where young men and women mature into adulthood intellectually, spiritually, morally, socially and physically in order to become well-rounded, virtuous citizens. Therefore, we believe education should also point the way to holiness and godliness. It should take into account a person’s soul and direct people toward Godly wisdom, which is the moral application of truth. Therefore, in addition to self-motivation and a willingness to work hard, the Acceptance Committee seeks students who desire more than just cognitive knowledge. We are looking for students who also desire spiritual, moral and social formation.
Finally, because Rivendell has a strong community component, the Acceptance Committee seeks students who exhibit Godly character and morals as well as the social skills necessary to get along with others. In addition, we seek mature students who lead self-governing lives who can show proper courtesy and respect to peers, the opposite sex, the elderly and authority figures.