Finding the Right College

Gary J. Bredfeldt

The drive was just a bit under four hours. I could tell by Lynne’s uncharacteristic quietness that she was nervous. As we pulled onto the campus with a mini-van loaded with a college girl’s many essentials, it hit me that this was a huge turning point in our daughter’s life. I remember praying silently, “God, thank you for leading Lynne to a Christian college. Now, Father, please give her a wonderful year of spiritual growth.” My prayer was answered.

Allow me to introduce you to Lynne. Lynne is a student attending a Christian college in the Midwest. For some time Lynne knew she wanted to attend a Christian liberal arts college. She preferred a smaller school with a strong communications major. She was also seeking a school that had a cheerleading team since that was one of her high school passions. Since money was a factor, Lynne decided to attend a local community college for a year while she worked and saved. That proved to be a good decision. It not only reduced the cost of her education, but it caused her to value the Christian education she eventually received.

Even with a year of community college behind her, the cost for college looms large. More than once I have wondered, “Is it worth the investment? Did she select the best alternative?” The answer is clearly, “Yes.” A Christian college education is an investment in more than classroom learning. College is a place to develop as a Christian person with a distinctively Christian worldview.

Many times in a semester I am privileged to advise students on their college choices, to discuss academic options. From these experiences I have concluded that selecting a college is more of an art than a science. It involves several variables that make each individual’s choice quite distinct. But, despite the very individual nature of a college decision and the diverse alternatives facing students, some guidelines for school selection have often proven helpful.

With approximately 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, making a selection can be a taxing decision. How does one make a choice among so many alternatives? How do you know you have found the right school? By narrowing your choice to a Christian education, you have already made an important first step. That narrows your choice to some 900 religiously affiliated institutions out of which about 100 are evangelical schools. Now you need to settle on which Christian educational institution best fits your needs and goals. Eight guiding principles will help you find the college that is right for you.

Type: What type of school am I seeking?

Before you make your decision as to which Christian education institution you will attend, you need to understand something about the different types of schools available to you. Christian institutions of higher education can be divided into two primary categories — Christian liberal arts colleges or universities and Bible colleges. The differences between them are many, but the major difference is one of mission.

The mission of a Bible college is vocational in nature. Bible colleges seek to train students to be ministry professionals. The key element of a Bible college education is a core curriculum in Bible. Students take a minimum of 30 credits in Bible or Bible related courses (theology, biblical interpretation, etc.) when attending schools accredited by the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC). This significant Bible core is the primary distinctive of the Bible college curriculum.

Christian liberal arts colleges and universities have a much broader curriculum. Included is the study of history, literature, philosophy, mathematics, natural and social sciences, politics, art and music. These subjects are taught through the evaluative lens of Christian thought, or what is often called a Christian “worldview.” The mission of the Christian liberal arts academic institution is to equip students with the intellectual tools provided by the academic disciplines and to train students to think and live “Christianly.” Students who attend Christian liberal arts colleges pursue a wide-range of careers in the many fields represented in the curriculum, including but not limited to studies in pre-medicine, pre-law, the natural and social sciences, education and the arts.

Hold: What beliefs does the school hold?

The most significant variable in comparing and selecting a Christian college is its theology. When I mention “theology,” I am referring to the core beliefs a school holds. Is the school committed to the authority of Scripture? Does it seek to integrate a biblical worldview into all subject areas? Does it embrace the Gospel? Is the school clearly evangelical in its doctrine? Does the school have some doctrinal distinctive that makes it attractive or unattractive? Be careful here. While all Christian colleges profess a Christian heritage, some schools have drifted from their biblical moorings.

You can discover the answers to theological questions in several ways. First, you should carefully read the school’s doctrinal statement. You may find this in the catalog or it may be available from the admission office. Second, you can ask your pastor or other respected Christian leader their perspective on a school’s theological point of view. Does the school have credibility with leaders you respect? If they hesitate in recommending the school, find out why. Finally, you can ask direct questions. Find out firsthand what the school believes by asking questions of the professors, administrators, students and alumni you meet.

Environment: What is the school’s environment or ethos?

Every school is different. Colleges have their own personality. That personality is the school’s ethos or environment. Environment includes such factors as size, atmosphere on campus, diversity and makeup of the student body, faculty and student morale, upkeep and cleanliness of a campus, student services, spiritual life on campus and faculty-student relationships.

Generally, you can make a decision regarding the size of the school before you visit and then limit school visits to institutions that fit your needs. But there are aspects of the environment you can only discover through a visit. Plan to stay at least one night on campus. This experience will tell you much about the school you are thinking of attending. Is the environment conducive to spiritual growth? Is this school the right fit for me?

By the way, do visit; don’t just look at a school online. Cyber-visits online are helpful, but they only show the strengths of a school. A cyber-tour will never show you the less attractive aspects of a college.

When on campus, be sure to attend chapel and even a dorm Bible study if one happens to be planned. Try to get a sense of the spiritual life of the campus. Does the college require chapel attendance? Is there a sense of worship in chapel? Do you sense a spiritual vitality in the school? Are students open about their faith?

What is the moral climate of the school? Listen for things like the language students use in the dorm. Does it reflect well on the person of Christ or do you hear language that is little different from what you might hear on a secular campus? It will be little things that help you determine the depth and reality of the Christian commitment on the school’s campus. Look for a place you can grow in Christ.

One very important environmental issue is the school’s enrollment policy. Does the school only accept Christians, or does it accept non-Christians as well? While good arguments exist for both policies, it is critical to know the policy of your prospective college. Because of open-enrollment policies (meaning both Christians and non-Christians are accepted into the student body), some schools have minimized their Christian distinctives in order to become more attractive to non-Christians and to gain in enrollment. This can radically alter the Christian college experience.

Programs and Policies: What majors are offered and what are the school’s lifestyle policies?

Are you seeking a degree in sports management or pre-law? Do you want to be a Christian schoolteacher or a pastor? You need to get a catalog. Look carefully at the programs offered for your potential academic choices. You may have to ask specifically for a catalog because these are not inexpensive to produce. Don’t just read the publicity material you receive. The catalog is far more helpful. It will include requirements, course descriptions, information on the department you will be a part of and the faculty who will be teaching you.

There is a good chance you will change your major some time in your college career. Each time a student changes his or her major, some credit is typically lost because it is not required in the new major. Be sure this loss is minimized by checking for program similarity in the early years of all programs. If a school makes changing majors difficult in the first two years by having too many required major courses too soon in the curriculum, a major change can be very costly.

As for policies, be sure you read over the student handbook. You should know the school’s “rules” before you decide to attend. If the school has lifestyle policies that you disagree with, you probably should keep looking at other schools. If you are willing to submit to school authorities and the policies they have established, then do so with a good spirit.

Remember, Christian colleges are seeking to create a community and all communities must have agreed upon standards of conduct. Attending a college makes you a part of that community, so decide now to be a contributing member.

Location: Where is the school located and how far is it from home?

Location is more than geography; it is a major factor in your college experience. I teach at two schools. One is located in Chicago, the other in Louisville. Each of these settings makes for a different school. Inner-city Chicago provides opportunity for cross-cultural ministry and all the entertainment a student could ever desire. Louisville provides a somewhat more relaxed setting that reflects more basic values, yet it still provides the advantages of city life. Rural schools offer an even more tranquil location. For our daughter, the rural setting is preferable. Even though she is a city girl, she likes the friendliness and sense of community found in the rural context.

Another location issue is the distance your school will be from home. Many students want a school that is far enough away to establish their personal independence, but close enough to get home for a weekend or holiday. Going to school a thousand miles away might sound exciting, but recognize that you will see much less of family and high school friends. Just getting your personal items to school and home again can be a challenge. Remember, too, that long-distance travel adds substantially more expense to the cost of your college education.

Academics: What level of academic quality does the school offer?

Your education is an investment. When buying a computer, you probably want the best quality you can afford. The same should be true of your education as well. Not all schools are created equal when it comes down to the quality of education you receive. Academic quality is an important consideration in judging a school. What should you look for in determining the quality of education you will receive?

Academic reputation is a good starting point. Some schools have a longstanding reputation for excellence in education. While programs can differ in quality within an institution, it is usually safe to assume that a superior institution will have superior programs.

To evaluate academic quality, first find out the student-to-teacher ratio. The higher the ratio, the less available your advisor and other teachers will be. Second, take a look in the catalog at how many of the faculty members have doctorates (Ph.D., Ed.D., Th.D.). If there are few doctoral level teachers, this may be a strong indicator that the school is heavily dependent on younger, less educated faculty, rather than employing a strong staff of highly trained teachers. Third, ask an administrator what percentage of the teachers are adjunct (part-time) and what percentage are full-time. Kept in mind that large classes with part-time teachers is in the school’s interest, not yours.

When considering academic quality, don’t forget to visit the library and the computer labs. You will spend a lot of time in these places during the course of your educational experience, so make sure they are top-notch. They should be well-equipped, up-to-date, clean and bright, and have student-friendly hours.

Cost: What will it cost me to go to this institution?

This is often the primary consideration when selecting a college. That is understandable, especially if you are looking at a private Christian colleges where tuitions tend to be higher than state-run schools. Be sure to find out what kind of financial aid is available at each school. Make sure that you ask the school to distinguish between grants and loans in their aid package.

Some schools claim that 99 percent of their students are receiving financial aid. That sounds good until you find out that most of it is in the form of student loans. Compare all costs, not just tuition. Housing and academic fees can increase the cost of your education considerably.

Financing your education is a topic in itself. Consult your school’s financial aid office for leads on how you might cut the cost of your education and tap into available scholarship money. Remember that this is an investment. Invest carefully, wisely and with caution, but don’t let money alone be your sole basis for deciding on a school.

Extras: What extracurricular activities does the school offer?

Are you an athlete planning to participate in competitive sports? Maybe you are a writer and plan to be involved in the school’s newspaper? Don’t forget to check into the activities that are offered at your school. Some schools are simply too small to offer an elaborate range of extracurricular opportunities. That could be a decisive factor for you.

If you are planning to participate in an extracurricular activity, you might ask to stay with a student involved in that activity during your school visit. You will find that students are pretty honest about the strengths and weaknesses of a program or activity, so this will give you some insight that you could not otherwise gain. As a side benefit, you may well make a friend that has something in common with you — a great benefit when you show up on campus not knowing a soul.

Extracurricular activities are part of the total college experience. Don’t underestimate their importance when considering a school.

Conclusion

Making a choice of colleges is probably one of the most challenging decisions to

this point in your life. There are many variables to consider and at times it may feel like there is a lot of uncertainty in your choice. But, there is one thing certain that a Christian college student can count on. God is in control! God opens doors and closes them. He sees the future and knows how to lead the steps of His followers.

Of course, you must do your part. You and your parents must research, visit, evaluate and apply to schools while you continue to trust God to superintend the selection process. As a result, you can be confident that you will ultimately be in the college of God’s choosing as you step into the next phase of your life — college!

Gary J. Bredfeldt is professor of Leadership at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. For more information about Southern Seminary or its undergraduate school, Boyce College, visit www.sbts.edu and www.boycecollege.com.