Why Choose a Christian College?
The quality and variety of
It has been
reported
by the U.S. Department of Education
that the United States has about 4,000 degree-granting institutions of
higher
education of which approximately 1.600 are private, nonprofit campuses. Within this group of 1,600 about 900,
self-define themselves as "religiously affiliated".
These
"religiously
affiliated" colleges include a
variety of faiths as well as institutions that were founded by a
religious
denomination to which it may no longer hold any particular allegiance.
These
institutions
maintain their faith-based commitment by
retaining Christian faculty and seeking to create a campus climate that
promotes the spiritual development of students and that integrates
faith into
an accredited academic curriculum.
The National
Association of Christian College Admissions
Professionals lists the reasons for applying to a
* Challenging
academics
* Smaller class
sizes
* Sense of
community
* Growth in all aspects
of life
* More interaction
with professors
* High academic
quality
* Prepare your
heart and mind for success
* Strengthen your
walk with Christ
* It's an
education you can value
* Expand your worldviews
with Christian principles and ideas
* Competitive
financial aid packages
Interestingly
during
the decade of the 1990s-2000 the enrollment,
growth in
Many
international
students begin their college search by
using the Internet to find the places that offer the subjects they wish
to
study. Sometimes they start by searching
for scholarship opportunities or connecting with a place their friends
attend. In some cases, families begin
their search with the latest endorsements from rankings such as those
compiled
by US News, The Princeton Review and Barons.
Those same
options
exist for this group of Christian
colleges and universities. Both of the
websites listed earlier in this article provide a list of these
institutions, a
link for conducting a personal search and other information that will
enlighten
your awareness of the diversity that exists within this unique group of
institutions.
Here are some of
the
ways that Christian colleges and
universities describe themselves:
* Rural or
urban campuses
* Liberal Arts
based curriculum vs. career centered
* B.A. or B.S.
or M.A. or M.S. or Ph.D. or Ed.D or A.A degrees
* Size,
location, number of students under 25, student to faculty ratio
* Sports
teams, housing options, percentage of international students
* Admissions
requirements and entrance difficulty
* Majors,
minors, off campus programs, internship opportunities
* Scholarships
and financial aid opportunities
* Graduate
school and employment statistics
There are some
additional things to consider when looking
specifically at
* What
denomination is it affiliated with and what are their basic tenants?
* What denominations
are
represented in their
student body? Percentages?
* Is
a
personal statement of faith required to apply?
Must an applicant be a Christian?
* What type of
religion or
Bible or theology
classes are required and how many?
* Are there particular guidelines that students must follow for their conduct both on
and off
campus?
* Is there a
requirement to
attend chapel?
Once these
criteria
are examined and your list of choices is
narrowed then compare the colleges' academic offerings as they relate
to your
major areas of interest. Look for off
campus opportunities and internships. Is
there evidence of research and mentoring opportunities with faculty? Does each major list evidence of the success
of its graduates? Can you email someone
on the faculty? Are their adequate
facilities to support the major you are pursuing? Does
the faculty have strong degrees and are
they fulltime vs. part time or adjunct?
What are the options for OPT and CPT experiences?
Do not allow
anyone
to tell you that these colleges are
second rate academically---many of them can be found at the top of
those lists
that endorse the "best places" to study in the
Look up the Best
Semesters Program which the Council created
by combining efforts among their member institution in order to provide
some unique
experiential education opportunities: www.bestsemester.com.
The final step is
to
look for information to help you learn
more about the campus climate. Is it
welcoming to international students?
Read over the website for International Admissions to see what
the
application process is like and to find out more about the
international
community at each institution. Several
of these colleges are ranked among the top in the
Are there
organizations on campus like an International
Students' Association or a Mu Kappa Club Chapter? What
activities are these groups
sponsoring? What types of resources
exist for advising, counseling, medical assistance and academic support? Are there housing options that exist for
international students during summer and holiday breaks?
Is the city large
enough to include ethnic groceries stores
and other resources that you might desire?
How easily can an international student find employment on
campus? Can
you email with an international student from this college?
Be certain to ask about the spiritual as well
as social growth opportunities.
In summary, the
reason to consider a Christian college is
for adding potential value to your educational experience in the
Provided by
Rosemary
Mason Etter, Assistant Director of
Admissions, and International Admissions at