Andrea Helmuth
Director of Admissions
Bethel College—Mishawaka, Indiana

Linda Kurtz
Dean of Admissions
Roberts Wesleyan College—Rochester, New York

Jay Mahan
Assistant Director of Admissions
Mount Vernon Nazarene College—Mount Vernon, Ohio

Jessica Mireles
Director of Admissions
Vanguard University—Costa Mesa, California

Ernie Rogers
Executive Director for Enrollment Management
Liberty University—Lynchburg, Virginia

Joanne Roper
Director of Admissions
Lancaster Bible College—Lancaster, Pennsylvania

OK, you can't put it off any longer. It's time to dig in and start searching for a college. Don't know where to begin? Hey, no problem. We quizzed six admission pros and got lots of advice that will get your college search off to a great start.

When is a good time to start thinking about choosing a college?

Linda: I don't think it's ever too early to start. We work with people as early as junior high. At least start looking during your sophomore year. This gives you an opportunity to get on the mailing lists of different colleges you'd consider.

Andrea: I've seen students who don't begin their college search until the last semester of their senior year. That's not a good way to do it. Start looking at college resources and searching the Web your sophomore year. During your junior and early in your senior year, visit college campuses and narrow your choices. That way, you'll have less stress your senior year.

Jessica: Throughout high school, it's important to keep college in the back of your mind. And keep your grades up so you can get better financial aid packages. It gives you more time to prepare, to do all of the research and visit schools. You'll probably want to start thinking seriously about the search in your junior year.

Let's say I'm a high school senior and I've not even started my search. Where should I begin?

Ernie: Begin on the Internet. On a school's Web site, you can find out many things—what courses of study they offer, what extracurricular activities they have, the cost of the school, available scholarships, what sports teams they have. You can even take a virtual tour of the campus.

Joanne: Decide what's important to you. Do you want to be within 100 miles of home, or do you want to go across the country? Do you like a big school in a city, or do you prefer a suburban area? Find out what the mission of the school is. What are they striving to teach students? Does it match up with what you believe?

Andrea: I would take a look at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities' Web site (www.cccu.org). It provides direct links to many college Web sites. College guides like Peterson's Guide to Christian Colleges and Universities and Campus Life magazine are also a great place to look.

Are Christian college fairs helpful or just a waste of time?

Jay: College fairs are very helpful in the beginning of the search. Where else are you going to have a chance to talk with representatives from 20 to 30 different colleges? You get a chance to speak with people who understand what Christian colleges are all about.

Jessica: They're a great place to get information on a lot of different schools. You can get all your questions answered and get all the literature in one place.

Linda: Fairs are a wonderful way to gain information and get on colleges' mailing lists. Hit all the schools at a fair—at least, those in the geographic area you're considering. If you're a senior, I still recommend going. It gives you a chance to ask specific questions of the colleges you're considering.

Is there a good chance there will be a Christian college fair in my area?

Andrea: Yes. The National Association of Christian College Admissions Personnel and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities co-sponsor Christian college fairs across the nation in the fall. These fairs generally take place at the end of September through the first part of November. Check with your guidance counselor for more information on these fairs. (Or go to www.gospelcom.net/naccap/student/fair/)

So I attend a fair or take the SAT/ACT and then start getting a lot of mail from different colleges. How can I narrow my choices?

Ernie: The first thing I would do is make sure the schools are accredited. Accreditation means the school has been reviewed by the regional accreditation board and meets all required standards. That is very important. Then I would look at their spiritual atmosphere. I would also look at some of their rules and regulations. Are they too strict or too lenient for you? Find out about campus chapel services. Decide if the school offers the type of Christian environment you desire in a college.

Jay: Read everything in the mailings. Then toss those brochures that don't represent your top four or five choices.

Linda: Narrow options with your personal preferences. If you've decided on a major, make sure the school offers that area of study. If you're an athlete, make sure the school has your sport. If you're thinking about drama, make sure there's a solid drama department. If you're from Illinois and you have no intention of going far away, don't consider Alaska.

As I look for a college, how important is it to know my major?

Ernie: It's pretty normal for people to come in as freshmen and not know their major. There's nothing wrong with that, because during your freshman year you take courses that aren't really in your major, anyway.

Linda: Students change their major on average three to four times in college. It's absolutely OK to be undecided, but it's good to have some ideas about what you'd eventually like to major in. Think about your likes and dislikes, your interests and things you really enjoy. Then check into the school to make sure they have programs in the areas of study you feel you might like to pursue.

When I have questions about the search, who should I talk to?

Andrea: Guidance counselors can help give you a realistic idea of what colleges might accept you, based on your ACT/SAT scores and class rank. They know your academic ability and can help you consider colleges that are a good fit for you. They're also a wonderful resource when it comes to scholarship information.

Ernie: I would get your parents involved early on to talk about some of the basic questions. Find out: Can I go 100 miles away? Can I go 1,000 miles away? If they say 100 miles away, that's definitely going to narrow it down. Your parents are going to help you set some boundaries for your search. If you get them involved early on, you'll avoid looking at schools they feel simply wouldn't be options for you.

Jessica: We've had students e-mail or call and ask us to hook them up with a current student. This is really a good idea. Be sure you talk to current college students at schools you're considering. Their perspective can be very helpful.

Jay: Don't be afraid to talk to admissions counselors. I have a responsibility to recruit students for my school, but I have a higher responsibility to work with you to help you find God's will for your life, and to find out what options are available. I will not hesitate to recommend another Christian school if that school is a better fit.

Should I "trust" the Internet in my search?

Andrea: The Internet can be very helpful, so don't be afraid to use it. You can ask preliminary questions of a college, you can request information, you can even apply to many colleges online. There's also a wealth of scholarship information on the Net. But there are some things you can't do electronically. The Internet can never replace a campus visit or a campus interview. So use it early in your search to narrow your choice to a few schools. But be sure to make your final decision by visiting the college you think might be the best fit for you.

What mistakes should I avoid in my search?

Linda: Don't make too many campus visits at one time. Schedule no more than two a day. You need, at the very least, half a day on each campus.

Joanne: Sometimes students don't get serious about their grades until their senior year. Try not to let that happen. Know that your entire high school record's going to be looked at. Even the activities you're involved in during high school are important. There are scholarships given for your leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities. And the earlier those get in your record, the better.

Jay: I think there can be too much emphasis on cost. You have to realize that these four years are going to affect your entire life in such a radical way. So don't let cost prevent you from getting the kind of education that will help you grow both academically and spiritually. Be willing to make some financial sacrifices. Be willing to look into loans. Be willing to live on a tight budget. If you're following God's will and direction, any sacrifices you make will be worth it.

Jessica: Sometimes students come for a campus tour without scheduling an appointment, and we will do our best to show them around and answer all their questions. However, since the visit wasn't planned in advance, we're not always able to set-up everything we could have. So we encourage students to schedule appointments. In doing so, they will get the most out of their time on campus, They'll also get to do things they'd like to do, like attending a class or spending the night with a current student.

Andrea: I've seen so many students start the scholarship search process too late. Start seeing what's available your junior year. At least have the applications on hand and have your game plan mapped out.

You've mentioned campus visits several times. Are they really that important?

Andrea: Campus visits are incredibly important. That's where you get the best understanding of what a college is all about and whether or not it's the place for you. I have seen students not visit a campus and regret where they end up. And I've seen the reverse of that—students who visited a college and knew that's where they were supposed to be.

Linda: Nothing can replace visiting a campus and getting a sense for a school's "personality." The students and faculty are the ones who make it that way. You're not going to get this "personality" from booklets or even from phone conversations. You need to visit.

Joanne: You can look at brochures and Web sites and get a limited picture of the school. But visiting and staying overnight in the dorms give you a whole different feel. You'll get to eat in the college dining hall. You'll get to spend time in the dorms. You'll meet students. You'll attend classes. Nothing compares to the campus visit.

I know some schools have special preview or visitation days. Is it better to visit on those days or on regular days?

Joanne: On special student days, you're part of a big group, and it's kind of fun to see who else is interested in the college. But I still think that an individualized visit is the best. We assign an admissions counselor to you for a campus tour, lunch in the cafeteria and a visit to a classroom. After that, you're assigned to a student who'll see that you have dinner and get to meet other students. This person will also help you get settled into the dorm for the evening.

Jay: I don't think there's ever a replacement for a personal campus visit. Go to the campus on a regular school day so you can see the regular chapel and eat the regular meal in the cafeteria that's not the special meal. Observe a class that's in session at a normal time.

Jessica: It just really depends on you and what you're looking for. Our preview days have more fun things going on, like concerts. However, they are less personal because we have so many students attend. I encourage people to come back with their parents for an individual tour. On an individual tour, it's one on one, yet you can do the same things as you would during preview days—eat in the dining commons, meet with a professor or coach, and so on.

OK, I think I have a feel for the importance of the visit. Now, I'd like to talk about the application process. When should I apply?

Jay: It depends on the school, but I would apply anywhere between late in your junior year or very, very early in your senior year. A lot of financial aid is first come, first served, and you may very well wait yourself out of a Christian college experience. If you're having a difficult time deciding between two or three schools, apply to all of them, apply for financial aid at all of them, and then make a choice. You want to keep your options open by applying early.

Andrea: Every college has a different deadline. Know what's required by the institutions you're considering. Don't put it off. The sooner, the better. I know a lot of students say, "I'm just going to wait till December, when I'm on Christmas break." Don't wait that long. You ought to contact schools you're interested in no later than early November. And earlier than that would be better.

How many schools should I actually apply to?

Jessica: There's no magic way to decide. Once you have narrowed your list to around 10, I think the best thing to do is visit as many of those schools as you can, and then narrow it down to three or four. If you apply to more than that, it kind of seems a little crazy. It can get very expensive, too, because you do usually have to pay an application fee.

Ernie: I would apply to three to five schools. I tell students, "Don't just look at my school, look at other schools." I want them to come and stay four years. I want them to be happy. And if they only visit this school, they may always wonder if they really made the right choice.

What is the school trying to find out during the application process?

Jay: First of all, are you academically qualified? We're also trying to find where your interests lie and see if we can address them or if we need to recommend you look somewhere else. If I recruit a student who ends up having a bad experience, that's going to hurt the student and the school.

Jessica: We're trying to get to know you and see if you would be a fit for our school. We're interested in knowing about your relationship with Christ. We're looking at grades. We're just looking for a well-rounded student.

Andrea: We're trying to get to know you well enough to see if you might be a good fit for the campus. So we look at academics, extracurricular activities, SAT and ACT scores, church involvement, community service and letters of recommendation.

What should I keep in mind as I complete the application?

Andrea: You want to put your best foot forward. Make a good presentation of who you are.

Linda: For schools you apply to, you'll be asked to provide the names of people who would recommend you for acceptance. We actually have a recommendation form with specific questions that we ask people to fill out. Other schools may have people write a letter of recommendation on their behalf. Either way, make sure the people who recommend you know you well enough to do so. Give them the recommendation form and say, "Here are the questions the college is asking you to fill out. Are there any you don't feel able to answer?" I encourage students to make sure the people they're asking to fill out the recommendation form can answer each of the questions. There's nothing worse then seeing "unknown" or "I don't know" on the recommendation form.

How important are SAT and ACT scores? GPA?

Jay: Your standardized test scores and GPA are extremely important. They tell us if you're prepared for college work. We're not going to have you waste a lot of money coming just to have you drop out for academic reasons.

Linda: We want to make sure the match is right academically. The telltale sign is, what are your scores on the ACT or SAT and what are your grades? Students are admitted because we feel they would succeed here—and their scores are a pretty good indication of whether or not they would.

Should I include my transcript with my completed application?

Joanne: Many colleges require original transcripts. They come in a sealed envelope from a student's high school and should accompany your application.

Will I have to write an essay for my application?

Joanne: Yes. And we tell you what to write about. We want to know a little bit about your home life. We want to know why you want to come to our school. We want to know facts, but we also want to get a feel for your writing ability.

Linda: We actually have four essays on our application. It's a way for you to reveal yourself to us.

Ernie: We have you write an autobiography. It's just one more thing that helps us see you without knowing you. We want to look at you as a whole person. Do you have the capability to succeed in college-level work? Do you have the temperament for our school? If we have any questions, we'll call you and talk to you for a few minutes just to make sure we're in sync.

Any tips for writing the essay?

Jay: Don't be hesitant to ask the admissions counselor what they're looking for in the essay. I recommend typing the essay. Be sure to include your name. Say what you're looking for in a college. Describe your own preparation and your own involvement in leadership and activities. Sum up why you would like to attend the school.

Joanne: Take your time with it, give it some thought, make it neat, spell-check it. Do your very best work. Set the tone for the application: We want to know if this is a serious student or just someone who's done it to make mom and dad happy.

Linda: Try to be creative. We're reading a lot of essays, and it's certainly refreshing to get a different perspective. Make it a good representation of your writing skills.

Ernie: No. 1, be honest. And No. 2, don't be too long. A page or a page and a half is adequate. Talk some about your academic experience. Also talk about what the Lord's done in your life. Show that you have goals.

How do you suggest I work through my confusion and feelings of being overwhelmed?

Joanne: Talk with your Mom and Dad or with a trusted friend who can give you perspective. It's one of the biggest decisions you're going to make in life, and it's important to make the right one.

Jessica: It is a confusing time. Keep it in prayer. It's a huge decision, and the Lord should be involved in it.

How do you suggest I make the final decision?

Linda: It's so different for every student, but I really believe in most cases it's a gut feeling. Make a list of pros and cons about the schools you like. If you're really torn between two schools, visit one more time. That can really give you a fresh perspective.

Jay: Get out a blank sheet of paper and make a list of what you're really looking for.

Andrea: Visit the campus as part of your final decision process. There are times when students walk on a campus and say, "This is where I'm supposed to be." And other times they walk on campuses and go, "This is not the place." Remember to seek God and find out where he wants you to be.

What should I do about the schools I applied to but didn't end up attending?

Linda: Contact those schools. Colleges are not trying to be nosey, but they really want to know where you decided to go and why. It helps keep their records straight and helps colleges better serve future applicants.

What role should my faith play in the college search?

Joanne: You want to go to a place where you know your Christian faith will be built up, not torn down. God's really interested in the decision you're going to make, and he wants to direct you. It's usually a quiet, small voice that we don't hear if we don't stop and pray about it.

Jay: Life is all about integrating faith with choices. You've often heard the phrase, "What would Jesus do?" It's all about making the choice based on your Christian perspective. Choose a college that reflects your values.

Andrea: I can tell you to enroll at my institution until I'm blue in the face. But telling you to attend my school means nothing unless God wants you there. You're going to be in college for at least four years—don't make this decision without asking God what he wants. Seek God and find out what he desires for you. If you do, I really believe you'll make the right choice and find the school that's the best place for you.

Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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