You probably know the important things to look for in a college: the right major, good relationships, ways to grow in faith. Then there are those things like checking out the dorms, eating at the cafeteria and going to a chapel visit.

But there are other things to look for on college visits. For instance, you don't want to miss the "bonuses" many Christian colleges offer. Talk to students who are putting their education to work through internships or extracurricular activities. Ask about new experiences that might not be related to your major or career plans. Opportunities like these can really make a difference in your college experience. That's what these Christian college students discovered.

When Joel Eigege, Ken Van Dyken, Paul Sokomba and Dan Mouw started in Calvin's engineering program four years ago, they never imagined they'd get the chance to present their ideas to NASA engineers.

But during their senior year, Professor Matt Heun was so impressed with the group's design for a tool to measure global warming that he suggested they submit it to a competition sponsored by NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts. The group's design, inspired by Heun, uses balloons programmed to calculate radiation emitted by the Earth. "We only had three days to put our proposal together, so we didn't hold out much hope of being selected," says Ken. "We just did it for fun."

But the judges were impressed with the idea. Out of twelve groups who entered, they were one of four selected to present their idea in Washington to 50 fellow student scientists.

The four seniors won funding to continue their research. But that wasn't the only benefit of the trip from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Washington D.C.

"We were allowed to sit in while other students, professors and scientists gave their presentations," says Paul. "We were introduced to technology NASA might be using three or four years from now."

For Ken, one of the most satisfying parts of the project was the chance to research a major scientific issue. "Global warming is one of the biggest questions facing humanity today. It's exciting to have been involved in helping find an answer," he says. "Professor Heun and Calvin College gave us the opportunity and the encouragement to make that happen."

Paul says the opportunity will set him apart from other engineering grads. "Now that I'm looking for a job, this experience looks great on a resumé," he says. "How many students just graduating from college have had this kind of experience?"

Los Angeles isn't the only place to go if you want to learn the basics of filmmaking. Communication students at Malone College in Canton, Ohio, are getting their feet wet in the industry and earning college credits at the same time.

To prepare for the Short Film Festival Malone holds each fall, students spend the year writing scripts, composing original music, drawing storyboards, scouting sets, designing costumes, rehearsing actors, filming and editing.

Groups of students submit their scripts to a selection committee, and the four groups with the best scripts are allowed to use the school's equipment and facilities to make their films. Other students can also enter the festival, but must come up with their own equipment. During the competition, the campus is abuzz with students hoping to snag an award for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Musical Score, or the coveted People's Choice Award. This year's big winners were Andrew Gates and brothers Jake and Seth Thomas for their film, Blessed are the Peacemakers. Blessed won Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Film.

Andrew says that even though the festival is a competition, it's also a way for people to work together. "It's a real filmmaking community," he says. Everyone involved in the competition works on everyone else's films. Freshmen are invited to work on an upperclassman's film, and by sophomore year they're ready to make their own. Everybody's growing and the quality of the films goes up every year."

Jake agrees. "We're all friends and help on each other's movies, so we're all getting experience in different aspects of the industry. Our film starred three directors from other films. The cameraman from one movie acted in another and directed another."

Along with all the fun, the competition is a great way to explore career options.

"The film fest offered me practical, hands-on experience to see if writing screenplays and scripts is really what I like—and if I have an aptitude for it," Andrew says. Jake, who'd like to write and direct, says the experience gave him a realistic sense of what the industry is like. "I couldn't believe how hard it was to make a 15-minute film," he says. "I can't imagine how much more time and work it takes to make a full-length one, but after my experience at Malone, I feel like I'm going into it with my eyes wide open."

For some students, the film festival serves as a sort of launching pad for an internship in Los Angeles. Malone is one of several Christian colleges that participates in the L.A. Film Studies program. Sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the program allows students to earn college credit as they learn all about the film industry.

When Indiana's Goshen College built a new Student Life Center, plans were made to include a coffee shop. But instead of calling Starbucks to the rescue, the business department chose to design, set up and manage the shop. After all, it would be a great way to offer their students hands-on experience in running a small business. And the plan is moving along nicely. Business students Jessica Berkey, Thushan Hemachandra and Tom Stahly have spent the past year getting the shop ready to open this fall.

"We want it to be a place for students to hang out and feel at home," Jessica says. The business students want to hold open mic nights, display and sell student art and allow musical groups to perform. "That way we'll help not just business students, but the art and music departments, and the rest of the campus as well."

The coffee shop will allow business students to make the decisions that go along with owning a business. "Many of us come to college never having held a real job," says Jessica. "In managing the coffee shop, we'll gain experience in marketing, human resources, accounting, inventory and purchasing."

Thushan agrees: "The things we learn in class are abstract until we have a chance to apply them. The coffee shop will give us that chance."

Through their own on-campus market research, the students have determined what will be on the menu and discussed pricing and hours. They've drafted a business plan, lined up suppliers and made decisions about what equipment to order.

The students say they're proud of their work so far. "I've always been interested in being self-employed," Jessica says. "Being able to actually start up a small business is a real plus. It's not just a resumé booster for me. It's a way to expand my knowledge and experience in the real world of business."

For Thushan, one of the best things about the coffee shop is the way it can impact students for years to come. "We've already decided that if we manage to make a profit with the coffee shop, whatever money we make will go into a scholarship fund for business students," he says. "I'm glad to have been involved in something that will outlast my time at Goshen and continue to help students long after I'm gone."

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