Like many high school students, you've probably spent a lot of time thinking about how to get accepted by a good college. And that's great. Your good grades, high test scores and long list of volunteer activities will serve you well as schools evaluate you and your "credentials."

But just don't focus on how to make the best impression on a given school. You also need to make sure the schools you're looking into have everything that's important to you. Here, then, are several insights to help you think carefully about the right school for you:

Sterling College's Dennis Dutton encourages students to think about how location can affect their college experience. "Ask yourself, 'How far from home do I want to be?'" says Dutton, vice president of enrollment management at the Kansas college. "Are you looking for a school in a rural or an urban setting? Think about whether or not you'll need to do internships during the semester, and think about how the school's location will make that easy or difficult."

Another question to ask: Do you want to be close enough to go home for every holiday, or are you eager to show your independence far from home? The answers to these kinds of questions will give you some perspective about whether or not a particular school is a good fit.

Next, think about what kind of learning environments will be best for you. "Consider how you learn best," says Amberley Wolf, an admissions counselor at Vanguard University in California. "Do you need smaller classes where you can ask lots of questions, do lots of presentations and have one-on-one time with your professors? Or would you prefer large classes where you mainly take notes and don't get involved much in class discussions?"

If you already have a feel for what area you want to study, be sure it's offered at the schools you're considering. For Sarah Guest, a sophomore at Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts, comparing the quality of education programs between different schools made ENC rise to the top. "I knew I wanted to stay close to home, I wanted a school with a Christian atmosphere, and one where I could be involved with a lot of activities," she says. "The three schools I considered met those criteria, so my deciding factor became the strength of the education department—and ENC had the best."

It's also essential to think about your spiritual growth. What do you need most at this time in your Christian walk, and how can a Christian school help you get there?

Then there are all the questions about paying for school: How much do you expect your parents to pay? Will you be able to get scholarships? Are you willing to work during college? What work opportunities will be available to you? Can you really afford this school? But an important caution: Don't rule out any school on the basis of finances alone.

"I kept receiving brochures from Vanguard University in California, but I never let myself consider it seriously because of the cost," says Michael Cook, a senior at Vanguard. He was even reluctant to visit Vanguard. "When I finally did visit, I sat in on a worship service there. I was blown away watching 1,000 people my age all worshiping together, and I felt God saying that this was his choice for me. As soon as I said 'yes' he opened all the doors and the finances were there."

So be open to schools that may seem too expensive at first. With federal aid, scholarships and low-interest loans, you may be able to afford a school that seems out of reach at first glance.

You'll also want to think about the activities you've enjoyed in high school. If it's important for you to continue those activities, let that be a factor.

As a high school student, Rachel Nazarenus, a junior at Huntington Univer-sity in Indiana, loved playing lacrosse. That's one reason she looked so closely at Huntington. "I really wanted to find a school with a good lacrosse team," she says. Although that wasn't the most important thing I looked for, I'm glad I considered that as a factor."

If you're just getting started, check out websites like christiancollegementor.com or collegeview.com. These sites will help you think about what characteristics are important to you and give you names of schools with those characteristics. With that short list, you can check out college websites to get important information about location, school size, majors, campus spiritual life, available activities and cost. That information can help you decide whether or not you'd like to visit schools, and can help you connect with the admissions and financial aid offices.

When you know you're interested in a certain school, find out if a representative from that school will be at a college fair near you. The website naccap.org/fairs can help you find a Christian college fair in your state or region.

Throughout this process, schedule several meetings with your guidance counselor. Your counselor can help you keep track of deadlines, get information about financial aid and find scholarships. To get the most out of your meetings, let your guidance counselor know what types of schools you're interested in and what majors or areas of study are attractive to you.

Once you've narrowed your search to three or four schools, contact admissions counselors at each school. You can trust these counselors to give you good information. "Admissions counselors want to portray the schools they represent as accurately as possible so that prospective students and their families can make the best informed decision," says Jeff Berggren, vice president of enrollment management at Huntington University in Indiana. "They'll naturally be enthusiastic about their schools.

"But in the end, we just want you to be in the place God wants for you to spend these important four years of growth and development. If we don't have a major or sport you're looking for, we probably know a school that does and we'll gladly share that information with you."

Admissions counselors can also help with the next important step: Planning a campus visit.

"If you're interested in a college, you need to see that college in action," says Whitney Asher, an admissions counselor at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas. "Visit with some profs in your chosen major, talk with coaches in your sport, and hang out with students." Plan your visit around activities and tours that will help give you a feel for what it would be like to be a student at that school. Plan to sit in on classes, eat in the cafeteria and spend a night in the residence hall.

When you visit a campus, Carrie Givens, an admissions counselor at Alaska Bible College, recommends paying special attention to the spiritual atmosphere of the campus. "Spiritual life is important, so when you visit a campus, participate in a chapel service. Sit in on a Bible study. Hang around long enough to see whether the students there are as serious about their Christian walk as you are," Givens says.

Don't be too shy to ask questions about life on campus. Sarah Funk, a junior at Alaska Bible College, says it's important to get the information you need. "The admissions counselors and professors want you to have a successful college experience. Ask them absolutely anything that's on your mind. Believe me, they've heard it before."

Most importantly, be sure to pray throughout your search, trusting that God will lead you to the right school. "Seek his will without any preconceived notions about what he'll say," says Luke Cureton, senior admissions counselor at Sterling College in Kansas. "As you pray and seek his will, God will close some doors and open others until you realize where he's calling you to go."

Copyright © by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.
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