Q. My guidance counselor doesn't understand why I'd like to go to a Christian college. I've always worked hard, and I'm a good student. I think I have a pretty good chance to get accepted at most schools I apply to. He seems to think I should be "aiming higher." It's like he thinks that Christian colleges are sort of second best. Is he right?

A. Since I work at a Christian college, I have to admit that I'm biased. Still, I think your guidance counselor has some pretty serious misconceptions about Christian colleges. Some guidance counselors don't know about the academic rigor and excellence found on many Christian campuses. These counselors often view Christian colleges as too small and too narrowly focused, due to their commitment to integrate faith into academic programs, to be worth considering.

The reality is that stronger and weaker schools exist in every category of higher education: Public or private, religiously affiliated or nonsectarian. So don't write off a school because of its Christian focus. Instead, ask yourself: What type of school do I want to attend? Then, ask: Which schools of that type seem like a good fit for me? Thinking this way will help you decide if a Christian college is right for you. And if you decide a Christian education is right for you, you can then identify some schools to research and visit.

If growing spiritually and having the opportunity to apply your faith within your academic program are important to you, then a Christian campus is a great place to accomplish these goals.

There are ways for you to compare colleges in terms of academic strength. For example, US News and World Report issues an America's Best Colleges issue each year. This publication ranks colleges and universities on a host of educational issues and provides useful information in comparing them. Interestingly, this report and most others don't use faith commitments as one of their distinguishing characteristics. Instead, these reports rely on categories that transcend institutional type. Many Christian campuses are ranked at or near the top of these lists each year. But a word of caution: Don't let these rankings keep you from researching a school that didn't "make the list." If you've heard good things about a particular school, or if you're simply interested in that school, then do some research and find out more about it. Don't let rankings—which often come with certain biases—keep you from looking into a school that could really be a great fit for you.

During your search, pay attention to parts of a school's academic profile like the average GPAs and standardized test scores of the most recent freshman class. You can also get information on other statistics like retention rates and graduation rates, graduate school acceptance rates and graduate career information that will give you a good sense of a school's academic strengths. You can find this information in admissions materials, school websites or by e-mailing an admissions counselor.

Hopefully, this kind of information will help you choose a strong college that integrates spiritual growth with serious academics. There are many, many Christian colleges where your experience will be far from second best.

Q. During my junior year, I sat down and figured out exactly what I want in a college. I know what majors I'm interested in, what kind of environment I want, and what kinds of activities I want available. I've found several Christian colleges that fit these characteristics, and I'm planning to apply to most of those. So how do I do my best to get accepted to these schools? I know what I'm looking for. But what are they looking for in a student?

A. It's good that you're taking your college search seriously and thinking about your strategy. You're well on your way to making a good choice. I have four key pieces of advice for you.

My first and most important piece of advice is to focus on making good grades and keeping your GPA up. High school GPA is one of the most important factors colleges and universities consider. The higher your GPA, the more competitive you become. Some prospective students start to focus so much on the college search and looking forward to their time on a college campus that they get senioritis and stop caring about their grades. You don't want to fall into that trap.

In addition to keeping up your grades, do some preparation before you take the SAT or ACT. You can find books and software to help with this at your library or bookstore. Helpful materials are also available online. Your guidance counselor can help you decide which products might help you most. He or she can also help you figure out if you need to focus on improving your score on a specific section of the test, and help you find the right resources for that. Your scores on the college admissions tests are another important indicator of your academic abilities, and colleges take them very seriously.

Third, I recommend taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses, if you can. These courses help you finish high school and give you a head start on some college credits. If you live near a college that will allow you to take courses, you may be able to transfer those credits to the college you choose. (Be sure to talk this through with your guidance counselor and the schools you're considering.)

Finally, get involved—or stay involved—in some leadership or volunteer activities through your church or high school. Being involved in leadership and service broadens your perspective. It also improves your admissions profile.

Again, you're on the right track. Stay focused on your academic pursuits and balance them with some extracurricular activities. Those steps will make you a strong prospect at the colleges you like.

Q. I have interviews scheduled at all of the colleges I'm going to visit. I know I'm supposed to prepare for these somehow, but I don't know what to prepare for. What kinds of questions will I be asked? What do I need to know about this part of the process?

A. A campus interview can be one of the best ways for you to learn about what is really important to a college. It's also a chance for an admissions counselor to learn about what's important to you. It's a good sign that these schools use them as part of the admissions process. I encourage you to take them seriously and be prepared.

First, keep in mind that the interview isn't only a time for you to be asked questions; it is also a time for you to ask questions. So before each interview, prepare a list of questions that will help you learn more about the college. Your questions should cover areas you are most interested in finding out about. Run your list by your parents, your pastor or a teacher who knows you well. This person can help you fine-tune your list. Not only does this kind of preparation allow you to make the most of this valuable time, but it also shows you're serious about the interview.

During your interview, the admissions counselor will be interested in your academic strengths. He or she will ask questions about your academic interests and habits, like what subjects you like and how much you study. Colleges take academics seriously and like students who do as well. They will also most likely ask about your extracurricular activities in high school, like athletics, volunteer work and leadership experiences. At a Christian college they will probably ask questions about your faith journey and will want to know what you are doing to nourish you spiritual growth, like attending church or youth group, studying the Bible and serving others. A good interview will allow you time to ask the questions you've prepared.

Be sure to complete and send in your application before the interview. This will allow the interviewer to ask you more specific questions and allow you to cover deeper issues, since the college already has your basic information.

Avoid the temptation to say things just to make you look good. Let's say, for instance, your interviewer asks, "What are you currently reading?" If you're caught off guard, you may be tempted to make something up just to impress the interviewer. Don't do it. Be honest. Finally, relax. This isn't a job interview, and you don't have to try to sell yourself. This process should be more like two friends sitting down to get to know each other, rather than a sales pitch from either side.

College interviews are a great way to understand what's important to a college and to get a feel for whether a particular campus is a good fit for you. With a little preparation and the proper mindset, interviews can be one of the most important aspects of a campus visit and your entire college search process.

Q. There are several Christian colleges that are all less than a day's drive from my home. I think my parents hope I'll choose one of those. But the truth is, I want to go to a school farther away. I don't even have one in mind, but I want to be someplace new, where I'll feel on my own. I'm afraid my parents' feelings will be hurt if I tell them about this. What do I need to think about as I decide whether or not to go to a school farther from home?

A. A lot of students feel like you do: They are ready to be on their own, and really want to be independent. That's an important part of becoming an adult, and it can be an important part of your college search. At the same time, your desire for independence is only one of many factors you'll need to think about as you're choosing a college.

I think you should pay the most attention to finding a school that matches your academic, spiritual and personal interests. Make that your priority. Then, think more about how to meet your needs for a fresh start on your own.

Think about your core concerns. Are you afraid your parents will come to campus too often? Do you think that you'll go home too much if your campus is too close to home? These are issues you can work out with your parents. For example, you might make specific plans to meet up just a few times during the semester, like on Parents' Weekend or during school breaks. You might explain that you won't be dropping by to do your laundry, because you want to do it on your own.

Whatever you do, make sure you talk to your parents—don't just shut them out. Work with them to figure out how to balance their involvement and support with your desire for independence.

After you've talked to your parents about your concerns, work together to identify several campuses that may be a good fit for you. Choose some that are close to home, as well as some that are farther away. This will help you to make distance part of your decision-making process without giving it more weight than it should have.

Q. When I started my college search, my cousin said it's important to think about things like finding internships and starting a career. That sounded weird to me. Is he right? I know that those things are important, but shouldn't I start thinking about them a couple of years from now? Right now, I'm just trying to find the right school, and I don't see what internships and career have to do with my college search.

A. You and your cousin are both right. You do need to concentrate on finding the right college first, but you don't want to ignore the issues he mentioned. You should think about career and vocational choices as you search out schools and compare them.

While you are looking at colleges with an eye toward finding the right match for you academically, spiritually and socially, you should look for campuses with programs or services that help you choose a major, prepare you for graduate education or the job market and connect you with potential employers. That doesn't mean you need to know exactly what jobs or internships you want. But you do need to pay attention to ways a school can help you explore your interests.

Think of college as a four-year period for seeking your vocational calling. During your freshman year of college, explore some of your different interests by taking lots of general education classes. Make finding your major a goal. During your sophomore year, try to get an idea of what different careers your major is preparing you for. If you feel ready, plan to do an internship that summer.

Use your junior year to start doing internships and practicums that can help you gain experience and skills. Then, during your senior year, begin to look for jobs or to choose a graduate school.

It's not too early to start thinking about career and internships, even in your college search. Look for schools that offer support services that can help you seek your vocational calling. Make sure to ask questions about these kinds of services during your campus visits. The answers to these important questions can help you choose wisely.

Skip Trudeau is associate vice president for student development and dean of students at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.

Subscribe to Ignite Your Faith!

• Risk-free trial issue
• Give a Gift Subscription