Any guide to choosing a college can provide a list of important factors to consider, like student-teacher ratio, average student test scores or distance from home. But what about the intangible, immeasurable factors that can't be counted in percentages or captured in a guidebook, but will have a real-life impact on your child's college experience? We've asked experts from six key areas of academic and college life to talk about those intangibles, and to tell you how to search them out when you and your student visit campus. A Thriving Christian Community
Stephen Kellough, Chaplain
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois
In many cases, Christian students are able to "survive" on a secular campus by surrounding themselves with other believers and by building up walls to protect their faith. On a Christian campus, it is easier for students to grow in their relationships, their faith and their studies because they know and trust where their fellow students and professors are coming from. So instead of entering college in a defensive mode, feeling the need to justify their beliefs, students can be more open to freely seek out opportunities for spiritual growth. You can't "feel the spirit" of a campus by reading literature or browsing a website. The only way to get a sense of the spiritual life of a campus is by talking to the people there. You don't want the chapel or the Bible department to be the only places where students consider matters of faith. Look for signs that Christian faith is integrated across the curriculum, in the dorms and throughout the community. Both you and your son or daughter need to talk to professors, visit classrooms and chat with students. This will give you a feel for whether the Christian faith is thoroughly integrated throughout the campus community. Help for the Transition
Bill Buhrow, Director of Health and Counseling Services
George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon
Some students do just fine in adjusting to college life while others end up feeling overwhelmed. Students who do feel overwhelmed by the increasing demands of college life benefit a great deal from counseling. This is why during your search you should ask questions about the types of services offered at each school and make sure the school has a quality, well-trained counseling staff. Of course, the counseling department is there not just to help students adjust to college, but also for those individuals with more serious or chronic mental health concerns. If your child has sought therapy prior to college and will likely need to continue treatment once they arrive on campus, the quality of the counseling department is extremely important. This is especially critical for those Christian colleges located in remote areas with limited mental health services. In those instances, it's all the more important that the university's counseling service be a good one. A Committed Christian Faculty
Annalee Ward, Communications Arts Department Chair
Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, Illinois
A key aspect to choosing the right Christian education is the faculty. You need to ask questions like, "Are the faculty committed Christians?" You'd think the answer would be obvious, but not all schools have the same requirements about hiring faculty who are committed to infusing Christian values into their teaching. Also, read the school's mission statement and see if it aligns with what you're seeing on campus and what students you meet are saying about the school. Each college is different in the way it incorporates a Christian worldview into the classroom. Think about how important it is to you that your child be in a classroom where professors teach every subject from the understanding that it's part of God's world. Basically you need to ask yourself whether or not the institution aligns with your core Christian beliefs. Your Child's Individual Needs
Jim Bultman, President
Hope College, Holland, Michigan
It goes without saying that you want to send your children to the school that will best help them develop intellectually, spiritually, socially and physically, but sometimes parents neglect to consider each of their children's individual needs. You may be inclined to send all of your children to the same school because your first child liked the institution, but your other children may feel differently. Think of it this way: Let's say my second child needed glasses. I wouldn't refuse to get that child glasses just because my firstborn didn't need them. The same is true when choosing a college. Ask yourself, "What does this individual child need?" And speaking of needs, it can be tough to put your son or daughter's needs first—especially if that means sending them to a school that's far away. But instead of focusing on distance, cost or whatever it is that concerns you, try focusing on the one school that always seems to bring a smile to your child's face whenever it's mentioned. Here's a true story to illustrate my point. A few weeks ago as I was leaving chapel, I met a mother who was crying. I asked if there was anything I could do to help, and she said something like this: "I sent both my son and daughter here, and it was difficult for me because they were suddenly 2,500 miles away from home." She then added, "When I'm at home and I'm missing them, the distance seems so far. But then I come here and see how they've grown in every way. When I see how involved and happy they are in chapel and activities and classes, suddenly 2,500 miles seems like a city block." A Place to Live and Grow
Chris Abrams, Dean of Student Development
Malone College, Canton, Ohio
When touring the residence hall, try to avoid focusing too heavily on things such as how nice the housing is or how roommates are matched up. Instead, find out which schools make a real effort to create opportunities for positive social interactions that foster spiritual growth and build community. Don't just talk to the residence director. Have conversations with students who live in the residence hall. Find out how they serve and reach out to the community. For example, does their hall or floor spend time every month helping a non-profit organization, like the Boys and Girls Club or Salvation Army? Of course, many social opportunities simply need to be fun and relieve stress. For example, some of the fun things we do here at Malone include the Davenport Derby (essentially a "couch race," complete with costumes), an annual Banana Split eating contest and the spring air-band competition. Keep in mind that the student who leads the campus tour is often highly involved on the campus and very active in student activities. Consider these tour guides great sources for information. But their enthusiasm and involvement in the school may not necessarily represent the typical student. So I suggest that prospective students get the average student's perspective on what student life is like on a particular campus. Be sure your child has an opportunity to chat with other kids in the cafeteria and ask how they like living on that campus. It's probably a bad sign if, for instance, several students offer negative comments. Don't underestimate the importance of a positive residence hall experience. After all, your child will spend more time in their hall than they will in their classrooms. Value of the Investment
Cliff Neel, Assistant Vice President and Director of Academic Scholarships and Financial Aid
Baylor University, Waco, Texas
When I ask parents whether they plan to send their child to a Christian college, they often answer, "Well, it depends on how much financial aid we get." As you narrow your selections, I encourage you to look beyond the "sticker price" of a Christian college education and consider the long-term benefits to your child. When students are nurtured and mentored in a stimulating Christian college environment, they not only perform well academically, but I believe they will learn how to apply Christian values to all areas of their adult life. What I am stressing is this: Consider not only the price of the college, but the value of the investment you're making. Yes, a Christian education typically costs more. But even if you have to take out student loans, I firmly believe it's the smartest investment you'll ever make. Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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