It Doesn't Hurt to Ask | ChristianCollegeGuide.net

The college search can seem overwhelming. So much information to weed through. So many factors to consider. And then there are those "differences of opinion" between you and your child about which school is the best fit. There are certainly a lot of issues to work through on your way to finding that just-right college education for your teen. While there are a lot of ways to tackle this seemingly overwhelming task, the best way to get started is to know you're asking the right questions.

To help you ask the best questions possible, we took a few of our own questions to these admissions experts: Jeanne Nienhuis, Associate Director of Admissions at Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan); Quentin Van Essen, Executive Director of Admissions at Dordt College (Sioux Center, Iowa); Diane Lee, Director of Admissions at Grace University (Omaha, Nebraska); and Ron Anderson, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Asbury College (Wilmore, Kentucky).

"Every school has a unique atmosphere and approach to education. Encourage your student to imagine themselves at the school. Tell them to picture themselves there in two years and ask: What kind of person are you?"

What are the first questions parents should ask themselves and their students at the beginning of the college search?
Mr. Van Essen: As a starting point, they should ask themselves and their teens, What kind of college will fit our family values and beliefs best? This will help determine whether they're going to look at public universities, private Christian colleges, or both.

Ms. Lee: It's important to understand your child well enough to know if they are actually ready for college. Ask yourself questions like: If they aren't ready how can I help him or her prepare? What does my child want to accomplish with a college education? Is it just professional development or is it professional and spiritual development?

Mr. Anderson: The first question you should ask your child is this: What is most important to you over the next four years? Parents should be asking their children, Do you want a certain religious or spiritual foundation in a college? A good residential experience? Are you especially looking for a certain program, like a great music program or particular athletic program?

In considering colleges to apply to, what are the most important, specific questions parents and students should keep in mind?
Mrs. Nienhuis: Students especially should be working through questions like: What kind of school do I want to have shape me? The people developing a student's mind and heart are essentially going to be faculty members. Help your student find out about the faculty in their departments of interest. Will they be full faculty members or teaching assistants? How many have earned Ph.D.s? Meeting faculty of potential colleges is really important.

Mr. Van Essen: A big key is to find out what specific educational philosophy the college is committed to. There are a lot of good Christian colleges, but they're not all the same. Check out the faith statement or philosophy of the college. Does it fit with your belief system?

Ms. Lee: Essential questions include: How accessible are faculty members? Are professors available outside the classroom? Are they willing to develop a relationship with my son or daughter? How caring are the faculty? What is the student-faculty ratio?

Mr. Anderson: Your child should examine the spiritual foundations of the college. He or she should ask: Does this college require me to be a Christian? Here at Asbury, students do not have to be Christians. Students and parents should look into whether there are community standards that you must uphold. What are they?

Do you find there are some questions about potential colleges that students see as more important than parents?
Ms. Lee: Students are usually more concerned about the school's atmosphere: Are people friendly? Am I going to feel like a number or will people know my name? What organizations or activities can I get involved in? Residence halls are a big concern in terms of what the room will look like and if they can bring a TV.

Mr. Anderson: Students look at things with more of a short-term perspective than parents have. We always have to remind ourselves that these are 17-year-olds making decisions. And sometimes, those decisions are based on where their girlfriend or boyfriend is going or what their friends are doing. And they are also making a decision based on who they are right now, in their senior year, but that often changes when fall rolls around. So, there is a short-sidedness there. Parents can help their children in the decision by modeling a "big picture" perspective.

Are there things parents typically focus on that are not as important to students?
Mr. Van Essen: Parents today are often a lot more concerned about safety issues, like campus security. It's definitely one of the top four questions we get asked.

Mr. Anderson: Money is a big factor, obviously. Once that FAFSA is filled out, a lot of colleges might get crossed off the list for parents. But with financial aid, the fact that a school is expensive doesn't have to be a deal breaker. Parents also tend to think a whole lot more about questions like Will there be a job when my student gets out? And that's good. They're the ones asking about placement services. Students never ask those sort of questions when they're still in high school. What are some criteria that parents should be focused on but tend to overlook?

Mrs. Nienhuis: People tend to get sticker shock fairly quickly. They might overlook the value of a private education because they are afraid of the cost they see associated with private institutions. And oftentimes people are afraid of the extra steps associated with financial aid. So it's a good thing to ask about how the real cost may differ from the sticker price and how the school can help.

Mr. Van Essen: Sometimes people forget to ask questions about the programs and opportunities an institution has. I also recommend researching things such as internship possibilities and the college's placement record. Look at particular departments that you are interested in. Many college websites today allow you to correspond not only directly to the college but often to specific departments as well. Those are good places to go for answers to questions.

Mr. Anderson: We are often not asked specifics about the residence life on our campus. We bring it up a lot—the "informal education" that happens in the dorms, such as how you'll grow as a person and in your faith walk. But we rarely hear questions about the residential experience from students and parents. It's actually kind of surprising. The residential experience, in raw numbers of hours, is the greatest part of your college experience.

What questions are helpful when a student is deciding between two or more schools?
Mrs. Nienhuis: My suggestion would be to continue to ask questions about both schools' campus life, culture and mission because all things aren't equal between schools. Every school has a unique atmosphere and approach to education. Encourage your student to imagine themselves at the school. Tell them to picture themselves there in two years and ask: What kind of person are you? How are you different? How can this school help you become the person you want to be?

Ms. Lee: They need to take their questions to God, of course. But besides that, they need to test-drive the campus by visiting it and taking their questions to students, faculty and possibly even alumni. Don't just visit with admissions counselors. We often ask students what the deciding factor was, and they'll say, "After I visited the campus, I just knew. I just felt so comfortable. It felt like home." It's often intangible. It's just a sense of whether you feel at home on a campus or not.

Finally, what do you think parents and students should consider as they think through the role God and faith play during the college decision process?
Mr. Anderson: I always hear stories from new students like, "I first heard about Asbury College from my pastor who graduated from the seminary," or "I had a friend of a friend who went there." As I read through our admissions files for this year I could almost trace how God placed Asbury on their hearts much earlier than just their senior year of high school. I'd encourage families to recognize how God may be leading them through various circumstances in their lives.

Mr. Van Essen: There's a lot of anxiety when it comes to the question of what God wants for your life. I tell students that there's a plan for each of our lives. The plan for you was put into action before you were even born. There's a comfort in that. God puts people, events and circumstances in your path to help you find out what his plan is. I encourage them to remind their students that the main point of life is just serving God, and there are a number of majors you could choose or things you could be involved in that will let you do that. Helping your child see it that way can be helpful because a huge weight can be lifted off them.