Christian College Life
As you narrow your college search, consider if a Christian college is right for you
Is a Christian college right for you? Would you prefer a more conservative Christian college, or a more liberal one?
As you narrow your college search, you may ask yourself: is a Christian college or Christian university right for you? If so, what kind of Christian college? If there are any potential or current Christian college students around, I'd love for you to leave some comments in the discussion! In the meantime, here's a few articles to help all prospective college students narrow their college search:
There are many different Christian colleges to choice from. I taught for three years at a Lutheran college called Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Students had only one specific Christian requirement: they had to take one course about Christianity. There was a beautiful chapel in the middle of campus, and students had the option of attending daily twenty minute services. I was very impressed with how Gustavus incorporated religion into the world of a liberal arts college. Students were encouraged to question the specifics of their faith at the same time that they analyzed other important life questions that came up in classes. Although most students on campus were Christian, students varied greatly in the expression of their specific beliefs.
Other Christian colleges (Pensacola Christian College is a good example) are much more conservative. Some schools are guided by a covenant statement, and students are required to sign a statement agreeing to abide by its principles. Rules at conservative Christian colleges vary quite a bit, but some schools forbid students to dance, drink, have sexual relations, engage in homosexual behavior, or have physical contact with the opposite sex. Chapel and Christian courses are mandatory at conservative schools, and some do not employ faculty members who are not Christian (unlike Gustavus Adolphus College, which welcomed me a Jewish faculty member).
If you are a Christian student looking for a Christian college, no one but you can decide which model will benefit you more. I have several friends who attended conservative Christian colleges because they felt those colleges took Christianity more seriously, and because they were looking for the religious discipline offered by those schools. Some students look to Christian colleges as an alternative to what they see as liberal bias or anti-Christian bias in higher education. Many conservative Christian parents are drawn to these schools for the same reasons.
On the other hand, many students at Gustavus appreciated the opportunity to be exposed to different perspectives on Christianity and other topics as well. They enjoyed the freedom of exploring what their faith would mean to them as adults. Many students and parents feel that college should be a time to challenge one's perspectives and assumptions, and are drawn to Christian liberal arts colleges for this reason.
Remember, all Christian colleges are different, so if you're looking for one, be sure to visit the campus and the school's website. Ask faculty members and students about the school's philosophy and how that philosophy is incorporated into the everyday life of the school.
