College Tips: Applying to Christian Colleges

When you're finishing up high school and beginning to think about college, there are so many things to consider. It can truly be overwhelming. And when you're looking into Christian colleges, you also want to ensure that you're choosing an institution that aligns with your values and beliefs. At first, all of this might seem daunting, especially when you realize how much more goes into the college experience than just choosing a major or minor.

While we can’t make the college application process easy, we can offer some tips to help you be as prepared as possible. You can take several steps before applying to colleges to maximize your chances of success and find a school that truly aligns with your needs and interests. College is about more than just studying, and when you're applying to colleges, especially a Christian one, they will look at more than just your academic record.

What Colleges Look For

Often, your application will be a combination of your academic record, extracurricular activities, community involvement, academic tests, and perhaps, statements of purpose or even admissions essays. What each college requires will vary, so you'll want to make sure you have a detailed understanding of what each institution is looking for in an applicant. 

Here are a few tips on how to best prepare yourself for applying to Christian colleges.

Attend Christian College Fairs

Attending a Christian College Fair provides a valuable opportunity for prospective students and their families to explore a variety of Christian colleges and universities in one location. Representatives from each institution offer insights into academic programs, campus life dynamics, financial aid options, and how the college integrates faith into its educational philosophy. This event allows you to gather comprehensive information that can shape your college decisions and help you find the ideal fit for your educational and spiritual growth. If you are already planning to attend a Christian college fair, check out our blog for guidance on what questions to ask at a college fair so you feel prepared!

Go for a Campus Visit

A campus visit allows potential students to check out the campus, its facilities, and talk to academic advisors. This is a great opportunity to see if you like the look and feel of the campus and to ask specific questions to people who have the know-how and knowledge of the institution. These visits will allow you to see the dorm rooms and other campus facilities. It can also be nice for parents to inspect the campus to ensure they are satisfied with the academic rigor, campus safety, and more.

Build a List of Options, Not Just One School

Everybody has their dream school, the one you hope more than anything to attend. Maybe your family went there, or it is a prestigious institution. It’s great to have goals and a preferred school, but it’s not wise to put all your eggs in one basket. Colleges are competitive and may only admit a certain number of students. 

We recommend building a list of several different schools you think are worth attending. This will give you options and backups. If you get accepted to more than one school, you can use your personal rankings to determine which will be best for your values, academic goals, and personal needs.

Make Sure You Meet the Requirements

It can be confusing, but different Christian schools will have different requirements. All will want a detailed record of your academic achievements. Most will also want to know about extracurricular activities you are involved in and any community involvement you may take part in. Additionally, many will have some sort of testing requirement. For example, they may want you to submit SAT or ACT (or both) scores.

Some institutions will have their own entrance exams that you need to schedule. Other common requirements for college applications are letters of recommendation. These are letters from teachers, community leaders, employers, etc., that attest to your character, skills, education, experience, drive, and more. If any of the colleges you are applying to require letters of recommendation, make sure you know how many they want and what they are looking for in these letters. This will help you when you approach potential letter writers.

Be Prepared For Possible Admission Essays

Colleges will sometimes ask for a personal statement or other admissions essay. The personal statement is the most common written item requested with a college application. This is where you will explain what you want to study and hope to gain from your education. It is an opportunity to lay out your academic and life goals and explain how the institution in question can help you achieve them.

If you are applying to a college that requires a personal statement, meeting with your guidance counselor is a great way to get resources to help you write the best possible statement.

Final Thoughts 

The point is that all colleges have requirements, but they may differ from place to place. Make sure you know the requirements of each institution and that you have met the requirements before applying. It is also important that you meet the application deadlines.

Students may find that applying for college is confusing and a bit intimidating. And that’s okay, it sort of is! But we hope that this guide helps make it at least a little easier. The most important thing to know is that there are resources and people out there who can help you along this next step in life.