Several decisions significantly impact our lives, and choosing the right college to help you open the next chapter of life is such a decision. Most people choose a college that will academically challenge them and channel a path toward a career. Others also choose colleges to help them discover themselves and what they want to do with their lives.
If you have decided you want to attend a Christian college, you will have plenty of these schools in most countries to choose from. How do you ensure your choice is appropriate and suit your dream career? This guide provides 5 useful tips to help you choose a Christian college.
We also invite you to explore Liberty University, Colorado Christian University, Regent University, Grand Canyon University, and Houston Christian University. These faith-based institutions provide a wide range of degree options and are strongly committed to Christian values and education.
1. Religious Practices
If you choose a Christian university, you must be interested in a religious path, or you are a religious person. However, there are many denominations with different religious practices and doctrines to choose from. Christians take choosing a denomination seriously because practices and teachings affect one’s character and general life.
Learning at a faith-based university is often denomination-specific, and your chosen institution should agree with what you believe. For instance, a Christian college may be sponsored by Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopalian, etc., and the teachings and practices of these denominations will feature in your life in college. You want to ensure that you are comfortable with these teachings or practices.
You may consider other college choices if you are not religious or think certain religious practices do not align with your beliefs. However, some Christian colleges separate religious activities from other learning aspects to accommodate non-religious students. If the course you want to study is only offered in a Christian college, choose more liberal and tolerant colleges that make you feel welcome.
2. Degrees Offered
If you are particular about religious universities, you may be interested in pursuing faith-based majors. Maybe you want a faith-related career such as theology, ministry, pastor, priests, divinity, etc., and looking for an institution that provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
If you have a clear career path, selecting the right university to help you accomplish your goals is easy. If you want to a religious graduate study, Divinity school at a Christian college could be the best fit for you. You could also choose a college that offers seminars to students to equip you with additional study material and the ability to network with others in your field of interest.
Furthermore, remember that not all Christian colleges offer the same majors, so take time when researching for undergraduate. Joining and completing a college is a huge investment that takes money and time; ensure you choose a college that serves your education and career goals.
3. Choosing the Right Institution
This factor is a no-brainer when choosing any college, including faith-based ones. A degree from a reputable university will open many career doors for you than from unknown colleges. Quality education is the number one factor that contributes to a college’s reputation. Therefore, you do well to ask what the Christian college is known for and what majors it is excellent at.
Most of faith-based colleges are private, offering an array of degrees not only religious, but in other fields of study. However, you cannot turn a blind eye to quality education as a factor under consideration. Some of these institutions specialize in certain faculties and courses you can pursue to build your career.
You can find out more about a specific college by looking at recent college rankings. Additionally, you can look up the academic qualification of faculty members to establish who will be teaching specific classes or courses. The rankings will also help you review specific degrees and programs before you commit to enrolling.
Alternatively, you could check the reviews of the school you are interested in to see if they offered what you would like to seek. Some Christian colleges may indicate on their website that they offer a certain major and specialize on specific degrees and programs. It is also important to look for any accreditation the institution might have or have received.
4. Fellowship and Ministry on Campus
One of the benefits of attending a Christian college is that all professors share your faith. In addition to keeping your core beliefs, you might also be interested in the institution’s extracurricular activities. You may look up how the school demonstrates its faith and teachings in students’ lives and opportunities. Is the fellowship strongly encouraged in the school through Mass or Chapel requirements? If you want to pursue theology, a Christian college that emphasizes ministry or fellowship allows you to practice.
You can ask these relevant questions when you visit the school or research in more detail online. Most Christian-based colleges and universities have fellowship or ministry groups, with some requiring weekly Chapel attendance to graduate. If the school is far from where you live, you can find this information on their website under Student’s Life. You may also learn about faith-based organizations you can join at the school for your career development.
5. Missionary Opportunities and Community Service
You can build your resume even before graduating by getting involved in service opportunities at the school. However, this can be possible if the college has community service or missionary opportunities for its students. You can use your time off the classroom to help the community and possibly add it to your resume.
Most Christian colleges and universities have established community and missionary programs. You can notice these programs on their website, especially on the first page. The programs often range from local services to international opportunities enabling their students to gain a wealth of experience. Some colleges combine their missionary programs with opportunities to study abroad, providing credit to students doing good to the world; if you want to build a good faith-based career and strong resume while at school, look for universities with these programs.
Conclusion
Not every Christian college has the same values and career development ability. The courses in these institutions may significantly differ, so it is vital to take time and research when choosing a college and what to major in. If you know what you want, it becomes easier to make a selection and advance your career at the right college that aligns with your faith.
