Choosing a good college, help!

I would say the hometown school or big school. Universities have faith communities for their students so you can be around other fellow Christians.

Mary Meg said:

I'm completely overwhelmed by this life-changing decision and all the options before me.

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Congratulations on your acceptance. You should be very proud of yourself. Having gone through this with my daughter a few years ago I advocate prudence in your decision. I would heartily advise you to avoid an institution that will result in debt down the road. It may appear to be a small thing right now but it will hinder your options more than you realize.

My daughter is 28 years old. Her affinity for Suze Orman and my aversion to debt have placed her in a good position. She's able to pursue her purpose and build a business from home. She'll be able to leave the workforce next year for good. That would be impossible if you'd saddled yourself with financial responsibilities.

You mentioned several schools. Would the local options allow you greater experiences like studying abroad, research, or something else you'd love to do but would be cost prohibitive?

How do you occupy your time outside of study? Do you have hobbies or activities that bring you joy? Could you see yourself doing them for a living? And since you mentioned beautiful things, what does that include? Do you write as well? I'm going somewhere with these questions.

Mary Meg said:

What are some Christian groups? And how do I find out if a school has them?

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I'm a part of IVCF in Canada but it's American & at a lot of schools in the US. I love it so much! They had a summer camp before the school yr started for fellowship. It was GREAT. I made a lot of amazing friends then. It made going to a big university so much less scary.

One of my friends from IRL is a member here & she also goes to a secular college that has a great Christian community. Idk the name of the group she's in though. I think it's one that is at more campuses than just hers. She hasn't been on here in forever but I'll tag her so she can come reply & tell you more if she comes back. I'll try to bug her to come back, lol. @Stanfordella

Mary Meg said:

What are some Christian groups? And how do I find out if a school has them?

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Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
Navigators
Campus Crusade for Christ (baptist)
Campus Action (assembly of God)

Check out their websites for their local chapters.

For the first couple years, curricula is pretty much identical, and there really isn't a whole lot of difference even in years three and four for a given major, whether you go to a huge ivy league or a smaller local state school. Ie, Calc 1 is going to cover pretty much the same material irrespective of where you attend.

That being said, there are huge differences...

In larger schools, in the first year, you could will be in a classroom with of hundreds of students, and it might be taught by TA's (teaching assistants), who may be teaching for their first time, who may or may not have command of the English language, and are often teaching material they themselves crammed for only a few years prior. Granted, a professor has overall responsibility for the class, but don't be surprised at the inexperience of the lecturer, grader, or tutor. If you are a motivated student and work hard, this is a non-issue, and can be a means of teaching yourself how to learn. If you are struggling, this can be too much to deal with.

In some schools, your classes may be taught be part time adjunct professors / lecturers. This can be a great thing if they bring real life work experience into the classroom. Ie, my music history prof was a session musician, one of my comp sci profs was an upper level programmer from an F500 company. In other cases, its a situation where the school is trying to be cheap... so rather than hiring folks for the long haul, they rely on 1 yr contracts, and your experience as a student can vary a great deal.

Information on the use of adjuncts, TA's, and classroom size is generally hidden from view... but this is where campus visits can be a huge deal. Ie, ask students who is the best prof for Calc 1, how big is the class, who teaches it, how hard is it to get into prof X class, as contrasted with a recently hired lecturer. (And define best as the best teacher rather than the easiest). You can get some prelimary info on this from cross checking dept staff listings with reviews on ratemyprofessor.com bearing in mind, some students are lazy, or may carry grudges as a professor wouldn't bend on grade inflation etc.

Connections you make in school can be invaluable during your career. Such is the primary value added of the Ivy league and some Christian schools but it is career path as well as regionally dependent. Alumni connections can be a means of getting past gatekeepers, and/or making immediate connection with a potential employer, or even buyer of goods and services. Likewise, some professor recommendations may carry huge weight in the STEM fields, ie, if professor Bob says hire this person, in some cases that's an 80% win on the hiring process right there. Lastly student to student connections can make a difference too. That being said... unless you are quite certain as to your career path, jumping into the ivy leagues and/or some Christian schools, short of a full scholarship, and/or being independently wealthy far too often come backs to haunt folks with insane levels of debt.

Mary Meg said:

I do love writing! I've done some drawing and painting. I also love reading, looking at art, going to antique or thrift stores, cooking... hiking, camping, outdoors, travel. I like the romantic idea of being a writer for a living... but most of what I write I don't feel comfortable sharing! I would have to find something to write about that people want to read...

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I had a feeling you did but I wanted to confirm it first.

Every topic you've mentioned can and has been written about. But let's dig a little deeper and find common bonds. Which three are you the most knowledgeable about?

In your previous post you mentioned beautiful things. That can be demonstrated in material goods, surroundings, meals, nature, and far off places. I don't think your notion of writing for a living is romantic. As a matter of fact, it's never been easier today.

How might you articulate 'beauty' as a college student...graduate...and so on? It's a theme that you could readily address through all seasons of your life. Our want for beauty doesn't disappear at graduation or when you land your first job. It remains through marriage, family, and more.

In fact, the desire is usually greatest when life's demands make its indulgence less likely. Many live vicariously through the exploits of others (magazines, blogs, videos) who bring a slice of beauty into their lives. Instagram and Pinterest readily attest to this truth.

Mary Meg said:

Hi. I'm a Christian girl just about to graduate high school and I need to decide on a college to attend by May 1. I applied to and was accepted to a BUNCH of schools, and now I have no idea what to do... All of these offered me good scholarships. I'm completely overwhelmed by this life-changing decision and all the options before me.

A little about me: I'm quiet and shy, an introvert (INFP), serious and studious and faithful but also I also like to have fun sometimes! I was homeschooled and make good grades. I have different ideas about what I want to study... I'm fascinated by science and good at math and interested in computers, but also I love reading and literature and art and beautiful things. I have no idea what I want to do for a career. I get along pretty well with people but am not very social.

I need advice in how to think about this, what things to consider, how to weigh the options, any other advice you can give.

Basically here are my choices:

1. The Local School. We have a pretty good sized state university in our city that is big on science and engineering but pretty good on liberal arts too. I like the idea of a university because I could try studying different things to help me find what I love. I could live at home or live in a dorm, but I could be home in less than hour whenever I live. This is appealing in some ways -- it feels safe -- but I also dream of going someplace else...

2. The Big University. There's a big state university in my state (actually two, but for simplicity's sake let's say one), with lots and lots of students, many things to study, dorms and apartments and things to do. They are strong in science and liberal arts and just really big. I would live in a dorm. This is about 3-4 hours from home so I could come home when I really wanted to but not on a whim. This is really exciting to think about but also very scary. What if I get lost in the crowd? What if it swallows me whole? What if I love it?

3. The Christian School. There's a good-sized, well-respected Christian college about 2 hours away from home. I would live in a dorm, and I love the campus and it seems like an enriching place for my faith and I love that. It also has academic programs in both science and arts, though the liberal arts is stronger and the science not as strong or diverse. I would feel safe here. It's in a large city so I would have things to do around if I wanted to, or I could stay on campus... It seems like a really good idea, but this is the most expensive and the least financial aid.

4. The Far-Off School. There are actually several larger colleges and universities I applied to between 8-12 hours away. The thought of these is exciting but also way scary so I think maybe I can rule them out now that I sit down to write about it.

I guess basically -- how do I even approach a major decision like this? I pray and talk to my parents but still feel totally overwhelmed and anxious.

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Pray persistently. If you don't get God's answer right away, maybe he wants you to find a job near home in order to have time to sort things out. But I say, pray, pray, pray. You don't have to go to a college or university right away.

Mary Meg said:

I like that. I haven't really been involved much in social media but maybe I can try it. I've heard Pinterest is fun... maybe I'll try that.

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Pinterest is a search engine. A lot like Google. You can create boards based on themes and add valuable content (your own and what you find on the site). Your actions will draw attention to your account which results in others sharing and saving your content. Which leads to followers and traffic to your website. The latter is the aim. This brings eyes to the wonderful things you're writing.

In your situation, I'd create a blog and start writing. I would share my content on Pinterest and build my boards. It doesn't take long. You can pin a few minutes per day. Schedulers are easier and Tailwind is the best. It isn't expensive.

You'll begin to gain traction which will bring eyes to your site. As your engagement grows so will the traffic. You can track its progress in Google Analytics. At a specific threshold your site would qualify for monetization. This is when advertisers bid for a spot on the blog. The best are AdThrive and Mediavine. You could earn an income from these payments. They arrive once per month.

Your blog could become the avenue for the full-time writing career you envision. It is much easier to implement when you aren't saddled with responsibility or debt. You have the luxury of time on your side. And you aren't desperate for income. You can build the site and your following at a pace that's comfortable.

If you've ever wondered how people make money with a blog or work from home. This is the usual course.

My advice is, you may want to go to community college to take your basics if you are not sure with what you want to major in. But if you do know what you want to major in, I would go based off of how much they offered you, how far or close you want to be to your parents, and the environment you would like to be in.

OP

Congratulations on your sincere attitude, your hard work, and gaining acceptance to good schools.

Do not go to a community college. Or a Christian university. Look through the colleges that accrpted you, compare their ratings, and choose the BEST college that you can get into.

I strongly suggest that you major in science, engineering, computers, biotech, health, or business. America is a country whose lifeblood is business and technology. You will be able to get a good job if you stay focused in these areas. One particularly good area right now is biotechnology ... a lot of jobs there!

There is nothing wrong with art, literature and music. They are wonderful, and you have your whole life to enjoy them. But they will not get you a good job in America. It is far better to choose a professional area with excellent job prospects. Otherwise. after your 4-year degree you will be seeing your friends buy houses, getting married, and going forwards - and meanwhile you will be working at a pizza store.

Blessings!

Mary Meg said:

Hi. I'm a Christian girl just about to graduate high school and I need to decide on a college to attend by May 1. I applied to and was accepted to a BUNCH of schools, and now I have no idea what to do... All of these offered me good scholarships. I'm completely overwhelmed by this life-changing decision and all the options before me.

A little about me: I'm quiet and shy, an introvert (INFP), serious and studious and faithful but also I also like to have fun sometimes! I was homeschooled and make good grades. I have different ideas about what I want to study... I'm fascinated by science and good at math and interested in computers, but also I love reading and literature and art and beautiful things. I have no idea what I want to do for a career. I get along pretty well with people but am not very social.

I need advice in how to think about this, what things to consider, how to weigh the options, any other advice you can give.

Basically here are my choices:

1. The Local School. We have a pretty good sized state university in our city that is big on science and engineering but pretty good on liberal arts too. I like the idea of a university because I could try studying different things to help me find what I love. I could live at home or live in a dorm, but I could be home in less than hour whenever I live. This is appealing in some ways -- it feels safe -- but I also dream of going someplace else...

2. The Big University. There's a big state university in my state (actually two, but for simplicity's sake let's say one), with lots and lots of students, many things to study, dorms and apartments and things to do. They are strong in science and liberal arts and just really big. I would live in a dorm. This is about 3-4 hours from home so I could come home when I really wanted to but not on a whim. This is really exciting to think about but also very scary. What if I get lost in the crowd? What if it swallows me whole? What if I love it?

3. The Christian School. There's a good-sized, well-respected Christian college about 2 hours away from home. I would live in a dorm, and I love the campus and it seems like an enriching place for my faith and I love that. It also has academic programs in both science and arts, though the liberal arts is stronger and the science not as strong or diverse. I would feel safe here. It's in a large city so I would have things to do around if I wanted to, or I could stay on campus... It seems like a really good idea, but this is the most expensive and the least financial aid.

4. The Far-Off School. There are actually several larger colleges and universities I applied to between 8-12 hours away. The thought of these is exciting but also way scary so I think maybe I can rule them out now that I sit down to write about it.

I guess basically -- how do I even approach a major decision like this? I pray and talk to my parents but still feel totally overwhelmed and anxious.

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My advice as a former college student who went away for college:

If you are this unsure and overwhelmed, start small. For some people, taking the flying leap of faith over the edge of the cliff is enough to get them going. You strike me as a person who needs to go into things gradually. I would pick the local school or the Christian school so that you'll be grounded in something familiar (your home and your faith). Big universities have a nasty way of pulling you away from your faith whether you know it or not (I've experienced this) and they are definitely not Christian friendly in any way, shape, or form despite them having "Christian" clubs.

As for what you should study, as an art major, I say study math and science. The world is getting to be an uglier place and it is increasingly hard to get jobs in the liberal arts if you can get one at all. Not saying you can take liberal arts classes to learn more and be able to use your artistic talents. But do not pick liberal arts to major in unless you want to be saddled with debt for the rest of your life and no guarantee of a job to pay them off.

You mentioned that you are good with computers too. Maybe Computer Science is something that is up your alley. With the way our world is increasingly relying on technology, that might be something to look into.

Mary Meg said:

Thanks. I think that definitely describes me... not wanting to be too far from home...

The Christian school I am talking about is Samford University. It's a Southern Baptist university and has a very good reputation for faith... although it is denominational and founded in the 1800s. Any thoughts about that?

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I'm sorry, but I know next to nothing about Samford other than the name and some vague feeling that it is a quality institution. However, I think that it usually is not too difficult to get the feel of one of these colleges; you have to investigate a bit by asking other people who have been there, making a campus visit, and reading what you can about the place--perhaps especially that. Consider the following for example: Most Conservative Colleges in Alabama

Mary Meg said:

I guess basically -- how do I even approach a major decision like this? I pray and talk to my parents but still feel totally overwhelmed and anxious.

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Whatever you do, don't wait around for some supernatural "sign," some "liver shiver," to direct you in your choice. Weigh the pros and cons of the various institutions, as you seem already to have done, commit your way to the Lord, apply His wisdom, principles and commands to the choices before you, hold Him and His will supreme in your life, and then simply choose one, trusting God to open or close the path you've chosen.

God's specific will for each individual believer is always made evident in the midst of their carefully obeying His general will for all believers revealed in His word, the Bible. The believer most confused about God's particular will for them is also always the believer who is neglecting (or unwilling) to obey God in those things He has already told them to do in His word (Love Him above all, love one's neighbor as one's self, be holy as He is holy, live to God's glory in all things, be a careful student of God's word, etc).

Proverbs 3:5-6
1 Corinthians 10:31