Choosing a good college, help!

Brian Mcnamee

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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. :neutral:

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.
Many of the schools are places where you get a real good indoctrination... If you spent 3 years in a trade school you can actually get a skill that you can use to obtain employment or start your own business.
 
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Thanks... This is really helpful advice.

I definitely think it's helpful advice too! :) I'm currently at a HUGE public university where I'm thriving in all regards & my faith has been fortified. The campus is more secular & it's in a city that is mostly secular, but if anything it's caused Christians to unite more strongly bc we need to support one another. I think Alabama has a way higher percentage of ppl who are Christians, so the odds are sooooooo much greater that even if you go to the state universities instead of to the Christian college, you'll still be able to make plenty of awesome Christian friends! I bet there's a heap of churches near those colleges & plenty of students who are active in their groups! I really don't have any doubt at all you could make wonderful friends who will help to keep you strong in faith.

Overall I think the state universities will offer far more value while costing so, so, SO much less than a private Christian college. Especially if they're in-state. You will probably have many more classes & majors to choose from, more options for social activities, & more opportunities both in college and once you've graduated. Plus since the big state universities have graduate schools you'd have the option of staying put instead of having to relocate in 4 years and find a new church to put your roots in. You may be able to start a grad degree while finishing your undergrad, which would save you time & money.

The big state schools are well-known so you'll never have to explain them to any potential employer or graduate school. There are probably way more employers who recruit at the big colleges. You'll be a part of a much bigger alumni network & that could help you out & give you important connections. My parents went to the same college but at different times, & they met each other at an alumni event years after they'd graduated!

A lot of the big universities have honour programs you can apply to be in, so you'd have smaller classes if you were in one. Even at ones that don't, the classes are smaller once you are in your major.

I don't want to be negative towards Christian colleges bc I know some people have had amazing experiences at them. If your heart was set on going to one I wouldn't discourage you but since you're considering other options I'll just be honest. One of my friends is currently finishing her 1st year at a Christian college, & it's going to be her last. She's been a Christian her whole life & thought going to a Christian college would enrich her faith, but it did the opposite. One major surprise to her is that a lot of the kids who go there aren't practicing Christians! There are exceptions but a lot of Christian colleges are much easier to get into, including the one she's attending. It has like an 88% admit rate & a rolling deadline, whereas the state universities are much more competitive & have firm deadlines. So some of the kids who are going to her college & probably other Christian colleges too simply wanted to go away for college but hadn't gotten into the other schools. Her college costs almost $60,000 a year, so even with several scholarships her parents have spent thousands more than they would have if she'd just gone to a state school. The state school she's transferring to is actually ranked much higher & has a higher percentage of graduates who land jobs in their career or get into good graduate schools! It has a Christian coed fraternity and she's already made friends in it, so she's excited. So definitely in her case, and probably in many, many others, the public university is a stronger return on investment. I hope you end up happy & doing great at whichever college you end up attending!
 
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Dorothy Mae

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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. :neutral:

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.
I recommend you give your life to the Lord and ask Him what you should do. I did and never regretted it and, in fact, am blessed by both the choices He made and how I learned to hear His voice through it all.
 
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hedrick

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I work at a large state University. I have some comments based on that experience.

First, a big school has both advantages and disadvantages. The major State schools typically have strong programs in a variety of areas. They also have lots of resources. Faculty are doing research in lots of areas; there is a large variety of student groups.

However to take advantage of it, a student needs to take charge. If you treat it like high school, and just kind of go with the program, you won’t get to know any faculty or participate in any of the good things the institution has. But if you take time to find out what opportunities are there and go out of your way to do things, you’ll have access to things you wouldn’t at a smaller school. By the way, this does not require you to be an extrovert. It’s not about being extroverted, but about planning.

This applies to Christianity as well. A Christian college will try to get you involved. But big state schools have Christian fellowships. You just have to look for them. And I’d encourage you to get involved in a local church. It’s time to start transitioning from specific youth programs to being a responsible adult Christian.

But it’s hard to generalize about institutions based on size. There are differences. Some do a better job than others of giving undergrads opportunities to get involved. Some have honors programs — if you’re qualified — that make a big difference.

It’s also not true that all schools are the same academically. Our institution is legally required to accept transfers of credit from some other institutions. One of our problems is that in fact some of those institutions don’t prepare students for their coursework here. They have courses that sound the same but aren’t. I don’t know anything about the specific institutions you’re considering, but I’d investigate. If they’re in your state, you might talk to a faculty member at the big State institution. They’ll know the smaller institutions in your state.

One way to check would be to look at the range of SAT scores for students. SAT has limitations, but it's the only easily available measure I know. You want to be with kids who are at least as smart as you are. Otherwise the coursework won't be up to the level you can handle. However schools also have different strengths. Of course if you don't know what major you want, I'm not sure quite what you can do with this information. But if you check national rankings of various departments you'll see that schools often have areas where they're strong and weak. But better large institutions will have fewer weak areas.

Also, talk to students at the institutions you’re considering. Find out what their experience is.
 
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I went to a small Christian college about five hours away from my parents house. I wanted to go someplace that was close enough for me to get home in the event of an emergency, but far enough away for me to be on my own. I was glad I did that. I think that living in a dorm or apartment is a big part of the college experience, people who live at home and commute don't have the same experience. You said that you have visited most of the schools to which you have applied. That is important. You are going to be spending four years of your life on campus; make sure you will like it before you enroll. I enjoyed the Christian college that I attended, but don't think that you must attend a Christian college. Secular schools will have plenty of Christian extra-curricular groups that you can join.

Good luck in making your decision, and enjoy the upcoming four years!
 
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bhayes

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What are you interested in as a career?

If you figure that out then go to the university that offers the cheapest path to that.

But keep in mind that now a days a bachelors of science isn't enough anymore, you rack up lots of debt and your degree won't get you a job. Also know that liberal arts have very few job opportunities, same with science in a way unless you wanted to go to medicine or academia. Computer science and engineering are a growing field. Just pray about it and don't be covetous as you may end up not making it.

Trades now a days are very good, and you get guaranteed employment and its much cheaper.
 
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Foxfyre

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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. :neutral:

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.

Actually, if you honestly have no idea what you want to major in or what to do with your life, Andrew77 - Post #10 - has a good point. The only way to know what is your aptitude and calling is to get out in the world and work in it and find it.

Except that you don't want to lose your scholarship. So you may need to go ahead and commit, but don't rule out working in the real world as well.

College can be an exhilarating and edifying experience if you are able to establish a sense of supportive community--one with the right values of course. It can be extremely lonely and hostile if you do not.

I don't know whether you are progressive or conservative in your faith, politics, socioeconomic views etc. but if you choose a college where the professors and student body are almost entirely opposite your core beliefs and convictions, especially if you are conservative and they are not, you are far more likely to find yourself in the lonely and hostile environment. So try to find out as much about that as possible before you commit.
 
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Albion

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Except that you don't want to lose your scholarship. So you may need to go ahead and commit....
Yes. In the midst of all the "maybe this" but also "maybe that" kind of advice we have been offering Mary Meg, I keep coming back in my thoughts to your point.

Scholarships are normally given out to incoming freshmen, so that if she takes one of the other routes such as working awhile or attending a local college while she decides on her ultimate goals, etc. her longer-term financial situation may be damaged .

All in all, its a tough decision to face when many alternatives are open.
 
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gideon123

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When I suggested earlier to avoid a Christian College ... I am not opposed to these universities. If you want yo be a missionary or a pastor, or you want a general education, a Christian school could be an excellent choice.

But ... if you want a job with a good salary and a profession when you graduate, thats a whole different matter. Then the advice to look at engineering, biotech, computers etc. Is very good. Why am I saying this? Go and look at searches on Monster.com and see the job adds. Look very carefully. There are only good jobs in very specific areas. America is not a country with broad opportunities now. You need to plan very carefully, dont get too emotional, and use your thinking skills. Otherwise you will wind up with a college degree and no job. That is not a happy outcome. So - to explain clearly - the reason for the suggestion about not going to a Christian school ... it is the practical matter that the 4 year secular colleges have the best degrees in technical fields.

I do agree with all the people who suggested that you pray. I also advise you not to turn down scholarships, esp. If they are in science, math or engineering.

Blessings!
 
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salt-n-light

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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. :neutral:

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.


Don't go expensive if you don't need to be. First off, pick a situation where you will owe the least for your education. It sounds like all your choices will serve you well in the science. I would go local so that its a low-cost way to explore what you would want to do as a career and get enough info to get into workforce. I would also aim for internship opportunity while in school.These days, peopel do a gap year to explore their choices, have you also considered that? It may help you flush out more of what you want without paying for it.

The big investments like going away I would only reserve that if 1. The area you are going to is an area that is known to be big in that field. So for example going to New York City is beneficial because I want to major in flim or broadway and I plan to be in that area anyways. I wouldn't go out-of-state for just plain nursing, or being a school teacher.
or 2. grad school, which at that time you should be already pursuing that career and you just want a chance for a couple of year to explore more of that niche that you are working for. You should also have enough income to support that.

Anything else I would be low-cost and working on applying what you learn in college years with networking, the library, and internships. And if thats too much, do a gap year and explore.
 
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Mary Meg

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College can be an exhilarating and edifying experience if you are able to establish a sense of supportive community--one with the right values of course. It can be extremely lonely and hostile if you do not.

I don't know whether you are progressive or conservative in your faith, politics, socioeconomic views etc. but if you choose a college where the professors and student body are almost entirely opposite your core beliefs and convictions, especially if you are conservative and they are not, you are far more likely to find yourself in the lonely and hostile environment. So try to find out as much about that as possible before you commit.

How would I go about finding out about this? :openmouth:
 
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Mary Meg

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Thanks to everybody who has replied. I feel a lot better in some ways...

I think the needle has dipped a ways toward one of the Big Schools. Like I said, there are two, so maybe I will have to post about that decision too...

I like the idea of there being a lot of things I can study and do, a lot of opportunities to learn and experience and advance, better recognition by employers... I think the Christian School might be "safe" (then again, maybe not) and familofa but also possibly limiting in some ways. They are definitely not as strong in sciences and I really think I would like to study STEM.

I am pretty scared about the size of the Big School but encouraged by all everyone has said about Christian groups. I am worried about hostile, liberal professors... How can I allay that fear?

I might consider going to the Local School for a year, but as some of you have pointed out, I might lose my scholarships to the others if I turn them down now.
 
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Sketcher

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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...
A job doesn't have to be any of those things - but it should enable you to do those things at least semi-regularly.

You don't have to decide on your major right away, but when you do, look at long-term career prospects. Is it a wide open field, or a small one? Do people who work in it with the level of credentials you intend to obtain get paid well, or not? How much do you have to spend (tuition, training equipment/software, travel expenses, etc) to get into the field? Does the work seem like a good challenge, or drudgery? How many hours a week to people in the field have to work? On average how long does it take for people in that field to burn out?

You can change your major too, that's allowed. But do keep all of this in mind, and the price tag of the education you intend to get. So many students spend more years paying for school than they were in school, they just kept taking out loans until they were tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

What are some Christian groups? And how do I find out if a school has them?
There should be a Campus Life office with a directory of clubs and associations. That's one place to start looking. They will likely have old information, so some of the groups may be defunct. Therefore, look at who is actively advertising their presence. This tends to happen the most when classes start in the fall.

Campus ministries are tight associations where Christians can be encouraged and are instructed on growing in the faith. They go on trips together, they meet once or more a week. Some will be officially or unofficially associated with a local church. I went to one, and we had a lot of fun - the usual college vices of drinking, drugs, and fornication just weren't on our radar at all. There's also opportunity for short-term missions trips though them. Find one where the students themselves help each other grow not only as Christians but also as people.

My friends who went to Christian universities didn't have those. They did have chapel as a requirement, and their own short-term mission opportunities, and internships more closely connected to outside ministries, though.
 
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I am pretty scared about the size of the Big School but encouraged by all everyone has said about Christian groups. I am worried about hostile, liberal professors... How can I allay that fear?
Differentiating between what they are actually experts in, and what it is they are talking about is a major part of it. When a biology professor talks about biology, he's an expert. When he talks about theology or philosophy or history or economics, he's just another person with an opinion.

Also, consider what is the professor there to do? What class are you taking, and does he seem genuinely interested in teaching that subject? The degree to which I would expect a professor to be hostile is essentially how far his commentary is off of that subject. And does he welcome debate or new information when it is framed in the context of what it is that everyone is supposed to be learning. Asking a question about something that seems to contradict his point and how it fits in seems to be a good way to frame it. Daniel answered Nebuchadnezzar's guard with wisdom and tact (Daniel 2:14-17), and quite a bit of that wisdom would have come from Proverbs due to the education he would have had prior to being taken. Read Proverbs for starters.

Also, remember that unbelievers are not immune to having logical fallacies in their objections to the Christian faith, or an orthodox understanding of the faith. Learn to recognize those openings.
 
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hedrick

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The hostile professors thing is overrated. There's been a fair amount of research done on bias in academia and its effect on conservative students, which would include conservative Christians. Here's a review of much of that work: Research confirms that professors lean left, but questions assumptions about what this means for conservatives. Most of the work suggests that conservatives do just fine.

One of the problems is defining hostility. To the extent that certain Christian groups hold views that are false, they're going to get into trouble. If you think there's no global warming, you're going to have trouble in courses where that's an issue. If you don't believe in evolution, you're going to find biology challenging. If you believe in a flat earth and deny the Big Bang, you're going to find astronomy difficult. People with these views will likely see college as hostile to them. In political and religious areas, colleges should allow alternative views, but you should not expect a college to make allowances for people who believe in a flat earth, reject evolution, etc. (Of course you can learn something without believing it. But that's going to make for a kind of weird experience.)

I would generally recommend that Christians take at least a New Testament course in college. But in State schools, and even some Christian schools, you'll find that what is taught conflicts with what conservative Christians believe. There's not a lot that can be done about that; it's the nature of the evidence. Religion faculty will normally be sensitive to students from conservative Christian backgrounds. But they're still going to have to present the current views of scholars; that's their job.
 
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Skittles

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Congratulations Mary Meg. When you pray about this what promptings do you get from the Holy Spirit?

Also - there are fields like architecture and industrial design that combine the left brian/right brain intelligence you seem to possess. So don’t assume it’s a pure binary choice.
 
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Foxfyre

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How would I go about finding out about this? :openmouth:

I would ask. I would ask when I visit the campus. I would ask some students. I would ask the admissions person.

And I would review the curriculum. If you see a lot of courses suggesting sensitivity, white privilege, evils of capitalism, transgender stuff etc. etc. you probably have a very liberal/progressive school were it will be much harder to develop community if you are conservative but you will be right at home if you are liberal/progressive. (I personally would not allow a child of mine to attend such a university if I was going to help pay for it, but that is just me.)

If you see a lot of courses addressing Constitution, economics, American and world history, and other basic subjects and a minimum of the 'consciousness raising' stuff, you probably have a non political, non socioeconomic emphasis and a university that educates instead of indoctrinates where you will more easily find community if you are conservative. Take care though that course titles are not deceiving--read the description for the course and not just the title.

Any university is going to be a very lonely place for you unless you make some friends and develop a sense of community where you feel like you belong. And choosing the right college for you can have a large bearing on that.

DISCLOSURE OF MOTIVE: I know I included some personal bias here so I was not as objective as I could have been. But I must follow my conscience and disclose that I do want students to start choosing schools that encourage consideration of all points of view, that promote critical thinking, that teach the actual history and not that revised for sociopolitical purposes, that actually educate instead of indoctrinate. In the best schools your professors will not shy away from hard questions or any subject, but will provide you with information to make up your own mind rather than require you to embrace their personal beliefs and convictions. In the best schools you won't be able to detect what your professor's personal beliefs and convictions are.
 
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