Colleges

[Scott_Woods]

Hey everyone. I'm going to be a senior in high school next year, so it's time to start looking for colleges. I've started looking at a good number of them already, but I would love to hear what kind of experience fellow Christians have at the universities I'm considering. I'd like to hear your input on the environment at the college, and what kind of interaction you have as a Christian on campus. But first, a little info on me...

I'm undecided as to what major or possible career to pursue. I'm considering going pre-med or pre-law. I want to go to a school with good academics, but I would also highly value a Christian environment. With that said, here are the main schools I'm looking at:

Duke University (Durham, NC)
Pepperdine Universite (Malibu, CA)
UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)
UCSD (San Diego, CA)
Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA)
USC (Los Angeles, CA)
Fordham University (New York, NY)

As you can see, I haven't narrowed it down too much. Any input would be highly appreciated.

 

[broken_one]

As a San Diegan Wesleyan P), I got some questions to help you out:

-GPA? SAT/ACT Scores? How will these scores affect your admissions/scholarship situation?

-Any certain preference between these schools (can you make a "ranking" in your head)?

-Do you like the cold?

-Do you prefer driving to go places, or walking to ones that are close together?

-Do you like being with a bunch of people all the time, or not?

Asking simple questions can help narrow things down, and put them in perspective. Or you could just go with the place that gives you the biggest scholarship, like I did.

 

[Scott_Woods]

-GPA? SAT/ACT Scores? How will these scores affect your admissions/scholarship situation?
GPA=4.615, class rank 7/493, 2150 on SAT (710 reading comprehension, 690 math, 750 writing)

-Any certain preference between these schools (can you make a "ranking" in your head)?
Not really. UCLA would be great, but I'm cautious about the class size, competition, and Christian environment. I'm also worried about Pepperdine's "snobbishness/elitism" that I've heard about and the quality of academics in the smaller Christian schools.

-Do you like the cold?
I haven't had enough experience with it yet. If I'm looking more seriously at going to the East Coast, I really would have to visit to experience the culture and climate.

-Do you prefer driving to go places, or walking to ones that are close together?
Not too much of a preference. I could do either of course, but I think walking would be nice.

-Do you like being with a bunch of people all the time, or not?
I'm fairly social, I like big groups, just not necessarily 24/7.


Haha, yes, the biggest factors that I haven't figured out yet are my major and how much money I'm going to be offered.

Oh, and, in case you don't want to assume, I abstain from drugs, sex, and alcohol. I realize that's a major part of some colleges...

 

[DeathMagus]

-GPA? SAT/ACT Scores? How will these scores affect your admissions/scholarship situation?
GPA=4.615, class rank 7/493, 2150 on SAT (710 reading comprehension, 690 math, 750 writing)

Most Unis don't consider course weighting, so you'll want to know your unweighted GPA.

 

[Scott_Woods]

Oh, right... it's on my transcript, but I'm too lazy to find it. Should be around 3.9 or so

 

[Salvation7]

Hi Scott,

Your are obviously a good student, so you have a shot at most, if not all of these excellent universities. The biggest choice you are going to make is attending a secular school or a Christian school. In one, you will be spending a fair amount of energy being "Salt and Light" to most of the people around you. At a Christian campus, you will be growing in your faith and supporting other believers in their walk.

It appears that you are on the West Coast, so I would highly recommend planning and attending the formal Orientation days that each of these campuses offers (Pepperdine, UCLA, UCSD, Point Loma Nazarene University(PLNU), Westmont and USC). You will get a good feel and overview of each campus, which should make you choice easier. Our daughter just completed her Freshman year at Point Loma, and she is very happy there. Excellent location in a great city. A lot of people do not know this, but PLNU's pre-med and nursing schools are some of the best in the country. USC, UCLA and UCSD all have fine med and law schools. I am not that familiar with Pepperdine and Westmont, only that they are well regarded universities, as well. If you like secluded and smaller, Westmont is a solid Christian campus. Not too sure what they offer, however, in the pre-med / pre-law arena. I am not familiar with the East Coast schools that you listed, except that they are highly regarded. If you have the ability to travel out there and compare, go for it. For pre-med and pre-law, not to mention medical and law schools, the West Coast schools should work, especially if you have family out here, etc. (considering travel later, etc.).

If you would like to, you can get back to me and I will forward additional information on: a site that compares schools side-by-side re: size, cost, GPA requirements, SAT scores, etc. There is another site that I can offer that lets you know everything that is available to you regarding scholarships, grants and loans.

Best of luck in your search Scott,

God Bless...

 

[Scott_Woods]

I would love to have those websites. I already use collegeboard.com. (Sorry, I would have PM'd but I haven't reached 15 posts yet)

Thank you for the help!

 

[DeathMagus]

The biggest choice you are going to make is attending a secular school or a Christian school. In one, you will be spending a fair amount of energy being "Salt and Light" to most of the people around you. At a Christian campus, you will be growing in your faith and supporting other believers in their walk.

I don't know about that. Every secular university in the country is almost certain to have a large population of proclaimed campus Christians (of all sorts of denominations), and many have their own on-campus organizations. Generally, unless you go to an extremely small university (<2000 or so), you have a good deal of control over what kind of social group you find yourself in. I attend Ball State University, which used to be the #1 party school in America (before our current president did a great deal to cut down on that). You can still go out and get drunk every night (as you can everywhere), but there are plenty of people who just aren't into that scene. The same goes for drugs, premarital sex, or whatever else. You shouldn't have to spend much time being "salt and light" if that's not your thing, regardless of where you go. There's just too much diversity for that to be an issue most places.

 

[bliz]

For Christian colleges, look a www.naccap.org for a good list and links.

Take two giant steps backward. You have a list of colleges, but you don't have a list of objectives. Complete the following sentence over and over again... "The college I attend should...". List as many features as you can think of and make them as specific as possible. For example "I want a small school." isn't helpful because "small" is a comparative term. "A college of 1200 students or less." is measurable.

Size, activities, sports, equiptment, library, gender mix, racial mix, teaching styles, rate of acceptance to grad or professional schools, &#37; who graduate in 4 years, average SAT/ACT scores, glass size in your major (faculty/student ratio is meaningless because faculty is not universally defined) teaching assistants or professors, residence halls...

Then, make everything on your list as Required or Desired. If a school doesn't have this feature, you are not going there - that's what Required means.

Then go through your list and ask, yes or no, if each school has the required feature. If it doesn't, remove it from consideration. This process alone will make your list more homogenous.

There's a few more steps... if you'd like them, PM me.

A few points - visit, visit, visit.

Stop students on the campus and ask them questions like "What's the best thing about being here?" "What 3 things would you change if you could?"

Observe how students and faculty interact.

Ask for a copy of the student handbook.

Happy hunting!

 

[Salvation7]

Hi Scott,

Collegeboard is the main one, so you are all set there.

I would recommend becoming familiar with the following sites for grants, loans, etc. if you have not already:

1) FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) (Most sources require that this is filled-out first). Start here to have on file, then look at others.
(Google the link, as I cannot post here at this time).

2) Cal Grants (despite the economic conditions in California, the state is still putting an emphasis on education funding for the time being).
(Google the link, as I cannot post here at this time).

3) Scholarships from your high school or university that you plan to attend. With your GPA, etc., you should be able to qualify for a number of them. Check with each school to see what they offer.

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Scott, one of the most important qualities that you are going to need as a growing Christian is the ability of having discernment. This will be sorely tested on whatever campus you attend, some more than others. It will also be tested when reading blogs, whether on Christian sites or not. You should hold up all comments, etc. to scripture to see if it aligns. If not, you don't want to go there. The education that you receive in school will be important, but not close to your ability to make sound judgements on what you see and hear. Use your talents and abilities, and education, and align them with the Holy Scriptures of the Bible. There are many out there that hate the Truth, and for those we need to pray and be there when they need us and give a reason for the hope that is in us.

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discernment&#8211;noun
1. the faculty of discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding.
2. the act or an instance of discerning.

Bible verses on salt and light:

Matthew 5:13-16 [ Salt and Light ]
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

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Matthew Henry:
Commentary on Matthew 5:13-16

Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may see. What is between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make suitable to our profession, and praiseworthy. We must aim at the glory of God. [not ourselves]

Take care Brother,
God Bless

 

[shannyfro]

Have you ever considered Master's Commission?

 

[tjwallace2]

Might I suggest that no matter where you go get involved in some kind of Christian community and make friends there...and go out and be a light in the world, but never forget that it's a difficult world and you can't do it without having a solid community.

 

[Scott_Woods]

Thank you all for your help. I updated my list a little bit. I toured a few of the schools. So far, I really like UCLA, and I'm still interested in Pepperdine (out of the schools I visited). Please don't hesitate to give me your input