<p>I'm a Christian junior in high school, and have grown up in a semi-Christian household. I seem to be more involved in the local church than my parents. Rather than going to a secular school, with the worries of drug and alcohol usage on campus, possibly getting a roommate who brings into our room non-Christian images, and finding no Christian groups on site, or local colleges that share my beliefs, I was thinking of going to a Christian college. I'm more of a non-denominational/Pentecostal Christian with strong Baptist beliefs. I'm a highly conservative individual, and a school with similar beliefs would be best. I plan to study something along the lines of secondary education with a strong focus in history, or history education if possible, in hopes of becoming a history instructor ultimately. </p>
<p>I've been looking so far at places like Florida Christian College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Wheaton, Christendom College, although it's a Catholic college, Grove City, Liberty I looked at for a while, but I would like a much smaller school, Cedarville, etc. I've kept my options open, just hoping I find the right fit eventually. </p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated in finally a good, conservative, Christian college. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>I have friends at Cedarville, Wheaton and Biola University in California, and they are all GREAT Christian schools. I would check into all of them. Good academics as well as good Christian values.</p>
<p>My oldest loves Covenant College in GA and they gave him nice merit aid. They are reformed Christian associated with PCA, but we are not their denomination nor reformed and he doesn’t feel out of place. It’s a small school (roughly 1000 students) which would be too small for me, but he absolutely loves it and considers their size a plus.</p>
<p>Stats-wise they are rather high on the Christian College list compared to other schools.</p>
<p>Asbury University in Kentucky or Taylor University in Indiana are great, spiritually vibrant Christian colleges with stellar academic reputations among Christian schools. Taylor’s academics are similar to that of Wheaton or Grove City; my sister is a TU alum and she chose Taylor over Wheaton. She graduated awhile ago and still talks about how she is glad she picked Taylor over Wheaton. She was an elem. education major, and got a job 1,000 miles away from Taylor as a teacher right after graduation. Her principal told her that she got the job over 12 other people because she (the principal) knew of Taylor’s good academic reputation. I attended Asbury for a bit before transferring to be closer to home, and I absolutely loved my time there. I wished I could have stayed and graduated. Everyone on campus really cares about each other. The athletics are okay, too, especially for a small NAIA school (I was a member of the swimming and diving team). The coaches actually pay attention to you, and your teammates are like family. Both schools are non-denominational, really conservative, and within an hour of a mid-to-large size city.</p>
<p>Taylor’s a great school. For many, it’s downside? Upland. It’s not much more than a wide place in the cornfield, literally. If rural is desired, beats both Wheaton and GCC. It is a bit less dogmatic than GCC, but is not as selective as either GCC or Wheaton. And Wheaton is far more selective and vastly different in student body composition than GCC and Taylor. Asbury is a really solid Christian college that is often forgotten, perhaps of its Wilmore locale. Not “just down the road” for most.</p>
<p>Interesting. Several of these exist in virtual obscurity in the higher ed world. As we all know however, while that might be a symptom of inadequate PR, newness, or lacking in other competitive resources, it may have nothing to do with quality or lack there of. There are mission fields to be plowed here, for sure. Check 'em out.</p>
<p>Not sure where you live (east coast?), but Northwest University in Washington is good. They have a great teaching program. They’re Assembly of God in origin. I’ve heard great things (and a few bad things!!!) about Seattle Pacific University. I know tons of people who have gone there and MOST had a great experience. Many of the graduates of our Christian high school go there.</p>
<p>I’ve heard great things about Azusa Pacific and Vanguard too. Both in CA.</p>
<p>Biola Biola Biola. Great school. Have quite a bit of family there and it has really changed their lives. But they still have a pretty high academic standard</p>
<p>One of my friends has a daughter at Calvin College in Michigan. Her daughter sounds a lot like you from your description. Calvin is academically rigorous, and makes the top 10 “sober schools” list every year. </p>
<p>My kids are both in a private Christian high school, and many of the kids go on to Calvin or Gordon College, another place you should check out.</p>
<p>This is an old thread, but I wanted to add for the benefit of those who might come later, that if you are a high academics student, Biola’s Torrey Honors Institute might be of interest. It uses the Oxford/Cambridge tutorial method of instruction and works very well for students who want to dig deeper. Here’s the info:</p>
<p>Bear in mind that you’re preparing for life in a world with drug and alcohol usage, non-Christian images, and people of differing beliefs. You aren’t going to be able to hide from difference when you’re out in that world.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that some posters apparently take the position that nobody should attend a Christian college, so rather than answer questions posed in the OP, they will criticize the basis for the questions. </p>
<p>To find a college that is in accord with your beliefs, you might want to see the website of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and read the book Choosing the Right College, which was edited by John Zmirak. </p>
<p>If you are considering secular colleges as well, you might wish to check out whether a particular college in which you’re interested offers substance-free dorms. My daughter chose to go to our state flagship and live in a substance-free dorm. She got along well with her roommate, decided to live with her again next year, and made many friends on her hall.</p>
<p>Have you looked into Mississippi College? That school is very open-minded while Christian at the same time. The people who attend MC are devout Jesus freaks (I mean this in the best way possible) but don’t shove religion down throats. I know some people who attend there, and they are the sweetest and most responsible people that I know of. There is absolutely NO drug/alcohol use on that campus. It’s quite amazing. And the people aren’t materialistic either. They really are God-given.</p>
<p>Kaitlyn, before you (or anyone) evaluates a Christian College based on what others say, you have to ask yourself an important question. Where are you in your faith today, and what are the characteristics/qualities you want God to develop and challenge in your life over the next few years? Imagine the woman (or man) of God you want to be and then see which school gives you the best opportunity to become that person? </p>
<p>Christian colleges are not all the same. If you are looking for a place that is going to challenge you to think and grow you can choose between discipleship institutions (places where the students choose the college with a commitment to Christ) and “evangelistic” institutions where students agree to live under a set of policies/rules but don’t have an internal motivation for growth. They will produce different results in your life! (BTW…I have two kids at Taylor and both are growing significantly in their faith and the rural location has been a remarkable benefit to the community life for them!)</p>