The Big Choice: How Do I Choose a College?

By Rev. Marcus Zill

What will I do with my life? Where will I work? Whom will I marry? Where will I live?

Many of the biggest choices that you will make in your life will be made while you are at college. But one of the biggest, and certainly one of the first, will happen before you even go to college. That choice, THE BIG CHOICE, is where you will go to college in the first place.

There are many factors that go into making such a decision, but here are a few tips to hopefully help you out along the way:

1) Your church life at college is priority #1!

The biggest question you should ask yourself in researching colleges is a simple one: Where will I go to be fed with Christ’s gifts while at school? For most people this is the very last thing that they usually consider, but “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)

2) Get to know yourself

Examine yourself and ask yourself some key questions: Why do I want to go to college? What am I good at? Do I need to be close to family and friends? Do I need to get away from the same old circle of friends? Do I like to be around a lot of people or do I feel more at home in a smaller environment?

3) Start early

It’s never too early to start thinking about college (well, you might wait at least until you are out of the 8th grade!), and there are a lot of things you can do to aid the selection process “before” the process even starts. For instance, take time to visit a variety of college campuses as you are able, even if they aren’t ones you are likely to consider. The more you are on college campuses, the more quickly you will get a feel for what type of college you might like to explore later on.

4) Don’t stress about your major

More college students change their majors while in college than don’t. I changed my major three times. Pick a college that has a breadth of options for you, in case you do. The bottom line is that most high school students don’t really have enough information to completely zero in on a major before they get to college. Being undecided is just fine. Don’t sweat it! Take your required classes first and enjoy using your electives to gain the depth needed to determine what you are most interested in pursuing as a major.

5) Distance from home

Should you stay close to home or get away? In general, I’ve found that it is helpful to be far enough away from home to feel like you have gotten out on your own, but close enough to be able to get back if you need to. You don’t have to go too far away to strike out on your own, but many who stay too close to home have a hard time doing just that.

6) Yes, money matters

While you shouldn’t be scared off by any college until you really know what kind of financial aid package they might give you, keep in mind that you also don’t want to put yourself in a deep financial hole before you even finish college. You are called to be a good steward of all you have been given by our gracious God, so it is important to save money where you can. And if you think you will likely go to graduate school anyway, why spend the big dollars for your undergraduate degree?

7) Private vs. public schools

Don’t assume that you will necessarily get a better education at a private school (or even a Christian one) than a public institution. There are many wonderful private schools, including those in the Concordia University System. However, don’t be surprised to find many of the same issues at a Christian college that you would expect at a secular one.

8) Don’t forget community college

Nearly half of all college students in the U.S. go to a community college and the rate is climbing. Perhaps this is due to the economy, but community colleges are also offering a wider variety of programs and services. While many bigger universities often rely on graduate assistants to teach lower level classes, professors at community colleges are often there precisely because they want to teach.

9) Do your research and talk to those whom you trust

Visit the schools you are considering. Sit in on classes, eat in the dining hall, talk to professors, get familiar with the school’s website and the program areas that interest you. Make sure the school you choose is a good fit. And since this is one of the biggest choices you will ever make, and you don’t exactly have experience with decisions like this, talk to the people you trust the most: parents, pastors, teachers, siblings, and perhaps alumni.

The reason Christ on Campus exists is because we still care about you when you head off to school. College is an exhilarating time and we want you to enjoy it, but we also want you to grow in the faith rather than fall away, which many regrettably do.

We desire that you have a faithful pastor and congregation to care for you wherever you go, so please make this a top priority. Research and discuss with your parents and pastor where you will attend church. Check out our growing list of Christ on Campus Chapters and feel free to e-mail me, too. We’d all love to help give you some direction as you make THE BIG CHOICE. God be with you as you do!

Rev. Marcus Zill is the Christ on Campus Executive for Higher Things and is the campus pastor at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church & Campus Center in Laramie, Wyoming. He can be reached at zill@higherthings.org