RELEVANT U - Undergrad Edition - Issue 6 - 2014/2015

T H E C O L L E G E G U I D E F R O M R E L E VA N T M A G A Z I N E UNDERGRAD EDITION | 2014-2015

6 T HINGS YOU’ LL WISH YOU LE A RNE D IN COLLEGE WHAT TO STUDY FOR SUCCESS AFTER GRADUATION—NO MATTER YOUR MAJOR

A M E R I CA’S M OST A FFO RDAB LE UN I V ERSITIES H O W YOU R SPIR I TUAL L IFE C AN S U RV I VE ( AN D TH R IVE) AT C OL L EGE

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M A J O R S T H AT A C T U A L LY L E A D TO JOBS

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S H O U L D YOU G O ONL INE O R O N- CAM PU S?

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ISSUE 06 | 2014-2015

CONTENTS

U N D E R G R A D

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SLICES 16

There’s a lot of important learning to do in college outside of the classes in your major. Here’s how to make good use of your gen eds and electives.

The most affordable colleges, campus safety tips, great college towns, fastest growing majors and more.

FE AT U R E S 32

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3 MY THS ABOUT FINDING YOU R CALLING

Dispelling some of the many misconceptions about figuring out what you’re meant to do.

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Stats show that college can be a rough time for your spiritual life. Here are some ways to keep your faith strong.

KEYS FOR A REALISTIC FRESHMAN BUDGET

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HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF COLLEG E

SHOULD YOU GO ON- CAMPUS OR ONLINE?

Examining the drawbacks and perks to getting your degree in the traditional classroom or online.

[special section]

YES , YOU R SPIRITUAL LIFE CAN SU RVIVE COLLEG E

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6 THINGS YOU ’ LL WISH YOU LE ARNE D IN COLLEG E

Tips for keeping track of your money while in school.

WHAT YOU SHOU LD KNOW

A professor, an advisor and a resident director on what you should know coming into college.

PA R T N E R S C H O O L S 62

Your time at school is one of the most unique seasons in your life. Here are a few tips for making the most of it.

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A rundown of some of RELEVANT’s partner universities around the country.

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Online degrees that equip you for the business of making a

BET T ER WOR LD A degree from Colorado Christian University will equip you to lead in ways you’ve never imagined. With online and in-seat options, you can take classes when and where it’s convenient for you.

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online.ccu.edu | 303.963.3311

CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools R E L E VA N T U _ U N D E R G R A D / 2 0 1 4 4

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THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU

RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY

UNDERGRAD, 2014–2015, Issue 06

P U B LI S H E R & CEO CAMERON STRANG > cameron@relevantmediagroup.com Associate Publisher | JEFF ROJAS > jeff@relevantmediagroup.com Account Manager | MICHAEL SCHUERMAN> michael@relevantmediagroup.com Account Manager | WAYNE THOMPSON > wayne@relevantmediagroup.com Managing Editor | TYLER HUCKABEE > tyler@relevantmediagroup.com Web Editor | JESSE CAREY > jesse@relevantmediagroup.com Copy Editor | DARGAN THOMPSON > dargan@relevantmediagroup.com Editorial Coordinator | LINDSEY STATON > lindsey.staton@relevantmediagroup.com Contributing Writers: Chuck Bomar, Jeff Goins, Mark Scandrette, Kendall Stanislav, Kelli Worrall, Peter Worrall Senior Designer | EVAN TRAVELSTEAD > evan@relevantmediagroup.com Designer | LAUREN HARVILL > lauren@relevantmediagroup.com Production Designer | LINDSEY WEIGLEY > lindsey@relevantmediagroup.com Director of Audio & Video | CHAD MICHAEL SNAVELY > chad@relevantmediagroup.com Photographer & Videographer | MARK KAMMEL > mark@relevantmediagroup.com Project and Marketing Manager | AME LYNN DUNN > ame@relevantmediagroup.com Finance and Operations Manager | MERCEDES LANGDON > mercedes@relevantmediagroup.com Customer Experience Coordinator | CAROLINE COLE > caroline@relevantmediagroup.com Marketing Assistant | MORGAN BECK > morgan@relevantmediagroup.com Web/App Developer | STEVEN LINN > steven@relevantmediagroup.com Systems Administrator | JOSH STROHM > joshs@relevantmediagroup.com

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WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED AFTER GRADUATION?

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AT BETHEL UNIVERSITY, WE’RE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE. But here, excellence means something more. It means taking our faith in Christ and integrating it into everything we learn, into everything we do, so we can accomplish incredible things—in our careers, in our communities, and in our world.

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WE’RE ON THE MAP. Multnomah University students are making the most of their education across the street and around the globe. So can you.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

CO L L EG E I S T H E R E A L WO R L D

BY T YLER HUCK ABEE

S

omething you’ll hear a lot of in college is people talking about “the real world.”

As in, “Once we graduate and get into the real world ...” or “It’s not like this in the real world.” The idea seems to be that college is some sort of purgatory between childhood and adulthood that exists in limbo between realities.

I get what people mean by that. When your entire life revolves around a college campus, it can all start to feel a little surreal.

But there’s a danger to this sort of thinking, too.

It makes it easy to live your life in neutral, thinking small and living small until graduation magically releases you to start “real life.”

You don’t hear much about apprenticeships anymore, but they are an interesting idea.

Apprentices didn’t go to school so much as they got to work, following around someone who had already mastered their trade.

Disciples were like apprentices. In the first century, rabbis took on students who followed them from town to town. The early Jews knew there was no better teacher than life itself, so disciples learned about God by watching people they admired.

In college, you’re surrounded by people who want to help you succeed. There won’t

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be a whole lot of following them around like an apprentice, but you can do your part to make sure you’ve got a healthy perspective on college. The things you’re learning can be put into practice right now.

The “real world” you’re preparing for is the one you’re living in today. You might as well dive in.

With this issue of RELEVANT U, we aim to provide some tools to help you make the most of college— skills you can start applying today that will serve you in your career, spiritual life and relationships in the “real world” now and long after you graduate.

My senior year of college, someone asked me, “If you were to die the day you graduated college, would college have been a good

way to spend the last four years of your life?”

I didn’t know how to answer then, but I think I do now: It depends. If you spend your time in college thinking about everything you’re going to do once you get into the “real world,” then college probably wouldn’t be a good way to spend your last years.

But if you see college as an opportunity to learn about the real world you’re already living in and figure out your place in it, then it can be a lot more than just a good way to spend four years.

It may well be some of the best and most rewarding years of your life.

THE “REAL WORLD” YOU’RE PREPARING FOR IS THE ONE YOU’RE LIVING IN TODAY. YOU MIGHT AS WELL DIVE IN.

T YLER HUCK ABEE is the managing editor of RELEVANT magazine

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Step Into Your God-Sized Dreams Mark Batterson believes in dreaming big and praying bold prayers. He says realized dreams start with a willingness to ask God for big things and faith to follow His leading: “Keep growing, keep stretching, keep learning.”

Regent University—with an emphasis on academic excellence and Biblical truth—helped Mark sharpen his calling to Christian leadership. Our respected faculty and award-winning programs will help you define your calling too, and give you practical life tools. Ready to move toward your God-sized dreams?

We’ll help you take the next step.

WHILE THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA MAY NOT BE AS DRAMATIC AS OTHER DRUGS, IT CAN HAVE Mark Batterson, D.Min. '12 LIFELead Pastor, National Community Church ALTERING EFFECTS. New York Times Best-Selling Author

Bachelor’s | Master’s | Doctoral On Campus | Online

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APPLY TODAY.

regent.edu | 800.373.5504 15

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S L I C E S

SLICES IS CO L L EG E R E A L LY WO RT H I T ?

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ollege isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s getting more expensive, making some people start to wonder if higher education is worth the debt that comes with it.

Well, as it turns out, it is.

A new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows a college education is worth the money. In their research, economists Jaison R. Abel and Richard Deitz determined that an individual who had a college degree could expect to make $1.2

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million more from ages 22-64 than their peers who have just a high school diploma.

The report also noted an increase in career earnings for students who had associates degrees compared to those who stopped school after completing high school. Even employees of jobs that don’t require a college degree will end up making more having completed a higher education program than co-workers who did not. So you may come out of college with debt, but you’ll ultimately make more money to pay it off.

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S L I C E S

TRANSFORMED.

WHILE THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA MAY NOT BE AS DRAMATIC AS OTHER DRUGS, At Northwest Nazarene University, IT CAN HAVE LIFEexpect to be challenged intellectually and spiritually.

ALTERING EFFECTS. You’ll be transformed into a new person and prepared to transform the world.

You’ll love who you become.

transformed.nnu.edu

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S L I C E S

SLICES

H O W T O H AV E T H E C O O L E S T

D O R M RO O M

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OR MANY INCOMING STUDENTS, THE BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT TO COLLEGE LIFE IS GETTING USED TO LIVING IN THE DORMS. SLEEPING IN A MASSIVE BUILDING WITH HUNDREDS OF STRANGERS YOUR AGE MAY SOUND A BIT INTIMIDATING, BUT IT CAN BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS AND MAKE SOME LIFELONG FRIENDS.

PR AC TICE TH E OPE N DOOR P OLICY

WANT TO MEET EVERYONE IN YOUR DORM? HERE’S HOW TO GET STARTED:

AC TUALLY LE AR N PEOPLE ’ S NAM E S

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Most of the time, the best way to make new friends on your hall is just to be available to hang out. If you’re not sleeping or studying, try keeping your door open.

An open door, Xbox controller and friendly face maybe be just what a wandering neighbor may be looking for.

R E M E M B E R , E VE RYON E LIKE S S NACKS Science has yet to figure out why, upon entering college, the average 18-year-old’s appetite quadruples. However, we do know this for a fact: Everyone likes free food.

Keep your room stocked with some snacks you don’t mind parting with and you can guarantee a regular stream of visitors.

One thing that every great leader has in common is that they are great at learning

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people’s names. The same goes for wellliked dormmates. Also because at least a third of college students go by some weird nickname like “Hambone,” it’s actually not that hard.

DON ’ T B E A BAD N E IG H BOR The first key to being a good, well-liked neighbor is not being a bad neighbor. Don’t play overly loud music, leave old pizza boxes lying outside your door or start drama with people on your wing.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN We are not interested in finding the “qualified.” This is a search for the brave few who find value in serving others and showing mercy.

This is not a program to participate in but a new way of being, a life dedicated to intentional community, humble service, and the stewardship of grace.

The requirement is caring. The measurement is empathy.

There will be no credit or accolades.

This is not a box to check.

Only apply if you are poor in spirit. You mourn. You’re meek. You’re a peacemaker, persecuted and insulted, but also blessed, made righteous and redeemed.

Only apply if you believe in giving, not taking. When the world tells you to consume, collect, gain, and prove—you choose to share, help, heal, and love.

Christ bids you come and die, to be part of a generation of healers, not those who harm, of those who are here to serve, not to be served.

JOIN US THIS FALL. SERVE SEATTLE. Sincerely, The brokenhearted, The bruised, The weary, The redeemed.

APPLY NOW

SERVESEATTLE.ORG

A ONE-YEAR URBAN MISSIONS INSTITUTE R E L E VA N T U . C O M

SLICES

S L I C E S

A B EG I N N E R’S G U I D E TO C A M P US SA FE T Y YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PARANOID TO FEEL SAFE. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE SMART. YOU’VE GROWN UP IN A CITY, THEN BASIC CAMPUS SAFETY IS (HOPEFULLY) ALREADY SECOND NATURE. BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, COLLEGE IS THEIR FIRST TIME IN AN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO STAYING SAFE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU END UP.

IF

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STAY TOG E TH E R Your first few months at school will have lots of opportunities to hang out, so use them, but make

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sure you’re going with a group of people you trust. And if you have to go somewhere alone, make sure someone knows where you are.

WATCH YOUR FOOD Researchers agree that the use of date rape drugs is on the rise. When you’re out, don’t let your food or drink out of your sight.

SAVE YOU R CE LL Program important information and

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contacts into your phone. If you lose your wallet, the last thing you want to do is have to hunt down the number to call to cancel your credit card.

WATCH YOU R BACK While waiting for a bus or cab, wait in a well-lit spot and stay against the wall. Nobody will be able to sneak up on you and, as an added bonus, leaning against walls just looks cooler.

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10 G R E AT CO L L EG E TOW NS

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hen deciding which college to attend, the city matters nearly as much as the school. Cities cater to students in different ways, and you don’t want to end up somewhere that’s decided the student population doesn’t matter as much as other residents. Here are 10 cities college students will thrive in.

01

02

ITHACA , NY

LINCOLN , N E

Ithaca may well be unmatched in the country in terms of its academic culture and overall quality of life for students. Its bustling creative scene ensures you’ll never be bored.

Home to an incredibly cheap cost of living and low unemployment rate for a city its size, Lincoln also has the most churches per capita of any city on this list.

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GAIN E SVILLE , FL Gainesville has one of the country’s largest student populations, but what is surprising is how low the city’s unemployment rate remains in spite of it.

church church

S E AT TLE , WA

PIT TS B U RG H , PA

Seattle isn’t just a hipster haven—it comes with a shockingly low unemployment rate (just 5.2%), a nationally renowned appreciation of higher education and an exploding, innovative church scene.

church

church

jobs

jobs

culture

With one of the most diverse student populations in America, this steel city is also one of the country’s most charitable cities.

church jobs

jobs

jobs culture

culture

culture culture

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06 MIN N E AP OLIS , MN With some of the country’s highest concentrations of students, lowest unemployment rates and best environments for nonprofits, you’re sure to find both a solid community and a job in the Twin Cities.

Forbes also named Minneapolis the healthiest city in the U.S.

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SAN J OS E , CA

AUSTIN , T X

BOU LDE R , CO

BOSTON , MA

Located in Silicon Valley, San Jose has some of the country’s most competitive earning potential, but a booming economy isn’t the only great thing about this town. Nearly half the city is involved in the creative arts.

There’s more to Austin than its music scene.

It’s ranked as one of the best cities to start a career, and with its inviting and innovative entrepreneurial culture, college students flock to Austin and rarely leave. Plus, even though it’s notably different from the rest of Texas, it’s still got that sense of Southern hospitality.

Boulder isn’t just for hippies anymore. Just a short drive from both Denver’s thriving metropolitan hubbub and the Rockies, it’s home to a thriving artistic and business community.

Boston has quietly become one of the better academic environments in the country, with a vast range of diversity and the most college professional opportunities. It’s also full of college students, meaning its population has one of the youngest average ages of any major city.

church jobs

church

church jobs

church culture

culture

church

jobs

jobs

culture

jobs culture culture

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DO I JOIN

S L I C E S

COLLEGE IS A TIME TO LEARN THE RULES OF ULTIMATE FRISBEE, JOIN AN ANCIENT FRATERNAL ORDER, JOIN CLUBS WITH PEOPLE YOU’LL BE FRIENDS WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND, OH YEAH, GET AN EDUCATION. HERE’S OUR HANDY GUIDE TO DECIDING WHAT EXTRACURRICULARS ARE FOR YOU. BECAUSE, AS ANY CAMPUS-SAVVY SENIOR WILL TELL YOU, THE REAL COLLEGE LIFE HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.

T H IS C LU B? A SEMIDEFINITIVE GUIDE TO EXTRACURRICULARS

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OUTR E ACH

INTR AM U R AL S

• WHAT IS IT? Organizations like

• WHAT IS IT? Organized

Intervarsity, FCA and Chi Alpha

sports leagues with fellow

designed for Christians students to

campus-dwellers.

meet and minister.

• WHO SHOULD JOIN? People who

• WHO SHOULD JOIN? Students

like reliving high school sports

interested in outreach opportunities

glory, overly aggressive flag football

who are looking for ways to connect

games or have learned the mysteri-

with fellow Christians.

ous art of throwing a Frisbee.

STU DE NT GOVE R N M E NT

G R E E K LIFE

• WHAT IS IT? Student-elected

sororities are historical social clubs

leaders that help create policies and

dedicated to service and being the

• WHAT IS IT? Fraternities and

projects to enhance student life.

focus of raunchy college comedies.

• WHO SHOULD JOIN? Anyone

• WHO SHOULD JOIN? Anyone

interested in spending their free

interested in forming lifelong friend-

time finding solutions that will help

ships who can handle a little mor-

their community. Basically, future

ally questionable partying or being

Leslie Knopes.

associated with Will Ferrell movies.

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T O P

FA S T ES T G ROW I N G M A J O RS

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HOOSING A MAJOR ISN’T NECESSARILY A LIFELONG DECISION. STUDIES SAY EMPLOYERS CARE MORE ABOUT CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THAN YOUR MAJOR, SO DON’T STRESS YOURSELF OUT TOO MUCH IN CHOOSING A DEGREE. THAT SAID, SOME MAJORS FOCUS ON FAST-GROWING FIELDS, AND IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE EXTRA EDGE IN THE JOB MARKET (AND IF THESE FIELDS INTEREST YOU) YOU MIGHT CONSIDER GIVING THEM A FAIR SHOT.

1 . B IO M E TR IC S Fingerprint recognition.

Facial scan detection.

It sounds a little creepy now, but it’s expected to be a $363 million industry by 2018, according to Transparency Market Research. The idea is to make “passwords” a thing of the past.

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2 . CO M P UTE R GAM E D E S I G N That’s right: Making video games is a smart career move. Few industries are booming more right now, with the industry approaching the $82 billion mark.

It’s hard work, but it’ll almost certainly pay off.

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3 . B U S I N E SS ANALY TIC S If you’re considering a business degree, go one step further and become an analytics expert. It’s like data science, but with an extra edge of practical application, communication and some computer science.

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4 . P U B LIC H E ALTH Keeping people healthy never goes out of style.

People will always need doctors, nurses and administrators and demand for public health majors is growing as research opens up new fields of emphasis.

5 . S U STAI N AB I LIT Y As environmentalism moves into the mainstream culture, more industries are looking to make sustainability part of their corporate mindset, and more schools are offering sustainability majors.

Advance Your Studies, Impact Your World Online Master’s Degree Programs Advance your studies, biblical knowledge, and ministry skills to impact your world.

In about two years, you can earn an online M.A. in Christian Leadership, which includes professional coaching to help you develop your own biblical leadership plan and guide people with integrity. You can also pursue an online M.A. in Biblical Exposition, connecting you to the expertise of Moody faculty and the powerful platform of Logos Mobile Ed.

Get more information www.moody.edu/mdlrelevant | 800-588-8344

MOODY DISTANCE LEARNING FROM THE WORD. TO LIFE. 27

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6 M OS T A FFO R DA B L E CO L L EG ES Unless you happen to have a full-ride scholarship to college, you’ll definitely be factoring in cost when deciding where to go.

Here are a few of the United States’ most affordable schools.

C

E) (FRE S EGE OLL

01 - G EORG IA TECH

02 - U NIVE RSIT Y OF G EORG IA

AVERAGE COST: $8,445

AVERAGE COST: $9,693

AVERAGE COST: $11,028

If you’re not considering a technical career, you might think again.

One of the oldest and largest universities in the U.S. is also one of the least costly.

The low cost is one of the many reasons to consider becoming a Tar Heel.

0 4 - U N IVE RSIT Y OF FLORIDA

05 - U NIVE RSIT Y OF VIRG INIA

0 6 - MICHIGAN STATE

AVERAGE COST: $11,579

AVERAGE COST: $11,590

AVERAGE COST: $12,366

Less than 40 percent of UF’s nearly 50,000 students graduate with any debt.

With a six-year graduation rate of 93.9 percent, UVA has earned its sterling reputation.

MSU has one of the lowest percentages of students who graduate with debt.

There are actually some schools that don’t charge tuition. Tuitionfree or tuition-paid schools aren’t entirely free (most charge room and board) but they can be a good option to avoid debt.

M O O DY B I B LE

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03 - U NC AT CHAPE L H ILL

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CO LLE G E O F

I N S TIT U TE

TH E OZ A R K S

Moody’s tuition is covered by grants and gifts from donors.

Students work on campus parttime in exchange for tuition.

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B E R E A CO LLE G E

Founded as the South’s first interracial, coed college, Berea accepts only those in financial need.

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YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT YOUR CALLING NOW

CLEARING UP SOME LIES ABOUT FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

BY JEFF GOINS

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HRISTIANS ARE CONSTANTLY TOLD THAT WE WERE CREATED WITH A PURPOSE. AND IT’S TRUE, YOU WERE MADE TO DO GOOD WORKS, BORN TO LEAVE A LEGACY. AND COLLEGE IS A GREAT TIME TO BEGIN FIGURING OUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT THAT LEGACY MIGHT LOOK LIKE. It’s a time to experiment, but also a place where you practice becoming the person you ultimately end up being.

That’s not to say there isn’t room for mistakes, but college is not just another waiting time; what you do here matters.

As you’re learning who you are, you’re also expected to begin the journey of figuring out what you want to do with your life, what many would call your “calling.”

But having to figure out your purpose and calling can be a scary prospect.

And there are many misconceptions about what that looks like. Here are a few of the major myths that surround this idea of finding your purpose.

The truth: You don’t have to have it all figured out (but it helps to be intentional).

There seems to be a conspiracy among adults to place unnecessary pressure on young people to have their futures figured out.

“What are you planning to major in?” and “What are you going to do with that?” are, by now, familiar questions.

There’s nothing wrong with these questions. They just betray a general dishonesty we fail to recognize in our culture.

Nobody has their lives completely figured out.

Not you. Not me. Not our parents or best friends.

That doesn’t mean we are all aimlessly wandering from one thing to the next, it just means life is a journey and we only get to see so far down the road before taking another step.

So when someone asks you what you want to do

most formative years of your life saying, “I don’t know.” And at the same time, there is a lot you probably don’t know. So what’s the best answer?

“I’m figuring it out.”

Because you are. This process of becoming an adult involves constant learning and growing.

Every challenge you face is an opportunity to step into your identity, to learn who you are and who you’re not. So embrace it.

YOU R CAR E E R IS YOU R IDE NTIT Y The truth: What you do is not who you are (but you can practice who you want to become).

I had a friend in college who was at the top of her class. Her final semester, she got a rejection letter from a graduate program she was hoping to join.

It devastated her. “All my time here will have been wasted if I can’t get into grad school,” she said.

Her whole identity had

NOBODY HAS THEIR LIVES COMPLETELY FIGURED OUT. NOT YOU. NOT ME. NOT OUR PARENTS OR BEST FRIENDS. with your life or what you plan on doing with your degree, what they’re really expecting is a better answer than they have, which is a little unfair.

It’s unwise to waste the

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gotten wrapped up in her future career. But it’s not supposed to be that way. Activity follows identity, not the other way around.

“Before I can tell my

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life what I want to do with it,” Parker Palmer wrote, “I must listen to my life telling me who I am.”

We all want to better understand the roles we are called to play. But instead of trying to come up with a perfectly-crafted plan, what

and rediscover former interests you almost forgot.

if you took a step back and listened to what your life is trying to teach you?

What are the things you have always loved doing? What have you always been good at? Take it one step further and consider what the world needs.

What are the things other people in your life often ask of you? And how can you use all three of these answers to serve the world?

These are just the beginning steps to understanding your calling. College is a great time to try different activities and see which ones best fit you. Through the process, you will discover new skills

once visited Mother Teresa in hopes of gaining clarity for his future.

“What can I do for you?” she asked.

“Pray that I have clarity,” he replied.

“No. I will not do that.”

Taken aback, he asked why not. She explained that he was clinging to clarity and had to let go of it.

“But you seem to have clarity from God,” he responded.

Mother Teresa laughed. “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust.”

We think that if we had all the right answers in life, then we would discover our

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GOD WILL ALWAYS MAK E TH E WAY CLE AR The truth: There’s no such thing as complete clarity (but you will learn as you go).

The story goes that a man

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purpose and everything would make sense. But that’s not how life, or God, works.

Your life is a mystery. An adventure. A series of decisions and consequences that all teach you something if you are willing to grow and learn. And college is the

perfect place to undergo this training, to prepare for the lessons you will spend the rest of your life learning.

Just remember that you don’t have to have all the answers; you just need to be willing to take it one step at a time, keeping sight of who you are in the process.

Clarity won’t always come, but what will always be there is trust—and that’s more than enough to keep going.

JEFF GOINS is a writer who lives in Nashville. He blogs regularly at goinswriter.com and is the author of Wrecked, The In-Between and more. You can download his free eBook, Finding Your Calling, on Noisetrade.

T H E U LT I M AT E CO L L EG E PAC K I N G G U I D E So, you’ve got your bedsheets, computer cable, three-ring binder and toothbrush. Think you’re set for college? Guess again. Once you’ve nailed down the essentials, grab an extra box and make sure you’ve got these surprisingly useful items in tow. You’ll be the envy of your residence hall.

M E A S U R I N G CU P You’ll be eating most of your meals in the cafeteria, so you don’t need a Top Chef kitchen. But a measuring cup is useful for making cocoa and oatmeal.

R AI N G E AR Flip flops and TOMS won’t do you any good when you’ve got to run across campus in the rain.

D I S H SOAP You’ll need it sooner (and more often) than you think, even if you usually eat in the cafeteria. Microwave dishes can pile up.

TOO L K IT Just get a small one with a few basics.

It’ll come in handy for fixing minor room issues and hanging posters.

STE AM E R Cheaper, smaller and easier than an ironing board. Not quite as effective but, hey, it’s college. Baby steps.

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E X TR A STO R AG E Dorm rooms aren’t known for their storage space. Get a few shallow containers to slide under your bed.

B U S I N E SS AT TI R E There are job interviews, internships, college formals and class presentations on the horizon. Come prepared to look professional.

BATH RO B E First of all, you’ll probably have communal showers, so a robe is a good idea.

But more to the point, bathrobes come in handy for those “hilarious” late-night fire alarm pulls.

D RYI N G R ACK Takes up virtually no space, costs nothing to use and saves you one extra trip to the campus laundromat.

S H OWE R CAD DY For those early morning classes, the last thing you want to do is juggle all your stuff down to the showers.

P OWE R STR I P This should go without saying, but you’ve got a lot of gadgets and you’re going to want them all fully charged.

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YES, YOUR

LIFE CAN SURVIVE COLLEGE

BY CHUCK BOMAR

COLLEGE ISN’T NEARLY AS HARMFUL TO YOUR FAITH AS YOU MAY THINK

Y

OU’VE HEARD THE STATISTICS, THE BROAD SWEEPING STATEMENTS. SIXTY-SIX PERCENT OF 18-29 YEAR OLDS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE NOT ATTENDED CHURCH IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. TWO-THIRDS OF STUDENTS WALK AWAY FROM FAITH DURING THEIR COLLEGE YEARS. THE STATS—AND HOW EXACTLY TO INTERPRET THEM—ARE DEBATABLE, BUT SIGNIFICANT, NONETHELESS. YOUR PARENTS, PASTOR OR YOUTH PASTOR MAY HAVE BROUGHT THEM UP AS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DREW NEAR. AND MAYBE YOU’RE AFRAID THAT YOU WILL BECOME ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS, THAT YOUR FAITH WON’T SURVIVE COLLEGE OR WILL BE UNDERMINED BY A PARTICULARLY PERSUASIVE ATHEIST PROFESSOR. Fear, whether we admit it or not, has driven most of our “relationship” with God from the very beginning. If you’re anything like me, you likely “accepted” Jesus out of a fear of going to hell or not being with God for eternity. For most of us, our faith started with this motivation and, unfortunately, fear continues to be our driving motivation as we try to move forward in what we would call “faith.”

But true faith doesn’t base decisions in fear. And if you move forward into your college years motivated (or demotivated) by fear, it can harm your experience.

Yes, college can be challenging to faith, but so can life in general, and simply keeping a fearful grip on

your beliefs won’t make for a healthy spiritual life in school or after.

DANG E ROUS US E Fear is powerful, which is what makes throwing out stats dangerous in the Christian world. Stats such as those listed at the beginning of this article are disheartening, but they can be used as scare tactics in churches and Christian organizations to try and scare us into purchasing certain products or attending certain conferences.

But I’m much more interested in being motivated by faith and love and hope. Fear can take a hike as far as I’m concerned. And as you go into this next year of college, I would recommend you tell it to hit the road too.

S H IF T AWAY FROM FE AR What you’ll find is that the people who have a real, lasting faith are those people who set aside their fears and learn what it means to operate from the place Jesus invites us to move from: faith.

Faith causes us to ask entirely different questions than fear does.

Faith moves from a different starting place, a place of love where God and others are central.

Faith is the launching pad where our hope in Jesus is expressed to everyone we engage with.

Fear might cause us to try to do more or to be

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“better” Christians—whatever that means. Fear might guilt us into trying to have more “quiet times” or to memorize more passages of Scripture. Fear might cause us to worry about what our psychology professor might teach us.

But usually, the motivation of fear just forces us to think about what we should stay away from.

Thus the only thing fear ends up producing is a behavior management system we just happen to call “Christianity.” It’s a synthetic religion nobody wants to be a part of.

That to say, moving forward in fear is gravely dangerous. Fear can paralyze us, and it seems people are tired of being so fearful of moving in the wrong direction that they don’t move in any. I think more and more people want to move forward in the freedom faith provides. There is no better time in life to practice moving forward in faith than during your college years.

Here are some attitudes you can practice to win the battle between faith and fear in your own life and keep your spiritual life healthy long after you graduate.

K NOW WHAT YOU AR E SAVE D INTO We are great at telling people what they are saved from: sin and hell. Sometimes, we invite Jesus into our lives to save us R E L E VA N T U . C O M

from our sin mainly because we are fearful of hell. But limiting our understanding of the Christian faith to this not only robs us of faith-filled motivations, but it actually

U N DE RSTAN D G R ACE Many people have unfortunately mastered the art of faking honesty. We know what to say in our “accountability” groups to

SIMPLY KEEPING A FEARFUL GRIP ON YOUR BELIEFS WON’T MAKE FOR A HEALTHY SPIRITUAL LIFE. causes us to miss a critical point of the Gospel.

Jesus never asked anybody to invite Him into their lives.

Instead, Jesus invites us into His life and ways. Those motivated by faith experience a life that moves far beyond exhausting behavior management and religious routine. You know, the life Jesus truly invites us into.

VALU E COM M U N IT Y The beauty of the Christian faith is that, although we make personal decisions, we understand the Christian life is not confined to our private, personal faith. We are a part of a much larger community of people called, “The Church.”

The Church is not buildings with budgets and by-laws, but instead a people who are trying to figure out what it means to live out God’s original design for humanity. Sure, we should have a personal relationship with God, but we also should understand that an authentic one would lead us into intimate relationship with God’s people. The people experiencing the faith Jesus speaks of understand Jesus invites them into His life with His people.

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make it seem like we are being vulnerable, but deep down, we don’t want to talk about our sin because we are too fearful of what others might think.

However, those driven by faith instead of fear don’t manufacture honesty.

They understand God expresses His grace toward us through His people.

These individuals seek out community where they don’t need to edit their speech. They trust others will express the grace of God that leads them toward righteous living.

E XE RCIS E H U MILIT Y People driven by faith are those actually seeking to follow Jesus’ servant ways.

They don’t see community as something to consume, but rather to give. They don’t view the Church as something for their usage, but instead see themselves as a small part of a larger community that is saved for God’s usage.

These individuals take ownership of their faith and therefore aren’t looking for others to serve and feed them, but rather seek to feed the hungry

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and serve the poor. They are not concerned about shaping their behavior out of fear of what others will think of them, but rather posture themselves in ways that allow others to feel the love of God through their actions. They always do this alongside other followers of Jesus and under the care of God-given leaders.

PU RSU E WIS DOM Humility is often expressed through a recognition that we require the input of others. We can memorize Proverbs, but that doesn’t mean we are wise. Wisdom comes as we follow God and grow in our understanding of Him and how the Gospel applies to our daily lives.

This takes time, which is why people who are pursuing following God find themselves clinging to others who are further down the path of faith. Don’t try to go it alone or think you know better than everyone around you.

So yes, your spiritual life can survive, and even thrive, in college.

It’s not a matter of defying the statistics, but rather of not letting the fear of them or anything else control you.

Because faith—and the vibrant life Jesus calls us into—is meant to free us from fear into a life of so much more.

CHUCK BOMAR planted and is Pastor of Colossae Church in Portland, Oregon. He is author of eight books including Better Off Without Jesus and Losing Your Religion.

K E YS FO R A R E A L I S T I C FR ES H M A N B U D G E T

BY MARK SCANDRET TE

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C

OLLEGE IS A GREAT TIME TO LEARN HOW TO HANDLE MONEY. AS YOU TRANSITION FROM BEING TAKEN CARE OF TO BECOMING MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF, THE CHOICES YOU MAKE ABOUT MONEY CAN HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON YOUR FUTURE. NO MATTER HOW MUCH CASH YOU HAVE, IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO START TRACKING YOUR MONEY TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU NEED TO SPEND OR SAVE. HERE ARE A FEW STEPS TO CREATING A BUDGET:

STE P 1:

STE P 2:

STE P 3:

LI ST ALL E XP E N S E S Estimate the amount you need to spend in each category per month.

Talk with your parents to clarify which of your expenses they will cover and what you are responsible to provide for yourself.

Remember that a certain percentage of most earning goes to taxes and social security. Your employer probably takes this amount out, but if they don’t, you will owe on your yearly taxes. Some expenses, like car insurance or an airplane ticket home don’t occur monthly, but you can plan for them by dividing the amount by 12.

LI ST ALL SO U RCE S O F I N CO M E This could be money you have saved up, an amount a parent or other relative provides or money you hope to earn with a parttime job. Even if you don’t have a regular job you can still budget your earnings. Let’s say you have $1,000 left over from a summer job in August and it needs to last through the end of May. You can divide the amount by 9 months to find out that you have about $110 to spend each month.

Tip: Be cautious taking out loans for living expenses.

BAL AN CE YO U R B U DG E T Subtract your total expenses from the projected amount of your income. If your planned spending is greater than your anticipated earning, go back through your spending plan to see if there are any categories where you can reduce or eliminate spending. Find creative ways to get your needs met and have fun. Learn to cook meals yourself instead of going out. Take a picnic and a frisbee to the park. Investigate free museums and concerts. Watch movies with friends at home.

IT DO F RSEL YO U $$$

R E L ATIONALLY At first, college feels a little like getting dropped onto ERHAPS THE HARDEST an island full of strangers.

THING TO KEEP IN MIND You just start introducing ABOUT COLLEGE IS THAT yourself and hope you click IT’S JUST A SEASON. with someone.

It’s not a very And for some people, that’s short season. Four years is enough. But right now is also a decent amount of time. a great time to start thinking But, in the grand scheme of about being intentional with things, it’s not nearly as your community. It might be long as it may sound. tempting to stick with peoThe thing is, you see a lot ple like you. And that’s not of people in their thirties necessarily bad, but it’s too or forties wistfully dreameasy. It won’t challenge you. ing about their college days College is a unique opporbecause they never really got tunity to meet people from just how short an amount of all different backgrounds, so time it was. stretch beyond your birds of But if you approach college a feather and try to find peowith the right perspective, it ple you can truly grow with. can become not only a rich, Develop friendships with peorewarding season, but someple who will challenge your thing that sets up many betthinking and push you to be ter, brighter seasons to come. more accepting, more patient, There’s no perfect way to do or at least more curious. college, but there are some Push into conversations with ways you can make the most of people who disagree with you it so you’ll be able to look back without regret.

P

ACADE M ICALLY One of the biggest misconceptions about learning is that it’s little more than memorization. It’s an understandable mistake—most your learning has been structured around it.

If that’s how you approach learning, then college will not be much more rewarding of a learning experience than high school was. But if you can train yourself to not just comprehend, but contemplate what you’re learning and why it matters—to ask questions about it, and to apply it to your actual life—then your undergrad degree will never go to waste, no matter what line of work you end up in.

you—and the sort of influences you surround yourself with.

If you choose a community with a solid foundation, committed to encouraging you and challenging you, you can’t go too far wrong.

Many students go into college with a lot of experience in having their spiritual life managed for them.

Pastors, youth leaders, Bible study groups and maybe even your parents have probably guided most of your journey up to now. Those are great things, but now that you’re on your own, it’s going to be up to you to make sure you keep finding people to invest in you spiritually.

VOCATIONALLY The temptation with getting a job in college is to see it as nothing more than a crutch—a way to alleviate just some of the debt you

DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO CHALLENGE YOUR THINKING AND PUSH YOU. or have different perspectives on life. Ask questions. Take the time to hone a thirst for relationships that will last you long after graduation.

S PIRITUALLY

Whether you choose to attend a small Christian college or a huge party school, your spiritual life at college isn’t quite as determined by the college as you may have been led to believe.

It’s actually determined by

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may well be accumulating. And that’s fair enough, but don’t forget that workplaces can be as educational as classrooms.

If possible, see if you can get a job off-campus. It will get you outside of the school bubble for a few hours a week, and you might be surprised at what kind of lessons are waiting for you out there, setting you up for the continuing learning you’ll be doing long after your season of college has ended.

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THINGS YOU’LL WISH YOU LEARNED IN COLLEGE

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IN

HIGH SCHOOL, YOUR OVERALL OBJECTIVES TO FULFILL COME GRADUATION WERE PROBABLY PRETTY CLEAR: YOU WANTED TO KEEP YOUR GPA UP AND EXCEL IN EXTRACURRICULARS, ALL WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING INTO A GOOD COLLEGE. BUT NOW YOU’VE MADE IT, AND WHEN YOU GRADUATE COLLEGE, YOUR OBJECTIVES ARE LESS DIRECT. YOU WANT TO BE READY TO GET A GOOD JOB, BUT THE ROAD TO GETTING A CAREER ISN’T NECESSARILY AS OBVIOUS AS YOU MIGHT THINK. It may be tempting to want to fast-forward through the first few years of gen eds and prerequisites to get to the classes in your major, but even if you could do so, you would miss out on a lot of broader skills you’ll need later.

Believe it or not, those gen ed classes you’re required to take for the first few years of college can be the most important parts of your education.

Along with the what you’ll learn from the classes in your major, which will give you the technical know-how to do a job in your field, there are plenty of other skills to make sure you have acquired by the time

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you graduate, no matter what you plan on doing.

B USIN E SS AN D COM PUTE R S KILL S No matter what industry you’re looking to get into, there will be some business aspects to it, and knowing how businesses generally operate can help you move into leadership positions more quickly or even start a business of your own.

You’ve probably already got a good handle on computers, but a coding class is to 2014 was typing classes were to 1970.

Take a computer programing or web design or development class to get some inside knowledge.

It’s a small investment that will pay dividends down the road.

And while you can learn a lot from classes, internships will bring the real-life experience you need to help you develop professional skills and figure out what you’re really interested in.

Besides, they’ll help you get a job. According to a Harris Interactive survey, 82 percent of hiring managers want their new hires to have done an internship.

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Extra tip: Be smart about your online presence. Establish a positive presence like Linkedin and your own, professional-looking blog. And be smart with your Twitter accounts. Employers will check those things.

COM M U N ICATION

These days, we interact with people all the time. We text while hanging out with friends while commenting on Instagram.

But there’s more to effective communication than knowing how to touch base with friends.

Workforce Solutions Group at St. Louis Community College found 60 percent of employers say applicants often lack “communication and interpersonal skills.”

An interpersonal communications course will make you extra competitive and, as an added bonus, improve your day-to-day skills in conflict management and team building. Take a public speaking or debate class to improve your confidence in speaking in front of crowds. Also read more and read well—it will improve your writing and grammar.

Learn to communicate well in different groups and through different mediums and you’ll stand out from the crop of other graduates.

AWAR E N E SS ABOUT TH E WOR LD

Even though you probably grew up in a culture of global connections, it’ll be important for you to become a member of the international community, and that means being proactive.

A National Geographic Society survey found that only 37 percent of American 18-24 year olds could find Iraq on a map and only 10 percent communicated regularly with anyone outside the U.S.

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Take a language or foreign studies class and, if possible, take a semester to study abroad. You might also consider a political science course. The world is getting smaller, and the better you understand the international culture, the better prepared you’ll be to live in our increasingly globalized world.

ADAP TAB ILIT Y AN D PROB LE M SOLVING There’s a lot more to any job than just knowing how to do it. Particularly as the world becomes more fastpaced, thinking on the fly is an increasingly valuable trait.

In college, you’ll be getting trained to do things that will be antiquated by the time you graduate, so it’s important that you learn how to adapt and change and seek out new knowledge.

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Take a class in logic and reasoning or, better yet, a philosophy class. This sort of thinking will prepare you for your career by stretching your mind to examine problems from every side and think of innovative, strategic solutions to see the bigger picture.

INITIATIVE AN D TE AM B U ILDING One thing that a surprising number of employers are interested in is what you did in college when you weren’t in class. Taking initiative in extracurriculars and leadership positions can do for you what studying can not—give you actual experience in building and managing a team. And if you can’t find an extracurricular group on your campus that interests you, try starting your own. There’s no better preparation for a future job than starting a brand new project.

MON E Y S MARTS

THERE’S A LOT MORE TO ANY JOB THAN JUST KNOWING HOW TO DO IT. LEARN HOW TO ADAPT AND CHANGE. 51

This is a big one. No matter what job you get into, there will be a bottom line, and that bottom line is something you should start educating yourself about. Even—especially—if you’re the sort of person who doesn’t like dealing with money, a class on economics or personal finance will assist your career goals in a way few other studies will.

In 2011, the average student loan debt was $26,600, and 41 percent of graduates are delinquent on their loan payment at some point in the first five years. Paying off your loan quickly and learning how to manage your money for the future will free you to focus on your actual career aspirations, and will affect just about every part of your life.

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SHOULD YOU GO...

ON-CAMPUS OR ONLINE?

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N

OT TOO LONG AGO, ONLINE COLLEGE WAS VIEWED AS A LESSER LEARNING EXPERIENCE. TODAY, ONLINE EDUCATION IS TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY. SOME STUDIES SUGGEST THAT BY 2019, NEARLY HALF OF ALL COLLEGE CLASSES WILL BE ONLINE. BUT E-LEARNING ISN’T FOR EVERYONE. HERE ARE SOME FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN CHOOSING HOW TO DO CLASSES:

TH E CAS E FO R O N - CA M P U S

TH E CAS E FO R O N LI N E

M OTIVATION

MOTIVATION

If you have a lower self-motivation level, an actual classroom will provide the sort of structure you might struggle to implement yourself.

Online classes tend to be more hands-off, requiring you to set your own deadlines and priorities. If you’re highly motivated, you’ll take to online classes easily.

SCH E DU LE

SCH E DU LE

A traditional education is more ideal for someone who’s looking to fully devote the next few years of their life to getting through college. But if you have a fulltime job or have started a family, going to class will be more of a challenge.

E-learning allows for a lot of flexibility in your schedule, letting you learn on your own time provided you get all the homework turned in. Online classrooms work better for students who have other obligations outside of college.

COM M U N IT Y

COM M U NIT Y

There’s really no substitute for the traditional classroom to form bonds. College throws you into an environment with a vast array of personalities that will challenge your thinking, your preconceived notions and maybe even your faith.

In an online classroom, you’ll interact with professors and students through chatrooms and email, but there will be little face-to-face interaction. If you’re easily distracted by others, you may find the environment refreshing.

COST

COST

Traditional education often comes with debt, but you can assuage some of it with scholarships and financial assistance. A little bit of research can save you years of paying off future debt.

Online college is not quite the bargain you might think. In fact, studies show online students don’t pay too much less than their traditional counterparts. And scholarships can be hard to come by.

STU DY

STU DY

If you’re interested in more tactile fields of study—medicine or engineering, for example—traditional education will provide more chances for you to get your hands dirty in hands-on training.

Since online students have a limited amount of opportunities for hands-on learning, their learning experience lends itself to more cerebral studies such as education, communication studies and journalism.

CAR E E R

CAR E E R

Employers tend to trust traditional education, but the school you attend isn’t likely to make a big difference in your shot at getting hired. A Gallup poll found 9 percent of employers thought it was important to know where an applicant got their degree. Your future employer is more concerned with who you are and what you know than where you went.

Although e-learning is growing in popularity, not all employers are sold on the idea. A recent study found 56 percent of employers prefer an applicant who completed his or her college education in the classroom. However, 17 percent said they actually preferred applicants with an online degree. That number is swelling and may well continue to grow.

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Renewing MINDS Excellence-driven higher education begins with stellar faculty

U

nion University faculty members excel as scholars, authors and national speakers. They invest in their students through award-winning classroom teaching, mentoring and collaboration on research.

In a close-knit learning community our students are challenged to grow intellectually and integrate their faith in every program of study.

As a result, Union graduates excel in top graduate schools and in careers around the world.

To learn more about Union’s Christ-centered academic excellence, visit uu.edu.

uu.edu Jackson, TN 55 EXCELLENCE-DRIVEN | CHRIST-CENTERED | PEOPLE-FOCUSED | FUTURE-DIRECTED R E L E VA N T U . C O M

W H AT Y O U S H O U L D K N O W:

LEARNING WELL ADVICE FROM A PROFESSOR

T

he move from high school to college brings changes that can be overwhelming.

As a professor, I can say that most professors want to make your time at college as beneficial as possible. We are on your side. To help with that, here are some things to know: TAK E N OTE S

I so often stand in front of a class fraught with blank expressions and blank sheets of paper.

Later in the course, students ask me what kinds of things should be in their projects and papers, and I tell them to pull from their reading and the presentations made in class.

That is when the panic sets in because both their minds and their paper memories are blank.

K N OW YO U R R E S P O N S I B I LITI E S

A professor provides a syllabus with objectives he or she hopes to help the students achieve. However, the professor needs students to follow through on their own responsibilities.

It’s good to work ahead of time because completing your side of the deal in a planned way can help you negotiate pitfalls with plenty of support.

R E AD B OO KS

Many students try to complete papers only using the Internet for sources. The Internet

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WHEN STRESS OVERWHELMS US, IT IS REALLY OUR OWN DEAL. provides a lot of information, but not all that information is credible. Books— electronic and paper— remain the most trusted sources for most scholars.

TALK WITH YO U R P RO F E SSO R S

A good professor is student-centered. If you are working hard to complete your assignments and classwork, but still having trouble, ask the professor for a little extra time. Be prepared to lay out exactly where the problems are occurring. Ask if there is

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another way to complete the assignment.

MAKE A PL AN FOR SUCCESS WHE N FACING STRESS

The high-pressure environment of college can lead to meltdowns. But when stress overwhelms us, it is really our own deal. If we take time to release our fears to God and maintain healthy habits, we will find stress doesn’t build so easily.

Come to college with a desire to commit your way to God, and He will make straight your path.

PETER WORR ALL is an education professor at Moody Bible Institute.

COLLEGE “Standing firm on Trinity’s rich heritage and its longstanding focus on the centrality of the gospel, it is our joy to reaffirm our distinctive mission with a renewed commitment to biblical truth, evangelical faithfulness, intellectual seriousness, and cultural engagement in order to serve both church and society for the sake of Christ and his kingdom.”

David S. Dockery, President

WHILE THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA MAY NOT BE AS DRAMATIC AS OTHER DRUGS, IT CAN HAVE LIFEALTERING EFFECTS. Trinity educates men and women to engage in God’s redemptive work in the world by cultivating

academic excellence, Christian faithfulness, and lifelong learning.

Trinity International University is a comprehensive university offering a wide range of bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees, as well as other programs, in multiple locations.

Trinity College Undergraduate Programs Adult Undergraduate Programs Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Trinity Graduate School Trinity Law School

Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity Jonathan Edwards Center at TEDS

LOCATIONS: Main Campus: Deerfield, IL South Chicago South Florida Southern California Online

2065 Half Day Road, Deerfield, IL 60015 | 800 822.3225

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W H AT Y O U S H O U L D K N O W:

T H E PAT H TO A MAJOR ADVICE FROM A PROFESSOR AND ADVISOR

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very semester, several frazzled college students plop into the corner chair in my office and sigh something like this: “I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life.”

It’s an understandable concern. Your college years can be overwhelming with so many decisions to make, questions to answer and that thing called “adulthood” looming. Whenever students come to me, I reassure them with a few of these facts: YO U DO N ’ T HAVE TO FI G U R E O UT TH E WH O LE R E ST O F YO U R LI F E

You have plenty of time. You just have to make the decisions in front of you now to the best of your ability, in prayer and as God illuminates the path.

Step by step by step.

YO U HAVE A U N IQ U E S E T O F S K I LL S , G I F TS AN D I NTE R E STS

Start with that. Discern what you’re good at and what you love. What sets your heart on fire? When have you felt most alive? What opportunities has God given and blessed you with?

Take a personality test or a career assessment. Ask the people who know you best.

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YOUR MAJOR DOESN’T DEFINE YOU. NOR WILL YOUR FIRST JOB. THINGS CHANGE AND SO WILL YOU. YO U HAVE TH E O P P O R TU N IT Y TO E XP LO R E

Use your college years to investigate a variety of career possibilities. Set up interviews with people working in fields that interest you.

Shadow them for a day.

Volunteer. Apply for internships. Glean as much information as you can and see what draws you back.

Your college years aren’t about learning all of the content you will need to succeed in a single job.

They’re more about learning how to learn, how to think, how to cast a vision and make a plan.

So, in summary, I encourage you to find your advisor—sooner, rather than later. Plop down in his or her chair, frazzled or not. Share what’s on your heart. And let him or her help guide you through.

YO U AR E N ’ T STU CK

Your major doesn’t define you. Nor will your first job. Things change and so will you.

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KELLI WORR ALL is a professor of communications at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

She blogs at thisoddhouse,org.

WHILE THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA MAY NOT BE AS DRAMATIC AS OTHER DRUGS, IT CAN HAVE LIFEALTERING EFFECTS.

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W H AT Y O U S H O U L D K N O W:

LIVING ON C A M P US ADVICE FROM A RESIDENT DIRECTOR

L

iving in the type of community a residence hall offers is a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. I lived in a residence hall for four years as an undergraduate and five years as a staff member, and I have three suggestions for you to make the most of your time living on campus: B E A G OO D ROO M MATE

Being a good roommate takes work. You probably haven’t lived in such a small space with a roommate before, especially not with a stranger. Take some time to get to know your roommate. Talk about what they enjoy doing, what kind of music they like. Find out about their family, their faith, their hopes for the future. Nearly all roommates will hit rough spots at some point, but it’s easier to give (and receive) grace to someone you know and care for.

BE OPEN

Be open to sharing your belongings, to meeting new people, to changing. Part of the education you will receive in college is gained through experiences within the residence hall. Things like living with an international student or participating in a Bible study with

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WHEN YOU TRY TO FIT A MOLD OR BE SOMEONE YOU’RE NOT, YOU CHEAPEN THE EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF. someone who holds different views can easily be beneficial, but they require active participation.

B E YO U R S E LF

When you live in the residence hall, your entire life is shared with people. Your dormmates see you when you first wake up and late at night, when you’re ecstatic and at your lowest. There is no benefit in trying to present a false or more “attractive” version of yourself, because people will see through

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it. The richness of the residence hall experience lies in the conglomeration of people who will all call this place “home.” When you try to fit a mold or be someone you’re not, you cheapen the experience for yourself and for the others.

Own up to the fact that you love British dramas, zombies, ’90s pop music and whatever else makes you unique. Be who God has created you to be.

KENDALL STANISL AV is a resident director and campus ministry staff member at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

COURAGE COURAGE

totothink thinkdeeply deeply totoact actjustly justly totolive livefully fully

““

ToTobe bea aChristian Christian intellectual intellectualisistoto not notbe beafraid afraid...... isistotobe beable abletoto ask askthe thehard hard questions— questions— and andtotoengage engage the thequestions questions and andcritically critically study studythings. things.

Daniel DanielCamacho Camacho’13 ’13 philosophy philosophymajor major

You’re You’reonto ontosomething, something,a anew newidea. idea.For Fordiabetes diabetestreatment, treatment,for foreducation educationreform, reform, for forthe theway waywe webuild buildour ourcities, cities,for forending endingpoverty. poverty.The Theonly onlyway waytotomake makeyour youridea idea a areality realityisistototest testit,it,change changeit,it,share shareit.it.ItIttakes takescourage couragetotododothat, that,something somethingyou’ll you’ll build buildininevery everyclass, class,every everylate-night late-nightconversation—every conversation—everymoment momentyou youspend spendatatCalvin.

Calvin.

Explore Explorewhat whatititmeans meanstotothink thinkdeeply, deeply,act actjustly justlyand andlive livefully fully atatwww.calvin.edu/go/courage. www.calvin.edu/go/courage.

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Calvin Calvin College College admits admits students students of of any any race, race, color color and and national national oror ethnic ethnic origin. origin.

DIRECTORY

PA RT N E R S C H O O L S It’s no secret that choosing which college to attend can be an incredibly difficult task. Along with cost, location, size and other factors, you also have to think about what kind of feel and campus culture you’re looking for. Here are a few Christian schools that have partnered with RELEVANT, all of which are great options to look into. Find more online at RELEVANTU.com.

BETHEL UNIVERSITY (page 12)

EASTERN UNIVERSITY (page 41)

ST. PAUL , MINNESOTA

ST. DAVIDS, PENNSYLVANIA

bethel.edu

eastern.edu

CAIRN UNIVERSITY (page 54)

GREATER EUROPE MISSION (page 64)

L ANGHORNE, PENNSYLVANIA

KANDERN, GERMANY

cairn.edu

gemadventure.com

CALVIN COLLEGE (page 61)

HILLSONG COLLEGE (page 59)

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

calvin.edu

hillsong.com/college

CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY (page 2)

JAMES RIVER LEADERSHIP COLLEGE (page 7)

CEDARVILLE, OHIO

OZARK, MISSOURI

cedarville.edu

jrlc.com

COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (page 4)

MESSIAH COLLEGE (page 45) MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

L AKEWOOD, COLORADO

messiah.edu

ccu.edu COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (page 10)

MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE (page 27) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

moody.edu

ciu.edu

CRANDALL UNIVERSITY (page 5)

MULTNOMAH UNIVERSITY (page 13)

MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK

PORTLAND, OREGON

crandallu.ca

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multnomah.edu

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NORTHEAST LEADERSHIP CENTER (page 9)

SERVE SEATTLE (page 19) SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

SMITHFIELD, RHODE ISL AND

serveseattle.org

northeastleadership.org NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY (page 17)

SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY (page 11)

NAMPA, IDAHO

WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS

nnu.edu

sagu.edu

OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (back cover)

SPRING ARBOR UNIVERSITY (page 30)

EDMOND, OKL AHOMA

SPRING ARBOR, MICHIGAN

oc.edu

arbor.edu

OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY (page 29)

TRINITY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (page 57)

BOURBONNAIS, ILLINOIS

DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS

olivet.edu

tiu.edu

ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY (page 25)

TRUETT-MCCONNELL COLLEGE (page 3)

TULSA, OKL AHOMA

CLEVELAND, GEORGIA

oru.edu

truett.edu

PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY (page 31)

UNION UNIVERSITY (page 55) JACKSON, TENNESSEE

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

uu.edu

pba.edu

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN ST. PAUL (page 8)

REGENT UNIVERSITY (page 15) VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

regent.edu

unwsp.edu

WANT MORE INFO ON COLLEG ES?

SAMFORD UNIVERSITY (inside cover)

Check out RELEVANTU.com for a directory of hundreds of great schools around the country.

BIRMINGHAM, AL ABAMA

samford.edu

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Greater Greater Europe Europe Mission Mission

Adventure on mission in Europe Ever wanted to go on a once-in-a-lifetime Ever wanted to go on a once-in-a-lifetime Adventure on mission? Europe is an Adventure on mission? Europe is an incredible, diverse place rich with culture incredible, diverse place rich with culture but full of spiritual need. but full of spiritual need.

With opportunities for internships, mission With opportunities for internships, mission trips, and full-time ministry, come experience trips, and full-time ministry, come experience new cultures, learn a new language, and new cultures, learn a new language, and bring hope to an amazing place. bring hope to an amazing place.

Start your adventure at Start your adventure at

www.GEMAdventure.com www.GEMAdventure.com

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SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT MAGAZINE FOR JUST $6 SPEC

IAL

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RELEVANT IS THE LEADING MAGAZINE COVERING FAITH, CULTURE AND INTENTIONAL LIVING. DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! RELEVANTmagazine.com/6dollars

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