For some Christians, the obvious choice when applying to colleges is to attend a school associated with Christianity or their particular denomination. Many good things can result from this choice, naturally. But high school seniors who consider their faith an important part of their life should not necessarily rule out non-affiliated schools, as these can provide a number of benefits that explicitly Christian schools might not. In the end, the choice is up to the student.
Secular Schools Offer an Open Atmosphere
Christians may feel that a school associated with their faith is the only way for their faith to truly develop. Certainly, Christian-affiliated schools offer many spiritual resources to students. Still, going to a school not associated with any particular religion has its benefits as well.
When a school is secular in nature, students can learn about other denominations and make big choices in their spiritual life in a free and open atmosphere. And students can still find lots of spiritual resources at schools without a religious affiliation, as the article “Keeping Your Faith While in College” shows.
Non-Affiliated Schools Provide Chances to Witness
Having the chance to spend college with other Christians is one draw of a religious school, but students at secular schools who join Christian groups have that opportunity as well. But for students who enjoy sharing the story of their faith to others and telling students about Jesus, more secular colleges offer great opportunities to do just that. Christians at non-affiliated schools can debate with and learn from non-Christian students at campuses not associated with a particular faith, which can be beneficial for both parties involved.
Considering Secular Schools Gives Students More Choices When Applying
According to Collegeboard.com’s College Search, there are 2,115 four-year colleges in the United States. A search on the program reveals that 1,392 of these schools, or 65.8 percent, are not affiliated with a particular religion, Christianity or otherwise. Christian institutions can be great matches for the thousands of students who attend them, but categorically excluding non-affiliated schools limits one's college search .
With God’s Help, Students Can Succeed Anywhere
Non-affiliated colleges provide open environments where one can explore their faith and opportunities to witness to non-Christian students. With over 1,300 such schools in the United States, students who consider secular schools can have significantly more options to choose from.
At the same time, going to a non-affiliated school does not mean inevitably turning against God, giving oneself to sin and abandoning one’s faith. Secular colleges can offer a large amount of spiritual resources, from Christian groups and religious sections of libraries to chaplains, churches and religious professors. In the end, though students may not find the same level of spiritual comfort that they would at a non-affiliated school, God can help them succeed at whichever schools He leads them to.
For some tips on finding the right school, try reading the Suite101.com article “Research Tips for Students Applying to College.” And when it comes to deciding which campus atmosphere fits best, check out “Picking The Right College Environment.”
Kenneth Burchfiel - I sometimes feel "like a lonely bird on a housetop" (can you guess what Psalm that's from?), but that's probably because I stay up at the ...
