You know it's time to begin searching for the college that's right for you. The problem is, you don't know where to start. Don't panic! We talked to six college-search pros and asked them tons of questions that will help you get going in the right direction.

Guy Adams, Senior Vice President
Warner Pacific University—Portland, Oregon

David Ferrell, Dean of Enrollment
Central Christian College of Kansas—McPherson, Kansas

Jim King, Director of Admissions
Anderson University—Anderson, Indiana

Deana Porterfield, Dean of Admissions
Azusa Pacific University—Azusa, California

Bill Strausbaugh, Dean of Enrollment Management
Messiah College—Grantham, Pennsylvania

Carroll Griffin, Assistant Vice President and Director of Admissions
Union University—Jackson, Tennessee

When is a good time to begin thinking about which college to attend?

Guy: Early on in high school, say your freshman and sophomore years, it's good to think about college in general. What I mean is, make sure you're getting the best grades you can get. I'm not saying you need to live in the library. But just do the best you can academically before you start shopping for a college. The better the grades, the better your options.

Jim: Be sure you're choosing a college-prep curriculum. Talk with your high school counselor. Freshmen and sophomores need to think about choosing the kind of classes that will prepare them for college.

Bill: If you're able to visit a college campus early on in high school, do it. Colleges often hold sports, music and drama camps for high school students during the summer. When you get there, ask a few college students to tell you about life on campus. It also wouldn't hurt to pick up a brochure. Again, you're not seriously into your search yet. You're just starting to look ahead to what it would be like to be a college student.

Let's say I'm a high school junior or senior, and I know I've got to start seriously looking for a college. Where should I begin?

Carroll: You need to prayerfully ask yourself, "What am I looking for in a college education and campus experience? What do I want to get out of my education?"

David: Come up with a list of priorities—the key qualities you're looking for in a college. Maybe it's a particular academic program or extracurricular program, like athletics or music or drama. Maybe it's location. Do you want to be close to or far from home? Does that even matter to you?

Guy: Develop a profile of the "ideal" college experience. Make a list of your expectations. Now don't expect any school to meet all your needs and expectations. What you'll need to do is prioritize your list by deciding which things are most important to you. If playing basketball is the single most important thing to you, then basketball goes at the top of the list.

Deana: Get on some college mailing lists and start checking out some schools. Either e-mail schools you're considering or fill out an information request card. (See card between pages 32 and 33—print copy only.)

What about Christian college fairs? Are they helpful in the search?

Jim: I'd recommend taking advantage of Christian college fairs. Colleges across the nation are represented at these fairs. If you can attend a fair in, say, San Diego, you'll not only be able to check out West Coast schools, but you can check out East Coast schools as well. It's a great way for you to get a broad view of the many different Christian colleges available.

Guy: These fairs give you a chance to talk face-to-face with college representatives. Whether you're a freshman or a senior, I'd encourage attending a fair.

Along with a brief overview of colleges, fairs also offer workshops. These workshops not only deal with how to choose a college, but also how to pay for college.

How can I find out about Christian college fairs in my area?

Jim: You can contact a local Christian college for information. Your youth pastor or guidance counselor may also have information.

OK, so I attend a fair and then start getting a lot of mail from different colleges. How can I weed through the mail and narrow my choices?

David: Let's say you've received mail from 50 different colleges. Now go over your list of priorities—those things that are most important to you in a school. By using that list, you should be able to get your choices down to 10 or 15 schools.

Now, go back over your list of priorities one more time, and decide which ones are most important to you. Evaluate the schools again based on your top priorities. You now should be able to get your list down to between three and five choices.

Carroll: Get on the Internet and check out the Web sites of schools you might be interested in. You can get a lot of information from a Web site. We've posted our entire catalog on the Web. (Note: For more info on using the Internet in your search, see "Click Here for College".)

Jim: You'll need to look at those little details that might make a difference in whether or not you'll feel at home at a particular school. Does the school have a dress code? Is chapel required? Is there a curfew? You need to just make sure you can live with whatever special rules a school might have. On the other hand, you need to make sure you're not bothered by a particular school's less-strict policies. If you have any problems with policies, rules or lack of rules, you probably don't want to go to that school. You just won't be comfortable there.

As I look for a college, is it important that I know what I want to major in?

Guy: Some students wrongly think they must know their major before they enroll in college. In a sense, college is a spiritual, intellectual and career journey. There's a lot to be gained in the first year or two that may have little to do with a specific major or career direction. It has a lot more to do with learning and problem solving. It has to do with answering questions, like: How can I apply my faith to all areas of my life? What is God calling me to do? The answers to those kinds of questions aren't narrowed to a major.

Deana: The truth is, so many students change their major once they actually get to college. Now a general idea about what you want to major in is helpful because it can reflect your interests. Let's say you love working with people. Well, you could end up in nursing or psychology or social work or some other field related to working with people. But you're not exactly sure what you want to do. So you take a general psychology course, just to explore that area. After you finish the course, you decide that psychology isn't for you. Most likely, you haven't lost a thing because your psychology class can be used to meet a general course requirement.

Who should I go to for help in my search?

Bill: Go to your guidance counselor. Now I understand that many guidance counselors are overburdened and overwhelmed by the large number of students they need to counsel. This doesn't mean you shouldn't seek help from your counselor. It does mean you'll need to take the initiative. Don't wait for the counselor to come to you.

David: You need to involve your parents early on. Get their help in setting priorities and deciding what's most important to your education. It's not that they're making the decision for you, but you'll benefit from their experience, wisdom and perspective.

Jim: It's essential to involve your parents. I think most students here at Anderson would say their parents were involved in the search, yet left the final decision to them. Coaches and teachers can also help you think through your interests and how those things should be considered as you look for a school that's right for you.

Carroll: Talk to your youth pastor and your friends who are currently in college. Ask them about their own college experience. Ask them how they went about choosing a school.

Guy: It would be great to talk to students who are attending the schools you're looking at. They're honest. They'll shoot straight with you. They'll let you know if they're getting what they're paying for.

What mistakes should I avoid in my search?

Carroll: Don't choose a school because it's where your best friend is going. Just because it's the best place for your friend doesn't mean it's the best place for you.

Jim: Students often do not do enough research. Before you decide, you need to have a good understanding of what a school is all about.

Bill: Students and parents often think about finances too early in the process. They don't explore certain options because of what they think a school is going to cost.

David: After applying for financial aid, and after looking into scholarship opportunities, you might be surprised at how affordable a school is. Don't rule out a school just be cause it initially looks too expensive.

How important is it to visit the schools I'm interested in?

Bill: There's nothing that can take the place of an actual visit. It's not unusual for students to visit between five and 10 colleges.

Deana: The visit allows you to "try on" the campus to see if it's the right fit. Does the chapel service "fit" you? Do the classes you visit "fit"? Is this the kind of place where you can learn and grow? These kinds of questions will only be answered by a visit.

Jim: Everybody looks good on paper. We pay people to make our brochures and ads look good. And we believe a brochure is a good way to introduce students to our campus. But to discover if we are the right fit, you need to get a close, personal look at us. You must experience what it's like to walk around our campus.

I understand schools have special preview or visitation days. Is it better to visit on those days or regular days?

Carroll: I like it when people will come and visit on a typical day. Doing so gives you a good feel for what an ordinary day on campus is like. Visiting on special "visitation" days is good, too, but you can really get a better taste for what we're all about by visiting on a typical day. If possible, I'd recommend two visits: one on our visitation day, and another on just a typical day. But don't just drop by without letting us know you're coming! I had somebody come one time and we were on spring break. This student had traveled hundreds of miles to visit us, and there was hardly anybody on campus.

David: Please don't just show up on campus and say, "I want to talk to so-and-so." The person you may want to see might not even be on campus. So call ahead to make appointments.

Deana: You need to visit colleges on the same type of days. Some students will visit one school on a special preview or visitation day. Then they'll visit another school in the summer when there's hardly anyone around. They'll visit another school on a typical day when classes are in session. It wouldn't be fair to compare those schools based on your visits.

Let's talk specifically about the college application process. When should I apply?

Bill: Applying in the fall of the senior year is pretty much the norm for most students.

Jim: If you wait too long, you might miss out on some of our bigger scholarships. It's real sad when that happens. I've received late applications in April from very good students. If they'd applied as late as December, they would have been right at the top for scholarships worth several thousand dollars. But they simply applied too late to take advantage of that kind of money.

How many different schools should I apply to?

Carroll: Don't apply to 10 schools! It's a waste of time and money. On average, it will cost between $25 and $50 to apply to each school. That can add up to a good chunk of money. When you're ready to apply, you really need to have your list narrowed to just a few top choices.

David: I'd recommend applying to four or five schools. I would not recommend applying to just one school. If you don't get accepted there, you haven't given yourself any other options.

What are the admissions officers trying to find out during the application process?

Guy: The application process is about getting information on you. But it's more than just getting a lot of facts about you and your high school education. It's also about finding out who you are. It's your opportunity to introduce yourself to a college.

David: Christian colleges are trying to find students who are right for their school. Sure, you are looking for the right school, but we are also looking for the right student.

What must I keep in mind as I fill out the application?

Deana: That we'll actually read it. I've had students ask me if we actually read everything. Yes we do.

Carroll: Please understand that your application is an important document. So fill it out carefully and correctly. Put your best effort into it. Unfortunately, I get incomplete applications, or applications that were started in blue ink and finished in black. This kind of sloppiness just doesn't leave a good impression.

Jim: Every line is important. Don't skip anything. Everything you write down gets looked at and entered into our computer. So be thorough about your sports and extracurricular activities. And be sure all information—like addresses and phone numbers—is accurate.

Guy: We have specific instructions on who we do and don't want for a reference. Be sure and follow the instructions and give us the exact type of references we want.

Carroll: If you need help, if you don't understand something, call up the admissions person who sent you the application. The process can be difficult. We don't expect you to know how to do this. After all, you've never done it before. So if you don't understand something, call and ask.

Do I include my transcript with my completed application?

Deana: No. It's only considered an official transcript if it's sent directly from your high school to the college or university you're applying to. This is something your guidance counselor does for you.

Will I have to write an essay for my application?

Guy: We require essays. They're important because it's your opportunity to introduce yourself to us. It's not just about answering a question—just doing the "assignment." It's more about answering a question in a way that reveals something about who you are.

David: Our essays are optional. But it's really a good idea to do them. It's an opportunity for you to give your testimony and talk about how God is working in your life.

Deana: We do require essays. They're important to us because they help us get to know you—not just facts about you. Our essays ask about your current religious beliefs and experiences. We want to know honestly where you are right now in your spiritual journey, not so much where you think you should be. We just want to see the real you.

Jim: Essays are optional at our school. But, boy, they're still a good thing to do. Obviously, the information in them tells us more about you than we can get on the rest of the application. The essay is also a valuable exercise because it forces you to give some thought to things that are important to you. Every once and a while, it's good to think about questions like, "How has Jesus Christ impacted your life?" It's good to think about how your values can be incorporated into your career goals. Through our essay questions, we encourage students to think seriously about the future they'll soon be facing at college.

What tips do you have for writing the essay?

Deana: Besides getting to know you, we're evaluating your ability to write. The content and the mechanics of your essays are important. And don't write one long, run-on sentence. I've actually had that happen!

Bill: Have somebody proofread your essay—like your English teacher. I see too many essays that obviously haven't been proofread. An essay filled with mistakes doesn't go over well at all. You need to put your best foot forward.

Deana: While we don't require you to type it, it's not a bad idea. If you do submit handwritten essays, be sure your writing is neat. If you use a computer, use spellcheck. It amazes me how many students obviously haven't used spellcheck when they've completed their essays. Whether handwritten or typed, be sure to proof for spelling and grammar mistakes.

What role should my faith play in the college search?

Carroll: You need to start the process with prayer and keep praying all the way through to the end. Your search is not so much a search for a particular school as it is a search to be in the center of God's will. Seek to live each day for God, and the search can become an exciting spiritual adventure.

Deana: As you go about your search, ask yourself: Where is the place I'm going to be stretched in my faith? Where is the place I'll really connect with other Christians? Just be sure you are asking questions that relate very specifically to your faith and to your walk with Christ.

Bill: As a Christian, you need to seek guidance and help from God's people. Go to other Christians for godly advice. Have people in your church and youth group pray for you.

David: Awhile ago, I talked with a high school student who was very sincere about wanting the Lord to direct her college choice. I appreciated her attitude so much. Whether or not she ends up coming to Central isn't what's important. What's important is that she's striving to be sensitive to the Lord's leading. So I would encourage you to have a consistent prayer time and to keep your relationship with the Lord strong. By doing so, you'll be more sensitive to God's leading—wherever he leads you.

Before you drop your college application in the mail, make sure you've done the following:

1. Filled out all required information neatly and carefully.
2. Included a complete list of extracurricular and church activities. Be sure you've noted any areas of leadership.
3. Double-checked all telephone numbers and addresses for accuracy—down to the last number on the zip code.
4. Carefully followed all instructions for your references.
5. Proofread your essays one more time. Are spelling and grammar correct? Is content clear and well organized? Are the essays neat and readable? If not, do them again—and this time run them by your English teacher. (By the way, even if essays aren't required, you'd be wise to do them. Essays will really help a school get to know you.)
6. Enclosed any "extra" stuff, such as copies of newspaper articles or special awards. Caution: Send copies only, and don't send everything—admissions people don't care if you won the fourth-grade spelling bee! Pick stuff that represents your top honors during your high school years, then leave the rest for Mom to admire in the family scrapbook.
7. Asked your guidance counselor to send an official transcript to the school. You'll want to follow up on this in a week or two, just to make sure the transcript is on its way.
8. Included a check (not cash) for the application fee.
9. Signed and dated the application.
10. Everything in order? Seal and send away!

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