The college-search process is never easy, even if you know where you want to go. Between college tours, high school and college applications, it can get overwhelming. When there are so many different types of colleges to look at, it is easy to lose sight of what you want. Through my college-search process a few years back, I knew that I wanted a Christian college. While these characteristics are not completely unique to a Christian school, they are on another level there. Here are just a few reasons why I chose a Christian college.

To grow in a community.

It is true that if you live in a hall with other people you are living in community. However, at a Christian College it is different. Your neighbors have probably prayed for you or with you before and if they haven’t, it will happen. It is likely that you will still run into people at a Christian school who don’t feel as committed to community as others. I believe that God was a social being -- as three in one in the Godhead -- and he made us social creatures for a reason. God wants us to be social and to interact with people who build us up and bring us closer to Him through their words and actions.

To be encouraged.

Along the same lines as living in community, I came to a Christian college to be encouraged. Being encouraged is usually something that is done by people that care for you. I knew that coming to a Christian college I would find relationships that were built on the Rock. I am constantly encouraged through the outpour of love by my roommates, my professors, my RAs, members of campus ministries I am involved in, and oftentimes, complete strangers. It is encouraging to me to work towards a degree that is preparing me to further God’s kingdom. I am encouraged by those around me who have taken the time to get to know me, who know my struggles and my successes, and build me up through those.

To be challenged.

There is a preconceived belief that at Christian schools, everyone has the same opinion. I count myself as one of those that thought that when I got to Grove City College I would only meet students who thought the same way as me, worshipped the same way as me and grew up the same way as me. I was pleasantly surprised when I came to college and was actually challenged by those that I met. While I met people that encouraged me, I also met people who only seemed to challenge me in conversation and in my faith. When I came to school, I realized that I am much more liberal than I had previously thought. On such a conservative campus, it is nothing short of difficult to debate my opinions when I am a political minority.

To be held to a higher standard.

As Christians, we are called to a higher standard in all aspects of life. I knew that by coming to a Christian college, I would be held to this higher standard 24/7. My professors constantly require the very best from me, to glorify my Heavenly Father and to prepare me for my future career. I am expected to behave in a way that would seem "prudish," “square” and “old-fashioned” to students at other schools. I can affirm that being held to this standard has made me a better person. I no longer care that kids that I graduated high school with and I spend our weekends very differently. While some college students are out at parties, I’m spending time in Bible studies and doing homework. This higher standard isn’t always easy to live up to, but I know that when I am called home to answer for what I’ve done, this higher standard will have helped me.

To grow closer to our Savior.

My faith is the most important thing to me. Nothing else in my life would be possible without my faith in Jesus Christ. I wanted to spend the next four critical years of my life in an environment where I would be able to grow closer to our Savior both in the classroom and out of the classroom. I know that I won’t always have the opportunity to live in this kind of environment, growing closer to God and living with some of the greatest people that I’ve met so I want to seize this opportunity while I can.