I’m graduating from high school… now what?

It’s that time of year again when high school students who are looking forward to graduating in June are also going through the lengthy enrollment process for college or university. At this time each year, countless students wonder to themselves, “What should I do next?�

Are you one of those students?

When I see young people at this stage in their lives, I suggest they spend at least their freshman year at a Christian College or University.

Here are 6 reasons that people should attend at least one year at a Christian College before attending a State college or university.

1. Learn to live God’s Word. Christian College is a great way to hear wise people integrate God’s Word into your life. It will ground your faith in a way that you never experienced before. You will be challenged, stretched and enlightened daily as you examine your own faith and how you want to live your life.

2. Fill your “influence vacuum� with God’s people. Before our post-secondary education, we always lived with our parent’s influence (we lived in their house, ate their food, etc.). Now we’ve stepped out on our own. But university can be a tough place to make that transition if there is not a strong faith-based community present. Christian College is the perfect intermediate step. You will have a network of peers and teachers that will be friends and resources for life, no matter where you go.

3. You’re getting a Quality Education. You’ll still be receiving a high quality education at a Christian College. Christian colleges around the country are generally smaller and give you more one on one with your professors. If you need to move on to a State School for a specific program, usually your credits transfer, so it’s not “time wasted.�

4. Figure out what you want to do with your life. Although we think we have to decide in high school what we want “to do when we grow up� it really happens at the college/university level. Doesn’t it make sense to start that process in a setting that honors the thought process, “what does God want you to do?�

5. Learn to stand up for yourself. Too many people are poorly equipped to defend their faith. It’s called apologetics. Churches don’t teach it enough. You won’t learn it at a State college or university. The only place you’ll get a great education in apologetics is at a Christian or Bible College. This education will give you a broad understanding of the Christian Religion and compare it to other religions in the world. It will be here that your faith,will really become “Your Faith�.

6. Others are doing it! According to the U.S. Department of Education, which measured enrollment growth from 1990 to 2004, public four-year institutions grew 12.8 percent, independent four-year campuses grew 28 percent and independent religious four-year schools grew 27.5 percent.

This fall, CCCU member campuses surpassed all other higher education institutions with a staggering 70.6 percent increase in total fall enrollment, from 134,592 students to 229,649. There are about 4,000 degree-granting institutions of higher education in the United States alone. Approximately 1,600 of those are private, nonprofit campuses and about 900 of these colleges and universities are self-defined as “religiously affiliated.�

Attending Bible College is a great thing to do for any believer, no matter what your occupational goals might be. You will be better prepared for everything the world tries to throw at you!

Here is a look at some of the Top Christian Colleges and Universities in the Nation

1. Baylor University 14000 students (TX)
2. Liberty University 7700 Students (VA)
3. Harding University 5,600 Students (AR)
4. Dallas Baptist University 5000 Students (TX)
5. Campbell University 4500 Students (NC)
6. Samford Univeristy 4500 Students (AL)
7. Oral Roberts University 3500 Students (OK)
8. Cal Baptist University 3100 Students (CA)
9. Bethel University 3000 Students (MN)
10. Wheaton College 2500 Students (IL)

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