Spring is the time when parents and their high school juniors and seniors go to visit possible colleges that their son or daughter may attend. Obviously, being on campus gives a much more accurate view and "feel" of the school and whether that works for them. Let me add one more thing to consider.
If faith is an essential part of your family and if you want it to be part of your son or daughter's on going life experience, that should be part of the college decision. We know that a high percentage of high school seniors who are active in church make no faith connection in college. For some that is intentional, but for many it just does not happen due to new location, change, time crunch, etc, etc. A few years back a family I knew visited different colleges and made a selection. During her freshman year at the school, her mother complained to me about the lack of strong Christian ministries on that campus. I was familiar with the campus and I had to work to hold my tongue and not say, "Lady, it was that way when you visited there."
They wanted her Christian faith to be part of her college experience, but that had not been part of their decision process.
SO, HERE IS MY SUGGESTION:
When you visit a campus, check out the religious options.
-If you do a walking tour, ask if there are Christian Centers on campus, as there are many places in the south. They will quite likely walk you by and show you where they are, if you ask. They want to make you happy. Or, they will tell you and you can check it out later on your own. Or, they will tell you what other options might be. Often, there is a church near campus that has a ministry to college students. Their website will usually give lots of information about their college ministry options.
-If you are looking for a Baptist ministry and there is a Baptist Center on or by the campus, go in and check it out. Many other denominations have Centers on or adjacent to campus. Different things can happen when you do that.
1. It is easier for your son or daughter to go back later on their own, if they have already been inside and know what it is like and how to navigate it.
2. You will likely get to meet one of the leaders of that ministry. Your student will then have some familiarity with them and they with your student.
3. They can tell you about any events they offer at the start of school just for freshmen and other Welcome Events where they can meet other students. REMEMBER, who a student makes friends with will have a great deal to do with what they do at school. Make friends with the party crowd and the chance of lots of party attendance goes up. Make friends with the academic crowd and the chance of good grades goes up. Make friends with the faith crowd and the chance of a growing, active faith goes up.
4. Meeting the leader of the ministry also increases the likelihood of their making contact with your student prior to the start of school and even when they get on campus.
5. It also gives you the name and number of someone to call, if there is an emergency and you have no idea who to call who might could help. I have taken lots of students to the garage to get their car fixed. I have used my Jumper Cables to get lots of cars started. And, I have sat in the Emergency Room and waited until their parents got there.
"But, I cannot determine what my son or daughter will do faith wise when they get to college." many will say. No, you cannot, just like you cannot determine if they will make good grades and keep their scholarship. But, you will encourage them to study and you will ask about their grades and what is going on with their classes. Do the same thing about faith. Tell them your hopes and expectations for that. Ask them about it when you visit by phone after they get to school. If there are special Christian events at the start of school which has a registration, make sure they are signed up.
So, as you do your campus visits, check out the faith options. It just might be the best part of their college experience.
Arliss Dickerson's book, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is available at amazon.com.
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