Bob Jones University Top Questions

Parents and student should look for a college that provides a solid philosophical base (one with which the parents and student agree) and strong teaching. Location and tuition costs may also be important, but the quality of the teaching and the atmosphere of the school should come first. Simply getting a diploma is not as important as truly learning and understanding the topics studied. Parents and student should also consider a school which offers a liberal arts education, which will provide the student with a broad base of knowledge on which to draw once he or she graduates. While at college, the student should study hard, but not hesitate to get involved in extracurricular activities. While these activities shouldn't cause grades to suffer, they can widen the student's experience and provide good opportunities for exercise and service to others. Students should also get involved with other students and be willing to sacrifice their time, energies, and even grades if necessary in order to help others or even just to listen to them. Students who are struggling can find help and counsel with their teachers and other students.

One of the best things to do is to visit the colleges that both the parents and students are interested in, even if they don't agree on the same ones. Often times visiting different colledges allows you to feel it out and it may suprise you which ones are your favorite. When looking to visit colloeges it's best not to go on the actually visiting days, alot of times special things are set up then and it's not an exact veiw. The best time to really see what goes on is when it's just regular school days, maybe even come for special events the students are required to attend. If you are worried about one college costing more than another look into the different scholarships you can get. Often scholarships will make up the difference in price and you can get more for your money.

Be sure that you know what you want to get out of your college experience, then make sure that the colleges you are considering will support your goals. Visit the top colleges on your list and see what the college's "atmosphere" is like, because this atmosphere will greatly affect your ability to achieve your goals. For instance, I wanted to have strong academic training that would really push me to excell. I found the top few schools in my field (that I could practically afford) and, after visiting them, selected BJU because its strong, supportive atmosphere would help me achieve much more than the partying and drinking and "just have fun" type of attitude I saw at other schools.

Visit different colleges if you can, a colloege may not always be everything its promotional liturature says that it is. If possible see if the prospective student can stay in the dorms, if that is where they will be staying, and go to classes that they have an interest in. When in college to make the most of the experience you need to get involved in college life. There is a balance between studying and social life. If you have too much of one the other will suffer. To parents, I would say, if your child is living in the dorms as a freshman send them a care package, believe me they need it. As they come back to college they will better be able to understand what they need to get through. It is good to remeber that college is the time when a person is becoming what they will be for the rest of their life. Becareful parents what you puch your childeren to be and becareful student what you yourself become.

The first thing I did when I was looking for a college was pray and seek God?s will in the matter. I also talked to friends and family about what school they thought would suit my personality the best. My advice in finding a the right school is to visit the campus multiple times, talk to a lot of students and faculty to find out how they view the school, research the schools financial aid programs, and make sure the school offers the right classes and is properly accredited for the career you are planning to pursue. I am a Christian and I chose BJU because it is a place where I can grow, not only academically and socially, but spiritually as well. One thing that is really helping me make the most out of college life is simply putting who I was in high school (a very shy, reserved person) behind me and embracing who I am right not by not caring what others think of me and by doing my best (eve if I don?t make the Dean?s List :).

you only get one chance for college...get involved and study hard

Prayer! Visit the college campus and interact with the faculty, staff, and students. Attend classes of the major you are interested in. Write out a pros and cons list for each school. Pray some more and then make your choice.

Search for a college that will both support your beliefs and morals, and challenge you to think beyond them. Strive to learn as much as possible, but don't allow learning to wash you back and forth with the tide of modern philosophy and human thought. Social life is important at school, but increasingly falls by the wayside as you decide on your career and start looking toward higher goals; so don't let it consume your entire time in college. Decide what is important and learn to prioritize around that. If you enroll at a school that is well-established, challenging, and consistent, and you apply yourself to learn, grow, and experience as much as possible, then your college years will be some of the most rewarding years of your life!

Visit the college before you comit to going there.

Make sure that you are going to that school for the right reasons. If it is for someone else (parents, girlfriend, ect) there is a chance you will hate it and want to leave.