For all of my fellow classmates, I’m sure you can relate, or anyone at a Christian university for that matter. How many people in your time at CCU or school of choice, have asked you WHY you chose that school? For me, it’s a ridiculous amount. It seems like I can’t have a conversation with anyone I meet without them asking why I chose to go to “a Christian university”, the second they find out I attend CCU. I have been asked this question so many times, that sometimes I feel as if my story has lost its meaning for me. But I also want people to know why I decided to leave Montana and move 900 miles away to pursue a faith-based education.
If I am being completely honest, CCU wasn’t my first choice. Once I decided that I wanted to opt out of a state school and attend a small, private Christian School, I had my heart set on attending Corban University in Salem, Oregon. I convinced my grandma to drive 12 hours in October for three days to visit my dream school because I just knew, that was my school. Lo and behold. I visited and only fell more in love, with the school and with the idea of a attending a Christian University.
October came and went and so did my acceptance letters from the other 12+ schools that I had applied to. Around November of my senior year of high school I started getting informational pamphlets and flyers from a school I had never even heard of; you guessed it, Colorado Christian University. Naturally thinking it was junk mail, straight into the trashcan they went. Fast forward a month later, about a week before Christmas break, where coincidentally I would be spending it in Colorado, my grandma was over for dinner and noticed said “junk mail” on top of the trash. Soon she began some research, told me that this school looked great and that we were going to visit when we were in Colorado for Christmas. At the time, I couldn’t think of anything worse. I mean who wants to visit a school they aren’t even interested in and be forced to walk around in December when you’ve already decided on your school? I sure didn’t.
I visited CCU and immediately fell in love. I returned home to Montana for the last few months of high school and immediately applied to CCU. Although I still had my heart set on Corban I thought, “ahh why not?” And then I found myself back on campus for a February preview. I was one of those little previews who came a day early and stayed a day later than everybody else so I was able to get a full view of just what CCU was all about. I went home and had some serious thinking to do. CCU or Corban? Oregon or Colorado? Closer to home or further away?
So how did I end up choosing CCU? There are a few key reasons that led to my decision.
For one, I know it’s what everyone hears and says on campus but community, seriously. You can’t go to many places and find a community quite like CCU’s. A community that is strong and supportive. A community where you are surrounded by hundreds of like-minded people with the same passion and love for Christ.
Second, the professors. I can’t imagine there are too many universities where your professor’s are constantly asking how they can be praying for you or inviting you over to their houses for dinner. This is not an uncommon thing for CCU. A university chalk full of professors who genuinely care for the lives and education of their students.
Third, the intentionality of the faculty and staff. My enrollment counselor, Matt, was so intentional with me. Calling or emailing me just to see how senior year was going, sending me a graduation card, just little things like that. I can only imagine others on campus being just the same.
Last but certainly not least, the foundation. I could tell from the second my preview started that CCU was not just "a Christian University" but an institution that really was based on faith. An institution with a faculty and staff as well as students all with the same love for the Lord as myself and a passion to spread the word of Jesus. A goal to make heaven more crowded.
So I ask you (like everyone else), why did you choose CCU?
