Choosing a college or university is one of the most important decisions we make in life. It is also one of the most challenging decisions we will ever face. With so many options available and issues to consider, the process can seem overwhelming. In this podcast, I discuss many of the issues to consider with Dr. David Wunder, Dean of Faculty Development and Research Initiatives at Calvin University.

Dr. Wunder became serious about his faith as a sophomore in high school and headed off to college eager to grow both intellectually and spiritually. He chose to attend a small public university for his Bachelor of Science degree (Missouri University of Science and Technology). From there he attended large public universities for his Master of Science degree (University of Iowa) and his Ph.D. (University of Minnesota). In all three universities, he found ways to flourish in his faith and excel academically.

He has now been on the faculty at Calvin University, a Christian university since 2004 (for more see his Calvin University Faculty Profile.). Here in this Christian college context, he has also seen many students flourish. 

In our conversation, Dr. Wunder shares his insights concerning the pros and cons of both secular and Christian college education, and how to thrive in both contexts. He also provides a wealth of information about what to consider when choosing a college, sure to be helpful to all prospective college students and their parents as they wrestle with this momentous decision.

In this podcast we discuss:

The benefits of attending a Christian college or universityThe challenges of attending a Christian college or universityHow to evaluate a college or university during a campus visitHow to thrive as a Christian at a secular universityHow to find a healthy Christian fellowship on campusThe challenges of attending a secular college or universityOther ways Christian students can thrive in a secular contextHow to discern which college or university is best for you/your son or daughter  Further thoughts on how to maximize a campus visitHow to find information about graduation and placement percentagesHow to avoid unnecessary stress in the selection processThe two ways to think about how to choose a college 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Universities with Christian Study CentersCouncil for Christian Colleges and UniversitiesCollege Confidential