The recruitment process was very flattering, to say the least, but it also left me very overwhelmed and confused. Because there wasn’t one school that I had envisioned myself going to my whole life, I was open to every option that presented itself. This ever-present lack of a direction caused me to become very frustrated by the whole “choosing a college” situation. I began to research into many schools that had sent me letters in order to have a better idea as to what I did and didn’t want in a school. Because I knew that I wanted to play volleyball at a very competitive level in college, I started to weigh the pros and cons of every school and each division.

In talking with several D1 athletes, I realized that they had a huge commitment to their sport. Not only were they traveling most every weekend, but they had just as many practices in the off-season as they did in their regular season. Many of the athletes also had to stay on campus during the summers and other breaks in order to train with their teams. This information really turned me off to a bigger school because, although I wanted to be competitive, I wanted to have more than a volleyball experience. I wanted to have a college experience complete with time for friends and fun. The only real benefit that I could find in going to a D1 school that wasn’t also offered at a smaller school was the status and prestige of saying that you played a sport at a D1 college and were one of the “best.” Once I took my ego out of the equation, however, I realized that many of the faith-based schools that I was looking into offered great athletic teams that were capable of competing with, and even beating, many smaller D1 schools.

On top of allowing their athletes more of a well-rounded college experience and great competition, I found that NAIA faith-based schools have other benefits for an athlete as well. The typically-advertised advantages such as smaller class sizes and a feeling of belonging turned out to be true and very important to me because it allowed me to get caught up with my school work easier when I had to miss class for tournaments. Students at faith-based school also feel less pressure to be in the “party” scene, which is great because many sports teams (private or not) don’t allow their athletes to drink. There were a lot of opportunities for me to grow in my own personal faith through attending Bible studies or worship services with a few of my teammates. Also, student athletes can choose to play more than one sport because the time commitments may not be as intense on certain teams as they are in D1 programs.

When I added up all of these benefits plus countless others that weren’t sports-related, it became easy to see that I belonged at a smaller, faith-based school. In going to an NAIA school, I was able to help my volleyball team to become ranked 12th in the nation as well as build lasting friendships and memories that I would never have made at any other college. My decision to not only attend but to play volleyball at a faith-based school proved to be an excellent one that allowed me to get the “best” out of my college experience.

We were able to start each class with a devotional, and I love that. So often in the secular world you have to be careful that you don’t pray or say grace or do anything that offends others, particularly in a public setting, and if you do go to a restaurant and pray with your family, people look at you like you’re a religious nut. I liked being able to be open about my faith.

I also found that the required Bible classes were enjoyable and I learned a lot from them. That is something I would have missed out on completely by going to a secular school.

I loved the small class sizes. I didn’t feel like I was a nameless student among hundreds, but I was Dave Admire, a unique individual who got the chance to contribute.

I really enjoyed meeting the people and made some great friends. It was because of my study group and the friendships we developed that I was encouraged to stay in school and finish it when it got hard. I was finishing my degree while working full time and juggling work, school and family was not easy. It was the support I received at home and from my new friends at school that made me stay when it would have been easier to give up.

I would definitely recommend a faith based school to anyone who wants personalized attention, a chance to make good friends and a place to live out your faith. Choose a school that lines up with your expectations and then give it chance. Stay open-minded and see what happens.

This passion for helping others translates into motivation to better yourself, while making a positive impact in the community around you. For me, finding the right balance between a career path and making a positive influence in the world around me was one of the most rewarding aspects of choosing to attend a faith-based college. While education is key, being able to use that knowledge to better people’s lives is incredibly rewarding.

If you are thinking about attending a school with a religious affiliation, think about the things that are important to you. If learning about something you enjoy while finding time to help others and make a difference is important to you, a faith-based school is for you.

Tim is a web developer residing in Kansas.

You could see the Jesuit influence in every experience of being a Creighton student. Their love of learning, respect of other faiths and cultures, and a genuine concern for those around them infused every lesson. We were taught to approach every challenge with reason and compassion. I do my best to live up to the lessons they provided me, both in the classroom and out. My professors truly believed in educating the whole person, and their concern for me didn’t end at my grades.

The only advice I’d have to give is to enter with an open mind and be ready to challenge what you believe. That’s what college is all about.

Shana is an advertising manager at a large agency in Kansas.