Choosing a college to call home for four years is never easy. Do you want to go north or south? Big or small? Public or private? And for students whose faith informs their decisions, yet another option presents itself: Religious or secular?

For Catherine Mihm, a senior physical education major at Houghton College (Houghton, NY), the decision wasn't difficult. "I knew I wanted to go to Houghton because I saw a difference here," she says. "I knew that a Christian college would provide me with four more years of Biblical training and serve as a bridge from home life to life in 'the real world.'"

While a Christian college doesn't present her with many opportunities to share her faith with others, Catherine benefits from spending time with those whose beliefs match her own. "Here at Houghton, I knew there would be Christian fellowship to help me in my faith and there would also be challenges that would test and try me."

Author Nicholas Comninellis, MD, provides additional insight into making godly decisions. In Where Do I Go From Here? he outlines POPCORN guidelines to effective decision-making: Pray for wisdom, list the Options, weigh the Pros, weigh the Cons, Open your Bible, get Recommendations, No hurry!

For those who do decide a school that fosters spiritual growth is right for them, there are few regrets: "I would not give up this Christian college experience for anything," says Catherine.

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