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When you're helping your student choose a college, you're probably thinking about majors, professors, cost, and career opportunities.

But there's another question worth considering: Who will your student spend their college years with?

The friendships your student builds, the people who mentor them, and the opportunities they have to get involved can shape their college experience just as much as what happens in the classroom. And for Christian families, finding a community that encourages spiritual growth is especially important.

So what does that kind of community actually look like on a Christian college campus?

We asked �۶�app students to share how their friendships, professors, and campus experiences have shaped their college years. From residence hall friendships to unexpected encouragement during difficult moments, their stories offer a glimpse of what it means to find your place at Cedarville.

Finding Friends Who Become Like Family

For Eliana Bement ’27, a middle childhood education major, living alongside friends has been one of the most influential parts of her Cedarville experience.

"My friendships at �۶�app have changed my life. I am so thankful for the people that God has placed in my life who encourage me to draw near to Christ every day."

Sharing a residence hall means sharing a lot of ordinary life too. Friends see each other when things are going well and when they're not.

"I get the unique opportunity to live with my friends and do everyday life with them," Eliana explained. "We see each other at our best and worst moments and can encourage one another."

Nate Borling ’26, an international studies major, found that same kind of encouragement in his residence hall.

"My friends in the dorm have always encouraged me to grow in my walk with God and shown me what it looks like to fellowship in a way that’s only possible through dwelling together."

Nate also participated in a staff-led , where he developed mentoring relationships with older men who invested in his spiritual growth. That experience helped him appreciate the value of having mentors from different generations.

For students like Eliana and Nate, the people they live alongside have become an important part of their college experience — not just because they're friends but because they're helping one another grow.

Related: 5 Questions To Ask About College Dorm Life

Finding Your Place Through Campus Involvement

One of the exciting things about college is the chance to try something new. Maybe your student wants to keep they loved in high school, join a music group, get involved in ministry, or explore an interest they've never had time to pursue.

At Cedarville, student organizations, intramural sports, campus ministries, and service opportunities give students plenty of ways to connect.

For Katie Allen ’26, an adolescent and young adult social studies education major, getting involved helped her meet people she might not have encountered otherwise.

"Student orgs have provided many opportunities to meet new people and make new friends that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. It has provided great social growth as well as spiritual encouragement throughout my time in school."

Sometimes, those new friendships become especially important when life takes an unexpected turn.

Ryan Geist ’27, a visual communication design major, joined The Inversions, Cedarville's student a cappella group. During his first week with the group, he attended a retreat with students he had only recently met.

While they were away, Ryan learned that his grandfather had passed away.

"It was a very difficult time, but I will always remember the love and support they showed to an almost complete stranger," Ryan recalled.

What started as a shared interest in music became a source of comfort during a painful time.

“My time in The Inversions a capella student org has impacted me greatly and given me friendships that will far exceed my time at Cedarville.”

That's one of the things we love about . It's not simply about filling a schedule. It's about discovering interests, serving alongside others, and building relationships along the way.

Related:

Sometimes Community Is Just Running Into a Friend

Of course, not every memorable college moment happens at a scheduled event.

Sometimes it's grabbing a meal together after chapel, catching up on the way to class, or spotting a friend across campus when you least expect it.

Those little moments add up. Over time, a campus full of unfamiliar faces can become a place where your student feels at home.

Friends Who Encourage Each Other's Walk With Christ

As a Christian parent, you probably hope your student will find friends who do more than share their interests. You want people in their life who will encourage them to follow Christ, make wise decisions, and keep growing in their faith.

That's something Alex Bishop ’26, an electrical engineering major, has experienced at Cedarville.

"My closest friends at Cedarville have been a positive influence on me. While at Cedarville, my friends have motivated me to stay in the Word, suggested I get involved at church, and positively peer-pressured me into things like going to a worship night and getting good sleep."

That last part might make you smile, but it's a good reminder that faithful friendship touches everyday life too.

Alex has also found opportunities to put his faith into action through basketball ministry and CU Outreach. These experiences have helped him learn to share his faith naturally while serving others.

At Cedarville, students gather for daily chapel, study Scripture through the Bible minor, participate in , and serve through campus ministries. But as Alex's experience shows, spiritual growth also happens through ordinary friendships and conversations.

Professors Who Care About More Than Grades

The relationships that shape your student's college experience aren't limited to their peers.

At Cedarville, beyond the classroom, helping them grow as future professionals and followers of Christ.

Eliana appreciates the ways her professors make faith part of her everyday learning.

"I have had professors open class with a Bible study or a prayer for the nations or specific missionaries."

She also described professors who welcome difficult questions and take the time to research answers when they don't immediately know them.

Marian Pope ’27, a professional writing and information design major, has appreciated that same personal investment.

"My professors truly invest in us spiritually and personally, and they always are willing to lend an ear and share advice whenever school or life is overwhelming!"

For Marian, those relationships have made a difference in the kind of person and professional she's becoming.

It's one thing to know your student will receive a strong academic education. It's another to know they'll have opportunities to learn from professors who care about their character, faith, and future too.

Looking for Community as You Explore Colleges

As you visit colleges and help your student weigh their options, take time to look beyond the classrooms, residence halls, and campus amenities.

Pay attention to how students interact with one another. Ask , what they enjoy doing outside class, and where they've found encouragement when college life gets difficult.

Talk with professors, too. Ask about opportunities for mentoring, discipleship, and getting involved.

And don't underestimate the value of hearing students tell their own stories.

At Cedarville, students like Eliana, Nate, Katie, Ryan, Alex, and Marian have found friends who encourage them, opportunities to serve, and professors who invest in their lives.

Your student's college years will be full of new experiences, challenges, and opportunities to grow. The people who walk alongside them through those years can make all the difference.

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