Which College is Right for You?

By Rah Hee Han

For all of us, whether we have already gone through this process or not, there comes a time when we have to decide if we want to carry on our studies after high school. In Wesley, there seem to be a few colleges many seniors choose as one of their options. So what makes these colleges so popular among the Wesley students? We’ve interviewed six Wesley alumni who are currently enrolled in those colleges for answers. Take the quiz at the end of the page to find out which of these schools would be perfect for you!

Wheaton College

You’ve probably heard about this college. From Wesley’s 2014 graduate Amanda Margo to Aidan Duffy who just graduated from Wesley last year, Wheaton College has always been a popular choice among Wesley Students. Brienzi Duffy, Wesley’s 2018 graduate student, is no exception in studying at Wheaton.

“Wheaton is very unique in that it combines competitive academic programs with a strong spiritual life and community emphasis. I have never seen another school that is so intentional [in] how it develops its students! There are so many academic and vocational resources, and Wheaton [pushes] its students to think and strive, and provides the resources to do [it]!”

One unpopular opinion Brenzi has about this school is that its atmosphere can sometimes feel exhausting and unrelenting at times since the school is high energy and competitive. Despite that, Brienzi loves Wheaton because of how faith is a very core part of people’s identities and how the professors and staff members care deeply about their faith.

Biola University

Although Clarrisa Hartono is the only Wesley graduate who is currently studying at Biola University, Biola has gained more popularity for Wesley students in recent years. When asked why she chose Biola over all the other colleges, she replied, “I heard about the great community and how their Biblically-based education provides a strong foundation for when I am to work in the real world. They also have a good network of alumni.”

Clarissa loves Biola’s spiritual atmosphere; she says that people are free to express their faith at all times. Sometimes, she even joins random people worshipping around the campus at night. Clarrisa also explained that even though Biola consists of mainly white people, there are great communities and clubs for international students, TCKs, and MKs.

One message Clarrisa would like to give to Wesley students is, “Take advantage of what Biola has to offer because there’s no other school like it.”

As most Wesley students are TCKs and international students, you won’t have to worry about making friends or fitting into Biola’s community.

Liberty University

Liberty University has gained popularity among Wesley students in recent years. After Esther Cho, Wesley’s class of ‘18, decided to pick this college for her future, many more students after her have included this university as one of their top options.

“[Liberty] is the largest Christian university in the U.S., so many people are from all over the country. We have convocation twice a week where famous pastors, speakers, musicians, and politicians come to speak, along with Bible studies every Wednesday night.”

Esther chose this school because it offered her the best scholarship. She says the nursing program has a really good reputation around the area (Virginia). When asked about the location of her school, Esther replied, “Location kinda sucks if you’re a big city person, but I’m okay with it because we have really good hiking spots and GORGEOUS skies and mountains. We also have a free bus system throughout the whole town.”

Esther also commented, “Some fun facts about Liberty are that it has an artificial snowboard and ski slope, a bowling alley, and even a free ice skating rink. On top of that, our basketball team is ranked pretty high in Nationals, and I once saw Melania Trump at our school.”

Pepperdine University

Alisha Harris, who graduated in 2019, has a few things to say about Pepperdine University. Unlike many Christian colleges Wesley alumni attend, this school has two very different Christian cultures despite being labeled as a Christian college.

“You can walk between the lines of Christian kids and “normal” kids, but it’s hard. Neither one is pushed on you but whichever you choose you have to stick [with it],” Alisha explains. “A lot of students at Pepperdine are rich, but not everyone [acts] entitled. But you definitely have to adjust to the new culture.”

Alisha loves Pepperdine's beautiful views. Since the school is right by the beach, you can see the ocean from your dorm room. “Something about having really beautiful views just on your walk to class is really great,” Alisha adds.

Alisha states that whoever plans to attend this school must have a car or a friend with a car and suggests that if you don’t like the beach, you should rethink attending this school. Although Alisha believes men at her school can be better, she loves the girls and the great-hearted people whom she goes on adventures with all over L.A.

Humber College

If colleges in the United States don’t sound too convincing, take a look at Humber College, which is located in Ontario, Canada. Chris Imantaka, who graduated from Wesley in 2017, has a lot to say about Humber.

“Humber College is one of the top-ranking community colleges in Canada. Programs are career-focused and the programs at Humber College are designed to prepare students for the job market,” Chris says. “Though Humber College is a community college, the concept of a community college in Canada [differs] from those in the U.S. Community colleges in Canada provide almost the same standard as other private colleges and universities.”

Chris likes how Humber provides the program he wants. He says that not a lot of other schools in Canada offer a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism. One piece of advice Chris has is that because there are differences in beliefs and worldviews of students and teachers, you have to be prepared to be challenged spiritually daily.

Handong Global University

We have not forgotten about you, fellow Korean students. HGU has always been a popular option for Wesley students who are planning to study in Korea. Hyewon Kim, another graduate of Wesley, shared her experiences studying at HGU.

“Most professors of HGU earned their degrees from prestigious schools like MIT. [In addition], HGU is the most global university in South Korea,” shares Hyewon. One unique fact about HGU is that it is the first university in Korea to admit students with an undeclared major and department. This may be very helpful if you are unsure about what you want to study.

“In [HGU], it’s easy to grow your faith and talk to professors, pastors, and friends about faith. In addition, there are a few mandatory classes related to Christianity. Although the location of this school isn’t as great compared to schools located in bigger cities, you can still enjoy many things,” Hyewon adds.

If you’ve considered studying in Korea, try taking a look at Handong Global University—no other schools in Korea are similar to what HGU offers.

LINK TO QUIZ:

https://www.opinionstage.com/rahhee/which-university-best-suits-you