As students deliberate over which college to attend, the National Christian College Fair (NCCF) provides the opportunity to guide and inform them of their numerous options.
The fair is an open house where the objective is to inform students about many different Christian colleges. The NCCF Web site suggests students arrive with pre-made labels with their name, address, phone number, email, grad year and high school in order to speed up the information process at each booth.
Those who did not attend the Fresno Area College Night on Sept. 9 get another chance to gain information about higher education as the Northwest Church will host the annual college fair at 6 p.m., Sept. 24.
For students wondering whether to participate in the fair, academic adviser Molly Sargent encourages them to attend.
“Definitely juniors and seniors, but also it would be good for sophomores and freshmen to go because it’s never too early to start planning for college,” Sargent said. “Even though we live in difficult economic times, I believe it’s a mistake to only consider community colleges or CSU [California State Universities].”
The fair is an opportunity to expand a student’s college possibilities financially and spiritually, Sargent says.
“Christian colleges are of course more expensive, but they also offer more scholarship money than any other colleges,” Sargent said. “Plus, Christian colleges offer a quality education that can prepare you for almost any profession in a faith-based atmosphere.”
While private colleges may appeal to some students, senior Lauren Barisic has struggled to find one that focuses on her desired career path.
“I am not attending the Christian College fair,” Barisic said. “I have not found one that specializes in architecture, and that is the career I plan to pursue.”
The fair will remain in Fresno for a day and then hold its next venue at Bakersfield Christian High School. The fair will also travel south later in the fall semester.
Others plan to take advantage of this moment to visit the annual fair.
“I am hoping to go to this fair because I plan to pursue a career as a youth pastor,” Austin Rurik, ’12 said. “All Christian colleges offer this [theology major] and a MD [pastoral major]. I hope to attend Biola or Liberty University.”
For more information on the various college information events in Fresno, e-mail Sargent or visit the Sept. 7 article, Fresno to host college information nights.
