How Well Does PCA Prepare Students for College?

PCA Alumni: Sabeen Toranian (‘19), Colson Burchard (‘20), and Sophie Panetti (‘22)

 

Sabeen recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and will be heading to medical school in the fall. Colson will be a senior at Texas A&M University and is studying supply chain management. Sophie just finished her freshman year at The University of Arkansas and is studying apparel merchandising.

 

Preparing students for college includes far more than just equipping them to be ready and successful academically - which PCA does very well - but also includes preparing students for the college culture from a spiritual perspective as well.

 

Parents, make sure you get your students plugged into a good Christian ministry and church as soon as possible. Many universities have opportunities for Christian students to meet and connect the summer before their freshman year - the Prestonwood Student Ministry has a great list of outstanding churches and ministries on the campuses of several of the colleges that PCA graduates attend.

 

Great take-aways:

1. Determine who you want to be before heading off to college - or you will be “tossed to and fro” (Eph. 4:14) by the waves of culture and the winds of change.
2. As a Christian, you can navigate the fraternity/sorority world with integrity of character in your Christian walk.
3. Look for good Christian community - it might be in Greek life, or in a Christian-based community group, or in a church - but you need a solid community to stand boldly for Christ in a hostile environment.
4. While in college, being a camp counselor for a wonderful Christian camp is an amazing experience and can really help a young person grow in their faith as they lead others! Other than the normal Christian camps, there are great Christian organizations that are specifically on college campuses like Student Mobilization.
5. The greatest weapon and opportunity you have as parents to equip, prepare, and fight for your children - in college and beyond - is with prayer! PCA joins you in praying for your students here and as they launch out into the world!

Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!