Admissions conversations go better when parents arrive with a list. You are not being difficult—you are stewarding a major family decision.
Key takeaways
- Ask the same core questions at every school so comparisons are fair.
- Separate “nice campus” feelings from written answers about cost, safety, and support.
- Include the student in the meeting; this is their life.
- Write answers down the same day.
Faith and culture
1. What is required of students regarding chapel, church attendance, or small groups? 2. Do faculty and staff sign a statement of faith? 3. How does the school handle doctrinal disagreement in class? 4. May we read the community covenant / student handbook before applying? 5. What does discipline look like when students break major rules?
Academics and outcomes
6. What is the four- and six-year graduation rate? 7. For our intended major, what internships or clinical placements are typical? 8. Who teaches introductory courses—full-time faculty or mostly adjuncts? 9. What support exists for students who struggle academically in semester one? 10. Where do graduates from this major go next (work, seminary, grad school)?
Money
11. What is a realistic net price for a family in our situation? 12. Which scholarships renew automatically, and what GPA is required? 13. How often do costs rise after year one? 14. What work-study options are realistic for first-year students? 15. If our circumstances change mid-year, how do appeals work?
Safety and wellbeing
16. How are campus safety reports published? 17. What counseling resources exist, and are they free to students? 18. How does the school respond to medical or mental-health crises? 19. What is the residence-life staffing model at night and on weekends?
Logistics
20. How hard is it to get required classes on time for a four-year plan? 21. What technology or laptop requirements should we budget for? 22. How do parents receive emergency and academic-risk communications? 23. What transportation options exist off campus? 24. Can we meet a professor in our student’s intended major today? 25. What would you want your own child to know before enrolling?
How to use the answers
Score each school 1–5 on faith fit, academic fit, net cost, and support. Drop schools that fail a non-negotiable—even if the tour was charming.
