How Grace College Helps High School Students Transition to College Seamlessly With Academic, Social, and Spiritual Support

Your transition to college can be daunting because everything in your life will be different: places, people, and environments. However, this transition doesn’t need to be scary or difficult at Grace College, a Christian college in Indiana known for supporting students in all areas of life. Your first classes, opening weekend activities, and social events will all create opportunities and friends that make you feel right at home.

How do I adjust to College Life as a Freshman?

One of the biggest reasons people are nervous about going to college is simply a fear of the unknown. 

But before you let yourself spiral into a panic attack about being in a new place with strangers, far from home… take a deep breath. Remember this one very important truth: you have a God who knows everything before it happens. He knows everything about you. He loves you, and He is going with you, before you, behind you. All of the unknown things are already known to God. 

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 3:19 (NIV)

Once you lean into that truth, you will feel a little less nervous and can start doing some calculated research. Knowing what to expect will give you more confidence as you navigate these new experiences, so we compiled some resources: What to Expect on  College Move In Day, The Welcome Weekend Schedule, and our First Year Experience . Check these out to get a feel for what your first couple weeks at Grace will look like. 

What Academic Resources are Available to Help Me Succeed?

You are not in this alone!  If you need extra help with a class or project, or feel like you are falling behind we want to partner with you to help you succeed. Grace has so many academic resources to help your transition to college. Check the Student Resources page on our website for the full list; it includes the academic catalog, academic assistance, library resources, and more. Tutoring, the writing lab, and the math lab are all free resources for students. The writing lab even offers an online writing lab if you can’t make the hours. 

How do I Make Friends and Find Community?

Making friends and finding community is another big aspect of your transition to college. Finding friends is as easy as showing up to your dorm room the first week of school. Your roommates, hallmates, growth groups, first year experience groups, and people at events are all excited to meet you. These people can end up being some of your best friends for life! 

As you live with other people and constantly have proximity with them, you will inevitably become close. If you are nervous about meeting new people or making friends, read our blog; How to Make Friends at College. 

What Social Events and Traditions Should I Know About?

Grace is well known for the amount of traditions and social events we will host throughout the school year.

For example, one tradition that has lasted for generations at Grace is the ringing of the Alpha bell when someone gets engaged. The groom-to-be is kidnapped by his friends and thrown in Winona Lake, and then has to run soaking wet back to campus and ring the bell, where his future bride is waiting with a dry towel.

Some of Grace’s most popular campus events include the Homecoming banquet and dance, Joust which is a campus-wide challenge between students for the week, and the Supermarket Sweep where students fundraise money and “sweep” the shelves at Kroger supermarket for a night. Students, churches, and organizations around the community come together to buy, package, and ship out non-perishable items to those who need it in the area.

At Grace College we learn a lot, have a lot of fun, but also help the transition to college. Go to our website for our Traditions, Clubs, and Calendar for further events. For further events check out our Instagram page for any events or information.

How Can I Grow Spiritually in My Freshman Year?

As a Christian college in Indiana, Grace College is just as much about spiritual growth as it is academic growth. We are not a Christian school in name only, but genuinely love the Lord and want to help our students know him at a deeply personal level. We believe that teaching from a Christian worldview, having regular chapels and Bible studies will be one of the most critical things our students will participate in during their time at Grace.

Without that faith foundation, none of the degrees and future careers will ultimately matter because they will fade away. But the one thing that will last forever is your relationship with God and the way that you live for Him.

Revelation 4:11: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

All freshmen are required to attend “growth groups” on Wednesday nights, which is essentially a Bible study with others in your dorm hall.  Upper classmen lead these groups, diving into the Bible and learning how to live out what they discuss throughout the week.

You can also grow through the Bible studies that happen throughout the week on campus, Chapel, which meets three times a week, and the churches that surround the area. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away, finding time for your genuine relationship with God gets easier as you transition to college and find staff, professors and mentors to help guide you through.

You’re More Ready Than You Think.

Do you remember when you learned to ride a bike? You felt a little wobbly at first, maybe fell down a time or two. But before you knew it, you were flying on that bike. Pedaling felt as natural as walking. It took a few risks to get there, but you were a comfortable biker. 

Leaving home and moving to college might feel a little bit the same way. It feels a little shaky at first, a little scary. You might make a mistake or two. But that is OK! Before you know it, you will be soaring. School will feel as comfortable and natural as if you had been there forever. You will have friends and routines and fun hobbies. 

You are going to love this next phase of your life. You have completed all of the hard high school classes and pressures, and grown up in the process. You are equipped and strong. And even if you don’t feel that way, you can lean on the God who is. 

Now it’s time to take a leap and soar into your next adventure, and we are here to help make it awesome for you! Register for a visit at Grace today and see what there is to offer!