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The fall semester at ÐßÐßÊÓƵ is officially underway. Students from dozens of high schools across west Michigan, more than 130 cities across the state, and dozens of countries spanning six continents are now on campus for the 2025-2026 academic year. The ÐßÐßÊÓƵ student body now represents 3,600 students from 48 U.S. states, 5 Canadian provinces, and more than 60 countries around the world.

As the incoming class of 1,000-plus students begins their time at ÐßÐßÊÓƵ this fall, we asked seven students from Michigan, the Midwest, and across the world, all majoring in different areas of study, why they chose ÐßÐßÊÓƵ and what they are most excited about as they begin their college journey.

How did ÐßÐßÊÓƵ come on your radar?

Bidengy Jean Louis (Haiti): To be honest, there was a competition between my brother and I of choosing a college. I always do research about ÐßÐßÊÓƵ, and he would do research about another college, and we would sometimes argue about that, talk about whose college is better. I tell him my college is better because of the community and the Christian environment they have around them and how they get along with each other.

Sophia Nelson (Youngstown, Ohio): My mom went here, so I heard about it a bunch from her and I decided to take a look at it and go to the admitted students day and it was really cool and they were really intentional about getting to know me and make sure that I was comfortable with being here.

Olivia Klomp (Crete, Illinois): Through my high school counselor. He went here, so he was really pushing it.

Kyla Johnson (Byron Center, Michigan): My mom went here, my grandma went here, my great grandma went here, and my great, great grandma went here. So, I’m a fifth-generation woman at ÐßÐßÊÓƵ, so I heard about it from family and specifically from my sister she was like you should totally go here.

Sam Deutschmann (Byron Center, Michigan): I first heard about ÐßÐßÊÓƵ from my mom, she went here for her masters, and she loved it. She loved the community. She loved getting to meet a whole bunch of new people.

What was the tipping point?

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Philip Kirkpatrick (Hutchinson, Minnesota): I think the campus visit did a lot. I really liked the smaller atmosphere and not feeling like you’re getting lost, it’s near family, and I like the area.

Junseo Kweon (South Korea): The financial aid and the Christian environment.

Sophia: Based on all the schools I was looking at, ÐßÐßÊÓƵ had more of a community feel and it just really felt like if I needed something here, I wasn’t just a number, I was someone they care about and someone that they want to thrive.

Olivia: I chose ÐßÐßÊÓƵ because it has a five-year program where you graduate with your masters and also I just love the Christian community.

Kyla: I chose ÐßÐßÊÓƵ because I love the graphic design program and am really excited about that and my sister had gone here and she told me how great of a school it was, that she loved it and thought it was amazing. I also chose it because of the really great community.

Sam: It really came down to scholarships. That was the big thing. ÐßÐßÊÓƵ gave me more scholarships than any other school did.

What are you most excited about?

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Olivia: I’m just excited to meet new people and take classes that actually interest me.

Sam: I’m most excited for meeting new people and getting to experience the medical programs and all the science programs here.

Junseo: I’m excited to meet some new professors, take new classes, and also for other activities outside of the campus.

Bidengy: I am always excited about everything, excited to get involved in the club soccer team, excited to make new friends, and get to know more of ÐßÐßÊÓƵ and the other students.

Sophia: I’m really excited to look more into my major, so taking all the political science classes. I think that’s what I’m most excited about, learning more about what I want to do.

Philip: I’m excited to spread my wings a bit, try some new things, be on my own.