Post-Secondary Review: Toccoa Falls College in 2009

Located only 90 miles northeast of Atlanta, Toccoa Falls College is a liberal arts private college in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is known for both being a Christian college and for its 186-foot tall waterfall located on campus only a short walk away from the student center.

However, Toccoa Falls College is most known for the flood that occurred on November 6^th, 1977 caused by the dam above the falls breaking under the pressure of more than 130 million gallons of water after several days of hard rain. The dam broke in the early morning before anyone was awake, and sent a wall of water across campus that took the lives of 39 people. A memorial was erected on campus next to the waterfall in memory of those who lost their lives that day.

The Community

Toccoa Falls College is located in Toccoa, Georgia. Hidden in the foothills, the college has the advantage of being in a very small town, and so it offers students small class sizes and a close-knit community. Because the cities of Atlanta, Buford, and Athens are no more than an hour and a half away, students often carpool south to visit attractions, restaurants, and shopping malls that the small town of Toccoa does not offer. Even though the city of Toccoa is small, the location itself offers students the opportunity to explore outdoor activities, such as hiking, rock climbing, river rafting, rappelling, and camping. Toccoa Falls College sits on about 1,000 acres, of which ninety percent is uninhabited and is used by the students for such activities. In addition to the 186-foot waterfall on campus, there are several smaller sets of waterfalls located throughout the expanse of land that students can hike to and explore. Because of the access to all of these opportunities, Toccoa Falls College appeals to both the small-town and big-city students.

The Emphasis

Toccoa Falls College puts a strong emphasis on spiritual growth. Campus life, academic courses, and community involvement all work together to enable the student to grow in his or her relationship with God, to become a leader, and to impact others in a positive way.

Admissions

The admissions procedure for Toccoa Falls is a balance between academic and spiritual requirements. SAT scores, high school curriculum, and spiritual life are all assessed during evaluation. It is important to note that even though TFC is a Christian college, it does not discriminate against denomination.

The application process itself requires all the necessary paperwork (Application, $25 fee, high school transcript, and SAT or ACT score). However, where most other colleges would require an essay, Toccoa Falls requires the applicant to write a 250-word personal testimony outlining God's work in his or her life. Lastly, a reference must be filled out and submitted by the student's pastor.

Cost of Attendance

Toccoa Falls College is a private college. That being said, it is not expensive in comparison to other private schools. For the 2009-2010 school year, to be a full time student (12-19 credit hours per semester) at TFC, the annual cost including room and board, student fees, and application is $21,350. (For the full breakdown of costs, please consult the chart located on the college website.)

There are a couple of options that can considerably lower that figure before considering financial aid or loans. The first thing to consider is residency. All freshmen who live on campus as full-time students are required to pay for the entire meal-plan unless they appeal it for medical reasons. Students who submit a medical report may be eligible for the 5-meal per week plan. Therefore, in order to avoid the meal plan completely as a freshman, students should consider living off campus; but, it is important to follow the guidelines outlined on page 17 of the student handbook located here on the college website. Even then, the "off-campus" policy is very strict.

Financial Aid

Just like any other college, there are deadlines for financial aid submissions. In order to fully benefit from a financial aid package, the applicant must make sure to submit a FAFSA application (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) as soon as he or she is accepted. FAFSA will determine any federal aid options available to the student, and this allows the college to fill in the gaps where applicable.

The college itself awards several different types of scholarships and grants. The Entrance scholarships are awarded based on minimum requirements (often GPA, SAT score, or recognition of leadership), and can be kept for subsequent years only by maintaining a minimum GPA at TFC. The Endowed and Funded scholarship are available by application depending on the requirements specified by the donor who awards the scholarship.

All grants offered by the school are also dependent on specific requirements. For the full list, click here.

Work Study

Sometimes, scholarships and grants do not cover the full cost. One option is to take out a federal or private loan, which financial aid counselors can help students find. However, another option is to consider applying for work study. Work study is available to students who apply depending on their financial need. Once awarded, it is the responsibility of the student to find a job on campus. There are a set number of jobs available on campus that are set aside specifically for work study students. Nonetheless, the cost of attendance must be paid in full before the first day of classes, and work study does not fulfill this. Therefore, students must find an alternative way to cover the remaining balance.

Programs/Majors

There are three schools at Toccoa Falls college as of 2009: School of Christian Ministries, School of Arts and Sciences, and School of Professional Studies. There are 26 on-campus majors and 41 minors. Of these choices, the most popular tend to be Teacher Education, Cross-Cultural Studies, and Communication Studies. In particular, the college offers a Pre-Med track and a Pre-Law track for those interested. For the full list of majors and minors offered, click here.

Non-Academic Requirements

Toccoa Falls College requires all students to attend a specific percentage of chapel services every semester. Chapel is held three days a week (in addition to small groups held on Thursdays) in the auditorium of Grace Chapel. Spiritual Formation offers a variety of chapel services throughout the year, including conferences, student-led services, senior testimonies, guest speakers, and corporate worship. Students who fail to attend the minimum amount of chapel services per semester will be held accountable and required to either make them up or risk academic probation which can lead to suspension.

In addition to chapel services and small groups, students are required to regularly attend church at a local body once a week and report it to the Office of Student Development by way of a "Church Accountability" form. Students are allowed to choose which church to attend.

This last requirement is the Student Ministry program. Students are required to acquire a set amount of Student Ministry credits in order to graduate depending on their degree requirements. Credits are awarded only by passing specific criteria: attendance, essay, and evaluation by mentor and student. A grade is not given for Student Ministry credits because they are not academic in nature. Instead, students are awarded credits on a Pass/Fail basis; these credits do not count towards a degree. The Office of Student Ministries has a list of opportunities available to students in order to fulfill the requirements. Some examples are serving at a local church, mentoring a student at a local school, being a leader of a select organization on campus, and working with a community organization off campus. These opportunities offer students an outlet to express what they have learned at TFC about ministry and being a servant to others. Failure to receive all the required credits can prevent a student from graduating.

Experiential Benefits

When considering whether to attend a Christian college versus a public university, there are several advantages to both. However, the advantages of attending a Christian college may outweigh those of other schools. When making this kind of decision, it is very important to consider what experiences may be encountered at both. A private Christian school like Toccoa Falls may offer a closed campus, and emphasis on the spiritual impact on each student's character, and a smaller community size. The decision of which college to attend is often a difficult choice, but it is never a dead-end.