Evidence of Perseverance: Why I Transferred to Hillsdale College

Written by Greta Jones

I look back on February 15, 2022, with a fondness that I thought would never reveal itself. What I thought was the end of my academic career, was really just the beginning. I received news from Hillsdale College that I had not been selected as a student for their class of 2026. I had prepared and prayed my entire high school career for this application. My efforts felt wasted and I was utterly clueless about where my life would go from here.

In my mind, it was Hillsdale or nothing. I could not see past that moment, but God did. What I thought was the setback of a lifetime, was actually the springboard to a life-changing season. Though the hurt of this rejection took months to accept, God worked through my limited perspective and opened doors that I didn’t even know existed. I eventually stumbled upon Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I applied on a whim and was accepted that same week. I found myself living in a freshman dorm almost 900 miles from Hillsdale, Michigan.

While attending ORU my freshman year, I grew spiritually and emotionally, and my relationship with the Lord had never been stronger. I had become so obsessed with succeeding in my school work that my social life had been pushed aside. During my short stint at ORU, I learned the importance of friendship and how relationships outside of the classroom are important. I was often asked, “If life was going so well at ORU, why would you transfer?” I had mentally prepared myself for the academic challenge of Hillsdale College and chosen my high school classes accordingly. I often found myself longing for more challenging courses. This is why I chose to apply a second time to Hillsdale College.

The second time around, my essay focused on how God had positively worked in my life after my first rejection from the College. After submitting my second application, I felt content because I was already at a school that I loved and whatever came next for me would be God ordained. With great surprise and excitement, six weeks later, I learned I was accepted to Hillsdale. By the grace of God, I am currently studying French and politics with the hopes of becoming a teacher or public servant. I have established a group of friends who share similar values and continue to push me to be a better student and a better version of myself. I am even sharing my story here, on the College’s blog! Searching for the right college is a challenging process, but I now understand more than ever the meaning and importance of Hillsdale’s motto, “strength rejoices in the challenge.”

So, if you are thinking about applying to Hillsdale for a second or third time, let my transfer story be evidence of perseverance. If you want to learn more than you ever have and grow into a person of character who pursues the truth and builds their life on it, Hillsdale College is the place for you. Applying to colleges is just the beginning of your adult life. There are wonderful things in store for you, and one of those things could just be four incredible years at a school like no other: Hillsdale College.

Greta Jones , ’26, hails from Wisconsin. Growing up in Montreal, QC, she found her love for the French language, as well as the founding era of America, and is now pursuing a double major in French and American studies. When she’s not playing tennis or reading Jane Austen, Greta loves to create art for her small business, study her Bible, and enjoys conversation with friends on the quad!

Published in November 2023