Torrey Conference 2025 is quickly approaching campus, with banners hanging across campus and a daily countdown outside of the Student Union Building. It’s not difficult to sense the excitement that Biola has for this annual event. However, new students may wonder, what exactly should they expect to gain from Torrey Conference?
New students might see Torrey Conference week as another opportunity to get their chapel credits out of the way or a three-day vacation from their usual classes or homework. Returning students entering another round of Torrey, however, know exactly what to expect— and don’t want freshmen to miss out on this unique opportunity to cultivate their friendships, intellect and faith.
“In the throes of exams, homework, new friendships and old, our student minds are prone to wander, to depend on our own sufficiency,” senior bible major Michael Duenes said. “I have found that TC [Torrey Conference] is the ideal time to recognize my need for the Lord in the midst of a busy school year.”
For some students, one of the main appeals of Torrey is the opportunity to go to sessions with friends whom they may not usually have classes with. Torrey Conference is notorious for having long lines outside of each main session or break-out sessions, so having a group of people to wait in that line can make the wait go by a lot quicker.
“I wasn’t expecting the lines. You will wait in lines for over an hour sometimes just to get into a session,” sophomore biochemistry major Grace Williams said. “Get a group of friends, coordinate a time to meet up and wait in line for half an hour to an hour beforehand, and bring games.”
Many students who have attended Torrey Conferences in the past happily remember the social experience of the week and the joy of spending the conference week with friends. That said, Torrey happens early in the academic year when freshmen may feel that they haven’t found their “group” yet — a typical anxiety provoking experience for the college newcomer. The stress of putting together a group can ultimately take away from the message of Torrey Conference.
“I feel like the thing that stresses me out about conference is it feels like this whole social event,” junior political science major Ellie Monwai said. “And I just wish there wasn’t that pressure, so just don’t worry too much about it.”
The long-weekend is a plus to many students, and it is certainly tempting to skip the optional parts of conference to go directly towards what awaits at the end of the week. Many Biolans take this opportunity to go on fun weekend getaways once they get all their conference credits. However, returning students emphasize the importance of taking in everything Torrey Conference has to offer and to take advantage of the wisdom given to you.
“While hiking trips, beach trips, going home for a weekend, or even just chilling out for a weekend sound better than listening to a speaker, I’d encourage my peers to dive into what the Lord might present to us throughout TC through the faithful teaching of His word,” Duenes said. “Wednesday through Friday of these weeks we have are where key growth can happen in our lives, and it just might be worth an extra chapel credit or two.”
Biola has a reputation for being a university that cultivates a Christ-centered outlook on every aspect of life. Torrey Conference is a way that Biola demonstrates the need for faith in every student’s life, and the importance of continuously growing in your relationship with God.
When asked about her first experience with Torrey Conference, Williams says the overwhelming gratitude she felt is one of the most memorable parts.
“I was like, wow, I’m able to go to a place where the whole campus values theology so much that they’ll literally put classes on pause. It’s gratitude that God led me to a university that values these things so much.”
Torrey Conference is a special experience Biolans look forward to each year- very few universities are given this opportunity to take a step out of their regular routine of classes and to devote their time to God. When going into Torrey Conference, students should evaluate themselves and their needs to determine how this time can ultimately benefit them. Rather than being just another thing to knock off the to-do list, Torrey Conference can provide valuable resources for students and offer them the chance to intentionally cultivate their walk with Christ.
