<p>mythmom - no problem. I know we all chuckle when parents say things like “we got a 30 on the ACT” and “we are applying to Princeton”, etc. I guess I should have explained that S2 and I have had several discussions about what he is interested in and while I might slip and use the pronoun “I” these are criteria that have been developed in conjunction with him and DH. S2 is very laidback and easygoing - no real strong preferences yet on any issue in particular - but he seems to agree with my guidelines. One of my goals for this thread is that as I develop this list and we visit colleges - his preferences may become more evident and I will certainly respect them. I may find that after visiting Gettysburg and Muhlenberg he finds them to be too small and that he loves larger schools like Delaware and JMU. That’s the benefit of starting this process rather early - it gives us time to change and refine the list as his ideas about college wants and needs develop. But thanks for reminding me to watch my pronouns!</p>
<p>Absolutely a good idea to start early. “We” started going on college trips the summer after D’s sophomore year. She needed to see what was out there. When she set out the criteria for the schools she wanted, a solid Jewish community was very high up on the list. After acceptances, Binghamton stayed on her short list (even though academically it was not the best fit) simply because of its strong and large Jewish community.</p>
<p>I post a lot on this board, and D just doesn’t have time, so a lot of what I ask is filtered through me, but in reality reflects D’s concerns as well. (but it is a good point to remember, mythmom-thanks for pointing it out).</p>
<p>rockvillemom - there’s been a lot of press about the Jewish community at Muhlenberg over the past couple of years. this is a recent example: [Students</a> Get Comfy With Heritage at School | The Jewish Exponent](<a href=“http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/21113/]Students”>http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/21113/)<br>
I think the girl in the first paragraph explains the “code” in a very succinct way:
</p>
<p>As you visit schools, please post your impressions if you are comfortable. We have some similar needs and I am trying very hard to limit college visits due to the expense involved.
My son does not want to attend the local community college. Currently, he will probably apply to UT Dallas, USC, Towson, SUNY Binghamton and maybe Salisbury as a safety.</p>
<p>mdcissp - I absolutely will post my impressions from visits and additional research - I have the time and the inclination to do this and if my info helps someone else - that’s great.</p>
<p>PRJ - thanks for the link on Muhlenberg. I have heard such wonderful things about that school and am so looking forward to visiting in the fall.</p>
<p>Thanks so much Rockville mom. Please feel free to PM me as well about your impressions of schools because if there is another school we should be considering, I want to know. I would especially like to know if you are visiting Northeastern, U. of Alabama, RIT, and Binghamton. Also, any schools which are easy to get to via Amtrak or cheap air ticket from the Washington D.C. area. I heard it is best to apply to a lot of schools and then see what happens. Particularly interested in rolling admissions schools.</p>
<p>A couple more thoughts:</p>
<p>If your son is of the right disposition, Hampshire could be great. It’s not the first place anyone would think of to study “business”, but the ability to craft a customized curriculum makes it possible to do that, and in a LAC setting as well, but drawing on all of the 5-college resources. And the Jewish community can also draw on all of the 5-college resources. No issue with finding people to date, certainly! Two of my younger child’s Bar Mitzvah class are there now, one fairly observant and one not so much.</p>
<p>Another LAC that’s a little off the beaten path from the Amtrak Corridor, but which I believe attracts pretty intellectual kids with imperfect high school transcripts, is Kalamazoo College. I know nothing of Jewish life there, but given its appeal and geographical relationship to the Chicago and Detroit areas, I would be stunned if there were not a fair-sized Jewish community.</p>
<p>Finally – and especially if he really wants something other than a liberal arts curriculum and something larger than a liberal arts college: Among my kids’ classmates, a lot of B-students-in-honors-courses wound up at Drexel (which of course is local for them). It’s a very urban campus (but nicely located), and every flavor of Jewish life is well represented there (and at Penn, which is literally across the street). It offers a wide variety of business- and engineering-oriented programs, plus a fairly successful co-op program.</p>
<p>rockvillemom: I see my post was unnecessary, but thank you for taking it in the spirit it was meant.</p>
<p>And yes, starting early is great. And boys seem particularly laid back in this process in my experience.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if colleges mentioned such as Drexel and others have merit aid for B plus students? I don’t want to pay $50,000 X 4. I don’t know about the OP, but given the economy, I think we should be able to find something less than $50,000 a year. UT Dallas, for example, gives in state tuition for OOS if you get a $1,000. scholarship. Anyone know of similar tuition breaks for schools with a good Business school and some activities for Jewish students?</p>
<p>if you’re looking for a tech school with a business program, that at least comes close to the OP jewish life minimum requirements, and has merit aid, I would suggest checking out RPI. </p>
<p>Though I am not sure to what extent DD’s merit aid was due to her being female, and from TJ. </p>
<p>And of course I would like to encourage more Jewish kids to apply there :)</p>
<p>Just some food for thought… For those other than the OP… My d has been told that she would be eligible for diversity aid at a small LAC with a negligible Jewish population because they want to increase their Jewish students. For a Jewish kid like my d who is very comfortable and used to being the only Jew around, this is a good option. Now obviously for Jewish kids like the OP’s who are looking for a more Jewish environment this won’t work. Just thought I’d share that info for those who may be of the same mindset as my D!</p>
<p>PJR - nice article. I had not seen it before.</p>
<p>I love the picture of Randy Helm and his bow tie. Anyone at Muhlenberg quickly learns who he is by his signature bow tie that he wears everywhere.</p>
<p>Aside from the strong Jewish population there, most visitors find that the students there are just warm and friendly, usually beyond what visitors have experienced at other colleges. I’ve said this before in many other posts about Muhlenberg, but when you visit, pay attention to all the doors that are held open for you ;)</p>
<p>I guess I should also add here, if your son finds Muhlenberg to be the perfect fit, I would highly encourage looking into an ED application. Almost 60% of their incoming freshman class is ED, and with his ‘B’ average, it would be helpful. Not that he couldn’t get in RD with a ‘B’ average, but it will be much more competitive.</p>
<p>Active hillel and AEPhi and AEPi at Miami U (Ohio), very nice rabbi at hillel.</p>
<p>holliesue - now that’s something I have never heard before! Which LACs would offer this? I’m not sure that’s a direction we would consider, but you have piqued my curiosity.</p>
<p>rockvillemom, I seem to recall that Davidson is trying to increase their Jewish student percentage, but that would definitely be a reach school. Southern schools in general, especially southern LACs, would be worth looking into–a Jewish guy would tick two diversity boxes. 
I wonder if Rhodes would be a possibility.</p>
<p>PJR, thanks for the article. I took D1 to visit Muhlenberg last year, and it’s been bouncing on and off her list. It looks like it will be back on. To add to what teriwtt posted, Muhlenberg also reserves more of their merit aid for their ED pool.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove - Rhodes is exactly the type of school I had considered but then took off the list due to lack of diversity. I’m not that’s the right fit, but I appreciate the idea.</p>
<p>Lack of diversity might not be so bad. Usually it indicates focus on academics.</p>
<p>Rhodes is a great school but has no Jewish life to speak of.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove and rockvillemom, we took Davidson off our list because my research indicated that there were about 75 Jewish students total. Not enough of a critical mass for my son. </p>
<p>He did see Muhlenberg twice before applying and he really liked it. The Hillel is fantastic and they are putting up a new building because Hillel events are so well attended that the current place is literally overflowing with kids. He was accepted RD and received generous merit aid. Slithey-were you told that they reserve more of their merit aid for their ED students?</p>