<p>The typical discussion about % is that below l0% is hard on someone accustomed to resonance with other Jewish activities and people as part of their life. And yet some places have “small-and-mighty” Hillel organizations which means they try harder to compensate for smaller numbers. Another aspect is that in very large unis, even l0% can mean thousands of individuals. Yet it sounds like the OP’s emphasis on smaller or mid-size schools is well-thought-out on behalf of her individual child. </p>
<p>“Small but Mighty Hillel” - check it out for places that hover around l0% Jewish pop, which might otherwise feel too few. Chapman’s like that. A dozen or 20 kids who are very committed, plan extra programs, connect with other Jewish kids from nearby state universities, etc. can enlarge the feelings.</p>
<p>Hi Rockville mom- i am a montgomery county parent also. A couple of observations:</p>
<p>I get the feeling towson is not a safety school these days, especially for maryland residents who dont have to pay that much.</p>
<p>Your child is coming out of 10th grade with a fairly high gpa for a boy. I agree with whoever posted about a good sat prep class working wonders. PM me and I can give you the one we used, it was remarkable. My 3.5 kid got in everywhere he applied (with an art portfolio that was outstanding) We are Jewish, this wasnt an issue, but anyway…</p>
<p>If he is interested in business, I would urge you to consider Babson in Boston. It has a very targeted business curriculum, places students beautifully in internships and jobs, and from what I understand has a very nice Jewish population. Believe me, you will appreciate the job placement rate when he graduates (or, if he is going into a family business, he would get outstanding training).
On the other hand, he does not have to major in business to go into business! There are any number of majors that would apply!
Someone mentioned Quaker schools, and Earlham might fit this bill. I don’t know much about Jewish life, but the one person I know who went there a few years ago is now a cantor and married a rabbi!
Also, have you considered Kenyon?
Disagree with Duquesne - even though I know a rabbi’s son and another rabbi’s daughter who go there - students have to go across town to get to the Hillel Jewish University Center that is located right next to Pitt and CMU, and the school is really Catholic.
Thanks for this thread, and for all of the great suggestions!</p>
<p>switters, I think Towson is definitely a safety given the stats in rockvillemom’s OP. Her son has an unweighted 3.5. That’s pretty good for Towson.</p>
<p>****** Please disregard my comment about Elon and Charleston in my Post 111. That’s what happens when you are multitasking with more than one screen up at a time. I misread the scattergram - those were early action acceptances, not deferrals. SORRY!</p>
<p>Viz the under 10% question (or, another explanation of “the code”): OP probably wants a school that doesn’t serve bagels on Pesach because the calendar said it was a Jewish holiday and bagels are a “Jewish” food.</p>
<p>Thank you to those who have suggested test prep. I’m actually not a big believer in that - I know it works for some - but I also think it doesn’t work for just as many and just wastes money. S1 did not do any paid test prep - just did a practice test from the $20 book and did extremely well. So, plan is to have S2 do some practice tests and studying test taking tips over the summer and take the September ACT. If scores are decent - maybe he’ll try a second time in the spring and see how it goes. Of course, if scores are horrendous I may have to rethink it - but that’s why he’s going to take it so early - gives us plenty of time to adjust the plan if need be.</p>
<p>I know I have mentioned a business major a few times - but S2 is not completely sold on that idea - so I really don’t want to look at schools like Babson that focus so heavily on business. Truth is he is 15 and has no idea what he wants to do. He knows he doesn’t want to major in math, science, English, history or foreign language - get the idea - it’s finding what he wants to do that is the challenge. So far the only idea that elicits a maybe from him is business, so I always check to make sure any colleges we consider have business or management, etc. DH and I were both business majors and S1 is heading that way as well, so I guess it is something we are comfortable with - but who knows - S2 could completely surprise us.</p>
<p>This is a great thread, even if one is not looking for Jewish life per se, which was so wonderfully described by SlitheyTove in reply to the poster who thought it was “code.” The fact that these schools have “Jewish life” will mean that my Asian son who goes to a very diverse school would be more likely to feel more comfortable on these campuses than on campuses that are mostly conservative Christian.</p>
<p>We live in Chicago, and two students I know who were active in the synagogues, youth groups, etc. on Chicago’s north shore (northern suburbs) attend the University of Puget Sound. I don’t know anything other than this except that I see the mom of one of the kids fairly often and she says he “loves it.”</p>
<p>Furthermore, I wouldn’t worry about your pronouns too much. We all parent differently, and all kids are different. Your approach sounds perfectly reasonable, but even if you were taking a more active role than other parents on this board, you have every right to do so. Not all kids have the same capacity to do this kind of research, and with what colleges cost these days, being a very involved parent is often a necessity.</p>