Colleges for the Jewish "B" student (Part 1)

Thanks everyone. I’ve talked with my S and his choice would be to see a bit of NY prior to Israel. I’m thinking they will red eye into JFK head to the city and leave their bags at their hotel (still to be determined. Many hotels don’t seem to have rooms with Two beds). They will have that day, spend the night and have the next day before meeting the group at JFK at 10:30 PM. My S did a summer program in HS at Parsons so he has been to NYC, D has not. It will give her a taste and she can go back another time.
On the return I will look into the Best Western.Pennylane- thank you for the thought about not scheduling the next day flight too early.
I went this week to a parent orientation at the local Jewish Federation. I didn’t learn much I didn’t already know. They did recommend that they rent a cell phone.

^^Hi mom60:

When I booked the Best Western by the airport, I did it on hotels dot com. The King size was cheaper than the two double beds, so I picked the King size. I figured I could get a single bed rolled in for my S. When I got to the desk with my S, the front desk automatically asked us if we would prefer two double beds instead of a King and a rolled in cot. For no additional money. We of course said yes, and thanked them very much.

Many of the hotels you look at on-line may have two double beds available if you check with the hotel first before booking…

My S1 needed a sim card for his phone when he went a few years ago. He never rented a phone there and we heard from him by email often. My S2 who just went took his own cell phone and also used it for emailing me. It was only a ten day trip and he didn’t need to call me. If there was an emergency, so many others had phones to use. Glad my kids managed without renting a cell phone, just another added cost.

I’d love to see some posts from parents of rising juniors and seniors - what colleges are on your lists so far? Where are you planning to visit or apply? What questions/concerns do you have?

We are here to help!

I haven’t posted here since my DD was in 9th grade. Reading through these posts helped me manage this complicated process. Back then my DD was interested in Bryn Mawr, Goucher and various other small LAC’s around the country. We had fun visiting multiple schools and ultimately she chose Eckerd College in Florida. The weather was closest to what she grew up with in CA and she felt completely at home on the laid back campus. A major downside was the party reputation (she’s nerdy, and it really isn’t her thing). But, the pros won out. She liked the small but active Jewish presence, honors program, and close-knit, (non Greek system) community, and the opportunity to study abroad. Anyone have first hand knowledge of this little CTCL school?

This is something that is on my mind a lot. I am the parent of a junior daughter attending a private Jewish high school. She has been in Jewish day-school since pre-school and having an active Jewish life on campus is very important to her and both my husband and me. On her list of schools is: Tulane, Syracuse, Frankin and Marshall, Lehigh, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, and maybe Dennison and Bucknell. She might also consider Pitt, university of Oregon, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wash U, and Indiana, We are in California and our state schools are pretty hard to get into.

Many of the schools with the highest percentage of Jewish students are serious reach schools for her (3.8 WGPA, 1900 SAT, 3 years varsity basketball, 3 years school choir and international Jewish Choir). I will say this process, thus far, has been stressful and somewhat depressing. It is frustrating to feel that my great (albeit wonderfully normal and maybe slightly above average) kid isn’t “good enough”.

I would love to hear if other people have other school suggestions, or thoughts about our list.

@crossfitmama Dickinson might be an option as might Gettysburg. University of Vermont is a bit larger in a very liberal and very tolerant state and city. Burlington itself is essentially a perfect college town. Muhlenberg, Lehigh and Lafayette are excellent. Hobart has a fairly good sized Jewish population.

crossfitmama, what is your D’s UC GPA? Have you asked the school where this year’s graduates with similar stats were accepted? UCSC has a large Jewish population, though based on her list of schools it might be a little crunchy granola for her.

If she hasn’t tried the ACT yet she should–some kids do better on it than on the SAT. I would have her sign up for the earliest fall date, the better for her to get in an EA app for Tulane. And maybe another SAT sitting, because many kids do better the second time–especially in the fall of senior year when some maturation has kicked in. Are there any financial constraints? If you are searching for merit aid, getting good test scores can be vitally important.

I know several Jewish CA kids who’ve gone to SUNY Binghamton. And the CA Jewish rising seniors that I know are also looking at Kansas (KU) and Indiana (tougher admit).

@crossfitmama - it looks like you have a good list… Does your school have Naviance? If so, you can see what the stats look like for kids who were accepted into those colleges from your HS. And do you think she can study and get her SAT higher? Or switch and try the ACT? Like others, I recommend applying EA to Tulane and any other EA schools that make your final list. We are in CA, too, and my D ended up choosing an East Coast private over the UCs (for many reasons).

My niece is at UC Santa Cruz and she has found the Jewish community very welcoming. It provided her with a place to find a community within a large school. I don’t know how often she goes but I know she found friends through the Jewish through her involvement.

She should have an excellent shot at Muhlenberg, which has a very high percentage of Jewish students. College of Charleston is becoming very popular with Jewish students. WashU is almost a definite no with her stats, unfortunately. I also agree that she should look at SUNY Binghamton and perhaps SUNY Geneseo as well. What about University of Maryland?

Crossfit : I’m familiar with the area of Lehigh, Lafayette and Muhlenberg. Bucknell is approx 2 hours away. With her current stats, Muhlenberg would be your D’s best shot of these 4 schools. Muhlenberg is about 35 % Jewish students - its a nice campus with a friendly student body and a strongly pre-professional culture. Very nice place to go to school and I’m sure they’d be happy to accept a CA resident for geographic diversity.

@crossfitmama - the single best piece of advice I received and pass on - the importance of safety schools that have EA or rolling admissions. Nothing beats having an acceptance in hand by Thanksgiving! Pitt should fill this role nicely. College of Charleston was suggested above and has EA with December notification. Indiana also has early notification.

http://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/freshmen/deadlines.php

Pitt has rolling admissions:

https://oafa.pitt.edu/apply/admissions-process/freshmen/

Indiana has a November deadline/January notification

http://admissions.indiana.edu/apply/deadlines.html

Tulane also has a November desdline with December notification:

http://www.admission.tulane.edu/apply/status.php

I don’t consider Tulane a safety school, but would use their early application in any case.

@crossfitmama

Lafayette and Muhlenberg are only 15 miles apart and a little over an hour from Newark Airport. They are both lovely schools and she is in range for both. Muhlenberg has a large and nationally ranked theatre program so it has a nice quality about it. Lafayette is a classy school with very nice kids. Both excellent choices.

Eckerd has an active Hillel Given the location, there should be many opportunities.

@crossfitmama - We added University of Pittsburgh after seeing its Hillel (shared with CMU). And I second the recommendation for U of Maryland (College Park) and perhaps add U of MI and U of IL. All of these have, I believe, at least once-daily kosher meals and at least weekly shabbat services. UMD has much, much more. Someone also recommended U of Miami, FL to us for its Hillel. Oh, and Hofstra.

Crossfire,
Your daughter might be on the borderline for Santa Barbara. I would second the notion of Maryland. Delaware is another great option and she can get in. Large Jewish population, and though it has 16 thousand kids, the campus is beautiful and quaint. Worth a look. Syracuse is easily doable for her as well…

I loved Muhlenberg and strongly encouraged my daughter to apply. I still think back fondly about our visit - the students, faculty and staff were some of the nicest people we encountered during our college visits, and they had a wonderful kosher station in the cafeteria. My introverted daughter felt the students were too extroverted and happy. (seriously - too happy). It’s definitely worth a closer look if you are interesested in science or the arts. I’m hoping my son will be interested in 2019.

I would look at Binghamton for sure. But although the numbers are growing, I do not consider Geneseo a school with a high enough Jewish population or vibe. Have you considered Skidmore College?

Well if you don’t want a school where students are too happy, Binghamton is certainly worth a look. With the chronically depressed economy, the weather that has to be among the worst in the country, a toxic plume under Endicott and Hillcrest that may be spreading with vapors seeping into homes (rentals are cheap there) and that created NY’s only (or at least 1st) childhood cancer cluster, there is no need to worry about people being too happy there. A schools filled with tons of students from LI for whom it was their safety, and with approximately 20% International students who don’t interact with the others, let’s just say it isn’t a school that is brimming over with happiness. So if an unhappy group is desirable, you’ll find it at Binghamton.

Really? I have a good friend whose daughter just finished freshman year at Binghamton and was happy. As with any school, ample investigation is needed.

If you are going to head south to consider College of Charleston, look at Elon as well.