<p>unbelievablem-
The book I have was published 1997 and may be outdated, as others have pointed out. But the 69% Jewish number is what the book said (7000 total, 4800 Jewish). Einstein Med School was not included. Included were Yeshiva U, Stern Women's College, Sy Syms Business College.</p>
<p>Habdragon08-
You are referring to your belief about average intelligence. There is great diversity among all ethnic groups in intelligence. The danger in using averages is that people might erroneously conclude that the differences are completely innate, which they are not. Family dynamics also affect the intellectual development of children. Furthermore, the very concept of "intelligence" is more nebulous than most people realize. Intelligence is much more than a score on a test. Members of every ethnic/religious/racial group have achieved great things. Conversely, great achievements are not an inevitable product of intelligent minds. Great intelligence can be found in the way some parents teach their children but it may go unrecognized by society.</p>
<p>Wow Sy Syms biz college -- Lord have marcy!!!!</p>
<p>Here's some food for thought: <a href="http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/1478/%5B/url%5D">http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/1478/</a></p>
<p>Are Jews Smarter?
Did Jewish intelligence evolve in tandem with Jewish diseases as a result of discrimination in the ghettos of medieval Europe? Thats the premise of a controversial new study that has some preening and others plotzing. What genetic science can tell usand what it cant.</p>
<p>Here's my favorite quote in the article: Id actually call the study bull*****, says Sander Gilman, a historian at Emory University, if I didnt feel its idea were so insulting.</p>
<p>collegehelp - ok now think about this - who else do you think is attending Yeshiva University!!!!<br>
The book you are looking at is not going to help you, especially if you are willing to rely on numbers such at this. Go to Hillel.org and look at their on-line guide to campus life (which is updated yearly) AND THEN - don't believe everything there - its just a starting point to talk to the individual school's Hillels. And by the way, the current hillel.org listing has YU with about 2800 Jewish undergrads and approx 3200 Jewish grad students - it doesn't even bother listing any other enrollment figuress.</p>
<p>I can vouch that the stat for Brandeis is pretty accurate-- about 50-60%. However, the level of Jewish life at a campus is way more important than the sheer population. You can have a school with a massive Jewish population that has very few observant students, and therefore a very poor community and vice versa.</p>
<p>shoshie--what percent of Brandeis kids do you think are observant Jews?</p>
<p>So Iamtheshosie what you are saying is that only observant Jews make for a vibrant Jewish community? Assumedly you also mean only observant Orthdox Jews? Is that what you mean? Just wondering.</p>
<p>in addition to looking into percentage of the jewish population factor in how active the jews are...look into active hillel's and such since many jews are not as observant as what your son would want</p>
<p>tsdad -- one of the biggest misconceptions is that only Orthodox Jews can be observant and active. The terms Orthodox and Observant are not synonomous.</p>
<p>However, I will note that there was a recent study I read about that said that Reform students are less likely to participate in on-campus Jewish activities because often those activities involve things that the students have not been exposed to growing up (not meaning to sound critical of Reform Judaism - this is something I read -- <a href="http://my.brandeis.edu/news/item?news%5fitem%5fid=103925&show%5frelease%5fdate=1)%5B/url%5D">http://my.brandeis.edu/news/item?news%5fitem%5fid=103925&show%5frelease%5fdate=1)</a>. On the other hand I also just read an article that Hillel in general is looking into changing their approach to address the needs of "Millenia" students -ie the current generation of Jewish students. (<a href="http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=11622&offset=&B1=1&author=Gabrielle%20Birkner&issuedates=&month=11&day=11&year=2005&issuedate=20050510&keyword=hillel%5B/url%5D">http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=11622&offset=&B1=1&author=Gabrielle%20Birkner&issuedates=&month=11&day=11&year=2005&issuedate=20050510&keyword=hillel</a>)</p>
<p>Bottomline - each student has to decide for his/herself what makes for the type of vibrant Jewish community they want -- Some will find what they want at a school that offers few if any on campus services but offers a lot of other programming.</p>
<p>
[quote]
One of the biggest misconceptions is that only Orthodox Jews can be observant and active. The terms Orthodox and Observant are not synonomous.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Indeed. My point exactly. I also don't think you need to be observant (btw whose version of observant are we talking about and how observant do you have to be to be considered observant) to be a good Jew and a good member of the Jewish community.</p>
<p>"btw whose version of observant are we talking about and how observant do you have to be to be considered observant"</p>
<p>Personally - I think observance is probably more of a continuum than a yes or no type of thing - (And however observant you may think someone is, I'm willing to bet that THEY know someone who they think is even more observant!) But I also think it is true that the more you observe yourself, the more you will want from your college community to support that observance - however you define your observance. </p>
<p>Perhaps one of the greatest things a prospective college student can look for is a campus on which diversity of a range of observances within the Jewish population is tolerated.</p>
<p>hmm, can anyone vouch for the jewish life at union college? i saw it said 20 percent, but how many are orthodox? i am modern orthodox and was wondering if it would be difficult there. i dont think there is chabbad on or near the campus, but i know there is a hillel. does anyone here know more?</p>
<p>I go to GW and personally 19% is a major underestimation. I'd say more like 40% plus.</p>
<p>You may have an association bias there espresso. Do you know everyone at GW?</p>
<p>I agree strongly that the stats are a starting point only for conversing with Hillel leadership about Jewish life.</p>
<p>For "vibrant Jewish life" also look for the academic courses offered. Check the course catalogue under several different departments, starting with "Religion" "Near East Studies" and "Jewish Studies." There might be relevant courses in the History department where the entire course is devoted to the Holocaust, "Golden Age of Spain" etc. See if the courses are taught by the college's own professors or adjunct instructors; figure the college professors are more available to students with office hours, etc. </p>
<p>See if worship services are offered; student-led or clergy-led; and in what denomination (Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Orthodox). Would you consider trying a different movement than one you grew up in? Is there an exchange among nearby campuses to get services more to your liking?</p>
<p>Look in the Student Services section for a "Chaplain" because that might be where the campus rabbi is mentioned. Sometimes Hillel employs a rabbi, who might serve only that campus or several. A college might "have a Hillel" but its students might always be the ones to travel to a bigger Hillel at a different college or uni nearby. That can be interesting, or inconvenient, depending on how you perceive things.</p>
<p>My eldest, who needed financial aid, found much better salary by teaching Religious School at a nearby synagogue and worked there for his "work-study" job. He earned triple the campus rate-of-pay and got a teaching skill that helped him upon graduation as well (NYC actor's day job, no waiting tables ;)</p>
<p>Keep in mind that those percentages are indicative of some but not all of the campus spirit. A student can list him/herself as Jewish but do nothing on campus to identify or contribute, making it "seem" as though there are fewer Jewish students. In big cities, Jewish affiliation rates (joining synagogues) are at 50% of the Jewish population, with higher rates in smaller towns! (need to join to find each other; not so in big metropolitan areas).</p>
<p>I'm thinking that on a campus, you have many students away from homes, families and communities that provided (spoon-fed?) them Jewish opportunities. On campus they have to choose to do this themselves. Some long to get away from it so do 'nothing" on campus except go home for major holidays. Early adult years have the least rates of involvement with religious institutions. Students get back to it when they go to work or begin families. Still you can find Jewish students around you. It's something to think about, how you'll find your own way to express yourself, once away from home. </p>
<p>That said, it's very important, if you care, to see if there is a Hillel organization and how they're doing. Of course the leadership will always paint the best picture to prospective students, hoping for replenishing the leadership! One Hillel leader might say, "If you see an activity that isn't here, you can step up to the plate and start it." which is a whole different message than, "We already have 3 programs that address that.." and there are merits to each.</p>
<p>That said, if you care a lot or even a little, consider that "studies have shown" (unfortunately I can't remember my source on this one, but trust me...) that there are two "tipping points," regardless of total numbers. Under 10% causes kids to feel absolutely alone; the 10% neighborhood feels mighty "thin" if you care about meeting and doing Jewish things; and at 20% you'll feel a vibrant Jewish presence with plenty of other students. At around 20%, you'll feel there are "always more new Jewish kids to meet," instead of "same-o, same-o." </p>
<p>Good luck and it's great to know students include this important criterion in their search.</p>
<p>I find it prett interesting that Yale is almost 40% Jewish, yet Princeton is only 12%. HUGE difference, wonder why.</p>
<p>I also find it pretty interesting that Dartmouth didn’t even make it to the list… this means that less than 10% of students at D are Jews.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is a little more than 10% Jewish. </p>
<p>[Dartmouth</a> College](<a href=“http://www.hillel.org/HillelApps/JLOC/Campus.aspx?AgencyId=17346]Dartmouth”>http://www.hillel.org/HillelApps/JLOC/Campus.aspx?AgencyId=17346)</p>
<p>Those numbers are off. Yet Princeton is known as a very gentile, waspy and preppy institution historically and as a result many jewish students probably do not even apply. Dartmouth has a similar feel in that its like the good old boys club. From what I heard Yale is around 30% jewish, but like Penn, Harvard, Emory, Wash U…it historically has attracted a lot of applicants. I would say that perception has a lot to do with it. On a final note, my friend from emory recently told me that is has around 34% jewish student body, so the numbers aren’t completely correct.</p>