deciding between two colleges...help!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>this is more of a vent/have no other place to turn type of post. i understand if no one has any solid advice for my predicament.</p>

<p>i have narrowed my college selection to two schools-- goucher (MD) and belot (WI) ... i was accepted at both by the way.</p>

<p>i want to go to Beloit. i had an amazing experience there and everyone i met was incredibly nice, helpful, and positive. i loved it there.
i also visited goucher and had a less positive experience (probably because i was sick that day, traveled many hours to get there, and it was pouring rain) i did not feel the same connection to goucher as i did to beloit however im afraid that i really did not give it a fair chance.</p>

<p>so heres the problem: i am Jewish. and not just in the cultural sense. i'm fairly religious and depend a lot on my Jewish community. I literally can not imagine living in a place with out a strong Jewish community. I depend on it sooo much. Beloit lacks this entirely, Goucher has a huge and very active Jewish community. I don't know how to weigh the good with the bad... any advice/personal experience would be amazing. this problem has taken over my life and to be honest, i just want to be done with the entire college process. i'm over it.</p>

<p>on top of that, when i think about it, leaving california (my home) scares me more then anything. when i applied to colleges in october i wanted nothing more then to get out of CA and get away from my family...i didnt even apply to a single school in this state (or the west coast) and im feeling like that was a huge mistake, i really don't want to leave, but i know its out of fear...this makes the decision even harder because i know that a strong Jewish community would make the transition to college a ton easier.
but alas, i want to go to beloit. im so conflicted!</p>

2

<p>Could you find a jewish community in the area around beliot, if not on campus?</p>

<p>Remember, you can always transfer if you don't like it. My advice is to go for the school that makes you excited, even if it may seem outside of your comfort zone. That way, you're more likely to go into the situation positive and have a great time.</p>

3

<p>im sorry but i think that you should pick your college based upon how you like it...not how your religion dictates for you to like it.</p>

<p>that being said, beloit is a much better school and I would say for you to pick that.</p>

<p>just make sure to keep your grades up and there is always the possibility to transfer if you think its hell on earth</p>

4

<p>if having a jewish community is very important to you, it sounds like you wouldnt be very happy at a school that has a non-existant jewish life. that being said, i went to the hillel website, and it listed this person as the contact for jewish students at beloit- you should definitely send her an email and talk to her about your concerns. good luck! <a href="mailto:lichtens@beloit.edu">lichtens@beloit.edu</a></p>

5

<p>thank you for your suggestions.
there is a small synagogue in the city of Beloit, and when i say small i really do mean small. the impression i got was that the Jewish students at Beloit are pretty uninvolved although I could most definitely be wrong as I was only there for a day.</p>

<p>bobbobbob-- it is not that my religion is "dictating" what college i like. its more that i know i wouldnt be happy with out an outlet to express my Judaism.</p>

<p>thank you again.</p>

6

<p>Im sure that there is a Hillel or something at Beloit. I would be very suprised if the school was completely devoid of anything jewish.</p>

7

<p>If you want to attend Beloit, I think that is what you should do. As long as there is a synagogue nearby, Beloit seems like the school you want the most. You can always transfer if you feel like it is necessary.</p>

<p>I cast my vote to Beliot. As a Midwesterner myself who lives only about two hours from the college, I have heard many excellent things about the school.</p>

<p>Best of luck, mjb06.</p>

8

<p>My niece, raised Jewish (as are we), is attending Beloit and loves it. She too was concerned about having a Jewish community, and seems to have found one. You may just have to work a little harder!</p>

9

<p>from Hillel website re: Goucher</p>

<p>School Web Address: <a href="http://www.goucher.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.goucher.edu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br>
Public/Private: Private
Commuter Campus? No
Enrollment: Undergraduate Population: 1350
Graduate Population: 125<br>
Jewish Enrollment: Jewish Undergraduate Population: 250 (approx.)
Jewish Graduate Population: 50 (approx.)
University has Jewish studies: Major<br>
University has program in Israel: Summer: No
Fall Semester: No
Winter (or Spring) Semester: No
Year: No
Other: No
Hillel Information
Hillel Name: Goucher College Hillel </p>

<p>Not every campus organization listed is an affiliate of Hillel. All statistics are estimates. If you cannot find information here, contact the local Hillel directly or send us an e-mail.</p>

<p>Hillel Web site address: <a href="http://www.goucher.edu/hillel%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.goucher.edu/hillel&lt;/a> </p>

<p>Hillel Campus Address:
1021 Dulaney Valley
Towson Maryland 21208
United States
410-337-6545, phone
410-337-6556, fax
<a href="mailto:awielech@goucher.edu">awielech@goucher.edu</a> </p>

<p>Map this Hillel </p>

<p>Hillel Staff Alison Wielechowski, Director & 2005/2006 JCSC Supervisor
<a href="mailto:awielech@goucher.edu">awielech@goucher.edu</a></p>

<p>Rachel Hertzman, Campus Rabbi
<a href="mailto:rebberach@aol.com">rebberach@aol.com</a></p>

<p>Ezra Flom, 2005/2006 JCSC Fellow
<a href="mailto:ezra.flom@goucher.edu">ezra.flom@goucher.edu</a> </p>

<p>Campus profile:
Jewish students at Goucher find themselves overwhelmed at the big opportunities offered by this small school. Whether it is joing the Hillel board, advocating for israel, particpating in social action projects, traveling with our Jewish journeys group or just hanging out in the Kosher Dining Hall, Goucher has lots to offer. Jewish students are a presence in every aspect and Hillel strives to offer the little bit more that students at Goucher demand!Students at Goucher have ability to take Jewish Studies classes at Baltimore Hebrew University as well as having classes taught on campus.
The following groups offer activities on this campus (description of these groups):
College Democrats of America
College Republicans
KESHER (Reform)
KOACH (Conservative)
NUJLS</p>

<p>Hillel offers activities in the following areas and for these groups: </p>

<p>birthright israel Alumni
Conservative movement
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender
Israel
Jewish learning/education
Kosher issues/meal plan</p>

<p>Hillel offers the following religious services:</p>

<p>Group Frequency<br>
Conservative/Egalitarian<br>
Orthodox (traditional) Students go to local Synagogue
Pluralistic/Combined Minyan Weekly (Just Friday evening)
Reconstructionist Monthly
Reform Weekly (Just Saturday morning) </p>

<p>Kosher meals are offered:
Full Kosher Plan (14-21 meals weekly)
Kosher dining is provided through:
University-sponsored kosher food</p>

<p>Kashrut supervision provided by:
Star K - Vaad Kashrut of Baltimore</p>

10

<p>from Hillel website re: Beloit</p>

<p>School Web Address: <a href="http://www.beloit.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.beloit.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br>
Enrollment: Undergraduate Population: 1250
Graduate Population: 1100<br>
Jewish Enrollment: Jewish Undergraduate Population: (approx.)
Jewish Graduate Population: 90 (approx.) </p>

<p>Hillel Information
Hillel Name: Am Yisrael of Beloit College </p>

<p>Not every campus organization listed is an affiliate of Hillel. All statistics are estimates. If you cannot find information here, contact the local Hillel directly or send us an e-mail.</p>

<p>Hillel Campus Address:
Beloit College Box 24
Beloit Wisconsin 53511
United States
(608) 363-2262, phone
(608) 363-2071, phone
(608) 363-2052, fax
<a href="mailto:lichtens@beloit.edu">lichtens@beloit.edu</a> </p>

<p>Map this Hillel </p>

<p>Hillel Staff Diane Lichtenstein, Advisor
<a href="mailto:lichtens@beloit.edu">lichtens@beloit.edu</a> </p>

<p>Campus profile:
Am Yisrael welcomes all who are interested in discovering and practicing Judaism on any level. Popular activities include a Yom Kippur Feast and Fast, a Chanukah dinner, and a Seder.</p>

<p>Last Modified: 12/01/2005
If you have any updates or corrections to the above information, please contact Hillel.</p>

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<p>I would go to Goucher. Can you possibly visit again? You may like it a lot better the second time. Goucher has cross registration with Johns Hopkins. You don't seem ready to go as far out of your comfort zone as Beloit, and the Jewish connections and opportunities really are important. If you really want to stay on the west coast- do not give up, look around. There are probably schools still accepting applications. Schools here and there will be filling openings even in the summer. Maybe neither school is the answer- maybe you need to apply somewhere else.</p>

12

<p>Thank you all for the great advice and information. i wish it was as easy as just picking a school but right now i feel like i will have regrets either way. im very confused and i am glad that i have until may to make my decision (although may 1 is coming very wuickly!!!!) anyways, thank you for taking the time to help me--i hope i make the right choice.</p>

13

<p>Mjb -</p>

<p>Sounds a bit like the buyers remorse exhibited in another thread. If neither of your "top two" will give up a positive outcome check out <a href="http://www.NACACNET.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.NACACNET.org&lt;/a> after May 1 for options. Good luck whatever you decide!</p>