<p>
[quote]
JTS is affiliated with the Reform omvement
[/quote]
</p>
<p>fyi -- JTS is seminary for Conservative movement.</p>
<p>just a suggestion -- as you probably realize, the hillel directors are often interested in trying to attract potentially active Jewish students -- realize it is a sales pitch (nothing wrong with that). make sure you also ask to be put in touch with some of the observant students at the school so you can get their perspective -- and ask them how things are and how they see things changing.</p>
<p>BoxingLeprechaun, check out the University of Michigan. With over 4,000 Jewish undergraduate students and 2,000 Jewish graduate students, chances are, you are going to find a large population of practicing Jews. I even think Michigan has Kosher meal plans. I am not sure how many are practicing, but apparently, you have found a way to figure that out.</p>
<p>MichaelNKat, I have heard about Muhlenberg and I will look into it. Syracuse too, but if I were to go to one of tehse schools I'd rather try Bing. 3togo, unfortunately it is not all about the size of population. There are TONS of Jews in college based on the actual population of Jews in the world, however I believe around 95% of people in the world that are Jewish are not practicing because they either don't follow religion or don't even know they're Jewish. You are right though about a higher concentration of Jews in the NE/Mid-Atlantic and the fact that Cornell has alot of Jews(though I don't think I am a Cornell person). unbelievablem, the directors of the Hillels were actually quite informative and they gave me a totally non-biased view. Before they told me any positives, all the negatives were listed first. Alexandre, I've heard about the many Jews at UMICH but I am concerned taht I can't get into there being that I am OOS, correct me if I'm wrong.</p>
<p>The Chabad Lubavitch and Yavneh community at Princeton is very open, and I'm not even Orthodox. I have talked to many observant Jews on campus, especially at our Center for Jewish Life (CJL), and the overwhelming majority of them area pleased with the CJL's Kosher dining hall. You can have the Kosher Dining Hall included in your meal plan at no additional cost. The food for Shabbos and CJL functions/parties/celebrations is tremendous, despite the dessert choice deficiency. To no surprise, it runs on an alternating basis, meat on MWF, dairy on TTh. Also, you don't have to worry about using electricity to get back into your dorm after services because on Shabbos the doors automatically unlock at sundown, no proximity card required. They also provide breakfast on Saturday Morning, which was prepared earlier. Best of all, Rabbi Eitan is a young guy who is exceedingly friendly and accepting. It just makes all of the Jewish students like Chabad functions, which frankly I was pretty shocked to see. I also really enjoyed one of the multiple Pesach seders this year, but that is an extra cost that must be paid in advance.</p>
<p>The only problem this year is that Rabbi Eitan got turned down for an official University chaplaincy because for some reason the administration wants to keep the Jewish chaplaincy unified under one body, and since Rabbi Eitan is a representative of Chabad Lubavitch, it would "conflict" with Hillel sponsorship or something. Personally I disagree with the university's decision because despite there being 10+ Christian chaplains, there is only 1 Jewish chaplain? I think there is definitely room for more. We expect another decision to be made, but overall the Jewish community at Princeton has great diversity and even better accommodation.</p>
<p>Well, if I knew more about Jewish Life at other schools, I would certainly tell, but I'm just telling you what I know about it where I'm located. You are very welcome.</p>
<p>"Alexandre, I've heard about the many Jews at UMICH but I am concerned taht I can't get into there being that I am OOS, correct me if I'm wrong."</p>
<p>Michigan is not as tough on OOS applicants as the UCs, UVA or UNC. That's because Michigan's OOS population is significantly larger than those at the publics mentioned above. Michigan has 8,000 out of state students, compared to 2,000-4,000 OOS students at the other elite publics.</p>
<p>You haven't shared your stats with us, but I assume that if you are considering Emory and Vanderbilt, you have a reasonable shot at Michigan.</p>
<p>If yoi're interested, I got a 1390 SAT(2070), 3.8ish GPA, a bad courseload thus far(my school wasn't realy offering anything, but this will change this year, I switched for my senior year), lots of volunteer work with special-needs children(within the vacinity of 300+ volunteer, and hundreds of paid hours, easily over 1,000). Was on basketball team, chess team, Torah Bowl team(religous college bowl is the best way to describe it), religous leader at my school. What do you think? By the way, if I'm in about the 72% for admitted students in regards to SATs for UCLA, do I have a shot? I am extremely unfamiliar with the publics that are OOS for me.</p>
<p>TUFTS-Roughly 5 observant Jews(I consider observant one that keeps kosher and that keeps Sabbath, just my opinion if I'm offending any). There is no real kosher meal plan, and it doesn't seem that Tufts is trying to attract a more religous crowd.</p>
<p>TULANE-Once again, roughly 5 observant Jews on campus. There is no kosher meal plan, but there is one bright spot. About 2 1/2 minutes away from campus is an Orthodox synagogue, so prayer shouldn't be a problem for anyone attending.</p>
<p>VASSAR-The head of the Chabad at Vassar seemed truly caring, but he basically flat out told me that there is at best one observant Jew on campus. However, he stated that two years down the road(when I plan to enroll in college), he envisions a much more "vibrant" religous community there. He also seemed to be extremely helpful if I needed anything(he offered to pick up groceries for me whenever he went to Monsey, NY one of the meccas of Judaism in America).</p>
<p>unbelievablem, I have no idea. I asked if the school was actively recruiting religous Jews, as UCONN and Vandy are doing, and he said no. He realy seems to think though that two years from now there will be a much larger Jewish community. For starters they are in the process of creating a daily prayer service in the morning, and have already increased their Sabbath services from bi-weekly to weekly. As it stands though right now, Vassar has the least Jewish life of the 6 schools I checked up on.</p>
<p>I'm going to look at Haveford, Lehigh, Hamilton, and Colgate within the next few days.</p>
<p>Your best bet is the University of Maryland, their Orthodox community has grown HUGE in recent years. There are like 400 orthodox Jews there at this point. They have excellent kosher dining, and even some Jewish Learning oportunities. It is a warm and accepting observant community, and the orthodox jews get along with the Reform/Conservative/reconstructionist/unafilliated very well.</p>
<p>A tidbit about Muhlenberg - last Thursday, my D said that about 1/2 her choir was missing... due to Rosh Hashanah. Latest numbers I saw said almost a third of its students identify themselves as Jewish. My (agnostic) daughter's first Friday night at Muhlenberg was spent at a marshmallow roast at Hillel. This doesn't break it down into reform, conservative or orthodox, but I agree... any place you have more people identifying themselves as Jewish, you have a higher chance of finding some that are observant. Good luck.</p>
<p>At University of Rochester, there's an active Chabad group. They had a table at one of the "get to know us" type Orientation events. They keep sending my d e-mails about activities & observances. You may find some kindred spirits there.</p>
<p>There's a pretty large Jewish population at SUNY Buffalo. I don't know how many are observant. But the University does cancel classes during Rosh Hashana(sp?) and Yom Kippur. There is also a deli on campus that only serves Kosher food. There is at least one Chabad house nearby campus, and a Jewish Student Union. If you're planning on visiting Israel during your college career, I've seen ads for Taglit Birthright Israel run in the school newspaper.</p>
<p>What about NYU, there is a large orthodox population (I have met and spoken to them). They have a dining hall with kosher food for all meals. They are a tight knit group and seemed very nice and happy there. </p>
<p>As to Vanderbilt, the local jewish community is really welcoming and willl have students to their homes, etc. but, there are probably not Orthodox. My friend is conservative and was really pleased with the opportunities for jewish life there, but I would not be sure it would be enough for you. Good luck.</p>