<p>Another vote for the Vandy Jewish community--I live in Georgia and am very familiar with Vandy's efforts to increase its Jewish population as well as with the terrific success it's had in just 5 years. Vandy has been so successful in attracting large numbers of Jewish kids that, IMO, being Jewish is no longer a hook--but it's well worth investigating.</p>
<p>My wife's cousin lives in Nashville, which has 3 active synagogues (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform). Vanderbilt has 3 historically Jewish fraternities (AEPi, ZBT, SAM). Also, at least 40% of students are from the Northeast who would have been used to living around Jewish classmates. Vanderbilt is definitely a school for an application.</p>
<p>You may be surprised by some rural schools.</p>
<p>Grinnell, in the middle of nowhere, has a greater Jewish population than most other LAC's -- especially in the midwest, with the exception of urban U Chicago. There are others like this out there.</p>
<p>I would have to bet that Hillel (which you already reviewed) or other similar sources can better lead you. Do not think that the area's lack of religious diversity represents the same for the campus. Many surprises exist.</p>
<p>BTW: met girl who transfered from Wake to U Miami. She said being Jewish at Wake was not a good match. Miami is good. About 10,000 undergrad -- too big?</p>
<p>Second Union and Clark.</p>
<p>Thought I would throw in a school in Oklahoma of all places. For those Jewish parents who are having financial difficulty sending their kiddos to college, University of Oklahoma is building their Judaic Studies program and giving full tuition scholarships to anyone who majors (and from what D told me, minors in Judaica). They have a very active Hillel and Jewish frats and sororities (big Greek presence on that campus). Go figure!</p>
<p>They have tons of money and have other scholarships that are grade and test based.</p>
<p>Another large state U a bit far afield-- University of Alabama is actively recruiting Jewish students. There was a presentation at the JCC in Atlanta made by the president of U of Alabama, along with representatives of Hillel and reps of Jewish fraternity and sorority. Years ago, there was a big (for the south) Jewish presence at Alabama; this has waned significantly in recent years, and presumably 'Bama is trying to take a page from Vandy's book in actively recruiting those kids.</p>
<p>Check out Tufts. Approx 30% Jewish; President of the University is Jewish and is actively involved. Excellent/active Hillel with much going on. Since IR is the largest major on campus, there are lots of courses available re: Israel and the middle east.</p>
<p>Frenchlaw,
I have watched Vanderbilt build up it's Jewish population during the last 5-6 years. I have a very close friend within the administration who tried to convince me in 2003 to have my S#1 apply. But the Jewish population was only 3% at the time, and he would not apply. Within that time period they have built a beautiful Hillel building, and I understand that they have a wonderful Rabbi. I couldn't get S#1 to apply back in '03, but niece is a freshman at Vandy.</p>
<p>I am going to have my son read this thread from beginning to end over vacation.</p>
<p>We are planning his trip for March and so far the schools he most wants to see are Union, Dickinson, Lafayette, Lehigh and Bucknell. Surprisingly, he also wants to see Washington and Jefferson ( I think because he knows a soccer player there who has spoken to the coach for him)</p>
<p>I really appreciate all of the anecdotal information.</p>
<p>You might want to check out whether there's a local synagogue or two. This gives more options for Jewish life, as well as the ability to volunteer or even work for pay (say, as a Hebrew tutor). A lot of the schools you've listed are in fairly rural areas. In some rural schools (and I don't know about the ones above), there is no synagogue nearby. For instance, when it comes to Colgate, the closest shul is in Utica and the closest reform synagogue is in Syracuse. These are thus not really local Jewish options. The few Jews in the community come to the campus Jewish center some and educate their kids by themselves or shlep them to one of those synagogues 35-45 minutes away.</p>
<p>boysx3...Since you're going through Pennsylvania, make sure you see Muhlenberg (20 minutes from Lafayette and Lehigh) which is 35% Jewish and now competes with Tufts,UPenn and Brandeis in terms of number of students involved...200 students for Friday night meal (with 40 of these not Jewish, the food is so good!)</p>
<p>Be sure to check out the Asbell Center (Hillel) at Dickinson; it's right next to the admissions office. My D just got accepted ED and she is thrilled. Our understanding is that there is a good quality, if somewhat small, Jewish community; this was a priority for her. Good luck!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Grinnell, in the middle of nowhere, has a greater Jewish population than most other LAC's -- especially in the midwest, with the exception of urban U Chicago. There are others like this out there.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Father of the Boarder, do you have any more information about this. Because Grinnell sounded like it might be a good school for my D2 to look into (LAC, strong English program), the Jewish population there sounded like it might be rather sparse, based upon the data about Grinnell on Grinnell</a> College , also the fact that I wasn't able to access any kind of web info about the Hillel on the Grinnell website.
As I previously mentioned, it sounds like a very good school--my oldest daughter received a lot of mailings from Grinnell, but she preferred a college in a more urban setting, which is where she ended up. So if there's any additional info about Jewish student life at Grinnell, I would be interested. Thanks.</p>
<p>My D is at Wesleyan which has an active Hillel. I hear that the rabbi is a wonderful man who the kids love. There are quite a few courses in Jewish studies and Hebrew. There is a high percentage of Jewish kids at the school. Wes is known for being a diverse,very accepting community for all life styles and religions. However if your kid is not "arty" Wes may not be the place as it is very strong in all areas of the arts be they visual,musical,theater or film. However Wes is so much more. Wes is a very difficult school to get into.</p>
<p>Dana's Dad</p>
<p>Swarthmore has a very active Jewish life, and surprisingly good men's soccer...</p>
<p>Just to edit danalynne's dad's post above: Wesleyan does not have an official Hillel for political reasons. Rather, there is a Havurah which functions in much the same way but with no national oversight. Everything else dana's dad says about Wes is correct.</p>
<p>Not to hijack any Grinnell seekers, but anybody looking in the Midwest for an LAC with dynamic Jewish community and much else, please ALSO look up Oberlin College in Oberlin,Ohio.</p>
<p>Jewish population north of 30%; broadbased institutional commitment to social justice values (lst to admit AA's, lst coed college in America); excellence in academics, Hillel, Hebrew House, academic majors and minors...it's all there, too. </p>
<p>You just can't tell by looking on a map. Same with Grinnell. </p>
<p>The Midwest is a place of hidden gems.</p>
<p>Both of these schools draw students from around the country, around the globe.</p>
<p>Any comments on UVA? My D is not particularly religious but goes to Jewish summer camp and is comfortable with the large population there as well as in our town. More for social than religious regions. Met some orthodox while we were there over spring break last year, not sure about the rest of the population.</p>
<p>p3t</p>
<p>I think Oberlin is another excellent suggestion. But yes, Grinnell is probably good too in the midwest.</p>
<p>bethievt,
you and I are always praising Grinnell and Oberlin! I think we should go into some kind of partnership on encouraging kids to also look at Midwestern gems, in addition to the obvious greats in the Northeast that always come to mind. And we need a third party, for Carleton... what do we call our act? The Supremes, maybe?</p>
<p>No..I'm being too narrow. It's a wide field: Macalester, Kenyon, others can chime in.</p>
<p>Point is: lots of people are concerned that the Midwest is "isolated." I think the key to these Midwestern schools is to research how much activity is generated right on the campus, each weekend, by the faculty and students themselves. As well, check out the quality and quantity of visiting lecturers and artists. Heck, I heard YoYoMa at age l9 at Oberlin in the "new artists" series, and I was l9. BethieVt's kid was all involved in the Iowa primaries...at close range. </p>
<p>From your enthusiastic posts, bethievt, I gather your freshman son is never "bored" at Grinnell, and my D was always completely engaged (weeknights, weekends...) positively and creatively at Oberlin. By the way, growing up smart in a rural environment helps kids recognize that they must play a role in creating their own
interesting activities. Not much entertainment is spoon-fed from the small-towns your S grew up in, and yet I bet he learned to appreciate many human qualities in many situations others would consider "boring." </p>
<p>I grew up in Baltimore and it was a huge departure when my parents first sent my older brother to Ohio instead of up or down the East Coast. It was like Davey Crockett to cross the Appalachians, and none of their friends could fathom it.</p>
<p>Today, listening to families plan their tour-routes from a distance, I can see why some of these Midwestern schools get overlooked when families must tour from afar. It's possible to see many Northeastern schools in one weekend, but the travel times are greater in the Midwest.</p>
<p>For this very reason (attention students!!) I think the Midwestern schools genuinely appreciate students who have done plenty of research for right-fit at a Midwestern LAC, even if just from the websites. They can tell if you are truly interested from the "Why X" essays or if it's just #6 on your list of hopefuls. </p>
<p>Also, these small-town Midwestern schools are not for people who feel like a fish-out-of-water if they're not on the Atlantic Seaboard or West Coast, obviously. An entire term might go by without a single trip to a big city, but if the students there say they're fully engaged without ever leaving campus for weeks on end, I think they are. I take them at their word. My D said this for 4 years; your S for his first year, so indeed look at the list of on-campus activities in a calendar year rather than mourning from the map that there's no NYC, Boston, SF, or LA nearby. It's just a different form of experience, and some like it best of all. </p>
<p>It's a think-outside-the-box exploration for many "coasters" to explore Midwestern colleges. But I agree with you it is worthwhile for so many fine students from both coasts to live and study in a cozy, resource-rich Midwestern college that draws students from all over the nation and globe!</p>
<p>fireflyscout could be the Carleton party.</p>
<p>momonthehill</p>
<p>Why don't you start a thread on the Grinnell site about this? I know they have a rabbi on campus and there was a sukkah on the green when we were there for family weekend, but that's about all I know. It's a surprisingly diverse student population given the location.</p>