Schools for the White Jewish Girl From New York/Jersey with a 3.8

Parent Cafe
101

That’s why I think everyone should remember they ARE catholic schools. I’ve read a lot of posts on CC saying that the schools, especially the Jesuit schools, are Catholic in name only but not in practice. That just isn’t true. They are welcoming, they provide a great education, but they are Catholic institutions run by Catholics who like crucifixes and statues of Mary and St. Francis around the grounds. I don’t think anyone should be surprised if a school puts up a chapel, more statues, more crucifixes even if they weren’t there previously. There are catholic universities that really wouldn’t work for any non-catholics (and won’t work for many catholics either), but it really is a personal decision whether a particular school is acceptable. Don’t expect the school to change.

Jewish friend was on bed rest at a Catholic hospital for about 6 weeks before her son was born. They took down the crucifix in her room. For Passover they special ordered her meals from a Kosher deli at no extra cost to her. If she’d wanted her tubes tied after delivering? No, that wasn’t going to happen in that facility. She picked the hospital she wanted but she had to accept its rules, decor, the fact that there were prayers over the intercom sometimes, Mass announcements, nuns running the place. She chose the hospital, but she had to accept the Catholic stuff that came with that choice. She was in the hospital over Easter, and there were Easter things everywhere. The hospital actually has a parish in it, so near Easter they have all the things any other parish would have - Mass, stations, baptism, confirmation. Everywhere.

Since the OP put the requirement for a non-secular school high on her list, I don’t think Fordham, BC, and Georgetown are going to work for her daughter.

102

I am going to throw my vote in with all those above strongly suggesting you look at Tulane…and Indiana. Great schools offering great opportunities. I know kids at each-- they (and their parents) are very very happy. These kids sound a lot your D (my two D’s went different ways, but one fell in love with Bloomington-- IU-- when she was auditioning for BFA/Musical Theatre programs. She chose a different one that was her dream school-- but the IU visit was so impressive that it won us both over.

103

Lehigh and Tulane seem obvious choices - especially Lehigh if she wants a school that’s not far from the NY/NJ area. Lehigh ED admit rate is much higher than their RD.

104

The more I glance this post I am unsure if this is hypothetical.

OP said “As for the OOS colleges, I am a strong believer that Rutgers or a SUNY (depending on home state) is perfectly fine”

Which is the home state? Can’t be both, right?

105

I believe (?) the OP lives in NJ but is familiar with SUNY schools. I think she is just commenting that both schools are fine- grouping them together.

106

And what did the OP mean with this abbreviation “As an unhooked WGFNYNJ she is the worst demographic”?

Because in another thread the OP also said “D is saying she wants to major in gender studies. As far as I know she is not gay (to quote Seinfeld, not that there is anything wrong with that) but I mentioned to a couple of relatives and close friends in their 40s and they all asked me!”

Perhaps if taken at face value a liberal arts college is the best landing spot if gender studies is the target.

107

If the OP lives in certain areas of NJ such as Bergen County, it is not unusual for NY/NY to be grouped together. That may be what she means. I agree that maybe she should add some liberal arts colleges and lessen her strict requirements a bit.

108

OP, So it does look like based on your criteria, you want to pick from the top thirty universities and top twenty five LAC’S right? If you then filter based on what you know your daughter already don’t like and skip the very high reaches, based on stats, I would imagine you would have only a handful of schools?

109

If the D would be happy with Binghamton and Rutgers (or some other combination thereof) and they are affordable, then for sure- cast an eye about with a discerning view towards suburban/leafy/gothic/red brick or whatever aesthetic and lifestyle issues are important.

If not- then a loosening of the criteria is in order. But it’s a happy senior who can get into his/her state flagship, would be happy to go, can afford it, and has the luxury of wondering “is there a school like Tufts out there that I haven’t discovered yet”?

110

WGFNYNJ > I was reading as white girl from NY/NJ but maybe OP can clarify.

111

@SaphireK - quoting from your earlier posts:

“She really needs targets that she can get excited about and safeties beyond her state flagship.”

"I think the minute something is presented as a safety she begins to hate it!

As I said before I really not willing to pay MORE for a non top tier OOS or any school that does not match our in state in terms of opportunities or at least price. I will pay up for a school ranked in the low 30s or better."

I am probably restating much of what @blossom said but here goes.

With a 3.8 (unweighted?) and a 31 ACT, getting into a school in the low 30s or better that meets her criteria will be somewhat challenging. If the ACT goes up to 32-33, then more doors will open. But you have suggested that she has probably maxed out, given her focused test prep.

Once you eliminate from those top 30s, statistically improbable reaches like HYPS or anyplace else with a < 10% admit rate, places that are unlikely to admit due to stats/yield protection (Tufts, WUSTL), places that are rural, urban or < 3,500 students, and has a strong Jewish community, there is a fairly limited array of options. Many of the likely suspects have already been mentioned: Richmond, W&M, Rochester, Case Western, American, Tulane, Charleston, etc.

I also recommend that you should eliminate the word “safety” from your household. Who would get excited by the idea of a “safety?” D’s GC uses “likely,” “possible,” and “unlikely,” instead of the usual safety-match-reach and I really think that these categories are helpful in getting your child, and possibly you as well, excited about schools that are realistic/affordable for her stats.

You mentioned that she is interested in gender studies in your other thread. Maybe reboot your search with that as a starting point and the academic strength of given programs might trump some of the other considerations (ranking, location, etc).

An honors program at a well-regarded state U is a perfectly good choice, both intellectually and financially, especially if graduate/law/medical school might follow. Lock in an acceptance early, if rolling admission or early action is available, and then if she has the time and desire to try for some reaches, you’ve got your bases covered.

Good luck!

112

butler university
https://www.butler.edu
not to urban or rural
very good all around school

113

doschicos I am 99.999 % sure you are correct but at first I thought it was some code for a complaint tried over analysis went back and read it the same way you did! kind of like when you can not find your keys in your house and they are in your hand. the answer is simple…I just made it complicated.

114

I’m the one who mentioned that BC was Jesuit. My own kid graduated from Santa Clara, another Jesuit college. We are not Catholic…at all.

But this OP sounded like she wanted a bigger Jewish presence than a Hillel at a Jesuit college (my impression of her posts).

And s noted, some folks can get past the Christian references at a Jesuit school. As an example, SCU had a gorgeous Christmas tree every ear at the center of the campus. This would bother some folks.

As noted, the Jesuit school my kid went to was also very ecumenical. But at the end of the day, it was Jesuit.

115

Just curious, what is your hang-up with strong OOS publics BTW? Midwestern flagships like Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois all have strong and active Jewish communities…

116

I only continued the Jesuit discussion because these threads are often read by people who have slightly different but similar criteria as the original poster.

I like @MurphyBrown 's ranking of the possibilities. I’ll not that my son kept Vassar on his list because it was larger than most LACs and in a small city with fairly easy access to NYC. As a guy it wasn’t quite as reachy as it will be for OP’s daughter. I think the only hang up with OOS publics was whether they brought enough extra value to the cheaper options of SUNY or the NJ schools.

117

Rutgers and Bing both have practical issues that other flagships may not have (the split campus for example at Rutgers). So, while it may not be worth it to be full pay at random other flagships, it may be worth investing a bit more if op’s daughter can get merit for a better experience (classroom or practical.) Only the family knows.
In any case TCNJ should definitely be on the list.

118

Haven’t read through the entire thread, but echo the recs for Tulane, Vermont, Pitt, Case, Rochester, and Richmond. What about Bucknell?

119

1 Binghamton University. #2 TCNJ. #3 UDEL.

120

If urban isn’t a dealbreaker, I would recommend Pitt: http://www.wsj.com/articles/top-private-and-public-colleges-in-the-northeast-1477492224

Very active Hillel: http://www.hilleljuc.org/