<p>Good afternoon. We are Jewish but my daughter got into an awesome program at a Jesuit university. I was wondering if other Jewish parents have sent their children to a Jesuit institution and how it worked out. The school seems lovely and our child would like to attend. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you use the search feature to look for threads with titles like “jewish at UNIVERSITYNAME” or “jewish at jesuit university” you will probably find a whole bunch of them. Check the general Parents Forum first. If the university has its own sub-forum (go to the main page where all of the forums are listed and scroll down until you find the links for the individual college and university forums), you also could ask there.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I’m a Jewish (mom) professional grad of a Jesuit university. I think my graduating class, decades ago, was 30% Jewish. Other than the crosses in the back of the classrooms, which took me a bit to get comfortable with, it was an extremely comfortable situation and a good fit. My child graduated from a state university and experienced virulent anti-Antisemitism, which would have never been tolerated at the Jesuit school.</p>
<p>^^^Are you sure about the 30% number? That sounds awfully high for a Jesuit University.</p>
<p>Our family is Jewish too. Personally, we never even looked at Jesuit Universities since there are so many others to choose from…however if this program is unique and only offered there, then really only your family can decide.</p>
<p>We’ve heard wonderful things about Jesuit universities in general. I just know for our comfort level, with crosses in classrooms and priests walking in robes that it would not work for us.</p>
<p>Some Jesuit universities do have small Hillels on campus, and that may be enough for your D to feel comfortable.</p>
<p>There is good information on this site about this question. There may be several aspects of this to consider. Some would be focussed on student’s access to an active Jewish community, some on how welcoming the campus was to Jewish students, and some on the way in which the institution’s policies and procedures are impacted by being a Jesuit institution, including potential religious emphasis at events like convocation and graduation. </p>
<p>This week, a northeastern Jesuit college is in the news due to some students seeking to distribute condoms on campus. Reportedly, this has been going on for quite awhile, but the college has recently decided to “crack down” on those who are participating (possibly including expulsion). This may be a draw for some students (regardless of religion), but of concern to others (again regardless of religion). I would have my prospective student read the school’s newspaper regularly and connect with participants in Hillel or other relevant organizations to discuss what variables matter most to them. Good luck.</p>
<p>It will greatly increase the probability that the D will marry a Catholic.</p>
<p>^ sorghum - lol. My Father-in-law was Jewish went to Ohio State met and married a Methodist…</p>
<p>Jesuit universities have things in common, but are hardly clones of one another. The answer to this question might very well be different if one were talking about, say, Georgetown vs. Fordham vs. Loyola of Baltimore.</p>
<p>In general, though, if you are going to be Jewish at a Catholic university, a Jesuit institution is going to be a pretty good bet. The Jesuit tradition is one of open intellectual debate, rigorous logic, and academic freedom.</p>