<p>that's a poor title choice, but I'm too lazy to change it. Is it true that being jewish can help in the admission process. I'm mainly curious.</p>
<p>only for schools that don't attract lots of jews (possibly).. maybe a small LAC in the midwest or something like that.</p>
<p>I doubt that being Jewish would have anything more than a minimal (if any at all) impact on the admission process, unless the school is tightly linked to a religious affiliation. HOWEVER, you should read up on Harvard's admissions history with Jews; Jews were, at times, denied admission (or given a severe disadvantage) in the application process at Harvard. Of course this was years ago, but intersting nonetheless. The issue, supposedly, was that Harvard had too many Jews, and they wanted the student population to be more eclectic.</p>
<p>Jews are pretty overrepresented at elite colleges. In some estimates, Harvard 30% Jewish....NYU is 33%....Penn is 30%. There's definately URM pull there.</p>
<p>Jews are advantaged in the admissions process? LOL, that's the first time I've heard that one...</p>
<p>
[quote]
Jews are pretty overrepresented at elite colleges. In some estimates, Harvard 30% Jewish....NYU is 33%....Penn is 30%. There's definately URM pull there.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Except that URM means underrepresented AT COLLEGES. Which those stats clarly shows Jews are not. There is no advantage for Jews at college (except, as one person said PERHAPS at ones where we actually are underrepresented). The large precentage of Jews at elite colleges is, I would guess, mainly a socio-economic thing.</p>
<p>Lol Jews are not a URM. And NYU was originally a Jewish school, so that adds to why the percentage is so high. But really, Jewish culture puts a lot of emphasis on learning and the drive to succeed. It's the same deal with why Asians are overrepresented in the elite universities, and conversely why other minority groups are underrepresented. Communities are best at what their culture dictates is the most important, whether that's football or multivariable calc.</p>
<p>How would an adcom KNOW that an applicant was Jewish, anyway? I don't think it's one of the checkboxes listed under Race. Maybe by their name (but that's not for certain). Maybe by their extracurricular activities (if they are active in their Jewish community). But otherwise, how would they know?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Except that URM means underrepresented AT COLLEGES. Which those stats clarly shows Jews are not
[/quote]
oops it looks like I forgot a "no" in "There's definately URM pull there."</p>
<p>A few years ago a local university was said to be seeking Jewish students. There was an article in the local paper about it. Apparently, there was some ancient history where something happened (sorry but I don't remember the details) and the local Jewish community was highly upset and stopped sending their kids there. So in recent years, there was supposedly a concerted effort to try to attract them back. I've never heard of someone avoiding the school for this reason but the article did reference that. How would they know if someone was Jewish? ECs might tip them off. My son is an officer in the Jewish Student Union at his school for example.</p>
<p>"And NYU was originally a Jewish school,..."</p>
<p>Where did you ever get that idea from? :-)</p>
<p>Both USC and Vanderbilt were actively recruiting Jewish students a few years ago. I don't know if they are still doing so now. USC had an admission's staffer specifically responsible for recruiting Jewish students. Pamphlets were printed and scholarships were being offered. </p>
<p>USC was trying to overcome a reputation, especially among the Jewish community in Southern California, that it was unwelcoming to Jewish students. It wanted to make sure that USC replaced UCLA as the first alternative for those students. </p>
<p>How did they know which students were Jewish? Contacting that admissions counselor was one way. Plus the admission's counselor that handled the DC area was Jewish, and my son made sure she knew that he was Jewish.</p>
<p>Brandeis has a large Jewish population. Emory too, but not as large as Brandeis'</p>
<p>yeah, Brandeis is huge on it's Jewish population</p>
<p>Washington & Lee is also looking to increase their Jewish student population. At least, that's what a recently admitted Jewish schoolmate told my son.</p>
<p>Brandeis was historically a Jewish alternative to the Ivy League, so that's why it has a majority Jewish population.</p>
<p>I know at one point Columbia was more than half Jewish, so they started disadvantaging Jews in the admissions process. Nowadays, though, I don't see how they'd even KNOW you're Jewish, unless you have some blatantly Jewish ECs. I mean, I'm Jewish, but my last name is Italian. I have friends whose last names are Jewish-sounding but don't practice any religion at all. It's become such a melting pot that you can't really tell someone's religion, or even their race, by their name anymore.</p>
<p>"'And NYU was originally a Jewish school,...'</p>
<p>Where did you ever get that idea from? :-)"</p>
<p>Well, that's what one of the Deans told me. It wasn't in its charter, but it ended up having a huge Jewish student population, especially so in the last century. It's one of the reasons the Bronfman center was founded at NYU and not Columbia.</p>
<p>Emory, George Washington University, UMaryland....sizeable Jewish enrollment</p>
<p>Why are there such large diff. between porpotions @ colleges and in the population of jews? Seems to be a big coincidence, but nonetheless weird.</p>