Is the climate in many academic institutions too antisemitic to reveal this information in an application for admission? I think it is okay, but I have been advised otherwise.
Very few colleges ask about religious affiliation, but if it is a big component of your student’s life with EC’s, for example, it may be worth discussing in an essay
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If your essay states that you are Jewish or alludes to being Jewish, and if that is the reason why you are not accepted (you will never know), then imo the rejection is a good thing (not sure I am interpreting your question correctly).
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I would absolutely let my child identify as Jewish if my child feels that is a meaningful part of his or her story. I can’t imagine any college holding that against a student in the admissions process.
And, as noted above, in the EXCEEDINGLY unlikely event that being Jewish is viewed as a negative in the admissions process, then that college likely isnt the right fit for that student.
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One daughter asked us for suggestions on what to say for the “diversity” essay when applying to graduate programs. We had a lot of trouble knowing what to say. We were pretty much at a loss regarding what to suggest.
Both parents in our case have a lot of life experience dealing with people with a very, very wide range of backgrounds (which includes race but also includes religion, national origin, and multiple other considerations). We still were very hard pressed to think of what one should say. “Just treat each other as people and get your job done, and occasionally have a beer together and do not worry about it, and appreciate whatever local sites the hosts want to show us” seems to have worked well in practice, but I am not sure that is what university admissions wanted to hear.
In terms of identifying as Jewish (or WASP, or anything else), I do not see this as a problem.
I think so also.
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No because we’re Catholic.
If the applicant is Jewish and feels the desire/need to express their faith/culture, then yes. If a school will reject one based on that individual’s faith, then the school did the applicant a favor.
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Like others have, don’t be afraid to go this route if you are otherwise inclined to do so. There may be a sentiment on campuses as a result of the works news in this cycle but there’s not much evidence imo that this has infiltrated the admissions functions.
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Do your research on each school. If you feel the climate is too antisemitic, don’t apply.
Revealing your religion in the application is a secondary matter, IMO.
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of course
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My daughter had to write diversity essays for graduate school. She did not write about being Jewish, but if she chose to do so I would have been fine with it.
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My senior wrote an essay about being from mixed ethnic backgrounds including Jewish. We didn’t give it a second thought. And I know Muslims who have done the same. I expect they have read it all and it shouldn’t impact admissions. If it does then I don’t want my child there anyway.
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@LastOne5
I see you and get you. I think those who aren’t Jewish or seeing certain posts on social media probably don’t get what you are talking about.
As for “letting” my child, I don’t think that would be the issue as much as WHAT schools they were applying to.
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Yeah, I want to say of course I would. But not being Jewish ourselves, I feel like this is just too theoretical for me.
But for what it is worth, I also wouldn’t want our kids attending a college where this would hurt any Jewish applicants.
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I think the issue is more complicated than just saying, “well, if they reject you because you’re Jewish, you wouldn’t want to go there anyway” because AO’s are not institutions, they’re people. It can be the most Jewish-friendly place in the world but a bigoted AO could just happen to read the application.
But that is the randomness inherent in the process and you can’t plan for it.
So I agree with @vwlizard, I’m more concerned about where my kid applies that whether their diversity essay is about being Jewish or not.
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I’m Jewish and a college admissions consultant. I would push back pretty hard if a student told me, “I would like to write about my Jewishness, but I’m worried it will hurt my chances.” I don’t think that it will hurt them, but even more than that, I’m opposed to letting the possibility of discrimination force us into the closet. Bigots gonna bigot. We shouldn’t dim our own light even .01% to avoid triggering a bigot. I’d give that advice and then the student will make their own call.
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That’s a good point, I was implicitly assuming the AO in question would be detected and therefore the admissions office must be tolerating it. But now that you point it out, that does not seem like a safe assumption.
There are protests going on against the attacks and loss of life in Gaza. This is not anti-Semitic.
I would say of course it is fine to discuss one’s identity as Jewish.
I would add, however, that diversity statements for grad school need to be about more than one’s own identity. One of my kids has a serious disability and only mentioned that in the last sentence.
Students applying to grad school have obviously done years in undergrad and it helps to have done community service, done classes and research, served on committees etc. etc. related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
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My kiddo wrote about their Jewish faith as strength for the UVA essay. If rejected because of Judaism, so be it. Would not want them there anyway.
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This 100%.
Hmmm - no - there’s been a global surge in anti-semitism - and many at these rallies don’t even try to hide it. They call for the death of Jews or say things like gas the Jews.
Probably the wrong thread for both comments.
But if that’s the type of diversity one wants to note (religion), I would certainly do so without hesitation in my college essay.
In the end, the students attending will determine in part the atmosphere. I don’t think colleges on their own are bigoted - but they do have a tough time balancing the rights of free speech with certain behaviors - but you won’t know that until later. This is at a new level for them to handle - and some will do better than other. And some campuses will be more active than others.
But I would be myself when applying.
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