<p>MoltoBene, thanks for sharing that story. My oldest daughter, who attended Penn State, was shocked to meet many students from rural areas who had never before met a Jewish person. I had to explain to my daughter, who thought that she had gone to a diverse high school, that this was also part of diversity, and that she had never met people like them before either!</p>
<p>Rockvillemom, that is a great story about the fundraising. A friend is a UJF director in North Carolina, and he has been using this technique for years every time there is a KKK or similar rally. I think that he has people pledge per word spoken by speakers at the rallies. I think that after a while they just stopped having the rallies in his area of NC.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. BTW, I really like the rapport from the people who post on this thread. I seem to be on a roll today, so I will finish with this thought. As parents, we go back and forth constantly between encouraging a big school vs. a small school to our senior son. Today, at my daughter’s med school interview I learned the power of alumni connections. </p>
<p>I know for many of you this may be your first run at college apps, but one thing to also consider is what are your kid’s plans AFTER college. When D decided to go to Michigan many friends who went there had told her it has one of the best alumni groups in the country. As she entered her first interview today which is called a full file interview (the interviewers have all her test scores, transcripts and resume v. a blind interview with non-of-the above) the woman stood up and asked what dorm did you live in? It took my D by surprise, since this had not be one of the 100 questions she had prepped for. D responded “Lloyd” and the interviewer said, “I lived in Couzens, we were neighbors! Go Blue!” </p>
<p>It was the perfect ice breaker and recognition of the power of the alumni network. Keep this in mind if your kid plans to go to grad school after college. Lastly, D1 got her job in NYC because the HR person, who had gone to Tulane undergrad, saw it on her resume and pulled it out of the pile. These are issues we don’t read about in the college guides, but which are equally as important for jobs and grad school placement.</p>
<p>One other issue is that if your kid goes out of state to school, often they have to argue in interviews why they want to come back to their home town for grad school. D had to do this in her interview because the assumption is made that you are using it as a safety and actually want to go to grad school elsewhere. This whole process of college and grad school admissions is a minefield and one has to tread lightly and look ahead five paces.</p>
<p>Boychild hit the submit button today on his final 6 apps. :)</p>
<p>MoltoBen, great story about your daughter and her roommate. </p>
<p>My first roommate in college was from a small town in Eastern Colorado who went home on the weekends to go square dancing! I had never met anyone like her before and I am sure she had never met a Jewish person. We both pretty much just ignored each other and by the end of the first semester another girl I had become very friendly with (she was Jewish and from Atlanta) and I put in a request to room together in another dorm. I don’t think I ever saw the girl again and don’t even remember her name.</p>
<p>MoltoBene - you are on a roll today - you should post more often! I completely get your point about alumni connections. My older son was accepted at Michigan and we learned that it has the largest number of living alumni of any university - or at least it claims to. It also had a program he was very interested in - but in the end - price was a real consideration - and it just seemed too large and too far from home. While he is now attending a smaller university - I am hopeful that their alumni network will be helpful to him - particularly if he remains in NC. While our family preference is towards small - medium schools - at least for undergrad - you have really raised a very valid point about a benefit of attending a large university.</p>
<p>Rockville Mom: I think the posters are giving you valuable info. that at least one or two Jewish students at Elon want to transfer as they do not feel a social fit with other non-Jewish students. I suggest you have a good talk with the Hillel staff and listen to what they have to say about the reactions of their Jewish students. Do they see numbers of Jewish kids going up, down, transferring? Same questions are good for all of the schools you are considering with smaller numbers of Jewish students.</p>
<p>My sense at UMCP is it is a school where diversity is welcome and is full of diverse minorities, including large (minority) Jewish population. </p>
<p>Elon is not on our list, but I think you should find out more about how comfortable Jewish kids feel there.</p>
<p>mdicssp - I agree and I have done just that. Yesterday afternoon, I had a lengthy conversation with Nancy Luberoff, the Elon Hillel director. I can’t go into too much detail - but if there is a situation where a Jewish student feels uncomfortable on campus for some reason and has brought that to the attention of the Elon administration - she knows about it. She also outlined the plans for a dedicated Hillel building - which should take place in the next 1-2 years. She also shared with me that the EA pool this year is 8% Jewish - based on self-reported numbers - probably higher factoring in kids who don’t specify their religion on their application. So clearly, the number of Jewish students is on the upswing at Elon. Of course - you can’t please everyone and I am sure that there will always be some Jewish student who is unhappy and decides to transfer - this could be the case anywhere. But for now - for our family - I am very comfortable with Elon.</p>
<p>Here are my suggestions for any parent with students from an area with a significant Jewish population going to an area with few Jews especially in the bilble belt. I think a lot of discomfort can be alleviated if kids are prepared. If they know that they should expect to meet students who never met a Jew before, know that they can expect to meet a few who have been raised learning that not being Christian means a final distination in hell, know that many students will assume that everyone is Christian, goes to Church and celebrates Christmas. For most there isn’t any meanness involved they just need an opportunity to learn. When you are raised in an area where schools close for Jewish holidays and everyone knows some people who aren’t Christian even if most are Christian it can be a little disconcerting to be in a place where being Jewish is an unknown for many. I would expect that Hillel can be infinitely helpful to students have a place they can share their experiences and learn to understand them. As others have said their will be antisemitism most anywhere, there will be those who see anyone who isn’t Christian as less moral but overwelmingly the reality I have seen is that people want to learn and embrace the diversity. Sometimes ignorance can be mistaken for prejudice and it is important for students to be prepared to know the difference. It also helps tremedously to have a safe haven. My S in particular had a good friend discuss his destination to hell and then apologize profusely seeing the difference between what was taught and how it translated into another beast when applied to a real person. They are still friends. If students are prepared to politely educate and also have a sense about which battles are the important ones and which are not it can go a long way towards a student being happy as a religious minority in a place where the majority of the population are religious Christians.</p>
<p>Wake Forest Jewish students, faculty and staff will join Jews around the world to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights, more commonly known as Hanukkah, from Dec. 1 8.</p>
<p>Each night, students and others will gather at the stage on Manchester Plaza to light a six-foot menorah. The menorah, recently purchased through the University Chaplains Office, is the largest in Winston-Salem. The services will be lead by Wake Forests Jewish student group, Hillel.</p>
<p>This will mark the start of what we hope to be an annual tradition at Wake Forest and will undoubtedly lead to other new traditions as our community celebrates its pluralism and diversity, said Rabbi Michael Gisser, who was recently hired as the first associate chaplain for Jewish life, a new part-time position in the Chaplains Office.</p>
<p>The first Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony will take place on Dec. 1, the first day of Hanukkah. Times for each ceremony will vary; see the complete schedule below.</p>
<p>“I think a lot of discomfort can be alleviated if kids are prepared. If they know that they should expect to meet students who never met a Jew before, know that they can expect to meet a few who have been raised learning that not being Christian means a final distination in hell, know that many students will assume that everyone is Christian, goes to Church and celebrates Christmas. For most there isn’t any meanness involved they just need an opportunity to learn.”</p>
<p>spectrum, you are so right! Thanks for the post!</p>
<p>I want to strongly second MoltoBene’s comments regarding bigger or well known or strong alumni network schools. My older daughter (Colgate) got all her summer internships and eventually her first post college job through the placement office and Colgate’s extensive alumni network.</p>
<p>My son got his summer internships in NYC through parents of fraternity brothers at Michigan.</p>
<p>Having seen that with the first two, it’s the main reason why, for my third child, I’d be willing to pay out out of pocket or loans for a more prestigious or private college over a cheaper and perfectly adequate (education-wise) SUNY. </p>
<p>Especially with her. It’s possible, but not likely that my B - B+ H.S. student, undecided major will blossom into a Phi Beta Kappa in college so that even coming from an impersonal SUNY she’ll find all sorts of prospects for employment or grad school open to her. A motivated student can make their own future from any college. But I’m more convinced that with her, the contacts made in school, the alumni network and placement office efforts at a different school will make those more likely and be well be worth it to her. If I can make it at all more likely or even possible now, I’m willing to give it a shot.</p>
<p>Rockville Mom: I agree with you that there are many reasons students transfer and it is really good to hear that Elon will have a new Hillel. Did your son meet the Hillel director at Elon? Most important is if your son likes the Hillel at Elon and thinks he will enjoy the activities there. I am happy to read that you contacted the Hillel director at Elon and received positive feedback. Without knowing the kids who transferred, it is impossible to know what really prompted these transfers. Just think it is important to see if your son feels there is enough going on with Jewish content at Elon to see if there is a fit.</p>
<p>RVM: It sounds like you got some positive info from Elon Hillel. I think a new Hillel building will help attract more Jewish students and enhance Jewish life on campus. </p>
<p>Happy Hanukah everyone! I sent my older daughter a package with some small presents and Hanukah goodies. I also ordered a few gifts online and shipped them directly to her. There are plenty of Hanukah events on her campus, including a menorah lighting with the president of the University.</p>
<p>WE ARE DONE!!! Daughter was accepted ED to Elon last night (got the call at 5:00 pm on her cell)…</p>
<p>I am trying to personally thank alot of you by PM for all of your support and guidance but I’m falling behind this morning (and I keep filling up the PM box!!)…if I haven’t reached you yet (yabeyabe, lafalum, texasmother, collage1, northeastmom…and others), I will definitely get to you later today…</p>
<p>We are all beyond excited (and overwhelmed!!)…</p>
<p>OMG: how could I forget the “triplets”…emmybet, holliesue…can’t wait till you guys are done…!!!</p>
<p>OMG rodney I am so happy for you guys! Truly the best Chanukah present ever.
I’ve been following the discussion here and want to add that it really depends on the kid (how to relate to being one of few Jews). Less than a decade ago, Vanderbilt was in the same position of wanting to diversity and expand its base of Jewish students, and look at them now. Big time destination for jewish kids. Sometimes there’s a real sense of momentum that comes with being at the beginning of a surge.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your daughter, rodney! What a great feeling for all of you! I am sure that you will stay on the thread with us and update us on your daughter’s progress :)</p>