<p>Levrim: I wanted to respond to your question what our synagogue was doing for seniors. As far as I know, they’re not doing anything. Unfortunately, they don’t do a good job keeping the HS kids engaged. It’s a shame, because the kids really bond during the bar/bat mitzvah year. Most of the kids in our area who are involved in Jewish activities are in BBYO or attend Jewish camps.</p>
<p>Ok - we’ve seen a few nods of agreement - no dissenting votes - so the next book for the thread on the Parent Cafe is “Triangle: The Fire that Changed America”. Incredibly appropriate to choose this topic as we approach the 100 year anniversary of this tragedy. I’m sure there will be some tv coverage as well - some shows have already been mentioned. Good choice Yabeyabe.</p>
<p>So - we have made our plans to visit Virginia Tech in April - which is fine. I have read quite a bit on their website and skimmed a year’s worth of threads on the VT forum. My conclusions (having not yet been there) are that the campus is lovely and easily walkable - perhaps more so than JMU, great school spirit, fun sports and rah-rah and better than I expected Jewish life.</p>
<p>But, and this is a big one, I see some significant negatives surrounding the academics - and these might be things having to do with how a larger university works. There are a number of negative comments on advising and getting the courses you want/need. Lots of negative comments on freshman year courses in general. And this bizarre thing called the Math Emporium where students take intro math classes - like Calculus - off campus at a convention center in a room full of computers and no professor! You sort of go in when you want - study the unit - take a practice quiz - then take the real quiz. There are tutoring sessions available from upper level students if you need help. What? Why pay tuition for what is essentially an on-line class?</p>
<p>So - this just pales in comparison to the quality of academics I believe exists at smaller schools like Elon and Susquehanna. VT sounds like fun in some ways - but the academic component is not impressing me right now.</p>
<p>Hi,rockvillemom, The Math Emporium at VT is actually pretty innovative. There is plenty of support available to students. My husband is an engineer and he had no problem with the concept.Son really didn’t have a problem with using the Math Emporium and got excellent grades in his math classes. What I am trying to say is that if the school works for your son otherwise,I would not let the Math Emporium scare you away. Son has been able to get the classes he needs so far.He did have to do a force/add to get a class he really needed this semester and had to go through his advisor to get that done. BUT it did get done and I was proud of him for getting that taken care of. I know you really seem to prefer a smaller school for your son so VT may very well not be the best fit for him. You know your son best and what will work best for him. My son’s kind of a laid back,go with the flow kind of guy. Likes going to basketball,football games. Not really that tough to please. You will know more after you make your visits about what looks like the best fit for him. Hopefully, something will just click for him on one of your visits.Good luck and have fun in Blacksburg!</p>
<p>I just caught what momjr and levirm are discussing about shuls and college selection. </p>
<p>Just yesterday I spoke with our shul president about starting a program (I envision it as a parent/student evening, just a couple of hours) where the Jewish college angle is presented. The spreadsheet from the United Reform movement would be the main handout -linked below. We ended up deciding that this would be a great component to include at the end of the 10th grade confirmation class. We could bring in speakers - one of the local high school guidance counselors is a member of our shul, or I’m sure there are private Jewish college counselors for hire who would love to bring their business cards. A local Hillel rabbi could make a presentation on behalf of all Hillels, etc.</p>
<p>This discussion would get the ball rolling as to how to pick a school for the Jewish content, especially since the info on Hillel.org is so sparse. It is how I found out that Univ of Denver is 20% MOT. </p>
<p><a href=“http://reformjudaismmag.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=1647&destination=ShowItem[/url]”>http://reformjudaismmag.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=1647&destination=ShowItem</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://reformjudaismmag.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=1612&destination=ShowItem[/url]”>http://reformjudaismmag.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=1612&destination=ShowItem</a></p>
<p>[Reform</a> Judaism Magazine - 5th Annual <i>RJ</i> Guide to College Life](<a href=“http://reformjudaismmag.org/fall_2010/collegeguide/index.cfm]Reform”>http://reformjudaismmag.org/fall_2010/collegeguide/index.cfm)</p>
<p>RVM, this article explains the math emporium in some detail. It is marketing the concept:</p>
<p>[Math</a> Emporium](<a href=“http://www.math.vt.edu/people/williams/files/webct_article.html]Math”>http://www.math.vt.edu/people/williams/files/webct_article.html)</p>
<p>I am not sure my son could learn this way either, but he has to do a computer math program each week for extra credit, so who knows?</p>
<p>sevmom and samtalya - thank you so much for the additional info on Math Emporium at VT. So - it’s innovative rather than subpar? Ok - I have to put aside my preconceived notions and try and keep an open mind on this one. I admit the article that Samtalya linked made me look at it in a different light. S2 is taking honors calculus next year as a senior - and then would repeat calculus as a freshman at most of the colleges we are looking at - so at least it will be his 2nd exposure to the course - which would also help. I’ll just be the annoying parent asking lots of questions when we visit in April! :)</p>
<p>crester, GOOD FOR YOU getting this started! And, thanks for the link to the articles. I sent the article about coalition building for Israel advocacy on campus to the rabbi, suggesting that perhaps he could weave this in with the Talmud and Mishnah study. His daughter is going to IU next year, so he will also be interested from a personal standpoint. I think that this is a very useful, practical article! I also like the one about being an “ambassador”.</p>
<p>re: your question about VT’s Math Emporium. I would not characterize it as subpar,just a different way of teaching things. I remember when my sons had AP Physics in high school, there was something they seemed to always be having to do with some kind of online program. As ymon responded on the VT forum, there is lots of support for students there. If a kid needs help at the Math Emporium,all they have to do is ask for it. Same on the VT forum-there always seems to be people willing to help and answer questions. Hokies are usually happy to help!</p>
<p>sevmom - I have noticed that - the VT forum is great. I also had a lightbulb moment earlier today when I realized that S2 attended an after school tutoring program a few years back for help with math and reading skills - and he went to a center - sat at a computer - and did various remedial lessons at his own pace. There were adults in the room to help - but basically the kids - ages 6 - 14 - were working on their own - at their own pace - and getting immediate feedback on their answers. So - once I made that connection - I get it better now. He’s actually already done that style of learning and it went well!</p>
<p>rvm, my question for you is to pay attention to how you feel about it being a big school versus medium. I am most interested in your impressions since there have been posts about some big schools feeling small. </p>
<p>We have JMU and South Carolina on our list which are our biggies, so I am curious to see how you feel when you are there.</p>
<p>RVM, I told you kids start thinking about it all on their own beginning in the Spring of Senior year. I never thought of whether March Madness has anything to do with it though.</p>
<p>I’m looking forward to the HBO show and book group. When I went to NYU in the mid 60s I remember that there was a plaque on the side of the Brown Building on Greene Street saying that it had been the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and describing the horror of all the women who died because all the doors had been locked to keep them sewing. The factory was located in the top few floors of the building which remained standing even after the fire. Back in the 60s classes in the Ed School were held there. I don’t know if it’s still there though, there’s been so much new building going on at NYU.</p>
<p>mhc - I know - I thought of you and what you had written when S2 told me he wanted to look at VT. My concern is that while I might have at least 7-8 important factors to consider - he is looking at sports, rah-rah and school spirit as his criteria. But - I am actually very curious now to visit and I am promising to keep an open mind.</p>
<p>How is your D’s decision making process coming? I think you mentioned Elon for a Phoenix Friday soon - what other schools are still under consideration? Did you cross off JMU - you didn’t seem to like it too much. Very curious to hear how the final analysis goes.</p>
<p>Let your son be interested in all those “other” things, RVM. You’re going to vette it in all the other criteria you consider important. If it passes all your tests and criteria, then really, does it matter why he likes it or chose it? </p>
<p>I think VTech was just too big for my D when I looked into it -and probably too briefly. Frankly I’ll admit that up here in the “sophisticated” NYC suburbs, any school with Tech in its name already has two strikes against it unless its name also includes Massachussetts or Ca. Otherwise I’d only really heard about it in the context of the shooting or basketball and I probably confused it with VCU. Since she was already going to apply to UMd, Wisconsin and at my prodding Indiana, we already had enough large schools in the mix. JMU was off the list by the time we drove off campus. </p>
<p>Now it’s pretty much between Elon and UDel, with maybe a dark horse chance for Miami or UMd. We’ll be visiting Elon April 1st I’m hoping to get a glimpse of what Multicultural Experience Weekend looks like, let D attend the Community Service Activity and do Kabbalat Shabbat at Hillel. The week after we’re off to Delaware Decision Days and I’m hoping that will the end of our college decision tours</p>
<p>mhc - this is very true. April will surely be an interesting month for us - and for your family as well. Your planned visits sound very exciting and it is wonderful that she has so many excellent options to choose from. Keep us posted!</p>
<p>Towson vs. SUNY Binghamton: Went to Towson accepted students’ day and we all loved the Business school presentation. Tonight I cancelled our hotel reservation to SUNY Binghamton for accepted students’ day. Why? I called Binghamton admissions and found out they had 3,500 students apply for its undergrad b-school 1000 spots. Average accepted GPA is 3.3. I think it will be easier to get accepted to Towson B-school and do not feel the extra out of state tuition is worth the added risk. If anyone else here has any other advice or insights, please post. Thanks!</p>
<p>For those of you who have not seen this interview with author Andrew Ferguson from the NY Times blog about his book “Crazy U” the college admissions experience. Some provocative stuff.</p>
<p>[Questions</a> for the Author of ‘Crazy U’ - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/crazy-u-q/]Questions”>Questions for the Author of 'Crazy U' - The New York Times)</p>
<p>From the piece quoting Andrew Ferguson – “College admissions, from the mothers and fathers point of view, is all of parenthood in concentrated form, crammed into a single adventure. We fulfill ourselves by denying ourselves, preparing the people we cant live without to live without us.”</p>
<p>I’ve always seen this post, but have never actually posted myself. I have a question. Why does this thread have to be for the “Jewish” student? What is the difference between a regular “B” student and a Jewish “B” student?</p>
<p>Crestor: I love your idea for a shul college program. Please let us know how it works out.</p>
<p>Mdcissp: I think that Towson is a great choice for your son. As you said, Binghamton is not worth the extra tuition if there’s a big risk that he won’t get into the business school. </p>
<p>RVM: I agree with the rest of the gang that it’s a good idea to visit VT.</p>
<p>Oue PTSA is sponsoring a screening of “The Race to Nowhere” in April. Thanks to all of you for educating me about the film.</p>
<p>UVA, while a lot of information on this thread does pertain to all “B” students, the parents on this thread are also looking for colleges where Jewish communities are strong, where their students can forge their Jewish identities and continue Jewish practices. Because Judaism is very focused on the community, there are some necessary ingredients for Jewish life that don’t exist on all campuses.</p>
<p>Mdicssp: you are lucky that your in-state tuition is less than SUNY out of state. This does not hold true for us here in PA, believe it or not! I am glad that you are so happy with the choice of Towson.</p>
<p>momjr, let us know what you think of “Race to Nowhere”.</p>