<p>Just wanted to chime in as another parent who has found this thread amazingly useful.
I’m not Jewish (nor are my kids), my daughter (2013) is probably considered an A- student, but this is the most welcoming, friendly and CALMING group I’ve found on all of CC. Your insights have been very helpful so far and I’ve grown fond of all of you!</p>
<p>Really looking forward to reading along as your kids garner their acceptances and get ready to fly.</p>
<p>ps- currently making your “lessons” into a Google Doc so I can refer back to it!</p>
<p>Well, not a journalist but I know how to get to them as a public relations consultant. Media coverage is what I do.</p>
<p>Did I just volunteer for another job? LOL</p>
<p>This college search is my obsession. I’d be happy to send it to some journalists. Plus, we can share our pitch with the publicist for CC - I’m sure he/she would be happy for another story idea to get more coverage of CC!</p>
<p>RVM, with Linymom at the helm, get ready for your beauty shot. I can see it now…you looking glamorous with a monitor filled with common data sets, a stack of college reference guides on the desk, and a hanukkah menorah nearby.</p>
<p>rvm- is there no negotiation that can be done regarding the merit scholarship that you were counting on? sounds like he missed the cutoff so narrowly- maybe there is wiggle room? can you afford it without the scholarship?</p>
<p>Thank you all for your helpful postings on this thread. As the mother of a Jewish B student I have been following this thread since the beginning. We were struggling to find schools for a kid with a B (and not higher) average where there would also be some Jewish life. It was nice to find that I was not the only one looking for this combination! I found some good suggestions here, and we were able to put together a good list of colleges for him. Happily my son has just been accepted ED to Muhlenberg! I am thrilled for him - and relieved!</p>
<p>Congratulations on the new acceptances, especially LINYMOM. You go, girl!!</p>
<p>I love the advice list. I, too, want to stress the points about putting your relationship with your child first, no matter what happens. And yes, no regrets. Life goes on, and there will always be more surprises than you can ever anticipate.</p>
<p>@DMMLE- congrats on your son’s acceptance to Muhlenberg!</p>
<p>Muhlenberg is a college I was very impressed with when I visited a few years ago with D1. However, she wanted a larger school, and is now at Pitt. Somewhat late in the game, D2 is now open to considering an LAC. I saw that Muhlenberg’s application deadline is 2/15 so we may now add it to the list. </p>
<p>I’d be interested to hear your impressions of Muhlenberg and why it was a first choice for your son. Also- curious whether your son received any merit award from them?</p>
<p>DMMLE, congrats! Pamom, I’ll put in my two cents about Muhlenberg. In keeping with this thread’s bent, the word I’d use for Muhlenberg is “haimish”. For those of you not MOT, that means “warm”, “comfortable”, “homey”. It’s definitely on S’ list, though it may drop off if his EA school comes through. We visited twice, once the last week of August (which was the first week of the semester) and again for him to interview in early November (they are very open about HIGHLY recommending an on-campus interview if you live within a reasonable distance and are serious about acceptance.) The weather was beautiful both times so the campus showed very well, but even so we were struck by the friendliness and helpfulness of the students, the warmth and sincerity of the info session leader and the tour guide, and the attractiveness of the campus. The fairly new Hillel house is gorgeous! There are lackings, but they weren’t necessarily cons for my son: Allentown doesn’t offer a whole lot, but there seems to be lots to do on campus, Greek life is less intense than at most other PA LACs (which is actually why it’s the only PA LAC on S’ list), it’s not terribly diverse. I can’t tell you alot about it academically except that I know it has a strong performing arts program. They give up to $20K merit on a $50K COA so it may not work financially for everyone.</p>
<p>pamom - we already tried. I had S2 email his regional rep and then the Dean of Admissions. Nice responses - but no dice on the scholarship. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some need-based FA - but we will figure it out regardless. I would not have allowed him to apply ED if I thought otherwise.</p>
<p>DMMLE - congrats on Muhlenberg - a school I wanted to visit - but S2 was not interested for whatever reason. Haimish describes it perfectly from what I have read.</p>
<p>I love the list y’all put together, I don’t have a thing to add.
Congrats, DMMLE!</p>
<p>Over the weekend I had the opportunity to see a traveling Broadway production of Fiddler. I saw it as a child and it was beautiful seeing again as a parent on verge a launching my the last baby while remembering my own dad.</p>
<p>My sister went to Muhlenberg many years ago after transferring from UConn (which she hated). She loved her four years there and made many great friends that she is still close with. We visited MC during a summer college visit tour and I was very impressed. My son didn’t apply because he really wants a bigger school.</p>
<p>My S is a freshman at Muhlenberg… if any of you have questions I would be happy to answer them! There is a really nice group over on the 'Berg board too.</p>
<p>My D2 is so different from his brother…very math and science oriented… wants to be a veterinarian. He is a B+ student., a junior, so we are just starting the process.</p>
<p>Quick question:
He took the PSAT and a Kaplan practice SAT/ACT…looks like the ACT will be a better test for him- plays more to his strengths- even though he has studying and improving to do. Our plan is to have him take the ACT in Feb and April with some tutoring in specific areas.
SO my question is… have any of your kids taken ONLY the ACT and not done SATs at all? wondering how this will be viewed by the schools. </p>
<p>Socaldad, love the image of RVM! DMMLE, congrats to you both. I also know lots of kids at Muhlenberg and everyone has been very happy. We have also gone up to see the shows there in the past, and they have all been very good. I think “haimish” is a very good description for the school. If they had had a bfa in fine art, I would have had my dd look at it more closely.</p>