<p>I’ve not familiar with Career Israel. Masa Israel is the one that I’ve seen promoted at some college Hillels. Have you looked at internships there and compared the costs?</p>
<p>Masa Israel is somehow related to Career Israel. Both offer scholarships for semester internships but not for summer. I wish DS could do a semester. Cost wise it is similar to summer and easier to get credit for.</p>
<p>Trying to catch up on so many posts, because I see some questions on schools that we have visited.
UMass - lots of kids from here attend and are happy - great college town. Big involved Hillel
UVM - also a lot from here - reputation is more “outdoorsy” type of student B-kids (in our area easier admit thann UConn and UMass) - big involved Jewish population One complaint I heard is that the campus is so spread out, that it can be LONG walks to class/dorm in COLD winter!
UConn - as mentioned, it’s in the middle of nowhere - know a bunch of happy kids - they bring a lot of entertainment to campus so the students don’t feel “isolated” less than 2 hrs from Boston - very rah rah school Huge Greek life (I know 1 person whose D is there and she told me that D complains about huge classes, difficulty getting classes she wants/NEEDS, difficulty meeting profs, etc. - but this is one person who has shared this). </p>
<p>Regarding the ACT… My S was very strong in math, and considerably weaker in English. He did many English sections for practice to improve his speed. He ended up doing very well.</p>
<p>good luck everyone.</p>
<p>Pushydad- it looks like the internship offered is like a complete package- internship, travel, Hebrew study, so it’s more like an organized experience than an internship alone. Other teen/young adult summers in Israel are also not inexpensive.
It may be that the way to avoid comprehensive package fees is to arrange the internship and housing on your own through the individual agencies. it shoudn’t cost him much to volunteer and there are youth hostels that might be affordable. Being in a group with other people his age on an organized program may add a social aspect to the trip that he might like though.
I don’t know about credit, but could your son arrange that through the school by agreeing to some kind of work involved like a paper or journal and get a faculty advisor? Of course he would need to do that before he goes.
Does his school have a Jewish Studies or Hebrew program? Perhaps one of the professors has information about certain programs or schools he could study at. I agree that it’s frustrating that these experiences are so costly. That also probably covers the cost of having everything arranged over there.</p>
<p>[E-Net</a>! News & Information](<a href=“http://www.elon.edu/e-net/Note.aspx?id=965033]E-Net”>Community gathers for Sklut Hillel Center dedication | Today at Elon | Elon University)</p>
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<p>My D applied and was accepted (not sure but everyone may be accepted) to Career Israel and is keeping it open as an option if a paid internship at home doesn’t come through. Pushydad or anyone else with any additional info on the program or if you know of anyone who’s actually been on the program–would love to hear any details.</p>
<p>great news about ZBT at Elon rockvillemom! My son is taking the SAT’s saturday and I’m way more anxious then he is (surprise, surprise and as it should be I guess). My son has had a great year and the guidance c. at school just told him he needs to take a pretty rigorous course load senior year to keep this upward trend going. He was planning on not taking another year of language and she said the more selective schools want to see it, last year he was told this would be it. The GC told him that last year the more selective schools were not in his future and now they are. He came home acting kind of annoyed, but I think secretly he was really proud that all of his hard work has paid off. Time will tell… it’s all very scary and very exciting. He is now asking me about graduate school and telling me that of course he will need to get a masters degree, oh and he wanted to know if we have money set aside for that too and if he does decide to go on to graduate school will I get “all crazy again?” My answer to all was, “why don’t we cross that bridge when we come to it.” Kind of crazy that this is the same kid who last year said college was a scam and he wasn’t buying into any of this BS.</p>
<p>Good for him (and you!) momentscaught.</p>
<p>Great news momentscaught and best wishes on the SAT. It’s wonderful that he is so motivated.</p>
<p>RVM- that is wonderful news about Elon.</p>
<p>I’ve been away a bit. Lots of stress here as well. Cheersmom, perhaps we can do drinks. My kiddo, a second semester freshman is in the processes of withdrawing from this semester due to mono so I feel for you and your daughter. He was pledging SAMMY but had to give that up as well as moving on with friends that he made in his engineering program first semester. He is sad about it and since he had great profs this semester he is worried that he won’t be so lucky next semester. He however realizes that there really wasn’t another choice. He just had his first fever free day in over 3 weeks and is still spending more time asleep than awake. We are also dealing with a family health crisis beyond this so I do feel for you. I will just tell you what I keep telling myself. Things will work out.</p>
<p>We are in Texas and since my son wanted to go to school in state it is like another country. My S who has ADD never could pick up the time for the ACT but in all fairness he never put into it what some other folks on this thread did. Someone on this thread did give him advice to just study about 30 minutes a day every day. My S followed this loosely, in that he probably only studied 3 to 4 days a week. He however increased his SAT score over 100 points. So perhaps once she gets a handle on catching up at school or if she can make 30 minutes a day work it can be a strategy that can help. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Also a couple of pages back I saw mention of need blind schools and schools that meet 100% of need. The real gems are schools that say that they are needblind and meet 100% of need without loans. This can be wonderful if you can agree with the school on your EFC.</p>
<p>Spectrum2, I feel terrible for your son… I’m sure the whole experience has your whole family appreciating just feeling good but what a let down after such an incredibly positive start. I do believe that things happen for a reason (even bad things that don’t seem to). There is a lesson somewhere or a place he needs to be, someone he will meet that he wouldn’t have if he stayed on that path… Who knows? I think during this stressful time we all have to come back to earth and put things in perspective, some of us have life events that are doing just that and others (like myself) have to remind myself that if my son does’t get into the school of his or my dreams he will be where he is supposed to be on his own path. We can only control so much. Thinking of all of you with difficult life situations and hoping the right path becomes clear for all (sorry for being so spiritual about things, but it is how I see the world)?</p>
<p>Spectrum2- I hope that your family stresses do work out and that everyone involved has a speedy recovery. I hope your son returns soon, well rested.
I haven’t posted about our family’s senior year experience because, like others here, I also feel the stress of the unknown and prefer to report things once they are settled. I’ll agree that senior year is a huge transition for all of us, stressful, wonderful, and lots of waiting and wondering. It’s been a big one for me.</p>
<p>Spectrum2: Sending my best to your son and to your family. Sounds like you have a lot of unforeseen challenges. It’s really too bad about your son’s situation but it will all work out. Health is most important.</p>
<p>Spectrum, I’m really sorry that your son has been so sick and had to withdraw for the semester. I never realized how debilitating mono was until my D had it a few years ago. It will eventually run it’s course, but I know that that is little consolation with all that he had given up. I’m sure that things will work out long term, but it’s hard for him to see that now. When my D was sick with mono and miserable about missing a Birthright trip, I tried to remind myself that is could have been much worse. Hugs to you and your family.</p>
<p>Momentscaught: It’s great to hear about your son’s improvement and new attitude. When my D1 left for college, she was worried about keeping up with her smart classmates. Once she settled in, she realized that while most of the students were bright, what really set them apart was that they cared about school and worked incredibly hard. Motivation is exremely important.</p>
<p>Spectrum: So sorry to hear about your son. Mono can be really awful. My colleague at work had to withdraw a semester from college due to mono & 25 years later is still talking about how awful she felt! Hope your son recovers quickly. Warm thoughts headed your way.</p>
<p>P.S. S13 is finally over the 2nd choice major admission (Computer Science admit) to UT/Austin and has realized that it is o.k. that he may be at our state (IL) flagship school for Computer Engineering. Signs of his maturity still surprise me. :)</p>
<p>Now I have to worry about S15 who is far more concerned with his social life than academics. But, he does seem to be enjoying himself! And he did volunteer to help our Rabbi with a community passover project. Maybe he is maturing a little bit, too.</p>
<p>Spectrum,</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your Son. Wishing him a speedy recovery. This is merely a blip on the radar of life…</p>
<p>Spectrum, wishing your son a speedy recovery!!</p>
<p>Spectrum - I am so sorry to hear he had to withdraw! I hope he recovers quickly.</p>
<p>spectrum - Wishing your S a quick recovery, and just like things were on a good path for him regarding friends, profs, SAMMY, etc., there is no reason that things will not be wonderful for him when he returns fresh and healthy next semester. All the best.</p>