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<p>Hilarious! My chuckle of the day.</p>
<p>This link may be of interest:</p>
<p>[Hillel</a> Israel Guidelines](<a href=“http://www.hillel.org/jewish/hillel-israel/hillel-israel-guidelines]Hillel”>http://www.hillel.org/jewish/hillel-israel/hillel-israel-guidelines)</p>
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<p>Seems quite reasonable to me.</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>RVM, agree 100%.</p>
<p>And the “shot” quote was funny.
There are, btw, commercials on TV all the time now about shingles.
Unfortunately I had Chicken Pox as a very young child so I guess I’m at risk.</p>
<p>My daughter did a gap year program in Israel and I’d be happy to answer questions about her program or others we researched. (Or her impressions of other programs based on encountering the participants in Israel, for what that’s worth.)</p>
<p>All five of the schools on her list were willing to defer matriculation. The two schools which awarded her merit scholarships were willing to defer them as well. One school to which she applied, which did not offer her a merit scholarship, does have a policy that the scholarship runs for four years from the date it’s offered, so someone deferring a year loses a year of the scholarship. However, as they didn’t offer her one, that was moot.</p>
<p>The program was a valuable experience although perhaps not really what it was cracked up to be. I still think it was helpful to her, but in part because her field is international studies, and the more international experience, the better.</p>
<p>Quakerstake – thanks for the links to the articles. </p>
<p>And thank you to everyone who’s answered my question about Macalester. I’m so glad that this thread is here and that everyone is so helpful and supportive.</p>
<p>cheermom, don’t be so sure your daughter won’t get merit at UDel. My youngest was offered a very nice merit scholarship (for a public university) with a 28 ACT, high UW GPA though. I can’t recall what your D’s is. My older two are going to be seniors at UD with Linymom’s daughter this fall. The school exceeded all their expectations and they have had a fabulous experience. They are both are involved in Greek life which also enhanced their time there.</p>
<p>I never realized the significance of being a Hillel affiliate or a Jewish student group. I figured it had to do w/ size. Makes sense and my D will want an environment that is pro Israel or at least open to all viewpoints.<br>
Also stuff I didn’t know about gap programs ill keep in mind.
Not sure what out of pocket we are willing to take on as debt or want her to have as a young adult so we are searching for possible $$. She is taking ACT 2more times. School starts here on Aug 7 so she will be busy.<br>
Great dialogue on this site. I’m sharing my discussions with my husband so he can know what I’m gathering.</p>
<p>Cheermom- On the Bama Hillel website there is a link to one sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. I am guessing that they have quite a few Jewish sister. The fraternity that is listed is another historically Jewish populated fraternity so I’m thinking there is a link. My son was accepted to American, U of Miami, Syracuse, among others. He had a specific program that he wanted and they all offered it. After some research and thinking, he concluded that a degree in electrical engineering could get him what he wanted too, and offer a broader opportunity in the job market. He really wanted to go to school someplace warm. U of Miami was number 1, but, even with the generous scholarship offer, Bama was far less expensive. I am so proud that he made the choice based on the whole picture, and graduating with very little debt is significant. It will allow him to go to grad school more easily also. The school has been great. Though it is in the Deep South, because of the number of OOS students and faculty, it is different on campus. Not unlike a melting pot. In all our experiences in Tuscaloosa, we have never had a negative experience. Everyone is friendly. I love the south. It’s very genteel. The campus buildings are gorgeous. Just driving by all the Greek houses, it’s spectacular. We have not had any problems being Yankees in Alabama.</p>
<p>Thanks mdmomfromli!!</p>
<p>Cheermom, well said!</p>
<p>As another northerner with a Jewish kid studying electrical engineering at Bama, I second everything Proudmama3 wrote.</p>
<p>Dorm shopping questions: do guys use dry erase bds on their doors? </p>
<p>Also, what do you think about fridges? He’s got a single, the rental is more than buying one and I don’t think he I’ll use it much. The common room has a fridge too.</p>
<p>I found that the guys who had dry erase boards usually used them for writing equations and/or profanity. </p>
<p>As far as the fridge goes, I didn’t have a fridge when I had a single, but I wish I did. It’s nice to have somewhere to store drinks, leftovers, or other things. People usually steal from communal fridges, especially if he’s storing something delicious in it. My roommate and I are getting a fridge when school starts up.</p>
<p>With both of our guys the findings are the same. Both used their fridge a bunch and both didn’t us a dry erase board. For older S we purchased the fridge, he couldn’t take it with him and just left it in the dorm. I’m sure it has been a nice find for someone but still considering the cost and amount of use it got I think it was well worth it. The only way I would go for the rental would be if it is likely that after freshman year your S will move to an apartment that is already equipped with a fridge. But even then a small fridge in the bedroom might not be a bad thing depending on the size of the room. Among other things my kids always keep a Britta water filter in the fridge.</p>
<p>Cheermom: About UD… my DD didn’t get any $$…I felt like we were the only ones who didn’t, but I don’t know. Where she lived at UD: In Rodney freshman year (down the hall from jaynebe’s DD), on Laird Campus soph and jr year, has an apt on Main St for senior year (and she is really looking forward to that). She joined a sorority during her sophomore year; very happy with that decision. Have your DD practice, practice, practice for those SAT/ACT tests. A bit of a boost and you never know on merit aid!</p>
<p>Regarding dorm shopping with DS: He did want a dry erase board (maybe just bc he knows his sister had it); time will tell if he uses it. He has a single also and said he would like a refrig (to keep fruit and hummus) and a microwave (not sure what he needs that for). Not getting a desk chair.</p>
<p>In my kid’s world the microwave is for the Ramen noodles, a staple for both and also for instant oatmeal when there isn’t time to get to the dining hall for breakfast, which for my kids is most of the time! We didn’t buy the microwave though, S1’s roommate brought it freshman year and he found one left in the dorm for the rest of the three years. Apparently finding treasures left in the dorm at the end of the year was very common at S’s school. I don’t know if this is typical everywhere but S2 had a blast when we moved S1 out after graduation!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I will look into buying a fridge.</p>
<p>Re: fridge: we just looked into this, too and have decided to buy the fridge & microwave for S. Buying is less than rental & my nephews kept the fridge in their rooms after they moved out of the dorms so it seems like a fine investment. S is on the meal plan where he gets 14 meals a week so he can keep milk for cereal or other snacks in the room. Now, maybe we should get him some dish soap, too!</p>
<p>Question for niece who is going to be a senior. she is looking at Case, Miami of Ohio, Oberlin, McAllister and Carlton. She asked about jewish life at McAllister & they don’t have a Hillel & they couldn’t tell her if ANY Jewish kids attend. Can anyone let us know about McAllister & Carlton? The ohio schools seem more informative re: jewish life. Thanks!</p>
<p>ok, I spelled Macalester wrong but still can’t find anything about Jewish population on campus!</p>
<p><a href=“https://mobile.twitter.com/MacJews/tweets[/url]”>https://mobile.twitter.com/MacJews/tweets</a>
The twitter feed seems quite active. It may be that, like at many schools, the MJO Facebook group is invisible to people who aren’t in the Mac network (that’s the case with the Facebook groups of many clubs at OU and Emory). If you have a twitter, you might want to tweet them about for info on the club.</p>
<p>We were talking about Macalester over the last few pages. My D felt very comfortable there when she did an overnight after being accepted, said she thought a fair number of Jewish students. They split the kids and parents up for tours, my tour guide was Jewish and active in the Jewish student group.</p>