<p>American University is tied to the Methodist Church, but is about 20% Jewish. Would it still be so if the founders in their wisdom, had named it Eastern Methodist?..</p>
<p>Switching topics, we discussed previously that this year is the rare calendar year when Thanksgiving and Hanukah overlap. Fun website:</p>
<p>[How</a> To Celebrate Thanksgivukkah, The Best Holiday Of All Time](<a href=“http://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/thanksgivukkah]How”>How To Celebrate Thanksgivukkah, The Best Holiday Of All Time)</p>
<p>That’s cute. I’m exited to have them both over a school break . Turkey and latkes would be good together .</p>
<p>D2 is a sophomore in high school and needs to select a book to read for history this semester. The class covers World History from 1500-1900 and she needs a book that fits within that period. My first instinct was to recommend some classics (les Mis, Don Quixote etc.), but then I realized that they are all long reads and she has too many outside activities to commit to 1000+ pages. </p>
<p>My wife suggested she look for a book with a Jewish theme. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I’m always interested to read the schools people discuss in this forum. I don’t think of Duke, GA Tech, American as B student schools. They are competitive, costly and not giving money unless your test scores are fairly high. We are looking at Eckerd, Lynchburg, Goucher, McDaniel, Susquehanna, and Quinnipiac. D1 is hoping to get apps done by next Tuesday. (We are on a fall break so there is a bit a free time to catch up).</p>
<p>tjdad, not a Jewish theme, but the first book that came to my mind is [A</a> Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire by Amy Butler Greenfield](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Red-Empire-Espionage-Desire/dp/product-description/0060522763/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books]A”>http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Red-Empire-Espionage-Desire/dp/product-description/0060522763/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books)</p>
<p>The book tells the tale red dyes from the time of the Spanish conquistadors to the development of synthetic dyes. It weaves in the politics, economics, science, and art of the times. 338 pages.</p>
<p>How about the book: After the Darkness: Reflections on the Holocaust by Elie Wiesel and Benjamin Moser. BTW, Elie Wiesel spends winter term living and teaching a class at Eckerd College each year.</p>
<p>The holocaust is not covered in this semester. The topic has to be during the period 1500-1900.</p>
<p>I read this book several years ago. Not Jewish themed, but an interesting insight to the social climate that led to the Salem witch trials. As I recall, there was information on the daily lives of the people that would appeal to a high school student, although it looks like it’s assigned to higher level grades.</p>
<p>[Salem</a> Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft: Paul Boyer, Stephen Nissenbaum: 9780674785328: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674785266/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1]Salem”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674785266/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)</p>
<p>Momogrits, school for “B” students can certainly vary in the eye of the beholder. Many other factors such as SAT/ACT scores and ECs play a role in the application process. </p>
<p>While you are correct about Duke and Georgia Tech being places that seem to require most applicants to have a 4.0 GPA, I would disagree about American which certainly would accept a “B” student.</p>
<p>I’m not sure where your point about the costs of these schools fits in here in this discussion.</p>
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<p>Yes! 1858. This book. (And it is relatively short, too. 
)</p>
<p>[The</a> Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara: David I. Kertzer: 9780679768173: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Kidnapping-Edgardo-Mortara-David-Kertzer/dp/0679768173]The”>http://www.amazon.com/Kidnapping-Edgardo-Mortara-David-Kertzer/dp/0679768173)</p>
<p>More info here:</p>
<p>[Edgardo</a> Mortara - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgardo_Mortara]Edgardo”>Mortara case - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Momogrits- My understanding is that this thread has been running long enough that some parents came on here for a B student and with an A student later. There’s also been a wide range of students discussed with a range of grades and scores. I think the general gist is that this is not a board where the discussion is going to focus on the top 20 colleges, but on schools that have resources for Jewish students who are not in the range of admission for them- either grade/scores, financially or by interest.
I also understand what you mean about finances, as the top schools give little to no merit aid. I think the bottom line is that no matter what schools are discussed here, please apply the admission criteria to your particular child.</p>
<p>Momofgrits–I have also heard good things about Bradley being good for true B Jewish students</p>
<p>@lawdocsk8 I haven’t been on the Jewish parent thread in a while, but occasionally check in to see what the current topic is. I happened to notice your comments about Maryland and just wanted to let you know to not let the size put you off. In fact, there are two great things about the size:
- It’s big, and has a large Jewish population, so even if you don’t like “the Hillel crowd,” you will meet Jewish students without making an effort.
- The school is well aware of the size potentially being daunting and has instituted many programs to make the large campus actually quite small. For example, there are living-learning communities such as honors college, college park scholars, CIVICUS, etc and two that are specific for engineering students - VIRTUS for males, FLEXUS for females.
[Virtus:</a> A Living Learning Community, SEEDS Programs, Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland](<a href=“http://www.seeds.umd.edu/programs/virtus.html]Virtus:”>http://www.seeds.umd.edu/programs/virtus.html)</p>
<p>FYI, my son is a sophomore MechE student at Maryland and I am also an alum (but most definitely NOT an engineer) so if you want to pm me about Maryland, feel free.</p>
<p>And hi Pennylane! I agree that not only would turkey and latkes be good together, but it hannukah and kids is also a good combination…it’s very nice that they will get to be home for the holiday!</p>
<p>Hi maryversity! I agree that UMD has interesting living learning communities. I think lawdocsk mentioned cost. Merit aid is possible. I’ve seen it as competitive, but one does not know until applying. Still, the total cost is less then some private schools.</p>
<p>Tjdad2011…Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Unfortunately, several of the suggestions are U.S. focused and the teacher is looking for something more consistent with a “world history” course. In addition, the local public library does not have a copy of the Red book or the Mortara book.</p>
<p>I am still seeking ideas.</p>
<p>Not a book, but if you check Wikipedia under the subject of timeline of early modern history, (1500-1900) it may help. They list events first under each century, then each decade, followed by lists of people, art, discoveries, writers, scientists, poets, etc. Perhaps your daughter can find an event or person that may relate to her interests or future area of study.</p>
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<p>The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara took place in the Papal States.</p>
<p>Something by Dickens perhaps (David Copperfield or a Tale of two Cities) or by Jane Austen (Pride and Pedjudice)? Here’s a list of 19th century Brit Lit</p>
<p>[A</a> full list of 19th century English literature published in Penguin Classics. - Browse Books - Penguin Group (USA)](<a href=“http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Browse/BrowseStdPage/0,,223249,00.html]A”>http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Browse/BrowseStdPage/0,,223249,00.html) </p>
<p>If you prefer French lit, here’s a link to some info</p>
<p>[19th-century</a> French literature - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th-century_French_literature]19th-century”>19th-century French literature - Wikipedia)</p>