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�ᾱ�������’s Virtual College Prep Series Returns: Finding the Best Fit for You

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September 27, 2024

It’s that time of year again — ���ϴ�����’s Virtual College Prep Series is back! 

Designed for high school students and their families, these free virtual events are designed to help Jewish students prepare for college and the changing campus environment. The first session kicked off on September 19 with a topic we know is on every student’s mind: How do I find the right school for me?

Finding the right school can be a little (or a lot!) overwhelming, especially with so many factors to consider, but �ᾱ�������’s tools and resources can help students navigate those questions. Here are a few top takeaways from our first webinar, featuring top college counselors, current Jewish college students, and Hillel professional staff and experts.

First thing’s first: Everything is going to be okay.

If Sam Joustra, college counselor at Collegewise and the event’s first speaker, could tell prospective students and their families just one thing, it would be this: You will find the school that’s right for you.

“We know this process feels really stressful and you might be questioning how things will end up,” she said. “But we who have been through this process before know that students are going to be just fine. They’re going to find a school, probably more than one, where they can thrive.”

Joustra addressed some common concerns, such as the belief that colleges are getting more selective. They’re not — the vast majority of colleges and universities accept more than 50% of applicants. And she advised that a school’s sticker price should not be a dealbreaker for applicants – even if you don’t qualify for financial aid from an institution, there are tons of outside scholarships available, and Hillel can help you find them. 

The most important thing a student can do to stand out, she said, is to be authentic. “Colleges want to create diverse and inclusive communities,” she said. “If something feels authentic to you and you can show how it contributes to your story, how you move about the world and how you’re going to contribute to their campus community, that’s what they want to hear about.” 

The best ways to help your student? Put them in the driver’s seat, have honest conversations, and let them build skills for independence.

“When students are the ones making the decisions about what they want their future to look like, that’s when everyone’s going to be the happiest and the most fulfilled,” Joustra said. Parents and guardians should let their students take the lead, and provide guidance and support — even if that means having some tough or uncomfortable conversations about things like money, antisemitism, and being Jewish on campus today.

“If your expectation is that you’re sending your student to a place where they’ll never have to wrestle with their Jewish identity and what it means to be a Zionist in today’s world, I think that you’re not preparing them,” said Jared Levy (University of Texas, Austin, class of 2027), who joined the discussion as part of a student panel. “Make sure that your student feels informed and feels able to have those hard conversations.”

One resource for building that confidence is , �ᾱ�������’s new toolkit for combating antisemitism and standing up for Jewish students’ rights on campus. “Campus for All isn’t just there for them if they’re navigating antisemitism, but also to [help them] feel empowered on how they can get involved with their local Jewish community and take action,” said Sarah Fried, chief external affairs officer at ���ϴ�����.

To find the right fit, look past the numbers and headlines — focus on getting a real picture of campus life.

There are more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States alone, and it’s a fair bet that your student hasn’t heard of most of them! “Sometimes that means you have to look beyond the 10, 20, 30 schools or so that you’re most familiar with,” said Joustra. “What you do in college is so much more important and predictive of your success than just the name alone or perceived prestige of a school.”

The best way to get a real picture of campus life? Talk to current students, staff, professors, or other campus leaders. That’s not just true for the academic experience — it’s the most authentic way to get a look at Jewish life on campus too.

There’s no one “right” way to have a Jewish college experience.

Every student is looking for something different when it comes to religious life on campus. 

“It all comes down to what you need,” said Joustra. “Is it weekly services? Is it volunteer service organizations that you want to be a part of? Is it a Birthright trip to Israel that you want for yourself? Look at all these different pieces and what’s available to you by doing your research on the school and looking ���ϴ�����’s resources.”

Adam Lehman, president and CEO of ���ϴ�����, agreed — and highlighted th���ϴ����� is a resource for potential students to get a sense of what Jewish life and community can be like on campus. “We ���ϴ����� hold a unique position with more reach on campus than any other Jewish organization in the world,” he said. “We work hard to ensure that every environment can be a supportive and successful one for a Jewish student.”

�ᾱ�������’s College Decision Hub is a great way to explore Jewish communities on campus. 

“The Jewish community at your school can make or break your college experience,” said Abi Schcolnik, co-chair of ���ϴ�����’s Student Cabinet (University of Miami, class of 2025). Shcolnik advises students to speak with current students who are willing to answer questions honestly, and to Hillel staff or other Jewish organizations on campus who can share their perspectives. 

Jewish communities are more about the “joy” than the “oy.”

After October 7, colleges and universities experienced an unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents, from protests and encampments to vandalism and violence. Understandably, many prospective students and their families are concerned about how schools are showing up, not just to respond to antisemitism on campus, but to proactively keep Jewish students safe and ensure that they’re welcome and included. 

“The truth is there are challenges that Jewish students are facing on campus right now, but there’s also so much good,” said Naomi Lamb, CEO of Ohio State University (OSU) Hillel. “There are so many wonderful experiences that we are still able to provide for Jewish students on campus.”

Dave Cohn, executive director of Hillel at University of Southern California (USC), agreed. “Most of our students came back this fall enthusiastic, excited, and looking for community and looking to be immersed in the college experience.”

“I really feel safe, and I feel like I have a thriving Jewish community that I can lean on,” Levy said as part of the student panel. “We’re really trying to do good work.” 

And Hillel is here to help each student find the Jewish community that is right for them to bring them joy and support throughout their college experience. 

To hear all the tips and resources we couldn’t fit into just one blog post, , and join us on December 5 for our next event, “Careful Considerations: Antisemitism on Campus,” which will focus on ensuring that Jewish parents and families have the information they need about what antisemitism and Jewish life on campus are truly like right now. Learn more and register today.