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College Research

Building a list of Colleges

Reach Colleges (Most Competitive): In general, there is under a 18% admit rate for even the most highly qualified students or the average test scores and GPA are above yours.

Target Colleges (Competitive): These are colleges into which you have a strong chance of admission. Your GPA, transcript, test scores, overall profile are right at the 50% median admit rate for the previous year, but the decision can go either way. 

Likely Colleges (Probable Admission): These are colleges into which you are likely to be admitted.  The odds of admission are strongly in your favor, as your GPA and test scores are well above the median typically admitted.

***Typically, students should apply to @ 3 “reach” schools, 3 “target”, and 3 “likely” schools.

Factors to Consider When Creating Your College List:
  • Jewish life on campus—presence of Hillel and/or Chabad; kosher dining options; daily minyans, weekly Shabbat, eruv
  • Size: small—1000-5000 students; mid-sized—5000-10,000 students; large: more than 10,000 students
  • Location—geographic; urban, suburban, rural; close to an airport?
  • Degrees and Majors
  • Degree Requirements
  • Diversity of Student Body
  • Costs
 
TIPS:
  • Students should spend as much time thinking about “likely” colleges as “reach” colleges—remember, the college admissions process is not a game or a race, it’s about finding your right match.
  • Students have a better chance to receive large financial aid awards/scholarships at “likely” schools.
 
 
What to Research?

 

- Jewish Life on Campus

- Hillel or Chabad? Ou-JLIC on campus?

- What is the religious presence really like?

- Shabbat Service? What is attendance like?

- Daily minyans?

- Housing (co-ed or single sex); non-electronic access to dorms on Shabbat?

- Kosher food accessible? What does that really mean on this campus?

- Are synagogues and kosher groceries close to campus?

 Academics

- Is the major you are interested offered?

- Liberal arts college vs. university?

- What are the academic requirements for that major?

- Do you have to apply directly into that major (ex: engineering)? Is this major housed within a particular school within the university? For example, the Kelley School of Business within Indiana University.

- Are most classes usually lecture-style or discussion-based?

- Are professors accessible outside of class?

- How much freedom do freshmen have in choosing courses?

- What are some of the more popular majors?

- Are students usually able to take their first choice courses?

- Is it easy to change your major?

- Is it easy enough for undergraduates to find research opportunities with professors?

- Are finals more exam-based or project / essay-based?

Admission Criteria

- Median test scores of admitted students

- Average GPA of admitted students

- Required HS classes for your major (ex: Calculus for business, physics for engineering)

Admissions Requirements—what is needed from you?

- Which application does this college use?

- What testing is required?

- How many letters of recommendation are required?

- What are the deadlines?

- Is an interview required/recommended?

- Other requirements?

 

COLLEGES WITH OU-JLIC ON CAMPUS

  1. BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY 
  2. BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY 
  3. BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
  4. BROOKLYN COLLEGE 
  5. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY AT NORTHRIDGE 
  6. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY/BARNARD COLLEGE 
  7. CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
  8. GREATER TORONTO 
  9. IDC- HERZLIYA 
  10. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY 
  11. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY 
  12. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY 
  13. QUEENS COLLEGE
  14. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY 
  15. SANTA MONICA COLLEGE 
  16. UCLA 
  17. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 
  18. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
  19. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND 
  20. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS 
  21. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
  22. WESTERN UNIVERSITY
  23. YALE UNIVERSITY