You spent the fall months applying, or supporting someone who was applying, to various colleges. Maybe you’ve narrowed it down to three schools, maybe you still have a top ten, or maybe you had no clue and applied to dozens. Wherever you are in the process, this is the time to start digging deeper into what each school actually has to offer.
There are a lot of factors to think about when researching the right school for you. Beyond whether they have the major or minor you want to study, there are other elements that matter just as much. Is it a heavy Greek life campus? If they do have Greek life, are there historically Jewish fraternities and sororities you could potentially join? What kinds of programs exist outside the classroom? Do they have a Jewish studies department? If not, do they offer Jewish studies courses, and does that even matter to you? While a school’s website can answer some of these questions, many of them really come into focus once you step on campus and go on a tour.
Tours and admission visit days are extremely important; do not skip them! When you visit schools, ask the questions on your mind, privately or publicly. Explore the conversation about incidents on campus and how they were handled. I strongly suggest asking both university officials and current students; you will almost always hear different perspectives. Take the time to learn about programs and student organizations on campus beyond your specific academic interests. Looking at what a university offers outside the classroom can tell you a lot about how it fosters (or doesn’t foster) a Jewish community.
In many cases, Hillel will not be part of your official campus tour. That said, Hillel is often the best resource for understanding what Jewish life on campus is really like. At Hillel at Miami, we see hundreds of students each year, stopping by to learn more about our Jewish community, on and off campus. Before getting there, though, it helps to think through a step-by-step approach to researching a school’s offerings.
Once your campus tour is scheduled, call or email the Hillel connected to that school and ask to set up a visit either before or after your official university tour. The order doesn’t matter; each option brings up different questions and perspectives. Seeing the campus through both lenses is important for understanding the university, the surrounding town or city, and the campus culture as a whole.
After your visit, once you’ve seen the school for yourself and gotten a feel for the culture, you can do the rest of your research online. I recommend going to Hillel.org to find more information about your potential campuses. The College Decision Hub offers tools to compare schools, learn about each campus climate, and get a better sense of what daily life might look like if you were actually walking those paths. Another option to consider is to check out each campus Hillel’s website and social media to get a feel for what their community is like.
No matter what, you and thousands of other Jewish students are making one of the hardest decisions right now: where to earn a degree that sets you up for career success, surrounds you with people and interests that matter to you, and gives you a real sense of community. You are not alone. Use your resources and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Learning to advocate for yourself now is good practice for what comes next.
