Anonymous
08/11/2025 12:13
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Any other schools for those of us (and there are several) also interested?
Emory, Boston University and Rutgers all have programs. Duke has an excellent certificate in Jewish Studies program, but I don't think a major, that is worth looking at.
What about non-top 30 schools?
I think American and Syracuse both have programs as well
Anonymous
08/11/2025 12:11
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Someone is deleting comments that don’t fit a narrative. Columbia-TAU got in trouble for systemically denying Arab students year over year.
I don't know anything about deleting comments but that claim is BS. SJP claimed that but no proof. There are an\Arab students in the joint program. Keep in mind there would be some self selection bias as it requires students to apply to TAU.
That self selection doesn’t mean there should be year over year lack of Arab students. You are being disingenuous and it’s scary that people are okay with the discrimination, just because it’s a program with Israel.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 12:08
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Someone is deleting comments that don’t fit a narrative. Columbia-TAU got in trouble for systemically denying Arab students year over year.
I don't know anything about deleting comments but that claim is BS. SJP claimed that but no proof. There are a\Arab students in the joint program. Keep in mind there would be some self selection bias as it requires students to apply to TAU.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 12:02
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Any other schools for those of us (and there are several) also interested?
Emory, Boston University and Rutgers all have programs. Duke has an excellent certificate in Jewish Studies program, but I don't think a major, that is worth looking at.
What about non-top 30 schools?
Anonymous
08/11/2025 12:00
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Someone is deleting comments that don’t fit a narrative. Columbia-TAU got in trouble for systemically denying Arab students year over year.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:56
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Any other schools for those of us (and there are several) also interested?
Emory, Boston University and Rutgers all have programs. Duke has an excellent certificate in Jewish Studies program, but I don't think a major, that is worth looking at.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:26
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please answer the question - I’m looking for her to “apply as this major” (not necc major in it)….likely minor.
Need to know how it will be received? Esp given ECs are filled with Jewish identity.
It's a little unethical, OP, to apply for a certain major knowing that you might not actually pursue it. Is it because you think admissions will be easier, because the popular opinion is turning against Israel and you think there will be less interest in that major?
Please clarify your motives here.
This is college admissions! Nothing unethical allowed!!
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:23
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Any other schools for those of us (and there are several) also interested?
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:23
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Serious reply from a Jewish mom, consider the joint program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:20
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:OP, why don't you want to discuss the practical aspects of trying to find a job as a Religion or Jewish studies major? If you refuse to discuss that, it kind of seems like all you want is to game the system by asking for something low-interest, and then changing to a minor afterward. Colleges hate that.
I think Religion studies are wonderful, but I'd be a little concerned about employability. I know someone is spamming the thread with how their Jewish Studies minor helped them a lot and they became a big shot lawyer afterward, but they're bragging while missing the point that they did not actually MAJOR in Jewish Studies.
Truthfully, disagree. This is a competitive game. Do everything you can in your power to help your kid understand the rules.
The strategic positioning post is accurate. It works. I have evidence with my older kids who did this (both at T20).
Schools expect kids to change their majors. They just want passion. If you have a "story" about your passion, that's what they care about. And better if the passion is an unpopular or undersubscribed one.
Why do you think all the top NY privates list majors like: Classics, French literature, Creative Writing, Women's Studies, Studio Art, Anthropology, Medieval Studies?
They know something you don't know.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:16
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
OP, why don't you want to discuss the practical aspects of trying to find a job as a Religion or Jewish studies major? If you refuse to discuss that, it kind of seems like all you want is to game the system by asking for something low-interest, and then changing to a minor afterward. Colleges hate that.
I think Religion studies are wonderful, but I'd be a little concerned about employability. I know someone is spamming the thread with how their Jewish Studies minor helped them a lot and they became a big shot lawyer afterward, but they're bragging while missing the point that they did not actually MAJOR in Jewish Studies.
I think Religion studies are wonderful, but I'd be a little concerned about employability. I know someone is spamming the thread with how their Jewish Studies minor helped them a lot and they became a big shot lawyer afterward, but they're bragging while missing the point that they did not actually MAJOR in Jewish Studies.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:15
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
OP just apply as philosophy.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:14
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Don’t apply to colleges where you think AOs are racist. Problem solved.
Good advice. But only possible if we know which AOs fit that description. Do you have any specific and concrete information to offer on the subject?
Oh I think this entire post is totally BS, and OP is looking for sympathy points. Just apply to college. It’s not that big of a deal.
Its really not. Its called "strategic positioning". Here's a long old post explaining it.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1257906.page
There was a recent podcast about it re Asian Studies (and actually doing Asian Lang and Lit bc its more niche for an Asian student than Asian Studies at Yale, but that's besides the point). Did anyone else listen to it? I thought it was long but eye-opening.
Every $$$$ college counselor tells you to (1) look at your EC list and your transcript; (2) find a major alignment and (3) build a story. A real compelling story.
We've talked about it a lot here. It works. But it takes time and a lot of thought for T20.
Ours applied without coaching and got in. You don’t need to game admissions, just be intelligent.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:12
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Has OP come back to explain themselves?
Jeez. Some of us had work to do this morning.
Yes these are serious schools that I am looking at and I’m looking for others as well.
Her ECs lean heavily to sports, community service, and a lot of Jewish activities. Ironically, she goes to a Catholic school and is very well-rounded in religious studies. Theology in particular is very interesting to her. I could see her being a religion major or minor, same with Jewish studies.
Our CCO is pushing Jewish studies as the angle. We are worried about backlash (though I don’t think that might happen at a place like Tulane?)
Any other schools you can think of? Thanks for those of you that are being helpful.
Sorry I don’t have much time to write right now, but will come back later this afternoon.
In between meetings.
Congrats you get the award for the rudest OP. Hopefully you raised your daughter better.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 11:10
Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:
Has OP come back to explain themselves?
Jeez. Some of us had work to do this morning.
Yes these are serious schools that I am looking at and I’m looking for others as well.
Her ECs lean heavily to sports, community service, and a lot of Jewish activities. Ironically, she goes to a Catholic school and is very well-rounded in religious studies. Theology in particular is very interesting to her. I could see her being a religion major or minor, same with Jewish studies.
Our CCO is pushing Jewish studies as the angle. We are worried about backlash (though I don’t think that might happen at a place like Tulane?)
Any other schools you can think of? Thanks for those of you that are being helpful.
Sorry I don’t have much time to write right now, but will come back later this afternoon.
In between meetings.