Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 10:04     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:I was following this thread a while ago and asked a few questions so wanted to update the group.

DC had much success applying as Jewish Studies (and Legal Studies or Poli Sci/Govt) at the following schools this cycle:

Northwestern
Emory
WashU
Michigan
Wisconsin
Tulane

Essays and activities included organizing events post Oct 7 and explicitly dealt with issues of Jewish identity.

Congratulations! Could you share academic stats (or ranges?)



Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 09:59     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Let's not make this political.

I'm curious if schools are openly more okay with a wider range of views these days.

I know conservative kids used to worry about how their right-leaning ECs and essays were being received, but that sentiment is changing. On FB college admissions groups, there's now talk about how conservative/MAGA views have to be welcomed into the AO committee room because so many colleges now have open commitments to "dialogues across differences" (e.g., an Institutional Priority for T20s).

Curious how this plays out across the board. I would imagine being a leftist activist these days is a dime a dozen and won't get you anywhere in committee. But if you're on the other side, and are nuanced and thoughtful (or pretend to be)? Maybe.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 09:52     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
There is a huge, huge amount of real estate between being supportive of the current Israeli leadership and being anti-Israel. Tons of nuance there which so many people (particularly Jews) fail to understand.

Divesting is an over-reaction. I hate Bibi. I struggle with a lot of Israel's actions. But I am still Zionist - I am supportive of a Jewish state and homeland. Unlike so many, I recognize that one can criticize Israel's actions and not be anti-Semitic. And I also think that Trump does not care at all about Jews and all of his alleged actions to help Jews are just political grandstanding.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 09:48     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of a college that would look disfavorably upon Jewish extracurricular and interest. Pretty much every board of trustees and president is Zionist


Could you elaborate? Why do you say this?
How many universities have divested?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 08:47     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone have success in ED or early selective rounds with Jewish Studies as a listed academic interest/major?

Curious for my DC with ample Jewish-related activities and research (next cycle).


DS was accepted to HYP REA with this profile. Unhooked.


Was that your sons only listed academic interest? How many of the 10 activities tied to Jewish studies?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 04:10     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of a college that would look disfavorably upon Jewish extracurricular and interest. Pretty much every board of trustees and president is Zionist


Could you elaborate? Why do you say this?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 02:39     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone have success in ED or early selective rounds with Jewish Studies as a listed academic interest/major?

Curious for my DC with ample Jewish-related activities and research (next cycle).


DS was accepted to HYP REA with this profile. Unhooked.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 00:56     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was following this thread a while ago and asked a few questions so wanted to update the group.

DC had much success applying as Jewish Studies (and Legal Studies or Poli Sci/Govt) at the following schools this cycle:

Northwestern
Emory
WashU
Michigan
Wisconsin
Tulane

Essays and activities included organizing events post Oct 7 and explicitly dealt with issues of Jewish identity.






All of those schools have very prominent Jewish populations so that doesn’t surprise me one bit.


The OP did not ask about applying to waspy schools. OP asked about specific schools, including the ones PP mentioned.

I’ll add that my DC also had positive results at USC, Richmond, William & Mary. Not as a Jewish studies major but with a few prominent Jewish ECs and supplemental essays.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 00:17     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:I was following this thread a while ago and asked a few questions so wanted to update the group.

DC had much success applying as Jewish Studies (and Legal Studies or Poli Sci/Govt) at the following schools this cycle:

Northwestern
Emory
WashU
Michigan
Wisconsin
Tulane

Essays and activities included organizing events post Oct 7 and explicitly dealt with issues of Jewish identity.






All of those schools have very prominent Jewish populations so that doesn’t surprise me one bit.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 00:15     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
I was following this thread a while ago and asked a few questions so wanted to update the group.

DC had much success applying as Jewish Studies (and Legal Studies or Poli Sci/Govt) at the following schools this cycle:

Northwestern
Emory
WashU
Michigan
Wisconsin
Tulane

Essays and activities included organizing events post Oct 7 and explicitly dealt with issues of Jewish identity.



Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 15:52     Subject: Re:Jewish studies major this cycle?
I don’t know but of course there many kids including mine, that are obviously Jewish from their applications, Jewish schools, camps and extra curricular activities….
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 14:14     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
I'm a college counselor and I had a kid apply to one of the schools you listed as a Jewish Studies major. We picked it because nearly all of the dc's ECs were related and the kid had done some very interesting things in school around it. It was only brought up in why essays (not mentioned in main essay) and it didn't read like a gimmick. I have no idea how it was viewed, but he did get in to the school on your list as well as many other schools. I doubt he will actually major in that, but it's no different than the other 17 year olds forced to pick a major or academic interest who select something that correlates to academics and ECs. Plenty of kids say they want to be pre-med, get one semester into Orgo and transfer to business.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 14:05     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:You don’t ant your kid going to a school that doesn’t want Jewish students. The advice to leave off religiously affiliated extra curricular activities is just wrong.


Agree 💯
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 14:00     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. Has anyone had experience this cycle with application nation and SH advice on this topic.

Please help your fellow parents out here. Thank you, thank you thank you.


If you want to know, you should join AN and ask.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2026 13:37     Subject: Jewish studies major this cycle?
You don’t ant your kid going to a school that doesn’t want Jewish students. The advice to leave off religiously affiliated extra curricular activities is just wrong.