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NCSY Canada’s 2015-16 Israel Study Guide Hebrew Hig h School of New England Your Journey to Israel
NCSY Canada’s 2015-16 Israel Study Guide
Hebrew Hig h School of New England
Your Journey to Israel
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Shalom, As the end of grade 12 approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to familiarize you with opportunities for study in Israel post high school. At NCSY, we strongly encourage our students to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity upon graduation. A year of study in Israel is imperative to solidify the student’s Jewish foundation before they enter University. The year in Israel strengthens an individual’s bond to the land of Israel, to the Jewish People, and to their Jewish heritage. As the Director of Education at NCSY Canada, my goal is to provide information and advice for students and parents about the numerous programs available. Over 50 students from NCSY Canada take advantage annually of this incredible opportunity. I am available to meet with parents and students, and to help you navigate the maze of financial aid, help you choose the best school/program for your child, and help in deferring university acceptance. You can find a listing of yeshivas and seminaries at http://www.yu.edu/israel-program/gis/, and a full listing of all gap year programs in Israel at http://www.masaisrael.org/jewish-studies. You can also find out more about a variety of trips and study options for university students at http://tripstoisrael.org and at www.studyinisrael.org. In this booklet you will find:
Frequently asked questions about studying in Israel for the year
Scholarships available for a year of study in Israel
Articles about the gap year
Resources to help you choose a University with Jewish Life on Campus We hope that you find these resources helpful so that you and your child will be able to make an informed decision about all of next year’s learning opportunities. Please contact me with any questions. Best Wishes, Rabbi Leib Irons Director of Education NCSY Canada [email protected]
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Table of Contents
Most Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’s 3
Financing Your Year in Israel 6
Issues To Consider In Choosing An Israeli Program 11
Articles on the Benefits of Taking a Gap Year: 12
Reflections on a gap year in the Holy Land – Canadian Jewish News 12
Thoughts and Feelings on Coming Back from a Year in Israel – The Times of Israel 12
Gap Year- Thinking Outside the Box – Studentawards.com 17
The Lure of the Gap Year – U.S. News and World Report 21
Should your child have a ‘gap year’ before college? – NBC News 23
Gap year: Why your kid shouldn't go to school in the fall – The Globe and Mail 25
Choosing a University with a Jewish Life on Campus 28
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Most Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’s
1. What are the benefits of sending your child to Israel for the year? (This is also known as the “gap” or “bridge” year between high school and University.) A: The year in Israel strengthens an individual’s bond to the Jewish people and to the land of Israel. It also allows another year for your child to mature and gain perspective before University. A recent article noted that, “Harvard, arguably the most competitive university in the country, believes so much in the gap year that they encourage every student they admit to consider a year off before matriculation.” (https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/should-i-take-time) Research demonstrates that there are three necessary ingredients to lead a stable and happy life: family clarity, clarity with ones profession, and clarity with one’s spirituality. For the past 18 years children have been focusing on family clarity by being around their family developing and nurturing that relationship. As for clarity for ones profession, from nursery through graduate school students learn the tools necessary to have a successful profession. However, when it comes to spiritual clarity, unfortunately for the vast majority of people very little time is spent on developing their spiritual identity. Even in homes where children are raised with Jewish values, nothing compares to a year of exclusive focus on one’s spiritual clarity that will help serve as a foundation for life. Students who have spent a gap year in Israel have returned to Canada to serve as leaders on their campus, and have assumes many leadership roles in Jewish life. 2. Will my child receive university credits when attending an Israel program? Can University acceptance be deferred? A: It all depends on the University they attend. The range of credits that a University will accept is between 0 and 32 credits. Some University’s will accept these credits only if they transfer credits from an accredited university, such as Yeshiva University or Touro University. York University has traditionally accepted credits directly from the institution in Israel. If you study at the Israel Experience at Bar Ilan http://www.israelxp.com/ which is considered a University program, you apply as transfer student to your chosen university, and you apply as does any student from another university. In our experience students have almost always received the credits from Bar Ilan. In most cases student going to a yeshiva/seminary/gap year program can defer. You generally cannot defer acceptance to attend another University, so students attending Bar Ilan reapply as transfer students. There are definite advantages applying as a transfer student, so it should not place you at a disadvantage. 3. What are the different types of Israel programs? A: There are a variety of programs. Some are all-day learning programs while others combine learning with leadership training, Chesed or art. They all have trips that tour the country.
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4. How do I choose the right program for my child? A: The likelihood is that there are many programs in which your child will thrive. However, through your own research and with the guidance of Rabbi Leib Irons, your child will be able to choose the very best program for him or her. 5. Are there scholarships for my child’s year in Israel? A: Yes, see below in the booklet. 6. Is there a joint application? A: Many seminaries are part of a joint application: www.applytosem.org, and the boys
application can be accessed at https://www.yeshivaapplication.org. Check the instructions on the programs website to determine if they are part of the joint application.
7. Is NCSY still involved with my child during their year in Israel? A: Yes. During the year, we will be in contact with the various programs, as well as with your child, to make sure his or her year in Israel is living up to his or her expectations. 8. Can you switch programs mid-year? A: Yes, but it is certainly preferable to find the proper school for your child from the beginning. 9. How will I be able to contact my child? A: The most frequent ways most parents are in touch with their children is by cell phone or email. 10. What are the living quarters like on my child’s program? A: Every program has its own accommodations, varying from dorms to apartments. 11. Is there a nightly curfew? A: Yes. The time varies depending on the program. 12. What is the supervision at school? A: Each school has different levels of supervision. In addition to the teachers and administration, most schools have madrichim, counselors, who are responsible for the supervision of your child. 13. Will my child be served three meals a day? A: Almost all boys’ programs provide three meals a day. Many seminaries also provide three meals a day. Those that don’t provide the students with cooking facilities. 14. What happens if my child is sick? A: The administration of your child’s school can direct your child to an American/Canadian doctor.
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15. How does health insurance work? A: There is a health insurance plan that the school will provide. The cost is about $1 per day. 16. What accommodations are available for my child on Shabbat and Jewish holidays? A: Most programs allow your child to stay for Shabbat and will coordinate your child’s Holiday plans. 17. What are Canadian Universities saying about taking a gap year? “We at York University are pleased to be the first Canadian university to formalize the process of deferment based on a gap year. We have done this because we believe so strongly in the importance of taking a gap year before jumping into university” Ken Withers, Director, Recruitment and Applicant Relations, York University “Students are coming to Ontario universities at a younger age than ever before and many actually benefit from time off to learn more about themselves. A gap year can prepare students for a more meaningful university experience Diane Crocker, Registrar and Director of Enrolment Management, University of Toronto “I wouldn't hesitate to recommend that a student take a gap year” Paul Bowman, manager of Career and Education, and a career counsellor at Queen's University
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Financing Your Year in Israel
For many students financing the year in Israel is daunting. Below is a partial list of scholarship options and their websites, which are available in order to help defray those costs. In almost every situation where a student truly desires to spend a gap year in Israel and is flexible, the finances will work out. Please contact Rabbi Leib Irons at [email protected] for more information.
Expenses (approximate):
$25,000 Tuition
$1,500 Plane ticket to Israel
$300 ($1/day) Insurance
$250 ($25/mo) Cell phone rental
$2500 Spending money
Total Expenses: $29550
Amount Scholarship Status
$0-$15,000 Yeshiva/Seminary/Gap Year Program: Contact your program directly.
$500-3500 MASA: Apply online at http://www.masaisrael.org/masa/english/
Varies Synagogue/Rabbi Discretionary Fund: Call and email the local Synagogue Rabbis
$500 Associated Hebrew School (for alumni): Contact the school
$500-$1000 Tannenbaum CHAT (for CHAT graduates): Contact the school
$100-1000 NCSY International Torah Fund: Only for active NCSY Canada students. Apply at https://ou.wufoo.com/forms/ncsy-national-torah-fund-scholarship-2016/ . The deadline is May 1, 2016.
$400 Jeff Seidel: Apply at www.jeffseidel.com
$100-$1000 NCSY Canada: Only for very active NCSY Canada students involved
for at least 2 years. Due by May 15, 2016. Apply at https://canada.ncsy.org/files/yeshiva_scholarship_general_2016.pdf .
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$750-$2500 Mizrachi Canada: http://www.mizrachi.ca/scholarship.html aa
$3500-4500 Oorah: This is a $3500 scholarship towards tuition, plus $100 a month towards spending money. Awardees must attend Oorah’s DiscoverU Camp for 2 ½ weeks in the summers of 2016 and 2017. Apply at http://www.oorah.org/tuition/login.asp, for the tuition scholarship and apply at http://www.thezone.org for the DiscoverU program and scholarship. Contact [email protected] for more information. Only for yeshiva/seminary attendees from non-observant homes who currently attend public school or a non-denominational school.
$3500 The Alisa Flatow Memorial Fund: Apply at http://alisafund.org/ before February 15th. 6-8 Scholarships are awarded.
Varies Beth Tzedec Congregation Men's Club Scholarship: [email protected]
Varies Canadian Zionist Federation: Hebrew Culture of Canada Dr. Leon Aryeh Kronitz Memorial Scholarship. Email for application. [email protected] 514-739-7300 x 3100 or [email protected]
$1000-$2500
Torah Letzion: Deadline is Monday, February 29, 2016 at 12:00 A.M., EST. Apply at http://torahletzion.org/apply/
$1000+ Nechamos Yisrael: Call 718-851-0340 for more information. Only for yeshiva/seminary attendees from non-observant homes who currently attend public school or a non-denominational school.
Varies The Dennis Waldman Foundation for Jewish Education: The Waldman Scholarship Offered to students graduating from high school and continuing in Jewish Studies at university. Based on academic achievement and extra-curricular activities and community service. For applications: SF Group 4950 Yonge Street Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2N 6K1 Attention: Mr. Jason Crystal (416) 250 - 1212
Varies Max and Lena Sharp Foundation of Shaarei Shomayim Congregation – available to members and friends of Shaarei Shomayim. For more information, go to http://www.shomayim.org/youth-teens/study-israel
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Additional Scholarships:
There are a number of scholarships available specifically for Canadian students. Go to http://jewishtoronto.com/scholarships to see which ones are applicable to you. In most cases, RESP savings can also be applied to studying in Israel. Parents may also be able to receive a tax deduction on some of the tuition costs. Please speak to your accountant about eligibility.
Apply to every sort of organization – synagogues, schools, Jewish Federations, Hillel, and the student organizations. Regardless of affiliation of the synagogue, you should apply to every synagogue in your area – Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, etc. Apply to people and organizations in every community in which you have lived. This includes the community where you went to university. Tell people of your interest to study in Israel. You never know who may hear that you need help. And who knows? They may be able to help you.
Jewish National Fund (JNF) “Plant Your Way to Israel” Initiative
You can help JNF and also help yourself by selling trees to be planted in Israel and earn money toward your Israel trip. For every $36 donation that you receive, $18 will go to the purchase of new trees and $18 will go towards your tuition. Start your own personal fund raising web page at www.jnf.org/pyw. Some people may be willing to buy trees by the dozens which can earn you lots of money towards your tuition.
The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund This scholarship is limited to programs that have a strong volunteering component. http://www.amyadinaschulmanfund.org/
124 Snowden Lane Princeton, NJ 08540 [email protected]
Free Airfare
Taglit-birthright Israel provides COMPLETELY FREE (including airfare) 10-day trips to Israel. If you’re between the ages of 18 – 26 and if you’ve never been on an organized tour of Israel (even if you’ve come to Israel before), you’ll be accepted. If a student attends a Birthright trip in August for example, you can extend your airline ticket to be able to stay in Israel for up to a year. Speak to your Birthright trip organizer to find out if extensions are possible. There are many different types of Birthright trips offered by different organizations. A few that we have worked with in the past are available at these links: www.birthrightisrael.com and www.israelfreespirit.com
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Local Jewish Federations (North America)
Many local Jewish Federations have scholarship programs for trips to Israel. Contact your local federation and inquire about sources of funding from within the organization and ask the staff to also recommend other sources of funding available in your local community. Check the website of your Federation or speak to a representative in your city. Every Federation in North America has its own policies on scholarship funding and the details can change from year to year.
Local Jewish Organizations
Many synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and other community organizations provide scholarships for Israel programs. It’s worthwhile taking the time to see what funding is available for you. Should you require financial assistance, we encourage you to seek out and contact these funding sources as early as possible to meet any required deadlines.
Synagogue
Many synagogues have scholarship funds to assist young members in participating in Israel programs. In addition, some Rabbis have discretionary funds through it’s members of which they may award as they deem responsible. Call your family’s synagogue and inquire what assistance may be available to you. Ask your Rabbis if they know of other sources of possible funding.
University Scholarships
Check online college databases, by searching the internet for “college scholarships.” Here are a few: www.college-scholarships.com, www.scholarships.com, www.financialaidfinder.com
FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov/ is a free application for U.S. Govt funding for US Citizens. By participating in a Joint Israel programs, you will be recognized as a student attending the overseas program of a registered American college and are therefore eligible to receive FAFSA grants and loans.Although it is recommended, it’s important to realize that students do not necessarily have to continue their education after Israel at the college in which they are enrolled for the Joint Israel program.There are a few options of Joint Israel programs listed below. Please contact them to find out which one most suits your needs. There may be additional charges from these institutions for their services, however bear in mind that only through a Joint Israel program will you be able to apply for a FAFSA grant.
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S. Daniel Abraham Joint Israel program (Yeshiva University) - Students who participate in the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program may receive federal and state aid if they are eligible. They should apply in the same manner as do students on campus. Students should apply for financial aid for the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program as soon as possible after January 1st of the year the student will attend the Israel Program. Students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Yeshiva University institutional aid is not available for study in Israel. However, all Federal and State aid is available including Pell, Work-study, Perkins loan and Stafford loans. It is important to apply early so the money is available for your attendance on the Israel Program. Once the processed FAFSA is received by the Office of Student Aid, a Financial Aid Allocation Letter will be sent to you, which will outline the Financial Aid available. Click here for more info. http://www.yu.edu/israel-program/
Touro college Israel Option – Touro College maintains a formal Study Abroad in Israel Option, TCIO, in cooperation with leading Israeli Yeshivas and women’s colleges, and other institutions of Jewish learning. This option has proved extremely popular at Touro: approximately 40% of baccalaureate degree students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have studied in Israel. Click here for more info. Men’s Program: http://lcm.touro.edu/admissions-and-aid/israel-option/ Women’s program: http://lcw.touro.edu/prospective-students/israel-option/
Michigan Jewish Institute Joint Israel option - The Michigan Jewish Institute Study Abroad Program was designed to permit our students to spend a year or two of intensive post secondary study in a foreign country. MJI encourages its students to participate in intensive study abroad as a way of experiencing personal growth and expanding intellectual and educational horizons. Students often speak of the immense benefit and fresh perspective gained from a change of scene, a new school and immersion in a foreign culture. The MJI Study Abroad Program enables the student to have all of these benefits with the guarantee that the course work completed will earn credits toward the completion of an MJI BAS degree. Click here for more info.http://www.mji.edu/templates/mji/article_cdo/aid/545123/jewish/Program-Description.htm
Hebrew Theological College
The Israel Experience Program (IEP) offered by Hebrew Theological College enables a student to spend a year of intensive study in an Israeli yeshiva or seminary while earning college credit. Most students find the year in Israel a challenging and enriching experience that serves as a guide in developing a lifestyle consonant with Torah values. Click here for more info. http://www.htc.edu/divisions-and-programs/programs/iep-israel-experience-program.html
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Issues to Consider In Choosing an Israeli Program
Parent – Student Form The major component of the Israel Guidance process is probing your interests &
inner self. Only through this self-examination can you choose the learning program that
suits your needs. It is recommended that parents and students discuss these issues jointly.
1. Why are you interested in going to Israel? What are your goals? 2. Characterize the types of people that you would like to be with in terms of their: Intellectual Ability Religious Commitment,Motivation, Other Issues 3. Worldview – What is your general Hashkafah (world-view)? Who do you admire as a role-model? 4. Structure – Ability to create your own schedule vs. highly structured environment. 5. Level – What level do you need? Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced 6. Curriculum focus – What areas? Gemara, Tanakh, Jewish Philosophy, Mussar, Jewish History, Hebrew? 7. Program – What type of program do you want? Hesder or Anglo-Saxon? What type of interaction with Israelis are you looking for? 8. Location – What location do you prefer? in Jerusalem, close to Jerusalem, far from Jerusalem 9. Hebrew – What classes do you want given in Hebrew? All, some, none. 10. Zionism – Do you want a yeshiva that stresses Religious Zionist values as part of its curriculum and outlook? 12. Extra-Curricular Activities – What kinds does the school offer? How much time is allotted for leisure, sports, touring, visiting with friends? 13. Supervision – Dormitory supervision, Policy regarding leaving the Yeshiva 14. Guidance – Do you want to develop strong connections to the faculty? 15. Accommodations – Apartments or Dormitories, Size, # to a room, kitchen facilities 16. Shabbat-Holiday Policy – in Shabbat, out Shabbat, shabbatons 17. Cost – Overall Tuition? Other expenses? 18. Financial Aid – what type of aid? 19. Size of school- Faculty to student ratio, availability to study with older students 20. Type of faculty - backgrounds 21. Daily Schedule – wakeup, breakfast, learning, break etc. 22. Religious experience and trips – Are trips exploring Israel important to you? What is the schedule of special events during the year? 23. Security – What security measures would you be comfortable with?
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Articles on the Benefits of Taking a Gap Year:
Reflections on a gap year in the Holy Land Friday, January 18, 2013
http://www.cjnews.com/campus/reflections-gap-year-holy-land
Alex Maged
All across North America, high school seniors are busy deciding where they want to find themselves
next September. While many will head straight to university, the idea of spending a year in Israel first
has become an increasingly popular option for today’s Jewish teenagers.
There are new programs opening all the time, each catering to an ever-broader range of interests,
backgrounds and professional tracks. Many of these now offer up to a full year of college credits as
well, and institutions as reputable as Harvard University, Yale University and MIT have begun to
actively encourage their students to take a gap year before starting on campus. Today, spending a
year in Israel makes more sense than ever before.
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It’s an option I chose for myself, and an option 30 of my classmates chose as well. Where are we?
We’re at Bar-Ilan University and Hebrew University, on Young Judea and Nativ, in yeshivot and
seminaries and in the IDF.
What are we doing? We’re exploring Judaism and studying chemistry. We’re volunteering in
ambulances and interning with newspapers. We’re hiking up mountains, camping in deserts, touring
historical sites and meeting some of the greatest politicians, artists and religious leaders in the
Jewish world today.
Who are we with? We’re with 10,000 Jews our age who have come from 42 different countries to
spend this year in Israel, too. (If I ever had doubts that there really are that many of us here, the first
Friday morning on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem promptly put them to rest!)
For myself, I decided to spend the year in yeshiva. Like most people who chose this option, I came
with a goal: to solidify my commitment to Jewish values and deepen my connection to the Jewish
People.
Everything they say about Israel is true. There’s no comparing even the best of classes or prayer
services back home to the ones found here. If you want to push the limits of what Judaism can be, if
you want to give yourself a real chance of finding your avenue to relate to it, then you need to study
Torah under its brightest teachers, experience what it means to celebrate the Jewish holidays in the
Jewish homeland, and search for HaShem where He’s most accessible. This is what I came looking
for, and it’s what I’ve found.
But I’ve found something else, too. You first notice it when, picking up on your accent as you
struggle to ask the bus driver which stop you should get off at, seven different passengers chime in
to help you with directions. You’re reminded of it every time a casual conversation ends with an
exchange of phone numbers and an invitation to spend Shabbat. You see it most strongly when the
volunteer co-ordinators in the soup kitchen you’re helping out at or at the blood drive you’re running
impose time limits on your group, because there are actually too many people who want to help out
and everyone needs to get a chance to give.
More important than Judaism of the head or heart, Israel has shown me Judaism of the day to day.
Judaism in practice means that when rockets are falling on kindergartners in Netivot, you cancel
your classes and put on a carnival to pick up their spirits. It means inviting teenagers with
developmental challenges to join you on your Shabbatons and tiyulim, because they deserve to
have fun, too. It means that instead of spending the first day of a new semester in the classroom,
you spend it in hospitals and orphanages, putting smiles on the faces of those who are less
fortunate. In a word, it means to think beyond yourself, to care for others, to give.
I strongly doubt there can be any experience more valuable than spending a year learning about,
and then living out, values such as these – values that should form the foundation of one’s identity.
When you leave high school and gain your independence, the natural tendency is to look inwards
and begin the pursuit of your own happiness. Taking a year in Israel has helped those of us here
frame our newfound freedom with the correct perspective.
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Slowly, surely, I think we’re learning that real maturity means learning to expand your focus outside
of yourself and consider others. We have immersed ourselves in a society whose members, if
ideologically divided at times, care for each other with a sincerity that is truly unique. We are training
ourselves in an ethical system proven to instil sensitivity, consideration and an appreciation for the
value of giving in its adherents.
We’re discovering ourselves, but not in a vacuum. We are charting our identity within a national
context and religious framework much larger than ourselves. This is what a year in Israel has meant
so far, at least to me.
If you’re a high school student looking to begin the next stage of your life with an unparalleled
opportunity to grow and mature, to cultivate an identity rooted in timeless values, and to forge lasting
connections with your people and their land, then a gap year in Israel is something I strongly
recommend for you, too.
Alex Maged is a graduate of Yeshivat Lev HaTorah (2013) and the Anne and Max Tanenbaum
Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (2012), where he served as Student Council President; He
has visited Israel as part of the Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel (2011) and the 2010
International Bible Contest (“Chidon HaTanach”), in which he competed; Alex is currently studying in
the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors program at Yeshiva University.
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Thoughts and Feelings on Coming Back
from a Year in Israel JUNE 7, 2013
blogs.timesofisrael.com/thoughts-and-feelings-on-coming-back-from-a-year-in-israel/
“Bienvenue au Canada” proclaimed twenty identically looking signs. This greeting, offered as it was
in my mother tongue, ought to have generated a certain sense of familiarity. Yet in this moment,
nothing could have struck me as more foreign.
I made my way over to customs, along with the thirty or so other Torontonians who were also
returning from gap years in Israel. Little by little the lineup gave way in front of me, until it was my
turn to approach the booth.
“From where are you arriving?” inquired the official, seated snugly behind her desk. “Israel” I
promptly replied, with just the slightest hint of pride.
She smiled. “What was the purpose of your trip – business, personal or study?” Of the options, study
was probably the most accurate. I went with that.
She smiled again. Looking away from her papers and up at me for the first time in our brief
exchange she asked, now with genuine interest: “Oh! What did you learn?” I was fairly certain that
this question was not a part of her script, but it was a good question nonetheless.
What had I learned these past ten months? Quite a bit, in fact.
I learned to see myself in a whole new light: to develop untapped talents, to discover flaws of which I
had been unaware, and to work on growing every day without losing sight of the here-and-now, the
beauty contained in the present moment.
I learned, too, to think beyond myself: to listen to others with sensitivity and patience, to be mindful
of their needs, and to try to give meaningfully, as often as possible.
I learned to relate to Hashem for everything that He is, and to bring into our relationship everything
that I am: to trust and to question, to appreciate and to petition, to analyze and theorize and
intellectualize, but also to sing, to dance, and, most importantly, to thank.
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I learned to take from my tradition all that it has to offer: to skim its breadth and probe its depths, to
challenge it with reverence and humility, to search it for complexity – but also to appreciate that,
sometimes, the simplest truths are the most profound.
I learned to love the land of Israel, and the State of Israel as well: to stand in awe before its rich
history and breathtaking landscapes, to admire its culture – its resilience and its optimism, its
generosity of spirit and practicality of purpose – and to understand, for the first time in my life, where
home really is, and why it’s so important for the children which I will one day raise to grow up there.
My year in Israel has had its ups and its downs. I learned about life and about love; about moving
out, and about growing up; about independence and individuality, and about the incredible value of
community. I see the world more fully now than I did a year ago and experience life more holistically
as a result. Reflecting, as I had been asked to, on what I had learned in my year in Israel, these
were the thoughts running through my head.
Snapping out of my reverie, I suddenly remembered my surroundings. Before me sat the customs
official, patiently awaiting my reply to what should have been a very casual, very innocuous
question. There was not going to be any way, I realized, to put together a suitable reply. I didn’t even
try. Instead, I offered a single word.
“Judaism,” I told her. That sounded straightforward enough. “I spent my year learning about
Judaism.”
I fixed my eyes on hers, scanning them for their reaction. There again was that smile. “How
wonderful” she gushed, handing me back my passport at last. I reached out to take it and prepared
to leave the booth, bidding her goodbye with a cordial “thank you” and my wishes that she have a
good day.
“Have a good day” she returned. And then, with a sort of generic sincerity that only Canadians are
really capable of, she added cheerfully: “And welcome home!” Taken aback, I walked onwards,
struck by the irony in her words.
Home, they say, is where the heart is. If that’s the case, then it will be a while before I’m truly home
again.
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Gap Year- Thinking Outside the Box
http://www.studentawards.com/stacks/articles/gap-year-thinking-outside-the-box.aspx
Definition of a Gap Year: a life changing experience between high school and university, University,
work and beyond
So what’s a Gap Year and why is taking one thinking outside the box?
Well, a gap year is a rite of passage. It allows young people to regroup, to reflect and to experience
life while learning more about themselves – the kind of thing you can’t do in the classroom. It’s only
just starting to make an appearance in North America. That’s why taking a year out is still seen as an
unusual destination after high school or university, and feels like it’s an innovative way to approach
the next chapter in a young adult’s life – it’s “Out of the Box” thinking!
The gap year has been around for decades in Europe and Australia where it’s a household term.
You’re considered weird if you don’t take a gap year. In the UK alone, each year approximately
230,000 people take a gap year. In fact employers in the UK are more interested in what you did in
your gap year than what you did for an undergraduate degree. Generally the gap experience
includes mixing academics, volunteer work and travel. It is supported by British Universities and
Universitys where students with gap year plans are regularly granted deferred admission – you don’t
have to reapply or negotiate individual deferment. The chief executive of the UK Universities and
Universitys Admission Services, Tony Higgins says “we believe that students who take a well
planned structured year are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete their chosen course.”
That’s because they see the value in learning outside the classroom – and they know that these
young adults will return to University more mature, confident and ready for the learning. The gap
year is regarded as a chance for students to develop skills and to take personal responsibility as an
adult.
Back in North America, the trend is beginning. Harvard’s doing it. Princeton loves it. Our own York
University is on board. These universities are thinking outside the box and recognizing the value of
taking a gap year after high school.
Harvard believes so much in the gap year that they encourage every enrolled student to consider a
year off. Princeton has a program called the “bridge year” where students spend a year performing
public service abroad before beginning their freshman year. York University announced their
Bridging the Gap program that allows students to defer admission on the basis of a gap year.
And no wonder! Here’s what mygapyear – a Toronto based company that plans gap years – has to
say about the benefits of a gap year.
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“A gap year provides an unparalleled growth opportunity to develop soft skills before making the
transition to the next chapter of life. Soft skills like decision making, relationship building, problem
solving, communication, organization, self reliance, responsibility, team work, independence, and,
maturity are developed through experiences at home or abroad, the opportunity to work with other
cultures, the chance to perfect a foreign language, a break to serve others in a voluntary capacity, a
time to grow and mature, and a chance to reflect on one’s own personality, skills, values and desires
before fully committing to a course or career.”
Today, many post secondary students enter university or University at a younger age, some as
young as seventeen years old. Although often intellectually capable of higher education, students
are not yet mature, self confident or independent enough to embrace this next educational step. "A
gap year can prepare students for a more meaningful university experience" says Diane Crocker,
Registrar and Director of Enrolment Management, University of Toronto.
That lack of maturity is having an impact. Statistics Canada reports a drop out rate of 30% amongst
first year university students, and one in seven young Canadians who pursue University drop out
before they graduate, with most making the call by the time they've finished their first year. Creating
a gap year plan that provides opportunities for personal and professional growth has a significant
correlation to future educational and employment success. Taking a gap year can actually make
young adults more focused and ready for the challenges of academic life, and provides an
opportunity to strengthen soft skills and develop emotional intelligence.
Harvard's daily student newspaper, The Crimson reported (5/19/2000) that students who had taken
a year off found the experience "so valuable that they would advise all Harvard students to consider
it." Harvard's overall graduation rate of 98% is among the highest in the nation, perhaps in part
because so many students take time off. One student, noting that the majority of her friends will
simply spend eight consecutive terms at Harvard, "wondered if they ever get the chance to catch
their breath."
A company in Toronto has embraced the value of a gap year for Canadian students. mygapyear
provides a unique service - creating meaningful gap years for young adults. They develop a
structured, well-planned gap experience based on their client’s individual desires and outcomes.
Using personal coaching as a tool, mygapyear guides clients to create personal development and
gap year goals and make informed choices about their gap year experiences. Mygapyear has
researched and developed a range of gap year experiences and provides options to create a
meaningful and cost effective gap year for their clients. Mygapyear also makes sure plans are
implemented and goals are reached through follow up sessions with their clients throughout their
gap experience.
Each gap year plan is unique. Some clients chose to stay close to home, take up hobbies or things
they never had time for – like guitar, photography, piano or yoga – or get their drivers license. Others
combine working at home or away, volunteering abroad, learning a language or a new skill like
surfing or cooking. The following are testimonials from some of mygapyear’s clients.
“Although I love to travel, I had too many personal commitments at home and was not able to take a
trip during my year off. Instead I remained in Toronto, and surprisingly still had an amazing year. It
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was precisely the decision to stay at home that made my year so rewarding: I was able to balance
working part-time, creating a portfolio for university, going out with friends, and spending time with
family. Mygapyear even found me volunteer opportunities and a very educational online course to
take in my spare time. It was a year full of self-discovery; I learned that when I’m faced with
obstacles (no matter how big or small) I will always power through with determination. I am more
independent, resilient, and confident in my ability to deal with stress. I no longer dread starting
school and I look forward to new challenges and opportunities. The people at mygapyear were
extremely helpful and encouraging, they kept me motivated and offered advice when I was under
pressure. I recommend mygapyear to anyone who wants to experience new things and learn about
their true personality and goals, but isn’t sure where to begin. They will be with you every step of the
way.” Marianne
“I learned that I will never know what I am capable of if I don’t take that step beyond my comfort
zone. With the help of mygapyear, I have definitely learned a lot about myself, strengthened my
character and discovered my own independence and individuality. You don’t have to follow the
crowd and mygapyear helps you find those other options. Taking the year with mygapyear has given
me confidence in where my education and future are going. mygapyear gave me the opportunity to
discover on my own what it is I want to do.” Melissa
So why are we rushing our young people to a post secondary destination they may not be ready for?
North American attitudes towards a gap year are changing, but slowly. Many parents worry that their
sons and daughters will be sidetracked from post secondary education, and may never enroll. They
fear that taking time off can cause students to "fall behind" or lose their study skills irrevocably. That
fear is rarely justified, and when asked, many parents say that they wish they had taken a gap year.
Parents and high schools are starting to embrace the value of this transition year, starting to unpack
the box and jump out!
Here are some testimonials from parents.
“After being accepted at McGill, my daughter S* decided to defer her start date at university for a
year. She wanted a break from the routine of academics while she explored some of her other
interests. As a parent, this kind of break can be worrying; I was interested in making sure S* didn’t
just waste her time off school, but I also knew that my influence would only go so far. mygapyear
helped S* make the most of her time off. Their ability to accurately probe S*’s objectives and then to
bring forward ideas that on our own we would never have discovered, was exceptional. Just have a
quick look at the internet; there seem to be a million opportunities for young people, but sorting
through all the prospects is daunting. Besides the pure volume of information, there is always the
concern that what you are looking at may not be quite as it seems. mygapyear acts as a resource to
work through all the possibilities much more efficiently. They bring focus and credibility to what is
available and they were able to help S* find personal meaning throughout her experience. In the
end, mygapyear helped S* enact a plan that included local (hobby) classes, volunteer work and the
culmination – a job overseas (as a camp counselor). Besides the service they provide in building a
program to meet the client’s objectives, mygapyear also showed great commitment to seeing things
right through to the finish. They maintained regular contact with S* directly and through that
relationship were aware of how things were developing as the year moved on. I always felt they took
a real and direct interest in S’s* success”. Lynn
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“The past year has truly been one of growth and discovery for M*. Formerly a bit tentative and
uncertain about her future, she has matured into a clearly confident and independent young adult.
With the help of mygapyear, her time spent studying and travelling in Europe enhanced not only her
understanding and appreciation of other cultures and languages, but contributed to her sense of
independence and direction in life. As parents, we had the opportunity to watch M* grow over the
course of the year, and feel reassured that she is ready to tackle her freshman year at McGill
University with a new sense of purpose and motivation. We could not be more delighted with the
outcome of M’*s gap year, and the guidance she received from MyGapYear Inc.” Celia
Taking a gap year is not only time well spent. It is a life-changing opportunity that merges the
individual world with global awareness. In the world of tomorrow, international perspectives and
experiences will be more important than ever before. Those that take a gap year are indeed thinking
out of the box. However – with so much to be gained – perhaps gap years will soon become an
accepted rite of passage here in North America.
“It’s a time to step back and reflect, gain perspective on personal values and goals, or to gain
needed life experience in a setting separate from and independent of, one’s accustomed pressures
and expectations” – Harvard Dean of Admissions, William R.Fitzsimmons
Some moms and dads worry that their children will never go to University if they don't go straight out
of high school. But Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson, the husband-and-wife team who wrote The Gap
Year Advantage, say that's largely a myth. They interviewed 280 gappers for their upcoming book,
Gap Year, American Style, and found that 90 percent of them did go on to University. The fear that
gap-year students fall behind or lose their study skills "is rarely justified," the Harvard essay says.
Still, for some additional peace of mind, it's recommended that students first get accepted at a
university, then request a year's deferral.
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The Lure of the Gap Year
http://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/08/16/the-lure-of-the-gap-year
Time of learning and maturing can mean refreshed batteries and prepared students.
By THOMAS K. GROSE August 16, 2010
Tens of thousands of newly minted high school graduates will troop to campuses across the country this
fall to begin four or more years of collegiate life. But Liz Teixeira de Mattos won't be among them, even
though she was accepted by prestigious Vassar College in New York's Hudson Valley. Instead, she
should be wrapping up a stay in Greece, where she had arranged to work with dolphins, and getting
ready to head to South Africa. There, among other things, she'll pitch in at a game preserve and volunteer
at an AIDS orphanage. Later she'll jet to London for a stint as a fashion industry intern. She's also
scheduled time to travel around Europe.
But Teixeira de Mattos, 18, of Princeton, N.J., is no slacker. She's a "gapper"—one of a small but growing
number of American students who are deciding to take a "gap year" off between high school and what
would be their freshman year of college to travel, volunteer, work, study, and otherwise recharge their
batteries before getting back on the academic treadmill. "I thought, 'Why not?' There are other ways of
learning than sitting in a classroom," says Teixeira de Mattos, who ultimately plans to earn a degree in
environmental science.
That's a key point that many educators and other gap-year proponents make as well. They argue that the
out-of-classroom experiences of a gap year give students eye-opening life lessons that help them
become more mature, more aware of the wider world, and more self-sufficient, traits that will ultimately
serve them well once they're on campus. "They develop nonacademic skills and end up better prepared,"
says Holly Bull, who runs the New Jersey-based Center for Interim Programs, which helps students
organize gap years. There's some quantifiable evidence underscoring that claim, too. A study of gap-year
freshmen at Skidmore College in New York found they had higher grade point averages than their peers.
That readiness effect is one of the big reasons why the gap-year break—a British invention from the
1960s that has become a popular rite of passage for a large minority of college-bound U.K. students—is
appealing to more and more American kids. The British company Gapyear, which offers planning and
travel tips for students through its website (www.gapyear.com), reckons that its American clientele has
grown in recent years from nearly nil to around 10 percent. And Bull reports that "inquiries and awareness
are way up. Fifteen years ago it wasn't even on the radar screen. Now there are even gap-year fairs in
the U.S. That was unheard of a few years ago."
The take-a-break-first concept got a high-profile boost when Princeton University began its own "bridge
year" program last fall. Twenty Princeton freshmen spent nine months this past year not in class but
instead working in one of several overseas service programs. Among them was Lelabari Giwa-Ojuri of
Los Angeles, who worked with nonprofit youth groups in Serbia, including one that provides HIV/AIDS
advice to teens. "Just being part of that was really fulfilling for me," she says. Another 20 students will
participate in Princeton's program this year, and the eventual goal is to enroll 100 students a year.
Harvard College has for three decades advised incoming freshmen to take a gap year, and each year
around 50 to 70 students do so.
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Pause that refreshes. One key way a gap year tends to improve students' college performance,
proponents argue, is by allowing them to depressurize after some 12 years of hitting the books and taking
tests. "A lot of kids are incredibly burned out," Bull says. An essay titled "Time Out or Burn Out for the
Next Generation," cowritten by William Fitzsimmons, Harvard's dean of admissions, states that "the
pressures on today's students seem far more intense than those placed on previous generations."
Advocates say that students who defer school for a year return rejuvenated and more motivated to excel.
"It gives students another 15 months of growing-up time. That's a good thing," explains Mike Nicholson,
director of undergraduate degrees at Britain's University of Oxford. It certainly worked for Giwa-Ojuri. "I do
feel refreshed," she says. "It also reinforced my passion for learning."
Despite the potentially positive effects of taking a gap break, it remains a concept many American families
find alien. "It's a hard sell," admits Robert Bardwell, a counselor at Monson High School in Monson, Mass.
"For most American students, anything that delays the goal of getting a degree is not good." That may be
understandable, as the reality now is that it takes more than six years, on average, for U.S. students to
earn a four-year degree. "There's a lot of peer pressure to go straight to college," Bardwell adds. Teixeira
de Mattos certainly felt it. "Most of my friends were really shocked. They said, 'Just go to Vassar. Just go.'
" But she decided that Vassar wasn't right for her, at least not right now. She plans to apply to other
universities during her year off. "I don't want to go to just a good school, but the right school," she says.
Some moms and dads worry that their children will never go to college if they don't go straight out of high
school. But Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson, the husband-and-wife team who wrote The Gap Year
Advantage, say that's largely a myth. They interviewed 280 gappers for their upcoming book, Gap Year,
American Style, and found that 90 percent of them did go on to college. The fear that gap-year students
fall behind or lose their study skills "is rarely justified," the Harvard essay says. Still, for some additional
peace of mind, it's recommended that students first get accepted at a university, then request a year's
deferral.
Cost can also be a hurdle. Many parents should expect to pony up around $15,000 to $20,000 to cover a
student's gap year. Teixeira de Mattos's year will cost between $20,000 and $25,000. That kind of dough
is beyond the reach of many folks. There are, however, much cheaper options, including programs that
offer room and board or don't require overseas travel. Some even give students a chance to earn money.
The state and national programs within AmeriCorps are designed for kids 17 or older. Participants can
earn up to $5,350 in stipends that can be used to pay college costs. Moreover, 92 U.S. colleges and
universities will match whatever amount a student receives from AmeriCorps.
Structured approach. In Britain, gap students typically work for most of the year to earn enough money
to cover the cost of backpacking around various parts of the globe for a few months. American students
and their parents usually prefer taking a more organized approach. "They can't just travel in an
unstructured way," Bull says. That said, the list of gap-year options available to students is limited only by
their imagination, and many, like Teixeira de Mattos, weave together a range of experiences. Bull tells
kids, "Do something that draws you." That can, and often does, include some type of service work, as well
as internships, learning new skills, and a bit of traveling for fun, too. What isn't a good idea is taking a
year off and not doing much of anything. "We don't define a gap year as sitting around for a year on a
sofa playing video games," Nelson says.
Oxford's Nicholson says gap years are particularly suited to "self-starters who are highly motivated." But
Bull says she believes that almost any student can benefit from a gap year. Giwa-Ojuri agrees: "I think it
could be a valuable experience for a variety of students," so long as they're willing to be challenged and
fully understand that their self-imposed hiatus will likely change them—for the better. That's something
that Teixeira de Mattos certainly expects. Looking ahead to fall 2011, she says, "I know I will be a
different person." And the odds are high she'll be a better student, too.
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Should your child have a ‘gap year’ before college?
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24260521/ns/today-
parenting_and_family/t/should-your-child-have-gap-year-University/
By Danielle Wood
4/19/2013 4:11:05 PM +00:00 NBCNews.com
Princeton encourages it. Harvard’s a big fan. From Tufts to MIT, some of the most prestigious universities in the nation are urging students to consider something that would make most parents cringe: The idea of putting off college for a year in favor of some much-needed downtime.
It’s called a “gap year.” And while it’s been a common and popular rite of passage in Australia and the U.K. for decades, the concept is now starting to gain significant steam here in America.
Why? A growing number of high school seniors are balking at riding the academic conveyer belt from preschool all the way to university. They’re burnt out. Or not quite ready. Or they want to explore a few interests before deciding what to study in college. So instead of packing their bags in anticipation of freshman year, they’re volunteering in New Orleans or teaching in Thailand. They’re starting the great American novel, or interning to help figure out what they want to do with their lives.
Understandably, that makes a lot of parents nervous. But before you drive your kid to college in an armored truck and deliver him to the dorm yourself, it’s important to understand the facts, including what a gap year is, and what it is not.
For one, a gap year does not mean that a student is doomed to remain degree-less forever. While there are no formal studies on the number of students who never end up making their way to college post-gap, anecdotal evidence from admissions officers across the country says very few actually drop off the college radar. Taking a gap year can actually make kids more focused and ready for the rigors of academic life. In fact, Harvard, arguably the most competitive university in the country, believes so much in the gap year that they encourage every student they admit to consider a year off before matriculation. And Princeton has just announced a new program called the “bridge year” that will allow newly admitted students to
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spend a year performing public service abroad before beginning their freshman year.
The reason behind higher education’s support of the gap year is clear: Better-prepared students mean higher completion rates. And it’s completion that matters. Parents should remember that getting a kid into college is only half the battle. According to the College Board, three out of five students who enter a public four-year college don’t manage to snag a degree within five years. And nearly 30 percent of all students who enter college don't return for their sophomore year. Considering the fact that this year’s average price at a four-year private college is a whopping $23,712 per year, it’s a pretty expensive place to dabble. Sending a kid who’s not ready to college is like sending a kid who’s not feeling hungry to an all-you-can-eat buffet. That said, not all gap years are created equal. If you have a kid determined to take a year off, here are some guidelines to follow:
Have the money talk Just because you’re willing to chip in for college doesn’t mean you’re on the hook for a gap year as well. Remember, it’s about learning responsibility in the real world. Be honest up front about what you are — and are not — willing to do. Require that your child create an in-depth budget for her year, in addition to telling you how she plans to contribute financially. While many students dream of a year of unfettered travel, it’s perfectly reasonable to require that your kid wait some tables for a few months to pay for all or some of the year.
Get in first A gap year should be a measured decision, not a procrastination technique. It should never be used to avoid taking the SAT or ACT on time, stall the need to fill out college applications, or jump into the Senior Slide early. If you have a high schooler under your roof who’s dreaming of taking a year off, keep him on track. Act as if he’s going to college as planned. Once he gains admission, he can call the college to request a deferment, which most admissions offices will gladly grant.
Create a plan B The best way to start a gap year is with an admissions offer to your dream school in hand. But for students who didn’t get into their college of choice the first time around, a gap offers a second crack at it. Holly Bull, director of the Center for Interim Programs, the oldest gap year advisory service in the country, says that for students who’ve had less than stellar grades during senior year, a gap year offers a second chance to show solid performance, through an academic program abroad or some other curriculum-based program. Sometimes the gap year can make all the difference in getting an acceptance letter the second time around, Bull says. “It’s been known to happen. It’s certainly not a guarantee, not something you can bank on, but we’ve had some.”
Put it in writing The most successful gap years are full of unexpected surprises along the way. But in between all those surprises lives a lot of planning. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — a chance for your child to see the world and figure out their place in it. If they’re angling for independence, have them prove they deserve it by doing research and coming up with a course of action. From a budget to a schedule to the phone calls needed to land that dream internship, the planning phase is just as vital to the gap year, and just as much a learning experience, as the gap itself. It’s perfectly OK to deviate from the plan once the year begins, but starting without one is a recipe for disaster.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/gap-year-why-your-kid-shouldnt-go-to-school-in-
the-fall/article570898/
February 18, 2011
Gap year: Why your kid shouldn't go to school in the fall
By Erin Anderssen
As high school students await their university acceptance letters, a
growing body of research suggests that the best course of action may be
taking a year off
A virtual rat named Sniffy rescued 20-year-old Daniella Badali from a life she didn't want.
Ms. Badali was in her first year of a psychology degree at the University of Toronto - a program she'd chosen blindly the night before the applications were due, feeling rushed by her teachers and wanting to please her parents. Sniffy was just a computer rodent, but fumbling through her assignment to shock him until he completed a task, she realized she'd made the wrong choice. She didn't want to be a psychologist, she didn't like feeling like a number in an overcrowded university class, and she despaired at her dismal grades. "I know it wasn't for me," she says. "I had no idea why I went to school. My head was all over the place."
She broke the news to her surprised parents at the end of her first year: She wasn't going back. "I held her in my arms and said 'This is not a setback at all,'" recalls her mother, Claudia. "'This is an opportunity for you to try something else.'"
Taking a break from school, in fact, could end up being the best thing Ms. Badali ever did. "I feel like a lot of pressure has been lifted off my shoulders," she says.
In Europe, the gap year - a year off before higher education - is an accepted, and expected, rite of passage. In North America, however, the traditional student track has long been to graduate from high school in June, and arrive at university in September. But amid concerns about persistent dropout rates, researchers say that many students
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who follow the straight-to-university path find themselves trapped in programs they don't like, burdened by debt and are more likely to quit. The pressure to get to class quickly is shortsighted, experts suggest, especially with recent studies suggesting increasing levels of anxiety - and, according to tests and interviews, little actual learning - among first-year students.
More than 80 per cent of Canadian high-school students will eventually go on to some form of post-secondary education - with about 30 per cent taking more than four months off in between, according to a 2008 Statistics Canada study. Saving money was the most common reason, and student from low-income families were more likely to delay school. Upon graduation, however, a Canadian Council of Learning study found that students who took a gap year were eight per cent more likely to be employed (possibly because of their work experience). They also earned about $85 less per week than graduates of the same age who went straight through - though this was likely because they'd had less time in the workforce post-university.
A significant portion of students also shift paths after arriving on campus. One 2008 analysis of Statistics Canada data conducted by Queen's University researchers found that, of the 18 per cent of university and college freshman who dropped out in their first year, nearly half had either switched schools or eventually returned. In fact, many students zigzag through school, with only 54 per cent of students graduating from their original program within five years.
Especially when their parents have university degrees, the majority of stalling students eventually head back to school - ideally when they're less likely to drink away their students loans and more likely to find a career they love.
"Your child will not want to flip burgers or stock shelves forever," says Michael Ungar, a professor of social work at Dalhousie University who specializes in youth issues. "If they have any desire for a middle-class lifestyle, they will have to pursue a post-secondary education."
Dr. Michael Ungar and his wife Cathy Campbell, an adult education researcher and career counsellor for the province of Nova Scotia, have completed a recent project interviewing 20-something Canadians now in the workforce about the different paths they took after high school. They discovered that many of the students who choose to work or travel first entered university with more specific goals, wasted less money and found a real calling. Even those students who appear to be drifting often landed, sometimes by luck, in a field they liked. And the results for high-achieving students who went right into university also weren't clear-cut: Some ended up trapped in programs or headed toward careers they didn't like.
Parents need to see their children as individuals, says Dr. Ungar, who has two teenagers. He expects that his daughter, now in grade nine, will want to go straight into university, though he worries about her having enough life experience. His son, on the
27
other hand, is less clear about his future goals: "I'd rather given him $5,000 to travel than pay $15,000 for him to go sit in a university and drift between classes."
More universities in Canada allow, and even encouraging, gap years for admitted students; they will even hold their scholarships. "We are trying to say it's more than a deferral," says Kenneth Withers, the director of recruitment at York University. "We are really encouraging students to do something with their time."
These are students who typically seek out Julie Newton, a life coach in Toronto and the co-owner of mygapyear.ca, who helps plan a year of travel, work and schooling for youth typically trying to figure out what to do next. "The thing I notice about this generation is that, if they are bored, if they think they are not getting anything out of it, they'll leave, they will walk out," she says. But there's still a stigma to changing gears, Ms. Newton says: "Often they feel like crap because it didn't work out. They don't see it as a learning experience.
Ms. Badali, one of Ms. Newton's clients, is currently working two jobs, as a receptionist as a hair salon and as a tester at LCBO on the weekends, and saving up for a two-month study trip to Paris. "It would not have been positive if she'd buried herself under the covers and done nothing about it," says her mom. "Now is the time to change your mind. Just don't give up."
Daniella is already planning her next step, perhaps studying French and dance with the aim of becoming a teacher. "If you are feeling rushed, definitely take the year off - it's not a bad thing," says Daniella. Even if it means starting over in school? "I don't care," she says. "At least I'll know what I am doing there."
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Choosing a University with a Jewish Life on Campus
Check out the OU-JLIC Guide to Jewish life on the college campus at
http://issuu.com/orthodoxunion/docs/jlic_web?e=8222168/15001546. Hillel also has a guide available at
http://www.hillel.org/college-guide.
Is there kosher food on campus? Will other students keep Shabbat or daven? Will there be a Sukkah available? All of
these are questions that an Academy student must consider in order to choose a University where he or she will feel
comfortable and be happy.
The best way to find out about a prospective school is to talk to students on campus, contact the campus Hillel,
Chabad, or other Jewish organizations.
Here are some important questions to consider:
How large is the Jewish student population?
What percentage of the Jewish students are involved in religious activities?
How active is the Hillel organization?
What are the different Jewish groups on campus?
Where are the Jewish groups on campus?
Are there separate gender dorms on campus?
Are there social action groups emanating from Jewish organizations?
If the school is recognized as a commuter school, are out-of-state students invited into area homes for
Shabbat? For holidays?
What is the university policy regarding Jewish holidays?
Have there been scheduling conflicts (exams and graduation) with Jewish holidays? If so, how were these
handled?
Is there any anti-Israel sentiment on campus?
Are Jewish faculty members involved in Jewish activities?
What Judaic courses are offered on campus?
Are there Jewish study opportunities on or off campus?
What synagogues are near the campus?
How hospitable are the local synagogues to University students?
Will students be able to observe Passover on campus?
Is there a kosher kitchen/dining room on campus; under whose kosher supervision, and who does the
cooking?
How many students keep kosher?
Will there be a sukkah on campus?
