Being senior means my life has slowly been taken over by college applications. One of the hardest parts of this process is creating a college list where I believe I can be a proud Jew. From my experience, here are five tips to make the process easier.

1. Do your Research

When looking at school, look at outside resources for an overview on Jewish life. Some examples are the ADL campus report card and Hillel campus search. These resources can help you compare different campuses and specifically what resources are available for Jewish students.

2. Connect with Groups 

If you are planning to visit a school, email the groups you want to connect with and see if you can tour. This allows you to meet the staff and students who see the climate on campus everyday. Even if you don’t go to campus, you can always email a group any questions you might have to connect with them.

3. Look Beyond the Headlines

While the headlines can be scary, there is typically more to the story. Make sure that you are reading beyond the first line to get the full picture. Additionally, make sure to check sources and read multiple sources to get a factual situation.

4. Figure out your Priorities 

Jewish Life can look different for everyone on college campuses. Whether that be Jewish Greek Life, Kosher food, or a Rabbi, you should know what you desire on a campus. This will allow you to have an easier time figuring out what schools you want to apply to.  

5. Find the Response, Not the Situation 

One thing to note about colleges is that they can’t control the actions of individual groups or students. What can be controlled is their response to an incident. Finding out responses will let you know how you will be supported on campus.