H EADLINES
College Decision Season Brings Cautious Optimism
L OCA L
SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF
NATIONAL DECISION DAY
for students committing to
college is May 1, and many
are still uncertain about what
the upcoming school year will
look like.

Most colleges and univer-
sities have promised some
form of in-person learning
in the fall, but details remain
hazy about how closely it will
resemble the pre-pandemic
college experience.

And Jewish students and
the organizations that serve
them are also trying to fi gure
out how Jewish life on campus
will operate.

When asked about the
upcoming year, Jenn Reiss,
director of Jewish student life
at West Chester University
Hillel, said she tries to be as
transparent as possible with
prospective and admitted
students, since there’s nothing
worse than building up expec-
tations and having the real
experience fall short.

“We don’t know what it’s
going to look like, but we will
be fi nding as many opportu-
nities as we can for students
to feel connected to Hillel
and other Jewish students on
campus,” she said.

She said the West Chester
administration provided them
with a list of students who had
accepted their admissions off er
and a list of those who had
been accepted to the school but
had not yet committed. Th is
gave the organization a chance
to connect with new students
and reach out to those who
were still on the fence.

Many parents who were
not comfortable traveling
with their children for tours
expressed concern that they
couldn’t see the school in
person. “I know that when I talk
to these prospective students
and families they’re feeling a
little lost because if they hadn’t
already toured these schools
pre-COVID, they kind of feel
like they’re not getting the
same experience,” she said.

Hannah Rosenberg,
engagement director at Hillel
at Drexel University, said the
lack of in-person tours made it
more diffi cult to connect with
prospective students this year.

Hillel International stepped
in and organized two virtual
college fairs to help students
learn more about Jewish life
Drexel University students gather for a Hillel bonfi re.

Photo by Hannah Rosenberg
on campus, which attracted
thousands of students and
resulted in dozens contacting
Drexel Hillel specifi cally.

When students ask about
LIFE PLAN: wide open living
Michael and Marilyn hit the road.

making new friends or having
Shabbat dinners, Rosenberg
tells them what student life was
like both before COVID-19 hit
and aft er. She anticipates that
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Ready to shape what comes next?
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Call 215-618-9814
or visit RydalWaters.org
Everything except compromise.

4 APRIL 29, 2021
JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM