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Choosing your post-secondary education is a big decision, but it doesn't need to be overwhelming. If you've decided on a hebrew, Rabbinical or Talmudic college or university, then that's alreadu one big decision made. But there are others still to go. It doesn't have to be overwhelming, especially if you breal it down into basic categories like the following:Credentials and Programs OfferedLocationSize and CultureCostQuality/AccreditationEntry RequirementsStudent Support and SuccessYour Gut FeelingCredentials and Programs OfferedSome people know right away whether they want to pursue a professional or academic degree, while others don't know what they want to do but know what they enjoy studying or are good at. Both of these senses of yourself can help decide the kind of education and the type of credential you might want to pursue...which, in turn, can influence your
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Choosing your post-secondary education is a big decision, but it doesn't need to be overwhelming. If you've decided on a hebrew, Rabbinical or Talmudic college or university, then that's alreadu one big decision made. But there are others still to go. It doesn't have to be overwhelming, especially if you breal it down into basic categories like the following:
Credentials and Programs Offered
Location
Size and Culture
Cost
Quality/Accreditation
Entry Requirements
Student Support and Success
Your Gut Feeling
Credentials and Programs Offered
Some people know right away whether they want to pursue a professional or academic degree, while others don't know what they want to do but know what they enjoy studying or are good at. Both of these senses of yourself can help decide the kind of education and the type of credential you might want to pursue...which, in turn, can influence your choice of a university or college. Knowing what subjects interest you and how long you want (or don't want) to spend in school will narrow down which kinds of credentials are available in that area of study, since different credentials entail different amounts of time.
The key to making choices is knowledge. So here is a brief introduction to the credentials and programs offered.
Academic bachelor's degrees: Usually, this is a 4-year undergraduate university degree. A bachelor's degree gives you broad academic knowledge of a particular area of study (for example history, computer science, business, nursing, etc.) along with "elective" courses, which provide a broader context for your major focus. Bachelor's degrees aren't necessarily designed to prepare you for particular jobs, although some do. Others are primarily gateways to graduate level study. Within a bachelor's degree you can take a major, double major, major and minor, or honors option. These degrees therefore have a lot of flexibility in terms of allowing you to explore a variety of interests and help you keep lots of doors open for the future.
Professional degree: Professional degrees offered by hebrew, Rabbinical and Talmudic colleges and universities include First Rabbinic and First Talmudic degrees, which often take 5 years to complete.
Diploma/ Certificate: Universities usually offer a wide variety of 1- to 3-year diploma and certificates in a number of program areas. Most of these are designed to lead you into the job market right away, and often allow you to pursue a professional certification (in IT, for instance) or write certain licensing exams. Diplomas and certificates can be used to fulfill prerequisites or to transfer into degree programs.
Zooming in closer, knowing the kind of program area you are interested in (such as religious studies, business or music) will help you to find criteria to evaluate when looking at the different college offerings. Once you have a sense of your desired program, you can look at the college's or program's webpage to examine things like the size, options and level of specialization. For instance, you might ask the following: How many instructors are there? (a larger school isn't necessarily better, but it does mean you will have more course choices). What kind of courses are offered? Is enrolment limited or will you end up in large impersonal classes? Do the instructors seem credible? What credentials do they have? You may also want to investigate whether or not a practicum or internship option exists for your desired program, since many students find these valuable for work experience, networking, and as a source of income.
Location
The decision of where to go often depends on what you want to study. If you are interested in a professional degree, you may not be able to find a school that teaches what you want nearby: you may have to go where your desired program is being offered. Or, if you are pursuing a more general university program, you may want to use this as an opportunity for change in this next phase of your life. Do you live in the eastern US? Why not go west! Or if you live in a big city, try a small town. Bear in mind the climate of wherever you go, especially if it's dramatically different from what you're used to.
You may also want to consider the college's proximity to home (whether distance or closeness is your ideal!) and be aware that if you choose a school in another state, this will limit your visits home since travel back and forth can be both costly and time-consuming. You would have to budget for travel costs, and this makes it difficult to get home for shorter holidays. So when selecting a college, consider how often you would like to visit home and the amount of time and cost it will take to do so.
Size and Culture
When selecting a hebrew, Rabbinical or Talmudic college, you may want to think about its size. This may not be easy to find out, since many of the yeshivas do not have websites to consult. But you can usually find a phone number and a call will get you the information you are looking for. Consider what learning environment best suits your personality.
Schools--whether large universities or small rabbinical colleges--have different "vibes" which can affect your experience.
Cost
The three biggest costs associated with post-secondary school are basic living expenses, tuition fees and the cost of books and other supplies. Living at home, on-campus or away from home but off-campus are all choices you need to think about, since rent, groceries, travel/ commuting expenses all add up. Finding a place to live can also involve differing amounts of time and energy, so you need to budget your money and your time. Be sure to explore your options for any scholarships and bursaries because every little bit helps-even if it is just $500 here, $300 there. Have you discussed finances with your parents? Maybe they plan to help. Where will you get money for added expenses, such as entertainment, clothes, cell phone bills, etc.? Will you need a student loan? A job? If you'll need to work, are part-time studies available? Make sure you know ahead of time what costs you will have to cover with each of your options, so that you can factor them into your selection process.
Entry Requirements
Make sure you know what the entry requirements are (and ensure that you meet them) for each of your potential colleges. If you are lacking certian pre-requisites, this might affect your choice in terms of whether or not you want to spend the time earning whatever's needed to qualify before you can apply.
Quality/ Accreditation
Every student hopes to get a "good" education, so there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure "quality." Some aspects to investigate are licensure and accreditation (at the institutional and/or program levels--see the section on Hebrew, Rabbinical and Talmudic College Accreditation for more details) and the resources available at the school. Does it have good computing facilities? Is there anything related to your specific program that you need? Do they have it? Don't be afraid to "google" the faculty or instructors: checking in to their backgrounds and experience can give you another level of insight.
Student Support and Success
Because these schools are designed to prepare students for a life or dedicated service to their community and the world, you should also look at the kinds of student support they offer. Things like the financial aid and placement assistance offered by each institution can be compared to help you make your choice of the college that will serve you best.
Your Gut Feeling
In addition to weighing the pros and cons and costs of each college, put some stock in your gut feeling about each--especially if you can visit the campus. Sometimes your intuition or gut instinct about a school can assess it more accurately than a list of its facts and figures. See for yourself what the school is like before committing time and money to it.
So make the most of this time, wherever you choose to go. Don't fret or obsess about "what ifs" once you finally decide: if you ultimately find you are very unhappy with your decision, you can always transfer. Universities and colleges, including those that are Hebrew, Rabbinic and talmudic, are there for you!
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