For Jewish students, college is not just an academic decision.

For most high school students, choosing a college is one of the first truly life-defining decisions they will make. They spend months comparing rankings, researching academic programs, touring campuses, and imagining where we will spend the next four years of our lives. Yet for many Jewish students today, there is another question that has become just as important: What will it feel like to be Jewish on campus?

That question has taken on new urgency in recent years, and as leaders in our communities, we are addressing this question with the northern New Jersey Center for Jewish Teen Engagement. 

In the wake of rising antisemitism and highly publicized tensions on college campuses, Jewish students and their families are looking beyond acceptance rates and dorm room tours. We are asking whether we will feel safe wearing a Star of David, whether we will find a supportive Jewish community, and whether campus leaders are committed to ensuring that Jewish students can fully participate in university life. These are not abstract concerns. They influence where we apply, enroll, and envision our futures.

Get The Jewish Standard Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

That is why the Jewish Life on Campus Fair, where we are serving on the Teen Leadership Committee, is so important.

Too often, the college admissions process can feel like students are doing everything they can to prove they belong on a campus. The Jewish Life on Campus Fair flips that dynamic, giving students the opportunity to ask whether a campus is the right fit for them, too. It gives students the chance to ask difficult questions, seek specific answers, and determine whether a campus aligns with their values and goals. In many respects, students are interviewing colleges just as much as colleges are evaluating them, particularly when it comes to the strength of Jewish life, the culture of the community, and the university’s commitment to supporting Jewish students.

The Fair is also valuable because it recognizes a reality that many students experience. College is not just an academic decision. It is a decision about community. Students want to know not only where they will study, but also where they will build friendships, develop as leaders, celebrate holidays, find mentors, and grow into adulthood. Access to that information helps students make choices that are informed by both our educational ambitions and our personal identities.

Ultimately, the Jewish Life on Campus Fair serves a simple but powerful purpose: it helps students find places where we can thrive.

Unlike traditional college fairs, the Jewish Life on Campus Fair gives students access to a broader and more complete picture of campus life. Sure, admissions representatives can discuss academics and student opportunities, but here we can also speak directly with Hillel professionals, Jewish student leaders, and others who understand what Jewish life actually looks like on campus. Instead of relying on promotional materials, social media headlines, or conflicting advice from online “experts,” we can directly ask the questions that matter most to them.

How active is Jewish life on campus? What opportunities exist for leadership? How does the school respond when antisemitism occurs? What role do Hillel, Chabad, Jewish fraternities and sororities, and other Jewish organizations play in building community?  Can I major in Jewish studies?  Study abroad in Israel?

These conversations help transform our current uncertainty into understanding.

At a time when many Jewish students are asking difficult questions about belonging, safety, community, and identity, the fair brings together the people best equipped to provide answers. It empowers us to make informed decisions, strengthens connections between campuses and prospective applicants, and reminds us that choosing a college is about much more than selecting a school. It is about finding a home.

For Jewish students making one of the most important decisions of their young lives, there is real value in having the opportunity to explore Jewish life on campus before they arrive.

Yahli Cop, a senior at Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest, is an officer of the Hebrew and Multicultural Clubs at NVD and co-president of his local library’s Teen Advisory Board.

Gavin Fromberg, a junior at Ramapo High School, is president of Wyckoff BBYO, currently serves as a Madrich at Temple Beth Rishon, and is the co-online editor-in-chief of his school newspaper.

Eli Kosiborod, a senior at Ramapo High School, has led Junior State of America for two years, served as a C-Teen North Bergen Teen Captain for three years, and is captain of the varsity fencing squad.

Nathan Kosiborod, a senior at Ramapo High School, serves as a C-Teen Captain and treasurer of the school’s Jewish Culture Club.

Eitan Rosenberg, a senior at Pascack Hills High School, currently serves as SGA president, president of his school’s Politics Club, and is involved in COJECO.