I went to BY MAchon Raaya last year and i can tell u about it. I B”H had an amazing year there. I of course had to weigh my options before going because it was the first year of the seminary but it turned out to be the best place ever!
SO here are the basics and if u want more ask.
In terms of the type, I know that ppl are saying that is “a more open minded type of BY” whatever that means. According to me it is a BY period. To give u an idea, the girls that were there last yr got into places like Bos Chava Nachlas seminar bya…
and applied from anywhere from hadar to meor. The girls are solid, tznius, frum and fun girls. There are a bunch of out of towners and a bunch of in towners, but as someone said earlier on in the thread, it s really achdusdik and everyone is friends, and even has kept in touch, as a sem, which is really nice.
The Hanhala is really unbelievable. They are there for u in every situation. U can feel comfortable going to them for shabbos, asking any questions… As someone else mentioned, they will listen to and be really accomidating about ANYTHING whether its regarding work or anything else.They are really exemplary ppl and they truly care about each girl in the school. They would seriously do ANYTHING for u!
The work- Basically its like this. If u are looking for an easy sem, this is not for u! the work is not easy! but, it is also not wut ppl tend to think of as stam “busy” work. U have reports, and hmwk assignments, but not just like twenty little stuff to do each night.Its smart work, and interensting stuff. Everybody who came was the type that they love to learn. No one was just trying to get away with out studying or with compramising on the reports and stuff.Everybody came to learn, and everybody learned a lot! there is a lot of focus on meforshim and text, but there were girls who came with out such a backround in that from outa town schools, and by the end of the yr they were mamash fluent!
The teachers are TOPS! We has unbelivably chashuv ppl teaching us, and yet they were aproachable, warm ,and brilliant. We has a standing invitation by all of them for shabbos and those were the most beautiful shabbosim! Some of the classes are electives and u only have to take a certain amount, but almost every single girl took extra cuz it was too hard too choose.
The accomidations are really nice, its in the prettiest location by the yaar yerushalayim. really nice rooms and stuff.
Although its not easy we had the funnest time ever!
we got to go on lots of trips that most places dont go cuz its a small sem, and we went on a trip in Yerushalayim EVERY WEEK!!! We got brachos from tons of gedolim, met a few amazing Rebbitzens, and each got PERSONAL TIME with Rebbitzen KANIEVSKY!!! Those are a few of the maalos of being small in addition to the warmth and achdus although it is growing…
U make ur own schedule sort of, cuz there are electives, so the time is very managable and so is the work.
GREAT PLACE!
If u wanna know more just ask!