There is some really valuable information here about Ateres which Im finding very helpful – thank you candy613! So since you said you love talking about your seminary I hope you dont mind if I jump on the bandwagon with a couple of questions.
1) What made you ultimately decide to go to Ateres?
2) Would I be intellectually challenged in Ateres. I happen to be a very studious girl in high school and get very good marks Baruch Hashem but I honestly dont want to kill myself like I have done over the last years in High school. However I love learning and really want deep classes that make you think and classes that they are not just restating the obvious. The good stuff in other words! One thing I hate about high school is that the work is to a great degree just memorizing your notes. I dont want that type of work in seminary. I want work that I will enjoy and will be intellectual, not just memorizing a bunch of facts and chazals.
3) Are there a lot of rules? I really want to be in a place with mature girls who the hanhalla trusts and dont feel they have to impose a million rules to keep them in check.
4) Are there a million tests throughout the year? I happen to enjoy reports ten times better then tests because I can create and add my own thoughts instead of just memorizing and spitting back. Is that something they encourage? Also how hard and intellectual is the first track? Will it be the type of work that Ill feel like I cant relax on shabbos or go out if I want to?
I have more questions but I dont want to scare you so Ill stop now. Thank you so much for your time!!
I am basically looking for a seminary with extremely nice, mature girls who have personality, are extremely openminded and worldly but yet are BY type, want to grow and do the right thing. I want to be intellectually challenged and have teachers who I can connect to and will have answers to my questions while not killing myself with an overwhelming amount of work. People tell me this is a dream seminary but Im gonna try to find a place as close to this as possible. Thanks a ton!