Seminary

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  • #599962
    #846695

    Oh ya and i should probably tell you i’m more to the chofetz chaim type. i got 2 a all girls skwl it’s not titled bais yaakov but i consider myself to be. I grew a lot at my school but because my school is super small and there are a lot of different types of girls i only had a few friends, awesome ones, but few. I haven’t felt like i belonged there for a long time and same for my friends. Me and 2 of my friends considered switching to BY and one actually did but me and the other didn’t. I don’t know if i fit at this particular BY either. I’m honestly not sure where i belong but that’s what my seminary year is for to really belong! if you need 2 kno anything else to figure out my type, then ask away!!! THANX AGAIN!

    #846696
    i love coffe
    Participant

    I sugest Afikei. They are very open and I believe they are very good on academics/trips. They are a little out of the box and care more for the inside of the person. I think you should look in to it a bit more.

    Do you have seminaries come to your school and give you some info about themselves?

    #846697
    calorie
    Member

    you just described ateres 100%

    there are tracks, so you can “choose” your difficulty in learning, and they are open to letting you move up or down. it is a small-ish seminary, therefore everyone is friends and cares for each other. also, many of the girls come from backgrounds exactly how you described, me being one of them. the girls and hanhala arecompletely open-minded to the backgrounds of girls, and you can ask anything without being judged. one of the reasons is because the girls are more out-of-towny and not so jappy. the girls who come are coming with the intention to grow. i DEFINITELY really grew intellectually AND spiritually…. however, it’s not the seminary where there is a pressure to get good grades…. they care about the learning and what was acheived more than the actual grade. and there is this incredible portfolio project that helps you track your growth which in turn helps you grow even more.

    I’m not even joking, as i continue to look back at everything you write, you described ateres 100%!!!!!!!!!!

    #846698
    ilovetheholyland
    Participant

    i think seminar yerushalayim sounds like a good choice for you from what you described. its everything you said you were looking for. go for it!

    #846699
    Disrael613
    Member

    I would suggest Midresht Tehillah, many of the girls have become more frum of their own accord. They have a good academic program, I an pretty sure that they do trips. Good Luck!

    #846700
    calorie
    Member

    ateres is BY, but afikei is not. i’m not discriminating AT ALL, i’m just letting you know

    #846701
    plaid
    Member

    (Keep in mind that everyone will recommend “their” seminary as the one that TOTALLY fits you :))

    That being said, your choices sound pretty good.

    Side by side, Seminar is not as academic as MR and Michlala, Meor seems to attract more of an in-town crowd (that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it depends on the person), Michlala is different from the rest because it doesn’t call itself Bais Yaakov (though it shares teachers with the other BY schools). I don’t know so much about Ateres.

    I think Machon Raaya would be a great choice because it is a Bais Yaakov, yet would allow you to find your own place within the “mold”. Michlala also has great BY-type girls, who are coming from a similar background as you, yet because it’s so large, there really is a huge range – personally, I was coming from a similar sitch, and it really helped to be in an actual BY where some things I wanted for myself were not even a question anymore.

    Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions!

    #846702

    I did look into them but i wanted more opinions and wanted more information because i feel like i don’t have enough. IY”H in november we are having the sems come 2 my school. The thing is i feel like that doesn’t give you enough information because most of the people say the same things and it doesn’t tell you what type of girls go to the sem. Also i have pamphlets for some of the sems but the thing is it sounds really good, but how do i know that in actuality that is what it is?

    #846703
    brotherofurs
    Participant

    i dont know about seminaries(sorry didnt go through that stage yet) but the seminary u want that you just described sounds exactly like the hs i’m in! 😉

    #846704
    Awahoo
    Participant

    By the way ur describing yourself i think u shld really consider pninim seminary !! Its an amazing seminary that really fits what ur looking for !!! U shld look into it

    Hatslacha 🙂

    #846705

    I have the same issue as you! I cannot decide which seminary will be most conducive to my spiritual growth. I think the issue is, is that we do not know ourselves yet, so how are we expected to know which place is best suited to our needs. I think that high school girls should first find out who they are, before making the all important decision of what seminary to go to.

    #846706
    ilovetheholyland
    Participant

    figuring – do you have specific questions about specific sems? i’d be happy to answer you to the best of my ability.

    iloveey – like the user name 😉

    #846707

    plaid, you seem to get what i was saying. thank you for your input.

    I heard peninim doesn’t do so much textual stuff they take lots of trips and do hashkafa stuff but what i want all of it.

    I thought of another thing to describe my type: i went to raninu going into 9th grade and it was totally not for me it was one of my worst summers not to put down raninu b/c it’s an awesome place but it’s just not my type and the girls who go there are for the most part not my type. I went to sternberg for the next 2 years which i loved so much and was so upset that i coudln’t go last year so i’m a sternberg girl not raninu and i feel like that says something for those who kno the 2.

    Calorie, you say that my description fits ateres but ilovetheholyland says seminar sounds like the right choice how am i supposed to kno who is right? what are the differences??

    #846708
    calorie
    Member

    first of all figuringitout, just to address sterneberg, sternberg is very much ateres’s type, more than a camp like raninu. not that there is anything wrong with raninu.

    anyways, moving on, first of all, feel free to ask me any question about ateres.

    i know that everyone is telling you to go to their sem, but you seriously described ateres. some people might tell you some negative things about ateres because it used to have a bad reputation, but they did a 360 and the girls are all really good 🙂 what i love is that everyone is from such different backgrounds, but it totally didn’t make a difference with friendships at all. the girl coming from a more modern background became really good friends with a girls from a chassideshe school, etc. no one is judgemental!! its amazing that way!!!

    one nice thing is that it’s BY without being yeshivish. i have nothing against being yeshivish, i just wasnt looking to be in a yeshivish sem and this was the perfect mix.

    to address the problem of all the girls who dont know who they are:

    if you are a good girl who is open minded and open to growth, then i can’t just say go to ateres because i don’t know you. however, i didn’t feel that i had an identity/know who i was until i got to seminary. in ateres, i was able to figure who i am and what i want to be.

    the school is also very accommodating and they really do SO MUCH for the girls, a lot more than other seminaries.

    i think machon raaya is similar to ateres, but it is a lot more academic. michlala is also very academic.

    i really feel for you!!! i know its really hard to make a choie especially because some seminaries seem sooo similar. i don’t know much about seminar in terms of spiritual growth and that stuff, but i do know that it is a lot bigger and the girls aren’t as close as in ateres. not everyone is looking for a sem where every girl is close, but the first shabbos in ateres every girl in ateres was comfortable with each other. no one was intimidated to really talk to anyone…. there wasn’t even a ‘popular’ group which was the most amazing part. not that i’m a neb who isn’t popular, but theres always that intimidating group at the top of the class. however, ateres does not have that!

    seminar is a lot more academic(unlike other seminaries, in ateres you have a choice whether or not to be academic. one major thing about ateres is that academics isn’t the only way to shine…. it’s also through art, dance, choir, and other things like that. also, they don’t accept you based on grades).

    i remember how scary this process is, so HALTZACHA RABA to all of you that need help finding a seminary!!! feel free to ask me any questions!!!!

    #846709
    ilovetheholyland
    Participant

    just for the record,i heard ateres “changed” their type this year…i dont know much about it now…and i went to seminar so you could say that im VERY biased. but ur sternberg discription makes me want to stress seminar even more. im telling you, half of sternberg was there my year….and the staff is UNBELIEVABLE!!! they have seen and dealt with everything and nothing you will tell them will shock them…and they are very much on the same page as the students….like, they dont act like they are “above”… they seriously work with each and every girl…if you have any questions…..

    #846710
    TheGoq
    Participant

    “jappy” that is an offensive term it should never be used to describe any bas yisroel please remove it from your lexicon.

    #846711
    Nechomah
    Participant

    I have a related question, just out of curiosity. Does anyone know which seminary is run by Mrs. Mindy Levine?

    #846712

    I went to Seminar. One of my good friends went to Michlala, and another went to Ateres. They are two very different types. We’re all Sternbergers though. I’ll talk about those three since I have the shaychus… 🙂 Seminar was definitely bais yaakov, maybe a tad more than Ateres (but maybe not. they may be tied) but definitely a bunch more than Michlalah. It is definitely a Sternberg type school, where you can connect with the teachers in and out of class, learn and grow, and go on great trips. However, I didn’t feel like you could ask EVERY question you might have (at least in class), because of its bais yaakovness. I think Ateres is a bit better for that because the girls are from a more diverse background. Michlala is highly academic and also not bais yaakov, so it may not be what you want. My highly academic friend went and enjoyed it for its intellectual stimulation. (It also has a gorgeous campus, btw :))

    Out of the three, I think you may want Ateres. Pninim is also something to look into, from what you’re describing. Meohr is on the right track, but I’m not sure it’s a fit for you, from what I’ve heard. It’s definitely more hashkafa based- is that your type? I think Machon Raayah is after my time (and I’m only out a couple of years!).

    Wherever you end up, you should remember Hashem put you in that exact spot for a reason, and it’ll be the best place for you!

    #846713

    Thanx so much everyone, you’re really helping!:) ok so calorie you said if i have any questions i could ask and TeachersNotebook you seem like a good source of info as well so i had compiled a list of questions to ask about seminary to people who went to the seminary k so its a lot but if you could answer as much as possible that wud b great it also cud b that some of the questions have been answered already also if u hav any more info to share abt the sem that wud b great! so here goes:

    1.What were you or other people at the seminary looking for in a seminary when deciding?

    2.How important is the interview/How intense,etc.- reading of rashi?

    3.What is the style of teaching? Discussion, lecture, classroom setting, chavrusa??

    4.What type of classes are there?

    5.Can you choose your classes?

    6.How much work is there? Tests?

    7.Is the seminary about getting as much done as possible or learning as much as possible out of each thing? Are tests and work a side factor and they really just want the girls to learn or is work a big factor of importance to the seminary?

    8.How hard is it? How hard is hard?

    10.The girls who go there is their focus on learning more textually or learning more and growing more spiritually?

    12.Are they all about the outside or do they focus on the inside as well?

    13.How big of a mix of people is it? Is it hard to find your place?

    14.Do they go on trips? Do they go to Europe?

    15.Are their rules strict? What are some of their rules?

    16.Do they have a uniform?

    17.What is the status of the dorm?

    19.How many meals are given?

    #846714
    OneOfMany
    Participant

    I went to Machon Raaya, and it seems that what you’re looking for does come pretty close. But again, there are a lot other seminaries that are very similar that might click with you better.

    Machon Raaya is a really nice balance of Bais Yaakov-y and OOTish. It’s not as Yeshivish as Hadar or BJJ, but more so than Michalah. There is an emphasis on textual learning, but it’s really in the context of growth and inquiry. It’s regarded as pretty academic.

    That being said:

    1) I was looking for the textual learning and the OOT, out-of-the-box crowd. People in my year applied to Michlalah, Bnos Sarah, Meor, and Ateres (in that order of magnitude), so I guess you could use that as a general frame of reference…

    2) I applied in June, so I didn’t have a regular interview (heh), but it was pretty chilled. I read a Ramban, but I don’t my think my rendition was the deciding factor. They are really looking for a certain type – fun, atypical, intellectually curious.

    3) We had all types – some classes were purely discussion, some had a really good discussion every once in a while, and some just had lots of really valuable information. Certain classes have hachanah, where you have to informally prepare the material with a chavrusah. This is to build the textual basis of the class, as well as to help those good old grey cells get into gear.

    4) There are the regulars – Chumash, Navi, Halacha, Historia, as well as some really diverse and really excellent electives – Shoah, Sefer Hachinuch, Halachic Process, Aggada, etc. The teachers are truly outstanding – all of them have unparalleled wealths of knowledge, as well as the ability to address and discuss real-life applications and issues.

    5)The regulars (above) are mandatory. You have these cores every day until noon, then you get to pick nine (or more) weekly hours out of the electives. So you get to design your entire afternoon schedule.

    6) Most of the classes have a lot of work – hachanah, some homework assignments, tests, and PAPERS. Truthfully, plenty of classes had papers instead of tests, but some had both. So there’s plenty to chew on.

    7) The funny thing is, while there IS a lot of work, it’s not the work itself that is vitally important. The hanhala really wants you to gain as much as you can from what they can give you. So if you don’t finish all the work, it’s okay – unless, of course, you need it for college credit. But even then, it’s negotiable – I didn’t do everything for certain subjects and so only got credit for the ones in which I did.

    8) The academics are pretty rigorous – you definitely don’t have to be a genius, but you need some textual background, and should be prepared for a heavy workload.

    9) VERY open – well, maybe not quite as open as a ba’al teshuvah sem, but you can definitely ask with impunity. The girls have really unique and thought provoking opinions and questions, and aren’t afraid to express them – out of the classroom as well. All’s fair in pursuit of knowledge. 🙂

    10) Again, there is a solid textual basis, but it’s really only a frame/springboard for the growth and inquiry. The two qualities aren’t mutually exclusive – in fact, BYMR has perhaps a perfect balance. 🙂

    11) Both. But all are thinking individuals aren’t robots in their Yiddishkeit.

    12) Don’t understand this question…

    13) It’s a grand old mix. Girls come from vastly different homes, schools, countries – some in my year didn’t even speak English! But everyone has an openness and desire to grow in common, and with that in hand you can really overcome any boundary. I can say with full honesty that I got along quite well with every girl there – and learned lots from them, to boot!

    14) There’s a big trip (tiyul) every month, an in-shabbos or out-shabbaton once a month, two two-day trips a year, and a trip to somewhere local in Yerushalayim every two out of three weeks. The also bring in lots of speakers – some random, when they can get them, and some on scheduled Yimei Iyun. Oh, and a Yom Iyun about every month, too. I think we’re up to par with all other sems, in general. No Europe – that’s Michlalah. 🙂

    15) There are technically virtually no rules. The staff tells us what they think is advisable, and you won’t suffer any big bad punishments if you don’t follow them. There is a dress code, required attendance, curfew, etc., but the worst you’ll get for breaking those is a mild reprimand. Somehow, the crowd that goes there is mature enough not to NEED strict boundaries…let me tell you, it makes for a really geshmak atmosphere.

    16) There is a very relaxed dress code – a shirt with buttons, and a skirt with pleats. As Reb. Rosenblum (the menaheles) says “As long as it has at least one button, and one pleat, you’re good.” And you can be as formal or informal as you please. You can dress in a polo and a biz, or in a button-down-sweater-and-pleated-skirt combo. Anything goes.

    17) The whole school used to be housed in whole building. B”H, this year they had to move out the classroom so as to accommodate the influx of new girls. So it’s all in one building, 3-5 girls in a room, rather decent rooms. Washer-dryer, enough showers, and great views from all windows. You have to be a little imaginative in terms of storage, though.

    18) There is one school Shabbos every month. The school has a placing service that is provided for all Shabbosim/Yomim Tovim. It’s a pretty good service, too. If planned enough in advance, you can get placed pretty much anywhere you want. You can stay in the dorm and eat meals in Har Nof if there are at least two girls staying – this happens most Shabbosim. Meals are provided for a minimum of five, but that usually doesn’t happen.

    19) All three.

    Whew! That was fun! 🙂 I hope it helps you make a decision! Again, I’m not pushing BYMR if you don’t think it fits you, but it’s a FANTASTIC option.

    Much hatzlachah!

    #846715
    OneOfMany
    Participant

    P.S. BYMR is a Sternberg FORTRESS. 🙂

    #846716

    Wow OneOfMany thanks sooooooo… much! You answered like all my questions! 🙂 It’s funny because it sounds amazing and sounds a lot like me, but i’m just scared about the workload. I feel like i’ll be unprepared because i feel like my school is pretty easy besides for a few classes. It could be i can handle it and like i’ve said i always love a good challange and i’m dedicated to my work and love to think and question and learn but it’s the tests that scare me. Also, i think i’m okay at reading the meforshim, but i don’t consider myself amazing. I don’t always understand what they are saying. It also says on the pamphlet about Machon Raaya “The highly motivated high school graduate with superior textual skils…” I don’t know what they mean by that part but… I don’t consider my skills superior to most. Maybe superior to others in my class of 11 students but probably not when i’m up against the best. Do you think this would be a problem? Also btw where else did u apply 2?

    #846717
    bymrstudent
    Member

    Heya there,

    Thanks OneOfMany for answering much more eloquently than I could have 🙂

    I want to add:

    1) They told us the first day of seminary, the #1 rule in BYMR is use your common sense. Mrs. Rosenblum (she is a Rebbetzin, but most girls refer to her as Mrs.) picks girls she knows she can trust. It’s just that kind of environment. And yeah, it’s pretty “geshmak!”

    2) There isn’t any busy work. In fact, there is barely any homework, except for a few weekly things (ex: Navi hachanah and quiz, parsha hachanah and quiz) and every so often a teacher will give an assignment. There are long-term reports, however, as OOM explained, but then it’s really just about you managing your time properly – everyone has their own system.

    3) In general, BY sems give all three meals, or at least lunch and supper. Anyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but the ones I know for sure in your range that don’t give all three are Michlala and Darchei Binah.

    4) I honestly don’t think you need to worry about the textual skills now. Everyone came in on different levels, from the girls who were reading sefarim on the plane to those who had never read beyond a Rashi, and even that was with major help from teachers. Even the girls with the better textual skills had a lot to learn and everyone came out of the year saying that they really honed their skills. If you are able to read a meforash, even if it’s not perfectly, yet you are serious and excited to learn and put in effort, you’ll do great.

    I’d rather not say where I applied, but to add to OOM’s list, girls also applied to BJJ, Bnos Chava, and Mesores Rochel. Many who decided on BYMR did so because they wanted the smaller, warmer, more out of town, serious learning, while not compromising on the BY environment (note that this is not all, but a majority picked BYMR for these reasons).

    Hatzlacha with your decision! Just remember that sending in an application is not a commitment!!!

    #846718
    SmartTeen
    Member

    I am in Tomer Devorah and I love it!!

    1. A year to enjoy Israel, learn about the land. Learn about yourselves- about your place in life, how to achieve potential. Learn halacha, about our heritage. They make you want to grow- don’t force anything.

    2. There are 2 tracks, higher and lower in terms of textual learning but pretty much they don’t care what level you are on. 3.What is the style of teaching? Discussion, lecture, classroom setting, chavrusa??

    3. So most classes are in a classroom setting. A few times a week we have a chumash/freestyle tutoring time with 1 or 2 other girls. All the teachers though will answer pretty much any question and we get into discussions a lot.

    5. Only text ones are Chumash and Navi. Theres Hilchos shabbos, bein adam lachaveiro, issues in israel, inyanei nashim, emunah and bitachon- a huge variety.

    5. You choose 2/3 per semester but otherwise no.

    6. There’s not a lot. A few classes give a 3/4 question quize once a week or so but otherwise midterms/finals for most classes and 1 or 2 papers a semester.

    7. Learning as much as possible out of each thing. tests/work is a side factor.

    8. Very easy. Some people come from schools where you barely learn jewish subjects and I would say it is not too hard for them.

    9. You can ask any question! Taharas hamishpacha questions, guys/girls relationships, questions that some people would consider being an apikores in a BY school but they try to answer everything.

    10. Learning more and growing more spiritually- definitely.

    11. Most girls are self-made. Most are not from the frummest families.

    12. Focus on the inside. Middos, our relationships with friends/teachers/family.

    13.I am a shy person and I found a really good group of friends right away. There are all types here. I don’t think anyone feels like they don’t belond.

    14. A lot of tiyuls! Like once a month a 2 day trip or so and once a month a trip to a park/beach/museum. Not to Europe.

    15. Cover your toes, 12pm curfew every night, no drinking, and no hanging out with boys in the neighborhood of the school but other places its okay.

    16. Basically cover your elbows/collarbone/knees (not so strict abt it really) and cover your toes.

    17.They are pretty nice. American mattresses, 2-3-4-5 per room. Enough closet space. There is a piano, an exercise room, very nice student lounge. In the same building as the classrooms and lunchroom etc. Bathrooms arent the greatest but there is a cleaning lady every day.

    18.You find a place for Yom Tov. Shabbos, every 4/5 weeks there is an in school shabbaton. On out shabbosim oyu can stay in the dorms and they find you meals or there is someone designated to find you anywhere to go.

    19. Lunch: Bagels and spreads, pizza, falafel, lasagna with salad.

    Dinner: Almost every night chicken with 2 sides like rice/soup/vegetables.

    Tomer Devorah is a really nice sem and you should check it out 🙂

    #846719
    ilovetheholyland
    Participant

    just answered all ur questions and everything got deleated!!! oh well….

    #846720
    OneOfMany
    Participant

    bymrstudent: aHA.

    #846721

    girls from bymr thanx so much u rly helped me out! Smartteen u helped me out 2 but in a different way. not in a mean way but you’ve showed me that i’m right that i don’t belong at tomer devora. thnx 2 all of u 4 ur time and effort! 🙂

    #846722
    OneOfMany
    Participant

    figuringitout: bymrstudent is right. What they said in the brochure was only 50% accurate in all cases – the highly motivated part. :)There were lots of girls in my year who would panic at the thought of reading a Rashi aloud.

    And again, as bymrstudent said, the work is very manageable if you pace yourself. But there really is very little pressure about it to begin with.

    Also, I didn’t happen to apply anywhere else.

    #846723
    mrmiami
    Member

    figuringitout do you go to Sharey Bina in Miami?

    #846724
    bygirl93
    Member

    If u don’t mind a half yr lahav is BEYOND AMAZING

    #846725
    anonymouss
    Participant

    My daughter is planning on going to seminary next year. She did not receive any brochures to look at. Does anyone have the brochures for Ateres, Pninim, Meor that can be scanned in so we can look at them (or are there phone numbers in the US that we can contact for the brochures)? It is hard to choose without knowing what the seminaries offer. She is looking for a sem that is not hard academicically (which is why Ateres is looking like a possibility because it has the different tracks). She also wants a place that will work with her and all of her food allergies. She also wants to go on lots of trips.

    #846726
    yoyo56
    Member

    Does none now nothing abt Meohr and seminar I need info I have to decide where I’m applying!

    #846727
    zeena.kasta
    Member

    what do you think of darchei binah?

    #846728
    bygirl93
    Member

    figuringitout- i guess you must have doen your research because those 4 you said pretty much fit what you described- i say apply and leave the rest in His hands- He has his mysterious ways of putting you where you need to be- i speak from exprience- just send in those apps and breath a sigh of relief! cant wait to hear what you decide! good luck!!!

    #846729
    lemaysa
    Member

    sharfmans sounds like the place for you they have a amazing all around program with alot of success

    #846730
    bly
    Participant

    Hi there, so I’m new to this posting sitch but I figured I’d jump on in even though it’s after applications are due (right?) cuz applying is really only the first part… the actual decision of where to go is equally hard… and since calorie hasn’t gotten ’round to answering your questions about ateres, I wanted to.

    1.What were you or other people at the seminary looking for in a seminary when deciding?

    When I applied, I applied to Ateres and Seminar. Both are known to have diverse crowds, lots of different types of girls from different backgrounds, and there’s a lot of academic wiggle room (Ateres, having tracks, and Seminar also having different levels). Seminar is known to be a warm and out of towny place as is Ateres. I chose to go to Ateres ultimately because my principal said that it was, what he would consider more out of the box. Ateres is also a much smaller seminary so there’s a lot more individualized attention in the classes. There’s less than half the girls there than in Seminar. These were all really big things that had me leaning towards Ateres, but what really helped me make up my mind was…

    2.How important is the interview/How intense,etc.- reading of rashi?

    My Ateres interview was the best interview ever. I met with Rabbi Belsky and Mrs. Sokol at their hotel and I was totally comfertable at once. In fact, I was smiling the whole time. I don’t really know why… I just couldn’t help it!!! Anyway, I was totally expecting the whole chumash rashi ramban kli yakar deal… and I didn’t get it. I was super nervous for no real reason…! They asked me one simple question: “If you could make your own seminary, what would you call it? What types of teachers would you have? What types of classes? Girls? etc…” They really wanted to see if what I wanted and what they had to offer worked out. They asked what types of lessons would I have in my seminary, what values would there be, etc.

    I just loved their style… the interview gave me the impression that at Ateres they care more that they’re getting GOOD girls as opposed to girls whos test grades have deemed them “smart”.

    (The Seminar interview, for those who are wondering, was more straightfoward. I read from the chumash, a rashi, and a kli yakar. I also had to fill out a questionarre in hebrew while I was in the waiting room.)

    3.What is the style of teaching? Discussion, lecture, classroom setting, chavrusa??

    Ateres has all different styles. Mrs. Herenstein’s class is full of discussion, she definitely encourages it, and in pretty much all the other classes there is plenty of discussion as well, though probably not nearly as much. We have lectureres come for around an hour once a week to speak about different topics. They are fantastic!! Of course there is classroom setting as well. Lastly, there is also studying b’chevrusa. How many chevrusas you have though differs on what class you’re in. If you’re in class one you work with one other girl in your class and if you need help, a prep tutor is there to address your question. If you’re in class two or three then you work with a group of girls in your class as well as a prep tutor.

    4.What type of classes are there?

    All sorts!! There’s chumash, navi, tehillim, megillos, hilchos brachos, hilchos shabbos, va’adim be’tefilah, torahs habayis, a class on ikrei emunah,chovos halevavos, ma’agal hashana, machshava, yesodos … there’s a holocaust class, a teachers class… there’s a lot but you’ll find that in any seminary.

    5.Can you choose your classes?

    Not really. There are a few classes that are optional but those are all REALLY good and definitely worth taking anyway. Class one has to take those though. Still, there are 2 classes (I think…) that are optional for even class one.

    6.How much work is there? Tests?

    We definitely have our reports but the amount of reports and the material covered in the reports you have to discuss depends on what class you’re in. The actual amount of work depends on the class but there isn’t really that much all together. There is no busy work, really. I think the most you have is prep but classes 2 and 3 have class time to do their prep with tutors so it’s very manageable. We definitely have tests and they’re not easy but we don’t have so many comparatively… or at least I don’t think so.

    An important thing I want to note… everyone knows who is in which class but it really makes no difference socially!!! Most of my closest friends were not in my class!

    7.Is the seminary about getting as much done as possible or learning as much as possible out of each thing? Are tests and work a side factor and they really just want the girls to learn or is work a big factor of importance to the seminary?

    The first year in Ateres there were NO TESTS. They tried it out as an experiment. But it was a failure. After that they started giving tests.

    I think that’s proof enough that Ateres is more about what the girls get out of it, how they grow, who they become, then their grades.

    8.How hard is it? How hard is hard?

    I like your question… it’s very well phrased. Of course hard is relative…

    Anyway… I don’t think comparitively Ateres is a very hard seminary. One good thing about it is that it’s tracked (there are 3 different levels or 2 different levels, depending on the class) so whatever level you’re at you’re being pushed to grow… the idea is not to push you too hard. Class is meant to make you think. But they don’t want to stress you out. If you find yourself having trouble, the staff is very accomodating and more than willing to help you, to make things work.

    I said before that Ateres has different tracks, but in actuality, there are maaaaaany different tracks. If a girl would have trouble with the track she was placed in then she has the option to switch to a lower track, or mrs. Sokol would help that girl in modifying the track that she’s in to make it more manageable for her. Often times, a girl is intelectually at a certain level but her skills are not quite there yet so she’ll sit in a higher class but have the workload of a lower class. A lot of girls found this very helpful!

    You can literally ask anything. People wouldn’t look down on you for asking a question… if you’re asking it generally means you want to know for a reason, for yourself, for your own growth. If you’re not asking you either haven’t thought of it or you don’t really care to know the answer because no matter what answer you get, it won’t effect your daily life and how you think.

    10.The girls who go there is their focus on learning more textually or learning more and growing more spiritually?

    Definitely spiritually I think, but I can honestly tell you that my textual skills grew exponentially as well! B”H!!

    Everyone’s different… Depends on the girl. We had everyone from giyores to semi chassidish.

    12.Are they all about the outside or do they focus on the inside as well?

    I don’t really know what you mean by that… can you clarify?

    They definitely focus on middos, on getting to know yourself… but what exaclty do you mean by outside?

    13.How big of a mix of people is it? Is it hard to find your place?

    There’s a big mix, lots of different types, but it’s not hard to find your place at all. I was so comfertable there right away… everyone is friends with everyone. There’s no judgements… no peer pressure… you can just be you. It’s a very good environment for figuring out exactly who YOU is…

    14.Do they go on trips? Do they go to Europe?

    We definitely went on plenty of tiyulim but they don’t go to Europe.

    15.Are their rules strict? What are some of their rules?

    They don’t have many rules but the ones they do have are enforced. For example, you can’t walk around the dorm in pants. The madrichot will send you back to your room to put on a skirt. Curfew is a big deal as well, you have to be on time. If you need it you can definitely get late curfew with permission.

    16.Do they have a uniform?

    They have a dress code: long pleated skirts, oxford shirts, solid dark sweater.

    17.What is the status of the dorm?

    It’s in the building and it is the best place in the world to be!!!

    Would you care to clarify? Anything specifically you meant by “status”?

    When I was there there were weeks that were in and weeks when we had to be out but now the dorm is never closed, you can always stay in, but some weeks they’ll provide meals and some you’ll have to find them in the surrounding neighborhoods. Ramot is a great place to be though! Plenty of Americans if you’re nervous about the hebrew… Also, it’s a far walk and it’s not flat, but many girls would walk to ramat eshkol and sanhedria for meals…

    19.How many meals are given?

    All of ’em!

    Hope this helps!!! 🙂 If you have any questions… feel free to ask! Hatzlacha in choosing the right place for you!!

    #846731
    OneOfMany
    Participant

    Hey, figuringitout – nu, do I get a convert to my credit? 🙂

    #846732
    cheese
    Member

    can someone answer these questions about bnos sarah?

    #846733
    zeena.kasta
    Member

    and about darchei binah

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