candy613

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  • in reply to: Blanket express #947141
    candy613
    Member

    I used this company when I went to seminary and ordered a set of linen, a blowdryer, and a fan, and I was thrilled with them! It was all on my bed when I came, was great quality, I even brought my blowdryer home with me and got an american converter for it because i liked it so much!

    I highly recommend them!!

    in reply to: Keser Chaya 2013/14- INFO PLEASE!!! #928586
    candy613
    Member

    and midwesterner, agreed 100% 😉

    in reply to: Keser Chaya 2013/14- INFO PLEASE!!! #928585
    candy613
    Member

    I actually know for a fact that keser chaya is not academic, they tell everyone that, and will tell you that binas is its sister seminary is very similar just a more academic version! It is supposed to be very warm and open minded and not very academic!

    in reply to: Keser Chaya 2013/14- INFO PLEASE!!! #928582
    candy613
    Member

    It is supposed to be a wonderful place! There are really special great girls going this year! I know the girls there right now are loving it beyond and could not have asked for a better place! If you got in, you must be an amazing person yourself cuz its supposed to be an incredible group!

    in reply to: Seminary Help! #930140
    candy613
    Member

    Are you sure there are really 2 seperate seminaries? I was under the impression that it was called ateret in the past but people started calling it ateres in the past years as it changed over to BY. I really dont think there are 2.

    It sounds crazy for a girl to apply to both darchei binah and ateres, but I feel like it may not be as crazy as everyone thinks. Both seminaries are warm and very growthful. If a girl fits this description, plus is willing to follow the rules of tznius and curfew, ect she will probably be good for ateres. It is a huge mix, and there were girls on all ends of the spectrum, but they did follow all the rules of a BY school.

    in reply to: Seminary Dilemmas. . #923051
    candy613
    Member

    shabboskodesh- if I were you I would check into Ateres as well…

    there are a huge mix of girls there all on very different levels, but somehow they have created an atmosphere where every girl can grow at her own pace, yet together with everyone else, and it is something very unique!

    in reply to: NLN Nurses Entrance Exam #915202
    candy613
    Member

    thank you yentingyenta and RN12! So I am scheduled to take the test in just 1 month and just got the book! Plus I am in college full time so don’t have much time to study and that is the reason I am just a bit concerned… So I didn’t take SAT’s only ACT’s and didn’t do that well… I am really hoping the NLN doesn’t have much physics cuz I never took physics before it is not a pre req for my program. I’m concerned about the science, but I hear the teas test focuses more on the science while the NLN focuses more on the english comprehension… is that true???

    RN12- thank you for understanding that I am not the type to inhale the books for 3 months before as well as the fact that I am not super brilliant and am also a horrible test taker esp on these standardized ones so ya prob won’t get in the 99th percentile… I’m trying to just keep in mind that I am going to try my best on it and if im meant to get into this program I will no matter what and if not not…

    And papa thank you for being so encouraging and supportive!! (that was sarcastic!)

    in reply to: NLN Nurses Entrance Exam #915192
    candy613
    Member

    Wow! Thank you so much! Im sure you know that the NLN is not the same as the teas test… I just found that out. I did order the book and just got it, was just wondering the best way to get it all in to my head from there…

    in reply to: Seminaries 2013 #914819
    candy613
    Member

    nope! not many seminaries (at least the by ones) will let you have an ipod with video and internet capabilities. And a phone other than a kosher phone forget it…

    in reply to: Good Quotes #925708
    candy613
    Member

    I have 2 notebooks full of good quotes! I love collecting those good ones! Some of my favorites….

    Courage does not always roar; Sometimes courage is that quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”

    Attitudes are contagious, is your worth catching?

    There are no elevators to success we must take the the stairs.

    Life is like photography we develop from the negatives.

    Be yourself! Life is too short to be anyone else

    Be the type of person you would like to meet

    What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked G-d for yesterday?

    and best of all…!

    Do not criticize a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and have their shoes.

    For the record, I personally subscribe to the belief that normal is just a setting on the dryer!

    in reply to: tznius question #912712
    candy613
    Member

    So there is nothing wrong with an ankle length skirt if it really only goes to the ankle anything longer can sometimes give that flowy effect which can be attracting in the wrong way. Denim also if it is dark denim that is not frayed and ripped really is not wrong even though many still don’t wear it. The ripped, washed out frayed denim with pockets in the back can be attracting wrong attention as well… That is what I always learned. But even though I happen to not wear denim, I do not wear my long skirts duty length. I totally get the question so just letting you know this is what I happened to have learned. There may be other opinions.

    in reply to: Black Friday 2012 #908800
    candy613
    Member

    I think that you can get things much cheaper after thanksgiving beofore chrismas. I think the black friday thing is just what people do becuase it’s tradition and they think they are getting things for the cheapest possible even though they are not nessesarily. Just my opinion though….

    in reply to: Seminary #908868
    candy613
    Member

    bygirly- Nachlas def attracts a mostly in town crowd!

    BYA has a more of a mix but def a big in town crowd as well!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907950
    candy613
    Member

    I would call them and ask them what they think you should do… Idk I think they would be of help to talk to before you apply you don’t have to though…

    in reply to: Shidduch Research Service #907407
    candy613
    Member

    iced- I hope you’re joking… How about check midos, yiras shamayim, metal stability!!!! davening with a minyan 3 times a day (something that seems obvious but…) there is so much to ask and research and it is important to talk to the right people and ask the right questions so that you do not get into trouble later.

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907948
    candy613
    Member

    ya that will be tough… it probably needs some input from a teacher or principal maybe both! Do you have a teacher who understands your situation who can fill it out for you even though you were not in school this past year? That’s also why I said I really think you should actually call the principals and talk to them personally and explain your situation then asking them what they should do! Or maybe one of your parents should call… def talk to them!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907943
    candy613
    Member

    me@18 yes! that is def. what I’m saying!!! Good Luck and btw for anyone who is wondering I think they are having or maybe just had? more open houses maybe i think in monsey

    in reply to: Seminary Options takeoff #2 :) ? #906331
    candy613
    Member

    mischiefmaker- look on the seminary options thread…

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907938
    candy613
    Member

    I think like all seminary applications you would need two reference letters. I know schools usually help with that. me@18 I think you should talk to one of the principals directly and explain your situation to them and then ask them what to do from there. I’m sure you are a wonderful person if you’re looking into Ateres and I understand that even if you’re not in school now that does not ness. reflect bad on you as a person. I think the staff of Ateres would def understand you would just have to be in touch with them directly before you apply.

    Good luck!

    in reply to: Meohr v Ateres vs Darchei Binah #903195
    candy613
    Member

    maybe look at other threads about seminary. Other threads have information on these 3 places. There is no reason to keep opening new threads over and over again especially when these places have been discussed in other threads.

    in reply to: Meohr v Ateres vs Darchei Binah #903194
    candy613
    Member

    These three places are so different they should not even be put in the same title lol

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907932
    candy613
    Member

    I have to say, it is really my pleasure to talk about a place I loved so much! It’s so not a problem. I wish I could have found out more about it before I went, but unfortunately that did not really happen and I had to wait until I get there to truly see how incredible the seminary really is, and really get into it.

    Nanny- I wasn’t sure what you were talking about, but then went back and checked, and yes I did happen to go to one of those places! So now I am very curious how you know me because I have been racking my brain trying to think who your age I know from the east coast, and I really couldn’t think of anyone!!! So you gotta spill the beans or at least tell me where you know me from!

    To answer the other questions, I have posted a lot about that in past threads, but just again, the girls are from all over from all different backgrounds! We had girls who dressed strictly in black and white and girls who wore tunz of color, and the differences went way beyond that. You can def. say that we were on different levels. We were all such good friends though somehow! So to answer your question, YES! The girls were more then just accepting of everyone else no matter the level, but I feel like we all just loved everyone else because Ateres really brought out the depth of every girl and it was just so clear how special every girl was!

    The classes were beyond amazing like I said before… We had many different classes! Way more then I was used to from high school! They were all stimulating, intellectual, and very much pertaining to life! They helped us love what we were doing and make yiddishkeit our own! We came out not “brainwashed,” but with everything put into the right perspective helping us go on and continue to try our best in all areas all while continuing to understand that it is truly a privilege! Yes, maybe some girls changed the way they dressed, maybe some didn’t, but I think I can safely say that everyone came out with their insides and beliefs strengthened and put into the correct perspective. And again they are very open and encourage you to ask any questions you may have and are patient with everyone and will talk to you one on one to answer any questions as well! They are always open for their girls! I did write about the classes in other threads, but if you have specific questions about the classes let me know!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907927
    candy613
    Member

    WOW! we are getting quite intense here!

    Ok…. So nanny- You think you know me??? from where? that is cool! How would you have figured me out?

    I just got vibes from what you wrote that tiferes may be an option! its a really great place! very homey like ateres we shared some teachers as well which would mean there is quite a bit of hashkafa… It was a little more yeshivish but that isn’t always a bad thing…. I’ll tell you, it might just be good to apply if you only have two other places at least look into it, idk just got vibes! I really do see you in Ateres though from your posts! I think you should think into it and maybe talk to a tiferes alumnus!

    Musicaldignity- so that is a very hard question to answer! I am not sure what you are asking by that. I happened to have loved everything about Rabbi Belsky and became extremely close to him in seminary more then any other teacher!!! He wants his girls to always be learning growing and succeeding in the torah derech. You really have to meet him to get who he is, it is hard for me to talk about him in writing to someone who doesn’t know him! I will tell you, I am very opinionated, blunt, and it takes a lot to impress me, but He really did it! He helped me with many different things throughout the year, and I really think he is probably THE MOST INCREDIBLE PERSON I HAVE EVER MET! And I have met a lot of great ppl so that is saying a lot! I will tell you, there are not many people who do not like him. At the interview he is great! Everyone walks out of their interview pretty much raving about him and ateres! He is an extremely unique person! I think he is the most special seminary principal because he does what is right no matter what and holds what is right even if it is the minority which is something that has been very important to me always…. I don’t have the words to truly describe him! He was def. my favorite! If you have any specific questions about him, feel free!!!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907924
    candy613
    Member

    Hi! So happy to have seen ateres up again! So to helpmeoutplease- i think it would be very helpful for you to go back and read the past posts of this thread! I am sure many if not all of your questions about ateres will be answered! But to give you a quick answer, yes! ateres is known to be one of the warmest places! They encourage you to ask any questions you can possibly have! They are so patient with each and every girl and every question that you come out feeling satisfied, feeling like your head is screwed on straight, and not only knowing why you do what you do without having things feel like annoying restrictions, but you come to feel like it is your own and understand why you want to incorporate these special things into your life now and into those generations to come!!!

    Ateres may not be what you are looking for. I cannot say since I do not know you. I do not “sell” the seminary i went to. I believe it is great for those that it caters to! So please do yourself a favor and read the 3 pages of posts and you will get a feeling of what Ateres is so that you will see for yourself if it is a place you should apply to! I wish you much hatzlacha and may you get into the right place for you where you will gain and grow higher!!!!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907914
    candy613
    Member

    nanny like we said before ateres is def a place you should apply to, maybe seminar or machon raya could be a second, but machon raya might be more academic then what you are looking for, but I know this may be surprising but i think you should look more into tiferes as a third place to apply! I do think ateres would be great for you!!!!!

    in reply to: sem sem sem!! #910583
    candy613
    Member

    Yeah I heard great things about that one too!!! And also Bnos Chaim in Lakewood!!!

    in reply to: sem sem sem!! #910574
    candy613
    Member

    chacha5 you are very right! I agree with you very much! I think that concept has gotten better especially this year! I come from a place where it is unheard of not to go to seminary in Eretz Yisrael and this year I was surprised to hear that quite a bunch didn’t! so I guess every person needs to weigh for themselves if it is something they can do or if they need to settle on somewhere here. What is happening is crazy… I agree.

    in reply to: seminary dorm rooms. what are they like? #901060
    candy613
    Member

    dont know if you were in the new building of ateres, but i thought there dorms were actually very nice especially in comparison to other seminaries.

    in reply to: seminary dorm rooms. what are they like? #901057
    candy613
    Member

    Dorms are gonna be dorms… For seminary dorms though Ateres and Meohr happen to be considered probably 2nd and 3rd after Nachlas… that’s just my opinion. They are both really nice. Nothing there that smelled looked gross or made you cringe if you know what I mean… Both are very comfortable

    in reply to: Seminary raffle #900819
    candy613
    Member

    doesn’t matter what the odds are. It only takes one to win, and whoever is meant to win will win no matter how many tickets she buys or how many other people have bought tickets.

    in reply to: sem sem sem!! #910572
    candy613
    Member

    It is ok to say that it is hard that you are feeling forced to send your daughter to Eretz Yisrael for seminary. It is ok to bring in ideas in The US IT IS NOT OK TO SAY THAT GIRLS SHOULD NOT GO TO SEMINARY IN ERETZ YISRAEL. There is nothing in the world that can compare to spending a year in Eretz Yisrael. Although there are great seminaries here and yes, maybe more girls should start going if their parents cant afford seminary in Eretz Yisrael but there is something that the enviroment there does for someone that no where here can accomplish no matter how special and incredible the place. Sorry….

    in reply to: Share your experience with Rebitzin Kaneivsky!! #899258
    candy613
    Member

    I have so many! I never actually got to meet her but have heard many unbelievable stories. My favorite is that in her early adult years she had to work as the oldest to help support her family. Even though she had to go off to work she did not let that put a damper on her ruchnius life. She would wake up at 4 in the morning and daven and say the entire sefer tehillim every morning!!! How incredibel?!?

    in reply to: Makubal #899519
    candy613
    Member

    I had a teacher who always said that they are called mekubalim- ki heym mikubalim kesef! bad joke but the point is that to some of them out there, it would be extremely not smart to go to them. If you do decide to go to one research well, and do not go unless you know there is someone you respect and trust who is ok with the guy. There are very few are far between who actually are the real thing…

    I wish you Hatzlacha!!! May all go smoothly

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907904
    candy613
    Member

    I’m so sorry… I feel like I keep confusing people about what Ateres really is with my posts! Yes the work is harder, but the classes are definately on a higher level as well. They are more intelectual and stimulating for sure! The classes have text as well Not just airy conversations. The class DOES have prep time just as the other two tracks, but they are not being taught the material. They do it more with other girls and have tutors around if the need does arise.

    I understand what you are saying about needing substance. Ateres has both textual and hashkafa so that substance definately exists. I am not saying Machon Raya is not better for you. I don’t know you and it very well could be that it is the place for you! I am not here to sell Ateres! For the people that it is the place for, I encourage them and hope they will have the privalege to go. So it really is overall a higher level class in all areas not just more work. But you know you gotta apply to 3 places, and many of my friends applied to machon raya also. Apply to both and 1 more and let Hashem do the rest! That is really all you can do. If you do get into both you will worry about it then. You do not need to get yourself worked up about seminary until November I say don’t think about it now, and work to enjoy 12th grade while you have it!!!

    in reply to: Bnos Sarah #897457
    candy613
    Member

    I think part of what bymrer said is a matter of opinion. I know some girls who are very smart, studious and brilliant, and although they managed the work and did well, they did say it is very hard and overwhelming. I have heard that it is a lot of busy work and that its very time consuming. Idk…. I have heard great things about it too that you may find will make you excited and willing to overlook the difficulty though.

    in reply to: Which American community it right for us? #897648
    candy613
    Member

    Chicago is great, because it is not too big but not too small and hick towny. It is still big, so although I am not sure what the job situation is like exactly, it seems to me that it is big enough to find something you like. There is a very nice Baal Teshuva population as well.

    Obviously you have to think about it based on who you are and your personality, but I would think it would be worth you looking into!

    Good Luck, and it should go smoothly wherever you end up!!!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907902
    candy613
    Member

    Hi sorry I haven’t been on in a while. Have been very busy! I just wanted to tell you again how it goes in ateres for chumash and navi in ateres even though it was kinda mentioned, just because I found it so incredible and helpful. For both classes, there is a certain amount of preperation you need to complete before class. The higher track obviously having more, lower track not as much… There are Prep periods within the schedule with prep tutors there to help you. So twice a week you have groups 1 tutor (more like a newly married girl who went to BJJ) to about 4 or 5 girls. The higher track I think kinda preps on their own but have tutors around just in case. you can do it in groups or by yourself, but what I think is amazing is that it is during class time not for homework! It was actually one of my favorite classes! You do more textual and technical stuff with your tutor making sure to cover the material that is assigned, and it really is enjoyable. You come to Navi and Chumash class having covered the more textual stuff and then based off that the teacher will teach with the knowledge that you went through it so that way instead of spending time going through each rashi and meforash she can teach on a deeper level with hashkafa. This is not a text free class though! By doing this they really bridge your enjoyment of hashkafa with bringing up your textual skills higher then you ever thought they would ever be! It’s a really great system that works wonders, and I know Seminar does the same for navi because we had the same Navi teacher. So sorry if that was repetitive, I just really like and enjoyed that part of the academics in seminary so just felt I had to tell you. About tests…. The lower track has tests in english and are always responsible for less so ya, their tests will differ from the other tracks. There were classes where the middle and higher had the same tests, or had the same but the middle had more frees. And there were also some where each test was different completely. For Navi especially because their tests were always on more perukim. As I think about seminary, I really do not think you should worry in any way about being challenged enough. Trust me you will find that just because a place is more hashkafa doesn’t mean there is no hard work. And just letting you know that as much as people say they want a non a academic seminary, there really is no such thing! Each seminary is gonna have work! Prep, reports, tests (at the very least finals and midterms which is hard also) and Most seminaries are very into parsha so you may have a test or quiz every week and have to look a lot up! It’s tough but very fulfilling in a very different way then high school. You will find yourself enjoying the studying and the prep, something I never thought would happen to me, but it’s great! So just letting you know but not to get you overwhelmed, cuz its not so bad. I hope somewhere in this very long post I maybe answered your question!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907873
    candy613
    Member

    Ya I am so happy I got to spend that half year with them! I’ll give you a hint…. Im in the same city as 2 of them but not near the east coast… I am in college with one of them every day and I feel so safe having such a special Ateres girl in almost all of my classes with me… I don’t think you know me, but you can try to figure me out anyways…. I happened to have asked the girl I am in school with about you! I have to ask her if she is in touch with you!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907871
    candy613
    Member

    Ya musicaldignity agreed! I also love machon raaya! A bunch of girls applied to both Ateres and Machon Raaya! It’s a great place and has many similarities to Ateres as well as far as the warmth of the place and the staff! You should apply to more then one place so I say go for both and wherever you are supposed to end up, Hashem will put you there!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907869
    candy613
    Member

    ok hodulashem through my sources I have found out who you are but don’t know you! We were not in seminary together, and although I was super privaleged to meet 7 of your awesome seminary mates and I love them dearly…. But anyways that was cool that I thought I may know you 😉

    Tell me though, how did I do describing Ateres?

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907868
    candy613
    Member

    hmmm… hodulashem I feel like maybe we were not in seminary together….

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907863
    candy613
    Member

    hodulashem- now you are getting me very curious! I guess you must know who I am. I’m sure I gave myself away a number of times already…

    me@18- I’m gonna be direct and say it straight out that if you are going to seminary just wanting no rules and wanting to do whatever you want, then Ateres is NOT for you. Not a bad thing, it just isn’t the right fit. There are other places that would be better for you. If I am getting the wrong impression and that is not what you are trying to say then we can talk. 😉

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907857
    candy613
    Member

    I understand your need to be learning with smart people whose minds work similarly to yours and who are on the same level learning wise. That is very normal. So although it is mixed like I said, there are 3 tracks for the textual subjects, and 2 tracks for the more hashkafa type of classes. The highest track was for girls like you! They were almost all brilliant! There were some girls who were so smart that I almost couldn’t talk to them about what we learned about in class. It was interesting. So I am more of an average student more like 80’s some 90’s but am a little bit more intelectual. I was in the middle class, which was the biggest my year, and I felt it was very good for me. The smart girls who were very smart were of course together in the highest track. I don’t think anybody in the entire seminary felt bad or not in the right place. They are able to cater to everyone so that everyone can feel like they are being challenged and that their minds are stretching. I had friends in the higher class, and I know they enjoyed it immensely because of that factor that they were only with smart girls on their level and as a class they were able to learn on a higher level and do more work on their level as a result. At different points there were girls who moved up and down in classes, but once everyone was put everyone was thrilled with where they were! So I don’t think that will be a problem for you at all! They are very into what you said, making sure that everyone is able to learn on a level for them and are with girls on their level learning as much as they can on the highest level possible with no other girls stopping them.

    And no I am not in Touro, and not in the NY area B”H!!! (no offense to NY! 😉

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907855
    candy613
    Member

    Potpie- I apologize, yes, that is what I thought so got defensive because I love my seminary. Thank you for solving that. Really appreciate it and sorry again.

    Musicaldignity – VERY MUCH SO!!!! My school is not all yeshivish, but I did have a more yeshivish grade. It always bothered me that they were not as deep and were doing things because their parents were doing and not really knowing why. I knew I wanted a place that was maybe a bit more mixed, but where all the girls were growthful people and where there was an atmosphere of growth. This is actually what I talked about a lot during my interview. But I do feel that is exactly what it was. They made your yiddishkeit become your own! They helped you understand why you are doing the things you do and why you will want to do it and pass it down to your children later in the future.

    Instead of focusing on how many 15 page reports you can do in 1 year, they worked on instilling in us the tools to help us become better and have a love for what we do. They def focus on emounah a lot and all of those things similar. I needed that and really feel I got all I could have ever asked for. I think you will find the same. The teachers were ALL down to earth. That is one thing that they make sure. Everything taught is down to earth and applicable for your life, and every teacher is down to earth as well. They truly understand every girl and teenagers in general. They are extremely open minded, have been involved with teenagers for years and years, and you feel so safe and good with them because you find they understand you and your life challenges so well!

    in reply to: Rosh HaShana thoughts: #973205
    candy613
    Member

    Ok so I just heard a great speech which has really just stayed in my head and has been replaying ever since. Obviously I will not be able to write it over as well as the speaker gave it, but I will attempt to just because I really found it to be so helpful. It’s a bit long so anyone not interested just skip this post. It is from Rabbi Ephraim Twerski, Rav of Kahal Chassidim of Chicago. I might end up saying some of this a bit out of order but you will hopefully get the point.

    On Rosh Hashana we beg Hashem to give us a good and blessed year. One of happiness, success, health. parnassah, and only good. How can we ask Hashem for such a great year if we are not deserving of this based on our past actions? After all this is a world of deserving. We would not be created otherwise. We would have just stayed up in shamayim, our neshamos still right below the kisai hakavod. So Rabbi Twerski explained that we daven and admit that yes we have not been the best we could be but this was just the past we are going to be better from now on. And if Hashem can forget the past then we need to so that it does not act as an impediment for our growth.

    We say Avinu Malkeinu during the aseres ymei teshuva and most are clear. But one seems strange. Its says Zchor ki afar anachnu – Remember that we are dust. What does this come to show? It says we have a past, a past of just dirt but Hashem look at our future because we will make sure that it is a brilliant and glorious future!

    It says Hashiveinu Ainu Eilecha v’nashuva chadesh Yameinu… Why V’nashuva? this should not be the lashon, and why Chadesh- will be new? If we follow in the ways of Hashem no matter our past, and really truly forget our past and put it behind us doing teshuva to become a better person then chadesh yameinu! We will be almost renewed! Our days will become great and will be as good as new!

    He explained how so often it is our past sins which stop us and discourage us in our journey to become better. We think about all we have done and feel we can never become great if we have done these sins. Rabbi Twerski stressed how important it is to put our past behind us and do teshuva while looking into the future and hoping for the better. He ended off with a story showing this.

    He was talking to a vishnitzer chassid who admitted that he had commited a grave crime. This chassid told Rabbi Twerski that he couldn’t live with himself so went to the Vishnitzer Rebbe at that time (The name has slipped my mind) He broke down to the Rebbe and asked for what he can do to help. The Rebbe said he didn’t have an answer. He went into hysterics and was sobbing. The Rebbe said he has an answer but then said that he knew the chassid will not accept it so did not want to say. the chassid begged and pleaded and after much convincing that he would accept immediately, he said FORGET ABOUT THE SIN! The chassid was in shock and started to argue and the Rebbe reminded him that he needs to take the answer. The Rebbe showed how we need to forget the past in order to move forward. If Hashem can do it, then we need to! Last part was that We say in L’david Hashem Lulei hemanti… so lulei is spelled the opposite of elul in hebrew. Lulei means “had I not!” If we focus on the “had I not” then that is the opposite of what elul shoudl be and we are going to have a harder time doing teshuva and growing higher. May we all come to truly deserve a g’benched year!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907850
    candy613
    Member

    potpie I have no clue what you are talking about. I never said you didn’t know about bnos sarah, i just asked you not to say things about Ateres if you don’t know what you are talking about and also not to bash out any seminary.

    Musicaldignity – sorry about that! So I totatlly agree with you about that! Yes! there were a lot of men teachers! If I could pick my top 5 teachers I loved in seminary i think 2 or 3 would be men! There were unbelievable men teachers. Number one is Rabbi Belsky who is the Dean and Mrs. Sokol is his daughter and is principal so he is beyond amazing then there are others who were just so great there is a big rav who is a major posek world known who teaches exclusively in Ateres and I think it was worth it for me to go just to see him! I would even feel comfortable calling him now. So the answer to your question is YES! there are many men teaching incredible classes who if you go you will gain so much from!!!

    nanny – I could imagine how stressful that probably was for you! It’s hard, but Hashem helps you through it! I happen to think that you should not think too much about it till you have to start applying. You sound like you are doing more then enough. I could tell you are from NY the way you write and the way your school sounds! I know they are not as helpful with seminary in some of the NY schools, but I really hope you have a teacher or advisor who you can still go to! It’s really good to have a teacher or principal who could help you with the process. from these conversations we have been having you sound like you would love and do so well in Ateres! And about your average, just forget about it! Really don’t worry about it! I know I said it before if you are growing and are a good girl and are what they want they will tell you straight out that they do not discriminate against grades!!! Just don’t get too worried about everything and know you will get into the right place for you!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907845
    candy613
    Member

    Hi again! You are doing fine it’s a really good thing to ask! I remember how hard it was for me and I am thrilled to do anything I can to help you!

    So I wrote a lot in previous posts how Ateres compares to Machon Raaya so just go back and read a bit back on this thread.

    About the academics, you will not feel unchallenged in the least bit! We had some very very brilliant and intelectual girls in our seminary! Girls that skipped grades ect… You will so not have a problem! There is hachana to do, There are great reports! Reports that you actually gain something from besides just a stack of papers written on, and the classes are deep and very intellectually stimulating! You will definitely need a good cup of coffee each morning! just kidding I hate coffee! You will not be overwhelmed with annoying busy work like writing out chumashim, but you will have enough to do that you will feel challenged, but will feel so rewarded and inspired at the end! Trust me! I don’t know how, but Ateres makes it really be great for everyone! They say straight out that their goal, and yes they really do this, they stretch your machshava and improve your skills immensely without getting you overwhelmed and overworked! I can guarantee you that such a thing will not be a problem in Ateres!

    The dress code is just like most of the other seminaries, any type of button down like you can wear designs like stripes or anything and then you can wear solid colored sweaters either cardigans or pullovers or v-necks! It’s very flexible and then pleated skirts navy, grey, or black, short or long! you can wear belts, scarves, makeup, not much rules about that. You don’t have to get dressed up every day there is seriously no social pressure there, but there were plenty of girls who were more with it and really gave each day their all but only for themselves! No one cared! Chilled was fine too!

    We had girls from all over! BY Monsey, BY Ramapo, BY Lkwd, Bais Sheindel, Bnos Bais Yaakov, BY Miami, BY Baltimore, Bnos Yisrael of Baltimore, BY Chicago, Hanna Sacks in Chicago, BY Denver, South Bend, Machon, I think they have Mesores girls this year, Dallas, Bruria, TAG, Ateres in Monsey, BY Detroit, Yaavne, Toronto, BYA, BY Johannesburg, France, BY in London, I think I’m missing a bunch I don’t know the NY schools that well… It’s very mixed, but the atmosphere is a very growthful one and although there are many girls on different levels they are able to somehow cater and reach out to everyone so that each girl is molded into the best girl she can be and get the most out of her year!

    Every seminary I think has trips! We had a big trip at least once a month! We did it all! I really think almost all seminaries pretty much do the same stuff in that area except the half year seminaries where they do one a week to get it all in! It’s a wonderful part of the year and they make the trips beyond awesome the way they schedule it!

    Hope this answered you somewhat!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907843
    candy613
    Member

    Thank you for your input not so sure if you can say such a thing without knowing that much about it… I did go so have the right to say that. I happen to agree that Bnos Sara is incredible beyond! I don’t know if you realize but it is a very academic place. Not all of us are brilliant enough to get in and survive there. Also some people like more hashkafa then bnos sara offers. For example an Ateres report would be on Ahavas Hashem with a lot of mussar sources while a bnos sara report may be on the travels of the shevatim in the midbar or the bigdei kehunah with more textual sources. I happen to love Bnos Sara too though! From this girl’s post it sounds like she doesn’t want such an academic place so that is why I mentioned that Ateres sounds more for her. I did go there so I know more about it and what they are looking for. It is nice to talk about other seminaries but there is no need to bash out others Thanks….

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907839
    candy613
    Member

    Hi! I am still here, have just been a bit busy with starting a new semester in college… So about the averages, I do not believe that they are looking for a specific average. They don’t want someone with straight C’s who cannot care less about class, but if you have lots of B’s but are motivated, determined, and have a desire to gain in seminary and grow higher, then you are what they are looking for!

    Ok so Musical dignity instead of answering your questions in order, I want to comment on your last paragraph and tell you that Yes that seminary you are describing is a dream, but that is EXACTLY what Ateres is! It is a real dream that comes true! I seriously would have to think to myself during the year this is just too good be true I must be dreaming and then have to pinch myself to see that it is real!!! It’s great! So yes, it sounds like Ateres might be very much what you are looking for!!!

    So I ended up choosing Ateres, because what you described is exactly what I wanted, and Ateres just seemed to be the one and only perfect place that would fit that need for me. Meohr is very different as you know!

    Every girl in Ateres is challenged on her own level which seems impossible but they do such a great job.. just don’t know how lol. In High school I worked very hard, was very motivated, and really ended up getting half A’s half B’s probably. I do much better with deep hashkafa classes then complicated textual classes. So Ateres somehow mixes the two together. They take your love for hashkafa and bridge your skills to textual as well without you even realizing! So about memorizing your notes, I totally get that and hate it too. I believe you will have a little bit of that anywhere you go, but it is much better in Ateres probably then anywhere else. Even the textual classes have a lot of hashkafa it is very cool how they work it out! I really disliked navi my entire life, and in seminary it was one of my favorite subjects!!! So you will see it will be great in that way! It is work but you will enjoy the work immensly! I never thought I would ever think in my lifetime that I would enjoy studying, but in seminary I really did because the classes were so great and stimulating!

    There are rules, but nothing that would effect you if you are not looking to do wrong. There is a strong sense of trust in the girls, something I needed as well. There are rules about certain things, but you will appreciate the rules because they are just the basics of being a bais yaakov girl. Will you be upset if there are rules about not going to places that are considered hangouts at night? I know I wasn’t because that and the few other rules I knew were for us! The few rules they have they have a no tolerance policy for, but if you are a good kid which you sound like you are, you would never even come close to thinking of bending on them. I almost forgot we had such rules! It really wasn’t a problem!

    There are some tests, not just midterms and finals like meohr, but not an overwhelming amount, and again I really enjoyed studying for them, and even though I am not crazy studious or brillian I did much better in seminary then I did in high school.

    I was in the middle track. The higher track is for a girl who is very fluent in reading and understanding all meforshim without help… there is more to it, I will have to write more later just because I gotta run, but I might have written about it on a previous post not sure. I will write more about it later. Shabbos was never a problem you always had it for relaxation and rejuvination! Never needed to think about school on shabbos except maybe during midterms and finals depending on what the scedule was! Feel free to ask other questions!

    in reply to: Seminary options? #907831
    candy613
    Member

    So I applied to meohr as well, which I did get into, but I saw really wasn’t for me… I don’t really think it’s the type of place for you either. Have you looked into Seminar? A tun of girls from Ateres apply there too. Maybe look into Tiferes more it is a great place, I just don’t know you. If you want more academic look into Machon Raaya! Maybe Nachlas? Again since I don’t know you its hard ot say, but from your posts i think i really see you in Ateres, and if you are what they are looking for, you will be accepted without a doubt! I really think you should talk to people who know you who went to those places as well as teachers or seminary advisers! it’s very important! to have people who you can talk to especially from school. I know some schools especially on the east coast don’t always help, but try to take advantage of anything you can get!

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