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Hillel’s College Decision Experts Weigh In: Choosing a College with Confidence

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March 20, 2026

For prospective college students, spring is the time to navigate the final stages of the college decision process — and fortunately, ����Ӱҵ’s Virtual College Prep Series is here to help.

“This is a pivotal moment,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of ����Ӱҵ at the most recent Virtual College Prep session. “You’ve done the searching, in some cases you have already done the touring and comparing. Now you’re here, thinking seriously about which campus to call home for the next four years.”

With the final deadlines to choose a college fast approaching, this latest session brought in expert advice from college counselors, campus Hillel executive directors, and student leaders, including Co-founder of Ivy Experience Eric Karlan; University of Delaware fourth-year student Michelle Rosner; CU Boulder Hillel Executive Director Elyana Funk, and Tulane Hillel Executive Director Gary Brandt. Their practical guidance, personal insights, and strategies are all designed to help Jewish high school students confidently pick the school that’s right for them.

“You’re not just picking a school right now, you are picking your home,” said Eric Karlan, one of the co-founders of , a college admissions consulting agency that works with students across the world. He recommends thinking beyond academics, college rankings, and resume-building, and concentrating on the factors that will most significantly impact everyday life.

To help make those decisions, Karlan suggests making a “cons” list — not a pros and cons list, but just the cons. Why? Because the cons of a school, he explained, reveal more about what day-to-day life could be like. Sometimes those cons might be directly related to the university experience, such as the number of dining experiences offered on campus, but they might also be about the surrounding community, whether it’s the distance to the nearest grocery store, or whether public transportation is readily accessible. 

“Students will thrive more if they’re happier with their lives as a whole,” Karlan said.

Michelle Rosner, a fourth-year student at the University of Delaware and a member of the ����Ӱҵ Student Cabinet, agreed. “Be honest and realistic with yourself and what actually matters to you in a college experience,” she said. “If there’s something that is really so important to you… make sure that the schools that you’re really considering actually offer that and have that in the way you need it.”

Students and staff involved with Hillel are some of the best experts you can find on what Jewish students need to thrive on campus. 

“Across North America, and really around the world, we’re seeing record numbers of Jewish students walking through Hillel’s doors, where they’re finding connection, community, belonging, and Jewish joy,” Lehman said, noting that in the past year, close to 200,000 students have connected with Hillel on 850 campuses. “Jewish life on campus at this moment is vibrant and it is meaningful, and it is providing a core part of the valuable experience for so many young people that we’re in a position to serve.”

“Being part of the Jewish community has pretty much shaped almost every part of my college experience,” said Rosner. “Through Hillel, I’ve had the chance to take on leadership roles… and to help create programs that make Jewish students [feel welcome] and help newer students find their place on campus.”

Regardless of whether a student is planning to be an active part of Hillel, the panelists all agreed that visiting a school’s Hillel can help a student make the most informed college decision. Spending time ����Ӱҵ and speaking to students and staff there can give prospective students an opportunity to ask specific questions, get more information about the environment for Jewish students, and even meet other Jewish students in their specific academic program. 

But if an in-person visit isn’t possible, these experts say not to worry! There are still plenty of ways to get a sense of how a school supports Jewish students. Hillel’s College Decision Hub is a one-stop shop for everything related to the college decision process, from campus visits to applications to selection, and is a great first step for digging into the realities of a university’s Jewish life.

In fact, while seeing how a school supports its students in practice matters, it’s also important to understand its policies and the actions of the administration. Elyana Funk, executive director of CU Boulder Hillel, noted that the way an administration responds to antisemitic incidents on campus, or applies regulations and policies to hold students accountable, is an important way to get a sense of the campus climate. 

“We want [students] to feel connected, we want them to feel seen, and we want them to know that there are people who care about them, both students and staff,” Funk said. “We want them to feel like they belong.”

That sense of belonging is something that our panelists reported seeing more prospective students looking for as they make their decisions. “Prospective families are looking for campuses that are leaning into this concept of Jewish joy, where Jewish experiences are not necessarily centered in fear or solidarity around things they’re escaping from other places, but most importantly where they can feel comfortable being Jewish,” said Gary Brandt, executive director of Tulane Hillel.

At the end of the day, all of the advice our panelists offered came down to just a few key points: ask questions, stay curious, and enjoy this process.

“Be open to also trying new things and stepping outside of your comfort zone,” Rosner said, when asked what final advice she would offer high school students. “Sometimes, your second choice actually ends up being the better choice… Trust that things will work out the way they were meant to be.”