My Turn

The Seminary Question

by Judy Gross

The recent article by Eli Pollock, "Paying for Seminary" along with the follow-up letters to the editor show the deep concern many in our community feel about the seminary experience. As someone who has been intimately involved in seminary/college guidance, including credits and costs, for many years, I find there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding these issues.

Let me say, first, that education, especially Jewish education, is expensive. We all shoulder this major financial burden because we recognize Jewish education as the building blocks for a Jewish home. It is thus a very necessary expense. When it comes to the question of seminary, then, we are simply adding another building block – a year or two beyond the high school experience.

I empathize with those struggling with the decision of whether to attend an Israeli or American seminary, both in terms of the value of each for individual students, and the costs inherent in that decision. While going to Israel may be a very special, once-in-a-lifetime experience, something worth pursuing every possible financial avenue to make happen, it is not for everyone. A girl can have a very meaningful year of growth and accomplishment in an American seminary at a slightly lower price.

This article is an attempt, not complete by far, to present some basic information in hopes of eliminating some of the confusion surrounding the seminary question.

Paying for Israel

One letter writer objected to Mr. Pollock's figures. My feeling is that the issue is not whether the cost of seminary in Israel is exactly $12,000 or $15,000, or whether the center of Jewish Education awarded $800 this year versus $1,000 last year, or whether auto insurance savings are $600 or less. Mr. Pollock crunched the numbers in an attempt to illustrate a “realistic” budget. His budget was not a mold to fit all; it was merely suggestive of how to cheshbon (calculate) all the factors and plan accordingly.

Let us get away from quibbling over single dollars and look at the greater picture. It costs thousands to meet seminary costs. Although some people may save $400 on car insurance, depending on whether the child is a first or second youthful driver, and others may come out ahead by using frequent flyer miles for the plane ticket, these minor amounts not going to make or break the decision to go to Israel. It is the assessment of need and the accumulation of funds from all sources that make the difference. That is what I believe Mr. Pollock wanted to impress upon the public.

Planning to meet the cost of seminary needs to be done early – not when the seminary bill comes – and finances are the responsibility of both the parents and the student. In my experience, those students who are aware of financial constraints do start early by saving money from summer and odd jobs; this money can be used for high school activities and for the future. The same effort to save must be made by the parents.

In addition to money put aside by parents from their income, government funds, through Pell grants and loans, are available to those who qualify. It is true, as one letter writer said, that the Pell grant is more readily given to lower-income families. The challenge of paying for seminary is thus greater for middle-income families.

There are avenues for the middle class, however. The Hope “scholarship” is tax credit that most middle-income families can take advantage of. It provides up to $1,500 in the form of a tax credit for those who go to seminary through an American sponsoring institution.

Applying for scholarships is another way to go in raising the needed funds. Bais Yaakov students have won scholarships for academic excellence, leadership, creative talent, outstanding essays, and community service – especially community service. These scholarships have come from Target (every year), Ronald MacDonald (two this year), Walmart, Cargill, Papa John's, State Credit Union, Comcast, Elks, Presidential Freedom, Ernest Wooden, Odd Fellows, Raymond Little/Md Jockey Club, Aliza Flatow, Simcha Teitlebaum, Chai Lifeline, Voice of Democracy, National Association of Women Business Owners, and Educational Communications, just to name a few. Not everyone wins, but no one is in the running unless she tries. This year, three Bais Yaakov students have won a number of scholarships each, and they are still on the roll.

I must emphasize that part of the process of applying for scholarships is following directions and meeting deadlines. I cannot count the number of missed opportunities due to lack of planning and lack of follow up.

Is a U.S. Seminary Cheaper?

Mr. Pollock made an interesting point in his article: “It is my belief that Israel does come out more expensive than going to an out-of-town seminary in the States – but not by as much as people think.” Let us examine this statement carefully. Full tuition at Bais Yaakov high school is $6,600 per year. Let's say a seminary charges the same amount for its tuition. The remaining cost of seminary, then, is for room and board. That brings us to approximately to the amount a seminary in Israel charges.

Anyone entertaining a seminary experience in New York, Lakewood, or Cleveland must be prepared for that same dormitory expense. Lakewood seminary charges $9,000, and Yavne, in Cleveland, is over $7,000. Obviously, in-town seminaries are the least costly, because the student lives at home.

As for airfare, studying in the States saves on an expensive ticket to Israel but not necessarily on the more frequent trips home over the course of the year from the U.S./Canadian seminary. Interestingly, Towson State University catalogue's “estimated student budget,” allots $1,600 to $1,800 per year in travel expenses for the Maryland commuter' student.

Even more important in the Israel-vs-U.S. seminary equation is the fact that certain forms of aid are only available to students enrolled in an American institution! Students who attend seminary in Israel have the option of going through an accredited American institution that sponsors an Israel program – like TI/Hebrew Theological College, Touro/Landers College, and Yeshiva University. Thus, students who study in Israel can take advantage of government grants, loans, and tax credits, as well as the Center of Jewish Education award and some private scholarships. Most American seminaries, and all non-American seminaries (other than the sponsored Israeli seminaries) are not eligible for such aid.

Students who participate in American-sponsored programs pay an enrollment fee of under $1,000, and are then eligible to apply for Pell, Hope, and other need-based scholarships – any of which can substantially reduce the Israel seminary cost to less than the cost of seminary in the States. (These forms of financial aid are generally not available to those attending American seminaries.) In addition, the $1,000 enrollment fee may be covered by Pell, and is more certainly covered by the Hope tax credit. Thus, the enrollment fee may be totally negated.

Most private scholarships need to be funneled through an accredited American institution. So, any Pell money and/or private scholarships above the $1,000 enrollment fee will be returned to the student/parents in the form of a check from that institution.

The Credit Dilemma

The arrangement between Israeli seminaries and the above-mentioned American colleges is beneficial in another very important way: Only those who choose the Israel option have the opportunity to secure their seminary coursework as credits on an American transcript. Transcripts from seminaries without regional academic accreditation may, or may not, be recognized by colleges and universities. Most American seminaries do not have regional academic accreditation.

Transfer of credits to a college or university can be tricky. Towson State is familiar enough with the Israel seminary programs to accept credits directly from the seminary, without the backing of an American Israel program. But Towson is one of very few American colleges that will do such a direct transfer.

Most colleges need to see the Israel credits on an American transcript in order to consider them at all. The rules are complicated and always in flux. That's why I advise students to take out an “insurance policy” by going to Israel through an American sponsoring Israel institution, such as TI/Hebrew Theological College, Touro/Landers College, or Yeshiva University.

Course work posted on a transcript from one of these regionally-accredited American institutions is highly respected throughout the United States, and is more likely to be accepted. The student thus has greater flexibility to attend the college of her choice. Moreover, if she gets married and moves to another city, she may be able to take her credits with her.

Of course, there is no guarantee as to whether, or how, the seminary credits play in a degree program. Each institution and each major course of study has its specified requirements and parameters for graduation. Even if an institution accepts all the seminary credits, there is a possibility that they may not be useful credits for the specific degree/major. This case scenario may result in the student graduating with more than the minimum 120 credits for a B.A. degree.

Again, with appropriate advisement and planning, one can maximize the seminary experience in both time (up to a year) and money (that year's tuition).

Loans and Other Miscellany

To those for whom ready cash is a problem, loans may very well be a solution. As Mr. Pollock indicated, they provide the lump sums the seminaries demand and allow for repayment in more palatable sums over an extended period of time. Those who enroll with any of the American-sponsored Israel programs can take advantage of “cheaper” government-sponsored educational loan programs. Although this is a debt, it does give the family and the student a bit of breathing space. And the student, for whom repayment may begin six months after graduation or the termination of post-secondary study, may be in a position to contribute once she starts working.

There are also no-interest loans available from the Hebrew Free Loan and the Center for Jewish Education (CJE). By the way, a little bit of hakaras hatov is due the CJE. This agency of the Associated awards a grant to those going to Israel. True, the amount was decreased from the $1,000 awarded last year to $800 this year. The year prior, however, only $500 was awarded, and before that, nothing at all. The amount fluctuates from year to year, depending on the resources and the number of students pulling on those resources, but we must appreciate and welcome this added resource as a blessing. (In addition to the universal CJE grant, there is another grant awarded on a competitive basis.)

One letter to the editor mentioned the possibility of attending a summer program in Israel in lieu of a year-long seminary. I question the logic of this. If Israel is not an option because of finances, for which seminary in the States is considered the solution, where does the funding come from for a summer trip to Israel? There is certainly no Pell grant, Hope credit, government loan, or private scholarship to cover the airfare, room and board, and tours. If this summer trip is considered a part of the seminary year budget, I feel that going this route may be the more expensive one.

As a final word, I would like to reiterate that any type of Jewish education is a huge expense. Paying for seminary, whether in Israel or elsewhere, is merely a continuation of what parents have already been doing for many years, with the addition of the dormitory portion. Early, and better, planning will alleviate much of the stress and panic when the seminary bill arrives.

Seeing things in a proper perspective will have a calming effect as well. We all use our money for things that are important to us. Parents need to think about their priorities and assess their own particular situation when deciding what is best for their daughter(s) and themselves. (Perhaps we should applaud the young lady who wrote off Israel, seeing the financial constraints on her parents.) There is neither a cookie-cutter solution nor a cookie-cutter budget. But if Israel is the preferred option, and if your daughter is determined, financial solutions are available. Bottom line: Most of those who choose Israel do manage, somehow, to pull it off.

As a postscript, I'd like to mention some very important figures to those looking at the costs of post-secondary education. These tuition figures were taken from the Wall Street Journal, Thursday, June 24, 2004: University of Virginia instate tuition fees are $6,600. Non-residents pay $22,700. Johns Hopkins students are assessed $40,156, which includes room and board. Last year's fees at Towson were $6,226 for Maryland students, with room and board an additional $6,818, for a total of $13,034. Towson figures an additional $3,932 for miscellaneous college expenses, like books, supplies, transportation, etc. Thus, Marylanders should expect to pay a total of $16,976 for the year, while out-of-state students should budget $25,048.

Assess the figures and tell me: Isn't Jewish education worth at least as much as a secular education – perhaps even more?