By now virtually all high school seniors have heard back from the schools to which they have applied and have made their choice about where they will be attending college after they graduate.

I was curious to find out how the current wave of antisemitism on secular campuses has affected college decisions. I spoke with Lisa Birnbaum, the associate director of college counseling at SAR High School, an institution that prides itself on the successful placement of its students at many of the most prestigious universities in the country.

Below is the interview:

Since Oct. 7, have you noticed a change in the choices of colleges to which SAR students are interested in applying?

Immediately after the Oct. 7 attacks, in 2023, there were minimal changes in college application plans for our then-seniors. Early action and early decision applications were due on Nov. 1, so there was not much time for students to completely shift their plans. I think that most seniors and families had already made up their mind about where they were applying, and the Jewish community was still reeling from the shock of the terrible tragedies of the day.

This year, when we began our family meetings several months ago with our juniors and their parents, there was definitely a shift in the conversation. Parents expressed concerns about anti-Israel sentiments on campuses and would often not want to even put specific colleges on the potential college list if that school had recently been in the headlines. This year, there was a notable increase in applications to the University of Florida. While we don’t anticipate a significant number of students enrolling (due to its highly selective admission and more modest sized Orthodox life), I do think that the University of Florida’s quick and proactive response in support of Israel and their Jewish students made a significant impact.

Since Oct. 7, has there been a change in what schools students are choosing to attend?

For the most part, the college climate this year has been significantly calmer than 2023-2024. Families and students recognize that and appreciate that many college administrators have stepped up and made statements in support of their Jewish students, making sure that they feel safe on campus.

Has there been an increase in students applying to Yeshiva University, Stern College and Touro College post-Oct. 7?

We have seen a slight increase in applications to YU, and more recently several students have enrolled in the newly established YU Israel program post-Oct. 7.

Has there been an increase in students choosing to apply to schools in Israel and/or join the IDF right after high school?

Yes, there has been an increase in applications to colleges in Israel post-Oct. 7. Our numbers have more than doubled in applications to schools like Reichman University, with additional interest being expressed at schools like Bar-Ilan, Hebrew U and Tel Aviv. Also, a slightly higher number of students are now joining the IDF than was the case before Oct. 7.

Has SAR (and your department) discouraged students from applying to certain colleges because of antisemitic activity on their campuses?

We have not. We feel strongly that we need to continue to keep our “spots” at these colleges, and our students should be able to proudly attend any campus that they want. It is important for the Jewish community to maintain our active presence at each campus and to continue to have our voice heard in classrooms, in student government/life, and by the administration. We have reached out to many alumni, and we have learned about their unique experiences on college campuses.

What we have noticed is that every individual experiences and reacts to their surroundings differently. For some students, a protest on campus is very disturbing and disrupts their everyday life and the way they feel walking around. Other students walk by a protest and can disregard it or minimize the impact it has on them. It is evident that students feel most uncomfortable and/or greatly impacted when they are made to feel uncomfortable in a classroom setting by an anti-Israel opinion that a faculty member shares.

We also recognize that not every student can and should be the pioneer or token advocate on some of these more hostile campuses. This has become part of our conversations with family, and we spend time talking about what type of environments will be most supportive and beneficial for each individual student.

Is SAR preparing high school students in any way for what they might face once they attend college, vis-à-vis challenges to their support of Israel and/or their religious beliefs?

Yes, we have these conversations in junior college counseling workshops, during college night programming, and in individual family meetings. We have also run workshops for students led by our Israel Education Department explaining important terminology, historical events and continue to run a Jewish identity course during senior year that addresses many of these topics.

Do you think the current trends on secular campuses will continue, or will Jewish students face less antisemitism in upcoming years?

It is up to the college administrators to enforce their rules. If they do, then campus antisemitism will dissipate but not ever go away completely. It is also essential for university leaders to continue rejecting calls for BDS and to pay closer attention to the rhetoric of faculty that is antithetical to Western values.

What are some of the colleges that are most accepting of Jewish students, perhaps some that are not always on people’s radar?

There have been many colleges that have stepped up in recent months and emphasized student safety and maintaining rules. We are impressed by the leadership of schools like Brandeis University, Washington University, Vanderbilt University, University of Delaware, Muhlenberg College and numerous others.

Michael Feldstein, who lives in Stamford, is the author of “Meet Me in the Middle” (meet-me-in-the-middle-book.com), a collection of essays on contemporary Jewish life. He can be reached at michaelgfeldstein@gmail.com.