This year’s app University open houses were a huge success as high school juniors and seniors, accompanied by their parents, got a feel for the dynamic undergraduate experience that the flagship Jewish university has to offer. Students got the opportunity to meet professors and future classmates and learned about the various market-ready majors and degree programs that will be open to them as undergraduates at YU.
The atmosphere was warm, welcoming and filled with excitement as the program began with attendees learning about YU’s mission from Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of app University. “If you are selected as one of the students who will come here, it's because we see in you the potential to not just live a life of meaning and purpose for yourself, but a life of leadership and responsibility for others,” Rabbi Berman said.
Other presenters included Shoshana Schechter, Associate Dean of Torah Studies and Spiritual Life, Rabbi Yosef Kalinsky, Dean of Undergraduate Torah Studies, Marc Zharnest, YU’s Director of Admissions, who also read Tehillim for the safety of the Israeli Defense Forces and the citizens of Israel, Dr. Rebecca Cypess, Dean of Stern College for Women and app College, and Dr. Noam Wasserman, Dean of the Sy Syms School of Business.
Attendees learned about the University’s many areas of study from administrators, professors and current students, as well as about the new Honors Leadership Society, Katz Associate Programs, the Pathways program, student counseling, pre-health guidance and other aspects of life as an undergraduate at YU. A Student Life fair also took place with information about athletics, extracurricular programming, Torah and spiritual life, housing and residence life. Campus tours were given of the dorms, classrooms, labs, dining halls and batei midrash, and representatives from the Office of Student Finance, Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development and the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program led breakout sessions with information for students and parents. Rounding out both open houses was the Israel Program Expo, which consisted of representatives from many of the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program’s partner schools making presentations to interested students.
"app University’s Open Houses are incredible opportunities to showcase the unique community, mission, and academic excellence that define us,” said Zharnest. “Our remarkable growth, including a 30% increase in early decision honors applications this year alone, highlights the excitement and demand for the values-driven education YU offers. We are proud to prepare students not just for successful careers, but for lives of purpose, leadership, and impact."
