College Guidance
The college admissions process at Barrack Hebrew Academy is a cooperative venture, involving the school, the students and their parents. During the process, our students learn about themselves, their interests and their goals through self-assessment, research and decision making.
Our college guidance team assists students in identifying and attaining goals, researching and choosing appropriate colleges, working on applications and essays, honing interview skills, and applying for scholarships and financial aid. Students meet individually and in classrooms with the college counselor on a frequent and timely basis. Programs are held throughout the junior and senior year with college admissions officers, financial aid authorities and experts on Jewish life on campus and programs in Israel.
Barrack students are accepted to a broad range of colleges and universities. Our ultimate goal is to help each student find the school that best suits his or her interests and needs.

- Members of the Class of 2012 have received single early admission and single early action acceptances to the following colleges and universities:
American University
Barnard College
Boston University
Columbia University/JTS
Cornell University
George Washington University
|
Harvard University
Haverford College
Muhlenberg College
Skidmore College
Tufts University
University of Miami
|
University of Pennsylvania
Vassar College
Washington University of St. Louis
Wellesley College
|
- SAT Middle 50% for the Class of 2012- Critical Reading-560-670, Math- 560-690, Writing- 590-710
- The Average ACT score is 27 (range 11-36)
- 100% of the class is participating in community service programs, a prerequisite for graduation.
- Graduation Requirements: English (4 years), World Language (2 years), Math (3 years), Science (3 years), History (4 years), Hebrew (4 years), Bible (4 years), Jewish Studies (4 years), Health (2 years), Physical Education (3 years) and Community Service.
Albright College
American University
Berklee College of Music
Binghamton University
Boston University
Brandeis University
Brown University
Bryn Mawr College
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Colgate University
Cornell University
Drexel University
Duke University
Emory University
Franklin & Marshall College
George Washington University Goucher College |
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Johns Hopkins University
JTS/Barnard College
JTS/Columbia University
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
McDaniel College
MIT
Muhlenberg College
New York University
North Carolina
College of the Arts
Oberlin College
Parsons The New School
for Design
Pennsylvania State University
Pomona College
Princeton University
Rensselear Polytechnic Institute
Rutgers University
Sarah Lawrence College
Skidmore College
|
Stern College
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University
Temple University
Towson University
Tufts University
UCLA
University of Arizona
University of Delaware
University of Maryland
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of Vermont
University of Wisconsin
Vanderbilt University
Washington University
(St. Louis)
Yale University
Yeshiva University |
Amherst College
Bard College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Drexel University
Franklin & Marshall College
George Mason University
Goucher College
IDC-Herzliya
Indiana University at Bloomington
Ithaca College
JTS/Barnard College
JTS/Columbia University
McGill University
Muhlenberg College
New York University |
Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University - Abington
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
Sarah Lawrence College
Skidmore College
SUNY Binghamton
Temple University
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh |
University of Rochester
University of Vermont
Washington University in St. Louis
West Chester University
Yeshiva University
Israel & Gap Year Programs
Bnei David
Garin Tzabar
Habonim Dror
Kivunim
Midreshet HaRova
Nativ
Torat Shraya
Yeshiva Ashreinu
Israel Defense Forces |

Class of 2012
Middle 50% Range
Critical Reading- 560-670
Math- 560-690
Writing- 590-610
Class of 2011
Middle 50% Range
Critical Reading- 580-680
Math- 570-750
Writing- 600-720
Class of 2010
Middle 50% Range
Critical Reading- 590-710
Math- 560-690
Writing- 600-740
Class of 2012
National Merit Commended - 11
Class of 2011
National Merit Scholars- 2
National Merit Finalists- 4
National Merit Commended- 4
Class of 2010
National Merit Scholars- 2
National Merit Finalists- 1
National Merit Semifinalists- 1
National Merit Commended- 5

What is the mission of the College Guidance Office?
Our mission is to guide students and families through the process of applying to colleges and universities. We help them make informed decisions and help find "matches" for students with several colleges.
When should we start thinking about applying to colleges?
Start during your junior year with an emphasis on choosing colleges. Use the time early in your senior year to apply to colleges.
When is College Application Night?
First week of school every year, we have a College Application Night for senior year students and parents. We explain procedures for senior year and answer any questions you might have.
How do we stay on top of all of the deadlines?
Barrack Hebrew Academy publishes a weekly newsletter, College Counseling Comments, which is distributed in grade meetings every Monday throughout the fall and e-mailed to all seniors and their parents. Reminders of deadlines, college representative visits, open house invitations and scholarship opportunities are included.
When are you available to help?
During junior year, each family schedules an hour-long appointment to discuss students' preferences for college. Six college selection presentations are given for all juniors in the classrooms to discuss researching colleges, visiting, interviewing, writing essays, etc. A college selection night is offered for students and parents during junior year.
During senior year, we have individual meetings and also group "open hours" for review of applications and essays, choosing teachers for recommendations and of course any questions. Students can set up meetings during the day or evening.
Do colleges visit Barrack Hebrew Academy for recruiting?
Students can attend presentations given by admissions representatives from over 40 colleges and universities.
Once we've applied, what's next?
We meet with students to review the final list of colleges where they are applying. In April, students often seek advice on their final college decision.
Can you help us with financial aid applications?
Barrack Hebrew Academy offers a program given by a financial aid officer every November and parents of juniors and seniors are invited to attend. Books, forms, and additional materials are available in the College Guidance office for assistance in identifying and applying for aid.
"Our goal is to help our students through a process of self-discovery so that they can identify what they want out of college and then create a list of options that match their goals, passions and needs."