Match Point

As an Israeli parent watching American families navigate the stress of the college admissions frenzy, I have discovered yet another thing I love about living in Israel. As students and advisors prepare spreadsheets and color-coded charts of “reach,” “match,” and “safety” schools, I find it ironic that those words have been co-opted and assigned meanings that don’t seem to reflect our actual hopes for those words when discussing our college-bound children.  

The American concept of a safety school is one where your child has strong odds of admission. That’s it. It has nothing to do with an actual sense of safety that comes with a supportive environment, cultural comfort, or a sense of community. In Israel, the word “safety” carries a much deeper meaning—physical safety, emotional well-being, and now more than ever, safety from antisemitism so that our children can thrive.

When you compare American campuses to Israeli ones through that lens, it becomes clear that Israeli universities offer forms of safety and stability that are difficult to replicate abroad.

Israel is known for strong security infrastructure and a culture of communal responsibility. Security here is structured, professional, and woven naturally into daily life. Our campuses are monitored, entry is controlled, and the broader environment is designed with safety in mind. Those visiting Israeli campuses often remark that they feel safer walking around at night than in most American cities. (Make sure you check the Clery report of any U.S. college your child is considering!)

Beyond physical security on Israeli campuses, something even more important happens: Your child belongs and feels comfortable being themselves. Jewish identity isn’t something they have to explain, defend, or hide; it is natural and celebrated. Studying in Israel offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience of cultural immersion. Students get to live in a place where Jewish holidays are national holidays, Hebrew is spoken everywhere, and Jewish identity is celebrated naturally—not as a club activity.

This seems to define what the goal of a “match” school should be. A “match” school admits your child; a good match understands them. A “match” school is a statistical calculation; a good match is a life decision.

Next time, we’ll discuss what “reach” and “dream” schools are really all about.