Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL INFORMATION

What is JustCity?

JustCity is an innovative precollege program in Jewish social justice, brought to you by The Jewish Theological Seminary, AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, the National Ramah Commission, and United Synagogue Youth. During the month of July, you will build a network of peers committed to positive social change, participate in meaningful service with local nonprofits, and develop the leadership skills you need to make a difference in your home community. Students will live together in the JTS residence halls and engage in Jewish text study with JTS faculty. Afternoons will be devoted to service learning in the field, and evenings and weekends will be spent further exploring New York City.

What does a typical day look like?

Monday through Thursday, you will spend mornings in class and afternoons in an internship that's held for the entire four weeks. Fridays will be spent doing group service-projects and engaging in field trips around the city. Evenings and weekends will be devoted to further exploring the city, building community, and celebrating Shabbat. (See below for more information).

A Typical Day (Monday-Thursday)

In addition to classes, internships, and workshops, you will make friends, go on field trips, engage with Jewish arts and culture, and have time for summer fun.

How old do I have to be to participate in the program?

JustCity is for rising high school juniors and seniors-those students entering 11th or 12th grade in fall 2013.

I just graduated from high school. Can I still apply to JustCity?

Please contact us to discuss it. While our programs are geared toward rising high school juniors and seniors, some exceptions may be made.

Is the program co-ed?

Yes.

How many students participate in JustCity?

Our maximum number of students is 50 per session. This is a great size for teens to make new friends and still get personal attention from staff.

What is your staff-to-student ratio?

We have a staff-to-student ratio of 1:6.

Can students commute?

JustCity offers commuter options for students who live in the New York metropolitan area. Please contact us at justcity@jtsa.edu for more information.

Does JustCity count toward my high school's community service hours?

Yes, JustCity participants will accrue about 50 hours of community service that can be counted toward their high school requirements.

Will you provide college prep for participants?

Yes. In addition to acquiring skills, you need to succeed in college. JustCity offers admissions and college success workshops designed to help you learn about choices, better understand the admissions process, and gain effective strategies for translating your high school and Jewish leadership achievements into a college application that stands out. Here are just a few of the workshops that will be offered:

- "Starting Your College Search"

- "Evaluating Jewish Life on Campus"

- "Building Your College Application"

- "Writing the College Admission Essay"

- "Interviewing Skills"

CLASSROOM LEARNING

What classes will I take at JTS?

JustCity is designed for future change makers-highly motivated and intellectually curious students who are eager to engage with today's social issues. Our seminar classes focus on the place of social justice within Judaism, and provide you with the tools to use Jewish texts to inform and inspire your work. Instructors challenge students to think deeply about your personal Jewish and social-justice journey and how you can lead change at home and in the world. Instructors are thought leaders in the Jewish community and committed social justice activists. Please see our About Our Staff page to learn more.

Are there any prerequisites for JustCity?

JustCity is open to Jews of all backgrounds who are excited to learn and want to make a meaningful difference in the world. While classes are rooted in text, all primary and secondary sources are offered in both English and Hebrew; no Hebrew proficiency or prior experience with Jewish texts is required.

Will we have homework?

All JustCity class work happens in the classroom-the program does not require any homework as afternoons and evenings are devoted to internships and community building.

Will I need to pay additional fees for course materials?

No. All books and materials will be provided for you.

Will I be graded for my class?

JustCity's emphasis is on participants' personal journeys and growth, so you will not be graded for your classwork. In lieu of an official transcript, instructors can provide an evaluation on official letterhead for you, if desired. These evaluations can be copied and included in college applications as supplemental recommendations.

Can I receive college credit for the class?

No. Students do not receive college credit for JustCity.

SOCIAL JUSTICE INTERNSHIPS

What social justice work will we be doing?

Afternoons will be spent working on community-building projects around the city with organizations such as DOROT, The Educational Alliance, Hazon, Kids Creative, Manhattan Multicultural Youth, and other local nonprofits. We will continue to add placements to our roster throughout the spring in a variety of areas of social justice practice.

How long do internships last?

Students will participate in one internship for the duration of the monthlong JustCity program. By working afternoons Monday through Thursday, students will accrue about 50 community service hours, which can be counted toward their high school requirements.

What kind of work will I be doing during my internship?

Internships consist of a variety of hands-on projects and programming, such as participating in interreligious dialogue at the United Nations, leading elementary school students through social action projects, and visiting homebound senior citizens. Through on-the-ground service, supervision, and training, you will learn about poverty, homelessness, health issues, the environment, seniors, children-and how to effect real change.

How do I get placed into an internship?

We ask applicants to rank your top three areas of social justice practice in the JustCity application. You must list three preferences. Placements are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. JustCity cannot guarantee a student's first preference. We will be in touch about final placement once you are accepted into JustCity.

JEWISH PROGRAMMING

What kind of Jewish programming do you offer?

JustCity is an impactful Jewish summer experience for teens. In addition to Jewish learning and action, we offer you a unique opportunity to deepen your Jewish identity in community with your peers. All programming (classroom study, community service, and field trips) is filtered through a Jewish lens, and we offer transformative Shabbat experiences as well. Formal morning prayers/reflections are convened daily and on Shabbat, and students can organize additional opportunities as well.

What does Shabbat at JustCity look like?

After a busy week of learning and service, Shabbat offers participants a special opportunity for renewal and community. Through festive shared meals, prayer, reflection, and ritual, Shabbat synthesizes JustCity's unique approach to Jewish living and provides a gateway to deeper meaning. Shabbat will begin and conclude with group services, and, each week, we will host a different scholar-in-residence (social justice leaders in the field and esteemed JTS faculty), who will join us for meals and share their wisdom. Shabbat also provides an opportunity for informal discussion groups: on Saturday, students can opt into different cohorts based on area of interest (Israel, arts and culture, sustainability, hesed, etc.) for peer learning, or take advantage of the vibrant Jewish resources on the Upper West Side. All Shabbat programming will help cultivate connections among Jewish values, activism, and identity in a way that is personally resonant for each student.

I'm not religiously observant-do I have to participate in the Jewish programming?

Participants of JustCity come from all parts of the country and reflect diverse religious attitudes, affiliations, and expressions of Judaism. We believe that spiritual practice is one of the key ways that, as Jews and social justice activists, we connect to the holiness of our tradition, link to our community, and sustain our work. Each morning, students have a variety of opportunities to participate in prayer and reflection, which is mandatory. We also ask that students participate in the core of our Shabbat experience-services and meals-which offer a powerful space for community cohesion and reflection. By asking everyone to take an active role in this programming, JustCity aspires to prepare students for Jewish adulthood by providing spiritual and lay leadership training. We hope to foster a pluralistic and egalitarian environment that both respects and stretches all our students; we will work to accommodate different approaches of prayer and ritual as much as possible.

EVENING AND WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

What will we be doing on nights and weekends?

Evenings and weekends will be a mix of activities and excursions to various places all over New York City, as well as right on campus. We'll offer chaperoned field trips (concerts, bike rides, canoeing on the Hudson, sports events, theater, etc.), group service projects, and evening programming with JTS thought leaders and professors. There is also a wide range of suggested activities for students who would like to venture out in Manhattan on their own or with friends (staying mindful of the rules, of course).

Fridays are devoted to large group volunteer projects around the city: creating an elementary school mural, "greening" a neighborhood park, delivering meals to Jewish senior citizens, and serving in a soup kitchen. Additionally, you will take guided tours through historic Jewish neighborhoods of New York City to learn about the history of Jewish social activism. During these "off days," we will also offer stand-alone college prep workshops on such topics as "How to Begin Your Search," "How to Write a College Essay," and the "Admissions Interview." You can also take tours of Barnard College and Columbia University.

How much spending money should I bring?

The suggested amount of spending money is about $75 to $100 per week. This will vary depending on how often you dine off campus, travel throughout New York City, etc.

LIVING ON CAMPUS

Where will I be living?

JustCity residents live on the JTS campus in the Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall (MSRH), a modern air-conditioned facility equipped with high-speed Internet. MSRH's convenient location on the Upper West Side enables students to take full advantage of the cultural wealth of New York City. Bus and subway connections are close to the residence hall.

At JTS we have created an atmosphere for Jewish living in the residence halls that complements the academic experience. All students in residence are guided by a carefully selected group of Resident Advisors (RAs) and counselors who assist students, facilitate hall activities, and help foster a sense of community and friendship within their residence hall. Principles of respect, understanding, leadership, and social responsibility are emphasized by the live-in staff. In addition, Shabbat observance is expected in all public areas of the residence halls.

Please note that telephones are not provided in the dorm rooms; we strongly encourage you to bring your own cell phone(s), as you'll be out and about for much of the day. We do not provide sheets, towels, bedding, etc., for students. There are a variety of stores in the area where housing items can be purchased.

Will I have roommates?

Yes, living with a roommate within a real college dormitory setting is an important part of your precollege experience. Students live in double or triple rooms in single-sex suites. Each floor is equipped with its own kitchen, bathrooms, and common area. Roommates are assigned based on students' responses to a housing questionnaire.

What is the food like?

The JTS Dining Hall is a social center for the JTS community, as well as for the Columbia and Barnard communities. Dining services provides a wide range of food options, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. All meals are kosher under the rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Joel Roth, rav hamakhshir. Meals are varied and cater to just about every taste. For example, fresh-baked muffins, hot and cold cereals, a hot buffet, and fresh fruit are available at breakfast. Lunch offerings include a soup station, hot buffet, sandwich bar, and an abundant parve salad bar that features many different toppings, assorted fresh vegetables, composed salads, and fresh fruit. JustCity dinners are either catered in or cooked "family style" with staff in the residence halls. Additionally, students have the option of preparing meals in their individual kitchens. Our residence halls maintain the laws of kashrut (Jewish dietary laws).

Does JustCity have a dress code?

While JustCity does not have a formal dress code, we do expect students to be mindful of their appearance, and to dress appropriately for your internships. We ask that you bring at least one or two "business casual" outfits for special programming. You may also bring tallit and tefillin with you for weekday morning services.

How safe is JTS's campus?

Your safety is one of our highest priorities. JTS is located in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, which is also home to Barnard College, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, and Union Theological Seminary. The neighborhood has a "college-town" feel and is among the safest in Manhattan. During orientation, JustCity participants will take part in a workshop on New York City "street smarts" with a member of the JTS security staff so that you learn to be alert and aware of yourselves and others. Security guards monitor the residence hall and main campus 24 hours a day, and only those with JTS identification may enter.

If you enroll in JustCity, you must also assume responsibility for your behavior and comply with all regulations designed to protect the health and safety of participants. We take curfew and sign-out procedures very seriously; violating these policies will result in disciplinary action and/or dismissal. In keeping with policy and legal restrictions, we have zero tolerance for substance use, violence and harassment, and stealing. Unacceptable student conduct will result in disciplinary action and/or dismissal. Details of the social policy are sent to each admitted applicant.

What should I bring with me?

• Business casual and/or Shabbat attire
• Warm clothes
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Alarm clock
• Blanket, comforter, towels, pillow, extra-long sheets (mattresses are TWIN-XL)
• Book bag, knapsack, key ring
• Clothes hangers
• First aid kit, sewing kit
• Laundry detergent
• Personal care products, flip-flops for the shower
• Cell phone
• Radio, stereo, iPod, and headphones (all optional)
• Hair dryer (optional)
• Laundry bag (optional)
• Camera (optional)
• iPad or laptop (optional)
• Tallit and tefillin (optional)

GETTING THERE

The Jewish Theological Seminary is easily accessible from all New York City metropolitan area airports, train and bus stations, and by car. Students commuting to campus daily take the #1 Broadway local subway, or one of the several buses (M-104, M-4, or M-60) directly to JTS. All admitted students receive detailed travel instructions. 

APPLICATION INFORMATION

When is the deadline to apply?

Applications will be available beginning February 1. The deadline to apply is May 20. Admissions decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

When will I be notified of the decision?

Decisions are made on a rolling basis. You should receive a decision within a month of the office receiving a completed application. It is up to the student to make sure that all parts of the application have been received by the office.

What are your rates?

Tuition for JustCity is $4,995, which includes all programming fees, room, and board.

Do you offer scholarships?

JustCity offers limited scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit a complete JustCity application as well as a separate scholarship application by May 15, 2013.

Scholarships are granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and awards are made until funds are depleted. Funds may be depleted before the application deadline. We cannot guarantee that all applicants who apply before the deadline will receive scholarship assistance.

Can I have the application fee waived?

Students who apply to JustCity by March 15, 2013, will have the $75 application fee waived. If you are concerned about the fee, please contact our office at justcity@jtsa.edu, and we will be happy to discuss the matter further.

What is your payment and refund policy?

A nonrefundable payment of $2,500 is due upon a student's acceptance into the program to guarantee his/her place. The remaining tuition is due in full no later than June 15, 2013. No refunds will be made after June 15 of any portion of the tuition for any reason. Students will not be allowed to register or participate in the program if payment in full has not been made.