Preparing to be an Out-of-Towner Out of YU

By: Shira Kramer  |  February 11, 2025
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By Shira Kramer, Managing Editor

While there are a lot of disadvantages to the out-of-towner experience at Yeshiva University, one thing that isn’t commonly discussed is the faculty’s lack of knowledge about opportunities outside of New York and New Jersey. Whether students are looking for internships, graduate schools or networking opportunities, the majority of faculty members who say they want to help students cannot comment on anything outside of the 75-mile radius of our school.

As a student who plans to pursue a higher education after YU, I feel proud that our acceptance rates to graduate schools are so high. We have access to incredible examination preparatory programs and hear from professional speakers throughout the year. However, as a student whose top choices for graduate school aren’t in the tri-state area, I feel completely alone when it comes to personalized information on those schools and their former students. 

Post-graduation planning is one of the biggest stressors for upperclassmen. Personally, I’ve been thinking about going to law school for as long as I can remember. As an out-of-towner from Baltimore, some of the best law schools in the country are just outside my front door. 

Before coming to YU, it would’ve never occurred to me to only apply to graduate programs in New York. Why would I, when places such as Georgetown and The George Washington University are so close to my family? So, following my parents’ dreams of me never leaving their sight, I have my heart set on going to a Maryland or D.C. school for graduate school.

I’m also a bit of an overachiever. I’m also what some might call an “overworrier.” I like to stress ahead of time to prepare myself for the real stress that lies ahead. When I initially went to the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development (SGC), I was so excited to share my hopes for the perfect law school for me. Don’t get me wrong, I had a fantastic appointment. 

The advisors at the SGC are top notch. They know their target audience and they cater to them well. Unfortunately, the definition of a target audience is “the specific group of consumers most likely to want your product or service.” The words “most likely” are key here as most of YU students are from the tri-state area. Unfortunately for out-of-towners, we are simply not the target audience. 

So, my excitement was muted slightly when I realized I would have to research my dream graduate schools all on my own. I would like to think that part of the exuberant price tag that comes with a YU education is the excellent career center. Sadly, the same way a student with allergies is still required to buy a meal plan though she cannot enjoy the caf, I (as a proud Marylander) cannot deduct money from my tuition because of the extra time I spend googling law schools out-of-town. 

If you haven’t already gotten what I’m trying to say, let me put it in a way I think even New Yorkers might understand: there is life past the Hudson River. There are incredible opportunities outside of New York both professionally and personally. It is okay to explore those opportunities and to be proud of them. 

For anyone who wants to get a little crazy, New Yorkers are welcome to join us outside of the bubble.  

Photo Caption: New York City and the Hudson River 

Photo Credit: Unsplash 

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