Jelfies Samara R.
While I applied to college not knowing what I would major in, I did know two things — I wanted to go to Virginia Tech, and that I would be paying for it myself. A JELF loan was one of the ways I was able to do this — bridging the gap in my own savings, the money I was able to earn through my on-campus Federal Work-Study job, and any other Financial Aid I had available.
I was able to major in something I was passionate about — Interdisciplinary Studies, with a focus on Leadership, Social Justice, and Judaic Studies — and graduate in three years, going on to earn my Master’s degree and take the next step towards a career in higher education administration and career services, where I have been happily contributing to college student success for nearly 15 years on different campuses. JELF honored all that I had put into exploring and honing my Jewish identity in high school, and made it possible for me to engage in Jewish life and studies in college, as well.
College is hard enough without the burden of student loan debt.
College is getting more expensive
The average cost of college in the United States is $35K a year. This cost is only going to continue to grow.
Income rarely matches the cost.
31% of Jewish families have a household income of under $50K. The Jewish community is not immune to debt or hardship.
Average student loan debt is $30K
That's a problem! With student loan debt at an all time high, JELF is here to help!
