During my first UF advising appointment almost three years ago, I was given an ultimatum: add a minor or graduate early. For a 2020 high school graduate who had had his senior year cut short by COVID-19, I decided to take on a minor. I was taking a Jewish Studies course at the time, and Professor Natalia Aleksiun had recently told us that a Jewish Studies Minor and a Holocaust Studies certificate were both available to any of us that were interested.
As a biology student in the College of Agricultural and Life Science, I saw that most of my peers were adding minors more in line with their majors (i.e. minors in chemistry). But my advisor, though surprised initially, explained that professional schools look for well-rounded students who have engaged in multidisciplinary studies. So, minoring in Jewish Studies would be an excellent choice.
Multiple professional school deans and admission staffers I have spoken with over the past few years, have echoed this sentiment. It further reinforced my decision to take on the Jewish Studies minor.
Simply put, I would not have had it any other way.
