Admissions

At the Zschool we are creating a different future by educating leaders.

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program requirements

Each applicant is viewed as a unique individual. You must be able to meet our requirements by June of the summer you intend to enroll

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View Requirements
Brief Application
Start your process with Part 1 of our application. It’s easy to do and takes less than 1 minute. Once you submit Part 1, you are officially in our system as an applicant. You will soon receive email instructions for creating an account and moving on to Part 2. Apply now >
Admissions Meeting

Before filling out Part 2 of the application, we recommend that applicants contact us to set up a conversation and/or a virtual visit. This will help you learn if the Zelikow School is a great match for you.

Full Application
This is the bulk of your application, which includes in-depth questions about your desire to pursue this professional degree. If you have already submitted Part 1, you should have received an email with login instructions for Part 2. You can return to edit this application at any time. Are you having issues accessing the application? Contact Melissa Garai for help.
Application Essays

These three writing samples are your chance to share why the Zschool is the right place for you. You’ll upload these essays in the “Supplemental Materials” section of the application portal.

Writing Sample #1 Personal Statement

We want to understand you better. We’re looking for a well-written personal statement that addresses the following themes. Please do not exceed 5 double-spaced pages:

  • Personal Background
  • Jewish Identity
  • Academic Background
  • Work Experience
  • Professional Goals

Writing Sample # 2 Short Essay

Visit: https://www.leadingedge.org/resource/jewishworkplace2023 and review the State of The Jewish Workplace 2023 report. 

You are not expected to develop an in-depth understanding of the full report. Rather, focus on the key findings which can be found at the link above (scroll down to find Key Findings summarized).

Please choose a key finding that stands out to you and answer the following questions: How, if at all, have you observed this play out in your experience of Jewish nonprofit life; and, how might this impact your own approach to Jewish professional leadership?

Please do not exceed 3 double-spaced pages.

Writing Sample #3: Mock Social Media Post

Imagine you are the social media manager for a Jewish nonprofit organization or project dedicated to fostering a vibrant and flourishing Jewish community. Your task is to create a compelling social media post that inspires engagement and promotes Jewish life. The format and platform are up to you. Remember, it’s a mock post that we do not expect you to actually post online. It can be humorous or serious–be as creative as you like! Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • A 60-second reel or short video highlighting a community event, tradition, or story.
  • A captivating photo with a thoughtful blurb or caption.
  • An engaging graphic or illustration with a call-to-action.
  • An email blurb or short paragraph accompanied by an image that could be shared on social media.


Guidelines:

  1. Creativity: Think outside the box and use your imagination to create something that stands out and resonates with your audience.
  2. Time Limit: Spend no more than 90 minutes creating your post.
  3. Platform/Format: Choose any social media platform or format you feel comfortable with—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter (X), Yelp, or even a mock email post.
  4. Length: If you create a video, it should be no longer than 60 seconds. Text should include no more than 250 words.
  5. Submission: You have two options for sharing your post with us: a) Save the post in a PDF or Word document and upload it under “Supplemental Materials”; or b) Paste a link to the post in a PDF or Word document and upload that under “Supplemental Materials.”

Have fun with this! We’re excited to see your creativity and passion for fostering a flourishing, vibrant Jewish community.

Supplemental Materials

References
Students applying for a degree are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation. Please include 1 letter from each category below.

  1. Professional Recommendation. You are encouraged to select a current or previous supervisor of paid or volunteer work (Working applicants must submit a recommendation from a current supervisor unless otherwise approved.)
  2. Academic Recommendation. This can be a college professor or instructor with whom you have engaged in serious academic study. If you have been out of school for 5+ years, adult or informal education instructors work too.
  3. Jewish Life Recommendation. This should be someone who knows you in the context of Jewish organizational/communal life. If you know a graduate of the Zschool, this is a great place to include them, but only if they know you well enough to comment meaningfully on your candidacy.

Transcripts
From all past institutions of higher learning, whether or not they were your degree-bearing institution.

Please have your schools mail the transcripts directly to:

National Office of Recruitment and Admissions
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
3101 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220
tward@huc.edu

Professional Resume

Admissions Interview and Possible Outcomes

Admissions Interview

Interview with a panel of Administrators, Faculty, Alumni and/or lay leaders from the Zelikow School. This helps us to assess who you are as a person and allows you to present yourself “off the page”. The interview is also a chance to ask questions of various Zelikow School stakeholders. There is space on the application to indicate your availability.

Possible Admissions Outcomes

Following interviews, the Admissions Committee will communicate one of the following decisions:

  • Admitted 
    • Note: Applicants admitted with a GPA below 3.0 will receive a conditional acceptance, whereby they must earn a grade of Pass on all summer coursework to remain in the program.
  • Not At This Time  
  • Rejected 
  • Waitlist 
  • Degree Track Redirect
Brief Application
Start your process with Part 1 of our application. It’s easy to do and takes less than 1 minute. Once you submit Part 1, you are officially in our system as an applicant. You will soon receive email instructions for creating an account and moving on to Part 2. Apply now >
Admissions Meeting
Before filling out Part 2 of the application, we recommend that applicants contact us to set up a conversation and/or a virtual visit. We’d love to introduce you a classroom experience and/or set you up for a chat with a student and/or professor. This will help you learn if the Zelikow School is a great match for you.
Full Application
This is the bulk of your application, which includes in-depth questions about your desire to pursue this professional degree. If you have already submitted Part 1, you should have received an email with login instructions for Part 2. You can return to edit this application at any time. Are you having issues accessing the application? Contact Melissa Garai for help.
Application Essays

These three writing samples are your chance to share why the Zschool is the right place for you. You’ll upload these essays in the “Supplemental Materials” section of the application portal.

Writing Sample #1 Personal Statement

We want to understand you better. We’re looking for a well-written personal statement that addresses the following themes. Please do not exceed 5 double-spaced pages:

  • Personal Background
  • Jewish Identity
  • Academic Background
  • Work Experience
  • Professional Goals

Writing Sample # 2 Short Essay

Visit: https://www.leadingedge.org/resource/jewishworkplace2023 and review the State of The Jewish Workplace 2023 report. 

You are not expected to develop an in-depth understanding of the full report. Rather, focus on the key findings which can be found at the link above (scroll down to find Key Findings summarized).

Please choose a key finding that stands out to you and answer the following questions: How, if at all, have you observed this play out in your experience of Jewish nonprofit life; and, how might this impact your own approach to Jewish professional leadership?

Please do not exceed 3 double-spaced pages.

Writing Sample #3: Mock Social Media Post

Imagine you are the social media manager for a Jewish nonprofit organization or project dedicated to fostering a vibrant and flourishing Jewish community. Your task is to create a compelling social media post that inspires engagement and promotes Jewish life. The format and platform are up to you. Remember, it’s a mock post that we do not expect you to actually post online. It can be humorous or serious–be as creative as you like! Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • A 60-second reel or short video highlighting a community event, tradition, or story.
  • A captivating photo with a thoughtful blurb or caption.
  • An engaging graphic or illustration with a call-to-action.
  • An email blurb or short paragraph accompanied by an image that could be shared on social media.


Guidelines:

  1. Creativity: Think outside the box and use your imagination to create something that stands out and resonates with your audience.
  2. Time Limit: Spend no more than 90 minutes creating your post.
  3. Platform/Format: Choose any social media platform or format you feel comfortable with—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter (X), Yelp, or even a mock email post.
  4. Length: If you create a video, it should be no longer than 60 seconds. Text should include no more than 250 words.
  5. Submission: You have two options for sharing your post with us: a) Save the post in a PDF or Word document and upload it under “Supplemental Materials”; or b) Paste a link to the post in a PDF or Word document and upload that under “Supplemental Materials.”

Have fun with this! We’re excited to see your creativity and passion for fostering a flourishing, vibrant Jewish community.

Supplemental Materials

References
Students applying for a degree are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation. Please include 1 letter from each category below.

  1. Professional Recommendation. You are encouraged to select a current or previous supervisor of paid or volunteer work (Working applicants must submit a recommendation from a current supervisor unless otherwise approved.)
  2. Academic Recommendation. This can be a college professor or instructor with whom you have engaged in serious academic study. If you have been out of school for 5+ years, adult or informal education instructors work too.
  3. Jewish Life Recommendation. This should be someone who knows you in the context of Jewish organizational/communal life. If you know a graduate of the Zschool, this is a great place to include them, but only if they know you well enough to comment meaningfully on your candidacy.

Transcripts
From all past institutions of higher learning, whether or not they were your degree-bearing institution.

Please have your schools mail the transcripts directly to:

National Office of Recruitment and Admissions
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
3101 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220
tward@huc.edu

Professional Resume

Admissions Interview and Possible Outcomes

Admissions Interview

Interview with a panel of Administrators, Faculty, Alumni and/or lay leaders from the Zelikow School. This helps us to assess who you are as a person and allows you to present yourself “off the page”. The interview is also a chance to ask questions of various Zelikow School stakeholders. There is space on the application to indicate your availability.

Possible Admissions Outcomes

Following interviews, the Admissions Committee will communicate one of the following decisions:

  • Admitted 
    • Note: Applicants admitted with a GPA below 3.0 will receive a conditional acceptance, whereby they must earn a grade of Pass on all summer coursework to remain in the program.
  • Not At This Time  
  • Rejected 
  • Waitlist 
  • Degree Track Redirect
Brief Application
Start your process with Part 1 of our application. It’s easy to do and takes less than 1 minute. Once you submit Part 1, you are officially in our system as an applicant. You will soon receive email instructions for creating an account and moving on to Part 2. This application needs to be completed in addition to other HUC applications you will be or have completed. Apply now >
Admissions Meeting
Before filling out Part 2 of the application, we recommend that applicants contact us to set up a conversation and/or a virtual visit. This will help you learn if the Zelikow School is a great match for you.
Application Part 2
This is the bulk of your application, which includes in-depth questions about your desire to pursue this professional degree. If you have already submitted Part 1, you should have received an email with login instructions for Part 2. You can return to edit this application at any time. Are you having issues accessing the application? Contact Melissa Garai for help.
Application Essays

These two writing samples are your chance to share why the Zschool is the right place for you. You’ll upload these essays in the “Supplemental Materials” section of the application portal.

Long Essay: We want to understand you better. The Admissions committee will review the personal statement from your previous/additional HUC-JIR application and let you know if an addendum is necessary to complete your application.

Short Essay: Please explain why you would like to attain the Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership. How do you imagine the coursework will shape your career? Please do not exceed 3 double-spaced pages.

Supplemental Materials

Recommendations

Students applying for a degree are required to submit 4 letters of recommendation (3 for applicants to the Certificate). Please include at least 1 letter from each category below.

  1. Professional Recommendation. You are encouraged to select a current or previous supervisor of paid or volunteer work (MSOLI applicants must submit a recommendation from a current supervisor unless otherwise approved.)
  2. Academic Recommendation. This can be a college professor or instructor with whom you have engaged in serious academic study. If you have been out of school for 5+ years, adult or informal education instructors work too.
  3. Jewish Life Recommendation. This should be someone who knows you in the context of Jewish organizational/communal life. If you know a graduate of the Zschool, this is a great place to include them, but only if they know you well enough to comment meaningfully on your candidacy.

Transcripts
From all past institutions of higher learning, whether or not they were your degree-bearing institution.

Please have your schools mail the transcripts directly to:

National Office of Recruitment and Admissions
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
3101 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220
tward@huc.edu

Resume

Admissions Interview and Possible Outcomes

Admissions Interview

Interview with a panel of Administrators, Faculty, Alumni and/or lay leaders from the Zelikow School. This helps us to assess who you are as a person and allows you to present yourself “off the page”. The interview is also a chance to ask questions of various Zelikow School stakeholders. There is space on the application to indicate your availability.

Possible Admissions Outcomes

Following interviews, the Admissions Committee will communicate one of the following decisions:

  • Admitted 
    • Note: Applicants admitted with a GPA below 3.0 will receive a conditional acceptance, whereby they must earn a grade of Pass on all summer coursework to remain in the program.
  • Not At This Time  
  • Rejected 
  • Waitlist 
  • Degree Track Redirect
NOVEMBER 15, 2024

First Round Online Applications Due

NOVEMBER 15, 2024
DECEMBER 2-5, 2024

First Round Interview Dates (Zoom)

DECEMBER 2-5, 2024
January 15, 2025

Second Round Online Applications Due

January 15, 2025
February 3-6, 2025

Second Round Interview Dates (Zoom)

February 3-6, 2025
March 15, 2025

Third Round Online Applications Due

March 15, 2025
March 31 -April 3, 2025

Third Round Interview Dates (Zoom)

March 31 -April 3, 2025
Financial Aid

We believe cost should not be a limiting factor for those wanting to pursue a Jewish professional career. We provide generous scholarships of up to 80%.

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Calendar

All Zschool dates subject to change

Fall (2024)

Mon, August 19: First Day of Classes
Mon, September 2: Labor Day (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, October 3-4: Rosh Hashanah (No Classes)
Fri, October 11: Kol Nidre (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, October 17-18: Sukkot I-II (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, October 24-25: Shmini Atzeret, Simchat Torah (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, November 28-29: Thanksgiving Break (No Classes)
Tues, December 10: Last Day of Classes
Wed-Thurs, December 11-12: Reading Period
Mon-Tues, December 16-17: Final Exams

Spring (2024)

Mon, August 19: First Day of Classes
Mon, September 2: Labor Day (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, October 3-4: Rosh Hashanah (No Classes)
Fri, October 11: Kol Nidre (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, October 17-18: Sukkot I-II (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, October 24-25: Shmini Atzeret, Simchat Torah (No Classes)
Thurs-Fri, November 28-29: Thanksgiving Break (No Classes)
Tues, December 10: Last Day of Classes
Wed-Thurs, December 11-12: Reading Period
Mon-Tues, December 16-17: Final Exams

Summer (2025)

Sun-Thurs, June 8-12: Zschool Leadership Conference (In-person, to be held in a US city to be announced)
Mon, June 23: First Day of Classes
Friday, August 1: Last day of Classes
Mon-Wed, August 4-6: Makeup Classes
Thurs, August 7: MSOLI Graduation and Culmination 

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View Full Calendar

Certificate in jewish organizational leadership* (7 weeks)

Enrollment confirmation

$200

Enrollment confirmation

$200

Enrollment confirmation

$200

Cost of attendance

$55,350

Learn more about program costs and scholarship information.

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Our Admission Requirements

  • A BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university
  • An academic record reflecting the ability to do graduate work at a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or above on a four-point scale
  • Students with a GPA of a 3.0 or above from a previous institution do not need to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. However, students with a GPA below 3.0 will need to submit GRE scores.
  • International applicants from non-English speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), now an internet-based test (IBT). International applicants must have a working knowledge of English and a score of at least 90 on the TOEFL, with at least 22 on each constituent part.
  • A readiness for graduate study, including the capacity to meet the intellectual, ethical, and emotional demands of graduate school.
  • A serious commitment to Jewish communal life, learning and values.
  • An ability to engage in abstract reasoning, to think analytically and conceptually, and to formulate mature, independent judgments.
  • An ability to speak and write clearly and articulately.
Zschool - Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management

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Our project-intensive curriculum engages you in creative problem solving that will shape your practice as a nonprofit professional.

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