There’s no doubt that Ramaz is a highly competitive environment— students work hard to excel academically and achieve their goals. Many would argue that Ramaz is the most “college obsessed” Yeshiva in the tri-state area. And while it may be true that every school has individual students who strive to be accepted into a top college, Ramaz is unique in that a majority of its students expect (or at least hope) to be accepted into an elite university. In the last Rampage issue, poll results showed that a majority of Ramaz students  put “college pressure” on themselves. Personally, I would argue that this widespread pressure stems from the fact that students want to meet the standard of excellence that Ramaz has historically advertised.

Ramaz is known for offering an outstanding education. The teachers at Ramaz are among the best in their respective fields, and the students are some of the most (academically) impressive around. Ramaz’s status as the “Ivy of the yeshiva league” undoubtedly stems from the fact that Ramaz officially considers itself a college preparatory school. Ramaz students have a stricter dress code than other Yeshivas, and the school itself is notorious for its rigorous curriculum. This explains, in part, why Ramaz students are so college obsessed. The reputation that Ramaz has acquired over the years attracts a specific type of student, one who is willing (and able) to go above and beyond in order to succeed academically. Ramaz students are always looking ahead. And while there are always students who didn’t necessarily choose to go Ramaz, I believe those students who did choose to attend Ramaz on their own did so with the understanding that it wouldn’t be easy. Every incoming Ramaz student is ultimately aware that the school’s student population can aptly be described as more ambitious and more driven than the student bodies of most other schools.

Gaining admission into a top university is a fiercely competitive ordeal. More students apply each year, yet the number of available spots remains constant— the acceptance rates of prestigious universities are continuing to drop. Students are given the impression that going to an elite college directly correlates to their success in the future. This lurking idea (which seems to be intrinsic to our generation) is another reason why Ramaz students are so college obsessed. We are only satisfied with the best, and in accordance with that rule, anything less than an Ivy League college is culturally unacceptable. Ramaz students are looking to follow those Ramaz alumni who have made big names for themselves over the years. We are looking to achieve excellence, even if it is to our own detriment.

This leads me to the following question: does Ramaz’s obsession with college ultimately create an unhealthy environment for the student body? This question can be answered in one of two ways. On one hand, being “name obsessed” is never a great thing. People who are hung up on the name of a prestigious university might put themselves in a situation where they enroll in a college that is not the right fit for them just because of that school’s status. Others might put way too much pressure on the outcome of their decision letters, leading themselves to believe that getting rejected is a sign of failures to come. At the end of the day, however, students who attend Harvard and students who attend city colleges can end up in the same exact position in four years.

One the other hand, Ramaz’s college obsession is not all bad. Being surrounded by students who have high expectations for themselves creates an environment of people who do not want to slack off. Attending in a school where students are constantly striving to do their very best can become extremely motivating for some kids. And while this environment can become extremely stressful, it nonetheless prepares them for success in college and beyond. Indeed, talk to any Ramaz alumni who felt overwhelmed by work in high and they’ll all tell you the same thing: It payed off in the long run.

Ramaz is unique from other yeshivot in that its students are always (literally always) talking about college. In my opinion, that reality stems from Ramaz’s status as a college prep school, the school’s rigorous academics, and a competitive student culture. We might not appreciate the hard work and stress at times, but at the end of the day, most students want to meet the school’s standard of excellence by doing all they can to gain admission into an elite college.