Bais Medrash options and FAFSA

amother

OP ↓

Mon, Nov 25 2024, 10:31 pm

We are looking into post high school options for our son. Are there US bais medrash (black hat/white shirt crowd, although I hate labels) options that you can use Pelle grants towards tuition ?
Do only specific programs give credits towards a degree (from somewhere like TTI or Woodmont) ?

amother

Raspberry ↓

Mon, Nov 25 2024, 10:58 pm

Many botei medrash are accredited, which is a prerequisite for Pell Grants (I'd say most except very new ones).

If they participate in federal programs, they pretty much have to have a web site, so try googling. (You can also call the school and ask.)

Once accredited, a yeshiva will likely offer a Bachelor of Talmudic Law or Talmudic Studies. And if the student transfers elsewhere, they can get a transcript which is usually accepted at least in part.

-- I run a yeshiva office, happy to answer more questions

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Nov 25 2024, 11:15 pm

Thank you!
If I don't know where he is going, how do I fill out the FAFSA paperwork? Can I add a school choice later or do I need to know the places he's considering now (or at least very soon to complete the new form)
Familiar with girls and seminary applications, but this is my first boy:-)

amother

↑ Raspberry

Mon, Nov 25 2024, 11:25 pm

I haven't looked at application lately, but I think you can fill out a few schools. Then save your reply and you (or the school) will be able to add a school later.

The rules of what schools can access have changed some, but hopefully there will be simplification coming!

But I am sure you will always be able to use at another eligible school. It's an award to the student.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Nov 25 2024, 11:41 pm

Thank you!
Another question: Do some batei medrash give more credits per year than others ? Are some institution's credits or degrees more accepted/transferable than others ? Obviously going to look for a good fit for my son, but also want to be mindful of his degree/parnasah options in the future.

amother

Gray ↓

Tue, Nov 26 2024, 12:23 am

The beis medrish my son went to helped us through the fafsa process once he was accepted. In fact they wouldn’t discuss money until it was filed.
There are yeshivish accredited first year beis medrish for serious long term learners.
I don’t know what they give. I’m assuming it is a BTL in the 4th year.
We actually were not looking for it at all. But it’s a nice thing to have for the future.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Nov 26 2024, 6:33 am

amother Eggshell wrote:

The credts are hard to transfer, these degrees are mostly used to get into a masters program.

Does that mean if someone doesn't stay in the same institution 4 years ( or however long it takes to get the yeshiva 's degree) he'd be starting from "scratch" elsewhere?
Is it mostly the "frum" master programs and the associated colleges that would accept the BTL?

amother

↑ Gray ↓

Tue, Nov 26 2024, 7:36 am

amother OP wrote:

I definitely know ppl that used their btl for college. In Baltimore the boys go to local colleges. It could be only specific ones accept it easily.
My brother used his btl to get an accounting degree and cpa and another got into a premed program and ultimately med school (wasn’t easy to get in tho- but it never is). This was in Baltimore with Ner Btl.
But I don’t remember how it worked.

amother

↑ Eggshell

Tue, Nov 26 2024, 9:12 am

amother Eggshell wrote:

The credts are hard to transfer, these degrees are mostly used to get into a masters program.

Someone made a good point. You can probably transfer to a frum program like tti, etc.

However, most men I knew who have done a "yeshivish" 3 or 4 year beis medresh like op is describing and then go to school, go straight to masters, though sometimes need to pull together pre reqs. A hard science job like dr or PA might be hard- dont know.

A cpa can be through a ba+masters or 150 credit bachelors. Both total 150 credits.

But you can use these BAs to go to law school, social worker, bcba, that type.

What are you hoping to get from these credits? I dont think you should rely on them though they can be useful.

Also, fafsa is income eligible. My family and lots I know are not eligible. So run your application first, just pick any beis medresh you're considering.

Eta- most pple I know who did this went to beis medresh - > ey -> bmg. Dont know how those steps change anything.
(The boys in my circles who left yeshiva before marriagw usually were not going for jobs that need degrees )

Eta, sounds like Baltimore has a more robust program than Lakewood circles.

amother

↑ Gray ↓

Tue, Nov 26 2024, 9:20 am

We were not eligible for fafsa for beis medrish. We had to give parents income. But the yeshiva worked witb us. Married yeshiva guys get it more easily bec they don’t have their parents income on there.

My corporate job gives a college scholarship but I’m never sure if it will strange to submit for yeshiva…

amother

Azure

Tue, Nov 26 2024, 10:33 am

amother Gray wrote:

Why? My father got bais medrash paid for from his work. In USA and also Israel. The worse that’ll happen is they’ll say no.

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Nov 26 2024, 3:07 pm

amother Gray wrote:

Our yeshiva told us to do it when we were accepted a little after shavous.

We were recommended to complete the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available (due to there being a limited amount of funds). It looks like the application for next year was just released.