Approaching the college application process, most teenagers have high hopes for Big Tens like U of I, University of Iowa, or Northwestern. But since those colleges require the big bucks, lots of students like to commute to go to Depaul, Loyola, or UIC. It’s almost unheard of for a student to go out of a different country for a undergrad, but senior Naly Krishtal is taking an adventure to Tel Aviv University in Israel for her bachelor’s degree.

NWN: What was your GPA and ACT score?

Krishtal: My weighted is a 3.25 and ACT is 22.

NWN: What activities were you involved with in high school?

Krishtal: Well for three years I went to CJHS (Chicagoland Jewish High School), because I’ve gone to private school all my life and have always been religious. Because of growing up like that, it gave me a love for Israel. At CJHS I was involved in the Poms team, soccer, cross country, and at Niles West this year I was on Orchesis.

NWN: Why did you decide to go to Israel and not in the states?

Krishtal: I was there this summer for my third time and I absolutely loved the people and felt so close to the country. Plus my sister lives there and she’s 24, but she went to school in New York, so I wanted to do something different. I already speak Hebrew but I want to get more fluent. Since my school is international, there’s people all over the world that come from America, Russia, China, etc.

NWN: What do you plan to study?

Krishtal: I’m doing a BA in Liberal Arts. As of now I plan on majoring in Communications.

What’s your advice to the incoming seniors applying to college?

Krishtal: Most people apply to a lot of schools, but Tel Aviv was the only school I applied to because I knew for sure I wanted to go to Israel. A lot of people like to stay in the states because America is great, but if they want to study abroad, then just go for it.