As the climate on some campuses has turned threatening for Jewish students, we share essays from moms with kids at Yale, Northwestern and Brown. We also hear from a mother whose high school junior encountered protests on a recent tour of the University of Texas at Austin and from another whose son has decided to forego problematic schools like Middlebury.

My college search was a thrilling journey filled with excitement and anticipation for the future. At 17, I sought academically challenging institutions in warm climates when I embarked on campus tours with my father. Now, four decades later, I’m assisting my son, a high school junior, in crafting his college wish list, which mirrors my own criteria of academic rigor and balmy weather.

Our college visits, however, have been overshadowed by the recent pro-Palestinian protests on campuses nationwide.

We first set out on college tours shortly after the horrific events of October 7, when Hamas terrorists waged the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Our hearts were shattered watching the news. We attended pro-Israel rallies in our home community of Atlanta, placed a “We Support Israel” sign on our lawn and donated to the Israel Defense Forces and various causes that aid Israelis. We never imagined that the war, 6,400 miles away, would also be fought so close to home.

While initially unfazed by the sporadic displays of political messaging we would see in and around college campuses—for example, “Free Palestine” stickers on street signs and telephone poles—the popping up of anti-Israel encampments and protests is now prompting a reevaluation of our priorities. In March, as antisemitic incidents surged at universities across the country, my son added new criteria to his search: the college’s stance on antisemitism and the need for a vibrant Jewish student community. As a result, he has removed several schools from consideration.

Our visit to the University of Texas at Austin at the end of April epitomized this shift. The school met all my son’s criteria. He was excited at the prospect of becoming a “Longhorn.” However, the campus visit was marred by a planned protest. Undeterred when we learned about it, we proceeded with our tour, only to encounter a scene of heightened tension—dozens of anti-Israel protesters facing off against mounted police officers.

The following day, my son and I returned for an informal exploration of the campus, hoping for a more peaceful experience. I quickly realized our naïveté. We were met with a harrowing sight: throngs of masked, keffiyeh-clad protesters brandishing antisemitic signs and shouting hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric. We beat a hasty and disheartened departure.

Upon our return home, we followed the news and witnessed similar unrest unfolding at elite universities across the country. A stark new reality has dawned on me: My son’s college search will be markedly different than mine. Will the specter of antisemitism cast a shadow over what should be an exciting and transformative chapter in his life? As he navigates this tumultuous college landscape, I hope that the anti-Jewish sentiment he has witnessed will foster in him a stronger Jewish identity. Am Yisrael Chai.

Lesli Greenberg is a nonprofit consultant and licensed realtor. She earned a B.A. in psychology from Emory and a master’s degree in counseling from Georgia State University.