Israelis continue to apply to top US universities amid Trump administration’s visa restrictions

Despite growing concerns about antisemitism, anti-Israel protests, and visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, Israelis continue to apply to America’s top universities. Shimri Winters, an Israeli and founder of Aringo MBA Admissions Consulting, which assists Israeli students with U.S. university applications, remains optimistic in the face of these challenges.

“My only advice to our candidates who are saying, ‘Should I even apply to Harvard?’ Is ‘Yes, why not?'” Winters argued. “Maybe your chances will actually be higher this year because other people won’t apply,” he continued. 

Like many other international students, Israelis are drawn to U.S. universities for the potential pathway they offer into the American job market and its higher earning potential.

Despite his optimism, Winters admitted that questions about antisemitism have become more common in the post-Oct. 7 era. 

“It’s a question I haven’t received until two years ago, but I have been receiving more and more,” he assessed.

Columbia University in New York City emerged as the “ground zero” of pro-Hamas and anti-Israel protests following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the kidnapping of 251. This organized, and reportedly foreign-funded, anti-Israel movement quickly spread to other universities across the United States and Western countries.

Galit Adesman, the founder and head of the educational business Eshkolot, argued that Israeli students received support amid the ongoing hostile manifestations at various campuses.

“They were very supportive of Israelis. They gave them a waiver from the GMAT and TOEFL,” Adesman said. “They were very responsive to the situation. Students pick up on that."

Winters argued that some U.S. universities even went as far as offering waivers to students from war-torn countries like Israel and Ukraine. 

“They’re definitely coming towards Israelis with, I don’t want to say lowering the bar, but saying, ‘If you have an issue, tell us,'” he assessed.  “I haven’t seen any school showing us that they’ll accept fewer Israelis. On the contrary, I’ve seen the numbers keep going up."

Sahar Rotem, who leads a university consultancy for business students, attributes the slowdown in Israeli student applications in 2025 to the fact that tens of thousands of young Israelis have been called up to the IDF reserves amid the ongoing military offensive against Hamas. While the U.S. remains an attractive destination, Rotem noted that Israeli students concerned about antisemitism increasingly choose universities in Republican-led states such as Florida, which are seen as more supportive of Israel.

However, some Israelis are still applying to anti-Israel hotbed academic institutions such as Columbia University where antisemitic incidents have become common. 

“They are ready for the challenge. They know it won’t be easy for them,” Adesman assessed. “They want to go, they want to fight back, they want to present everything in the best way possible."

Rotem believes that military service is an asset but has nevertheless advised Israeli students to “take it down a notch” in their applications to U.S. universities. 

“You can say, ‘I was serving,’ but don’t get into the war too much because you don’t know who’s on the other side,” he explained. “I remember, a few of our essays, I said, ‘Ok, let’s relax on the military thing."

While the Trump administration’s visa restrictions on foreign students is linked to its fight against antisemitism on U.S. campuses, Winters is optimistic that the process will not affect Israelis who apply to top U.S. universities. 

“We’re hoping this is a short pause, and maybe they’ll change a bit the structure or do more rigorous checks, but it won’t influence Israelis who are going to top 10 universities,” he concluded.