<p>We’re on pins and needles at our place awaiting that “mailed by Feb. 15” deadline. Couldn’t find a current “accepted” thread, so I thought I’d start one here (with most likely unwarranted optimism).</p>
<p>Does anyone know on what date that Brandeis has an open house for accepted students – or if they have several in the Spring? Brandeis is tied for #1 on my D’s list. We’re taking a “just in case” attitude and trying not to schedule any other college visits that might conflict. . .</p>
<p>I know they have an aopen house in April but I don't know if they have more than one though. to be honest I think thry only have one!</p>
<p>Unless things change, Brandeis has one open house, with the opportunity to spend a night with students in the dorms, usually in early April.</p>
<p>Brandeis will have an open house for accepted students in April and also may have local gatherings in other areas hosted by alumni or parents of students.</p>
<p>S just found out that he was accepted to Brandeis. The bad news is a pitiful financial aid package! He has great GPA/SAT scores, a two season athlete(recruited) plus tons of ECs, service work for hunger, and only a $2900 scholarship! We overlooked the crappy dorms, the fact that they admit to tripling up as many as a third of freshmen in tiny rooms, and other deficits because they were supposed to be generous with merit aid - what a crock!<br>
S offered 5 to 9 times the aid (no loans, work study) at other schools.</p>
<p>Wow, somebody sure is bitter (and with a side-order of entitlement as well).</p>
<p>If you think that a school has "crappy dorms" and "other deficits" then you should not send your son there.</p>
<p>It sounds like Brandeis was not someplace you <em>really</em> wanted your son to attend, but would have sent him had they "made it worth your while."</p>
<p>I'm sorry that Brandeis didn't shower him with the cash that your feel that your son deserved, but obviously they thought that perhaps the funds could be better spent on somebody who <em>really</em> wanted to go there. It looks to me, that given your attitude, they made the right decision.</p>
<p>Bottom line: Brandeis (or any quality school for that matter) is not in the business of paying-off parents so their children will attend.</p>
<p>lulusmom,</p>
<p>Congrats on your son's acceptance. Wish mail got south that quickly! I'm distressed to hear about your S' financial aid/merit award pkg though. I grew up in Boston with fond memories of summers at Brandeis, and the school is one of my D's top choices. We don't expect much in the way of financial aid, but can't afford as much as our EFC might indicate. Without merit money she won't be able to attend. <em>Shrug</em> Oh well. Keeping our fingers crossed. Come on, Tuesday mail!</p>
<p>S liked Brandeis and visited several times along with a personal interview and an overnight. Since three other "quality schools" offered him many times the merit aid - Yes, I do think that he deserves it. He is an almost straight A student at a very demanding high school - OK, he had a B+ in AP Calc last year. By the way, our EFC was fair in my opinion, and Brandeis didn't even attempt to fill the gap as they indicated they would in one of our several visits there. Kids who work hard deserve merit aid.</p>
<p>This is exactly why I'm not a fan of merit aid.</p>
<p>From where you are sitting, you see your son working hard and getting good grades. Due to the possibility of merit aid, an acceptance from Brandeis is not enough, you want money. </p>
<p>"Kids who work hard deserve merit aid" Perhaps they do, but whom do you think is getting the merit aid, if not "kids who work hard?" The problem is, Brandeis gets applications from <em>thousands</em> of applicants, many of whom worked just has hard as your son. I know you think <em>he</em> deserves it, but the reality is that every parent believes that.</p>
<p>I would remove merit aid entirely, make it all need-based and take the subjectivity completely out of it. Frankly, the students whom are accepted to Brandeis are all very highly accomplished and doling out the merit aid is pretty much an exercise in splitting hairs anyway.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son, it sounds like he will be going to a fine school in any case.</p>
<p>seriously! There are students who worked just as hard who would love to even be accepted, much less be offered any kind of aid. We all think our kid is the most amazing in the world, but no kid is so amazing that you can spit on what many would see as a god send. If he was so amazing maybe you should have planned ahead to assist in paying tuition, not relying on the kindness of others.</p>
<p>what is the mailed by 2/15 date? are you referring to regular decision?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Lulusmom---I'm wondering what were your son's SAT scores/EC's--what schools offered him more merit aid if I may ask---good luck to him and thanks!</p>
<p>The "mailed by 2/15" date is a date that Brandeis proferred to students invited to complete a special online application in October of last year. It stopped short of being an actual "early action" application, but simply promised an earlier notification. In some other posts, I've seen it referred to as a "Blue Ribbon" application. But we did not see that term used on the application my D received.</p>
<p>in previous years a similar early notification application was called the "blue ribbon application" by brandeis. this year they offered a similar application but did not call it "blue ribbon." i'm not sure if there were any differences. with the blue ribbon there was no fee and no essay (a graded paper could be used).</p>
<p>also unclear with both blue ribbon and this year's was what criteria was used to determine which students got invited to use the special application.</p>
<p>Whoo-hooo!! The wait's over!! White envelope. Big Blue "Congrats" accompanied by a full MLK scholarship!! I couldn't even finish out my day at the office. I called it a day after D's phone call and took her out for coffee and cheesecake! Stats: 2040 SAT, Nat Ach Finalist, 4.6 weighted GPA, lots of APs & significant ECs (state forensics champ, awards in speech, debate & creative writing, SGA Officer, Girl Scout Gold Award, mega community service, other assorted activities & leadership roles, yadda, yadda). I wish I'd been there to see her open the envelope. She said when she read the letter, she screamed and fell to her knees! </p>
<p>After all of THAT, she started talking about waiting to hear from two more schools. I said - what the heck for?! Let's get real. No WAY we'd give up a 4yr scholarship at Brandeis for an ivy price tag! Our deposit check's in the MAIL!</p>
<p>She nodded & smiled in agreement. It's been Brandeis since the first day she visited, and she knows deep down it's Brandeis 'til 2012!!</p>
<p>p.s. In deference to Soze's very clear views on the subject of merit aid, we hope to forestall her ire, and perhaps even divert her attention from the subject entirely, by noting the following: If Brandeis offered 6-person tents as dorms -- we'd still be likely to seriously consider the offer -- but then again, we ARE Girl Scouts! ;-)</p>
<p>My daughter too received acceptance into Brandeis, for which we are very happy BUT there was NO mention of financial aid. From reading this thread, it seems that no mention of aid means no aid. Maybe we didn't fill out the right forms? Check the right box? From my experience with my older daughter, it seemed that most schools offered something in financial aid. </p>
<p>As for the selection of the early admissions candidates, we know several current students who received the "Blue Ribbon" application, and my daughter received an invitation to apply, but it's somewhat of a mystery how students are selected. We did visit Brandeis last spring...maybe they invite everyone who visits? That doesn't make sense. In our case, it could be the Jewish connection, as our daughter has been active in Young Judaea. I'm curious about the selection process if anyone has insight.</p>
<p>Just got my acceptance today :)</p>
<p>I am in Miami, Florida...guess the mail was a bit slow. Either way, congrats to all other accepted students...may see you in the fall woo!</p>
<p>GPA: 3.5/5.05
SAT: 610, 610, 690
Active member of 24 clubs/organizations (founder of many)
AP Scholar
Mexican American</p>
<p>I am just as surprised I got in as you probably are :)
Yay free applications!!!</p>
<p>Congrats SuperMom!</p>
<p>It is so refreshing when good kids recieve decisions they deserve -- and are happy about it!!</p>
<p>After looking online I saw that the MLK scholarship has a need-based component. I’ve come to the conclusion that they may be delaying all basic merit-aid offers until they have gone through their entire applicant pool (regular decision included). So perhaps those of us that didn’t receive money now might receive an updated financial aid package in April? Supposedly 75% of the students are awarded some sort of aid; I find it hard to believe that only one person on here will end up with money in the long run.</p>
<p>Regarding merit aid and "special applicant" decisions mailed on Feb 15:</p>
<p>I would check with Brandeis admissions directly, but I was told that merit aid would be included with the decision. D was just accepted with a Dean's Scholarship--which is based on merit aid only. She is very excited and I am very relieved!</p>