Accepted off waitlist, do I accept?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
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<p>Ahh tough decision!</p>

<p>I already turned down NYU for the honors program at OSU. I picked OSU over NYU because of their exploration program in which students are introduced to literally hundreds of majors and there is a huge support system in which you have numerous advisors helping you find the major you wish to pursue. I just got in off the waitlist at Brandeis and was wondering if, even though there are only forty-some majors, is it still a good place for someone completely undecided to spend their first few years of college? Thanks a lot.</p>

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<p>OSU's exploration program seems like it would be extremely helpful for an undecided student! Brandeis encourages you to take all kinds of different classes, and lots of people come in undecided. It's possible at both. Personally, if you LIKE OSU, I would go there, but if you liked Brandeis better, the undecided factor shouldn't hold you back. Think of your overall fit with both schools and then decide.</p>

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<p>What is OSU?????</p>

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<p>^I think it is Ohio State University.</p>

<p>Anyways, I was taken off the waitlist about three weeks ago, and I decided not to enroll. I just don't think Brandeis is worth it, if you have invested emotion and time in another school. Brandeis is the type of school that you shouldn't expect to blow your mind, because when you get there, you'll be quite disappointed if you have high expectations. Plus, if the honors program will give you more attention at OSU, that itself will allow you to get a better education than almost anywhere, with the exception of perhaps some top 20 schools. So go with OSU Honors.</p>

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<p>Benkusa, I hope you are taking the comments of colberT, (author of "Brandeis is the type of school that you shouldn't expect to blow your mind, because when you get there, you'll be quite disappointed if you have high expectations.") with a grain of salt - and an antivenom. He seems to be the latest snake in the grass - read his other posts. I'm surprised he applied. As for your dilemma: from all reports, it IS a good place for an Undecided to spend his first few years. As for Brandeis overall, my son (a rising junior) did have high expectations. He was not disappointed. Nor was anyone else he knew.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Brandeis is the type of school that you shouldn't expect to blow your mind, because when you get there, you'll be quite disappointed if you have high expectations.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>well, considering you just stated that you chose not to go there after being wait listed, i think you are uniquely unqualified to draw such a conclusion. if you are happy with the school you had already chosen to attend - wonderful. but venting against the school that didn't initially accept you doesn't really help anyone.</p>

<p>to the op - being undecided shouldn't keep you from choosing brandeis. many students enter undecided. many enter thinking they are decided and change their minds. many students at brandeis double major or have a major and a minor -- exploring different possibilities is encouraged. </p>

<p>there are so many differences between brandeis and osu (size and location to name the most obvious) -- choose the one where you think you will be happier (socially, academically)-- everything else will fall into place after that. if you haven't already done so, i would strongly recommend visiting -- speaking to current students is the best way to tell if a school is right for you or not.</p>

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<p>Alright, as for attacking my comments, I think it is immature for someone to assume that I meant my comments to be fact...IT IS A MATTER OF OPINION.</p>

<p>Secondly, to the OP, do what I did: just visit Brandeis, stay overnight for at least two nights, see other threads in CC on Brandeis outside this biased Brandeis subforum, and also go on students review .com where you will see what current and previous students have to say!!!!! You will see a strong correlation between "nonJewishness" and disappointment, though of course not in every case. </p>

<p>Third, Weshallbelikehim, I have no idea what you're talking about, I have not gotten into a single heated argument with anyone on this forum nor have I made any rude and disrespectful comments. Please elaborate. </p>

<p>Fourth, if these people who rudely attacked me are in anyway associated with Brandeis, you should get the picture...</p>

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<p>ColberTreporT, I said nothing about "heated arguments." But I will be glad to elaborate. Here are two recent posts of yours on other Brandeis threads:
"If your son wants to eventually go on to Grad School, go to Bucknell. If your son wants to just get a job after undergrad, go to Brandeis. Simple."</p>

<p>Are you now going to say it's obvious (to the mature) that the above is an opinion? It certainly reads like a "fact." Because it is laughably inaccurate, I can't help but think you must know it is. That comes across as mean-spirited - especially the smirking zinger "Simple." - which is why I mentioned venom. Seriously, this was NOT "disrespectful?"</p>

<p>"Just be prepared to feel like a minority if you go to Brandeis and aren't Jewish. Many nonjewish people that went to Brandeis have told me that they felt like outcasts, and were often not even invited to certain study groups. Go to <a href="http://www.s%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.s&lt;/a> tudents review.com and see what people had to say."</p>

<p>First, I believe (have not checked in the past year) that Brandeis is only about 50% Jewish. Second, I did go to that website. For lack of time (and a very slow computer), I skimmed only three schools: Brandeis, Bucknell, and Harvard. (Brandeis actually had the highest ratio of positive-to-negative comments of the three - not that it matters a whit, because it's hardly a scientific sample.) What all three had in common - and I'm going to assume that in this they represent most of the highly selective schools - was wildly divergent opinions. Sites like this (including CC) are a magnet for unhappy cranks who probably would not be satisfied anywhere, as well as for folks who have legitimate concerns about their schools and for those who love theirs. There are crazy, unfriendly, bigoted, selfish, mean students at - hate to break this to you - every school in this country. Perhaps you met some of their victims when you visited, but they will be at your next school as well. (And really, using an opinion board as evidence on another opinion board is getting pretty close to employing circular reasoning.)</p>

<p>Bizymom made very good points. And we are not "rudely attacking" you. We (and, bizymom, I apologize if I'm being presumptuous in speaking for you) were just trying to bring some logic to the table, to point out to others who are considering Brandeis that you were painting a distorted picture. It would have been a travesty to let your comments stand unchallenged; in fact, that's why I finally joined the boards today.</p>

<p>Lastly, and I mean this, truly, as a kind and helpful comment to you, colberTreport: we in the adult world don't have the luxury of making false statements and, when challenged, calling our hearers "immature" for not realizing they were opinions! It would be good for you to get used to making clear distinctions between facts and opinions if you want to function at all happily in that world someday. Meanwhile, it should make everyday life and communication pleasanter and easier for you and those around you. I do wish you well.</p>

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<p>^Indeed, I rest my case. You think confidence in opinion should equate to fact, a rather ridiculous and laughable notion. And also, about that Brandeis vs. Bucknell thing, I do believe I went on to politely elaborate further later on when someone challenged my bloody OPINION!...but of course you biased fool didn't include that part in your unnecessarily long and funny post. </p>

<p>"We in the adult world..."</p>

<p>Haha, that was where I couldn't take it any longer, I had to leave the living room because I started laughing too hard. You should be ashamed of yourself, that you're an adult yet still lack cognitive reach.</p>

<p>So again, to the OP, remember, these are the minds of Brandeis. Choose wisely.</p>

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<p>Just on the Jewish thing, one of my very best friends goes to Brandeis. He wouldn't know what kugel was if a brick of it landed on his head, but he loves Brandeis. He has felt rather accepted by the community, both Jewish and non-Jewish. It probably helped that he grew up in Florida, which has large populations of Jews, but he seemed to be getting along just well with almost everyone.</p>

<p>I have friends at both OSU and Brandeis, and all of them have been very happy at their respective schools. The biggest differences, I think, are the class sizes (Brandeis' are much smaller) and the sports scene (OSU's is much bigger), but they seem very similar in a lot of ways. </p>

<p>As for your troubles about being undecided, I wouldn't worry at all. I'm sure at either school you'll be able to discover something you're passionate about.</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone for the replies they definetly helped shed some light on this predicament. I'm heading to Boston this weekend to get a feel for the campus and will probably base my decision on the place that I'd feel more comftorable calling home for the next four years since, from an academic standpoint, I won't be missing out too much by choosing one over the other.</p>

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<p>"from an academic standpoint, I won't be missing out too much by choosing one over the other"</p>

<p>Exactly. Good conclusion. </p>

<p>Make sure you see more than just the one dorm they will want to show you on the tour (which will be the best dorm they have), and make sure you eat lunch at their cafeteria (versus eat off campus) to get a feel for what you would have to eat for four years. After I visited and stayed over a couple nights, I learned first hand that most state schools have better dorms and food than a so-called prestigious private school as Brandeis.</p>

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<p>Actually, Brandeis shows the oldest dorm on the tour (Shapiro Hall in Massell Quad). Shapiro is the only dorm that has yet to be renovated in Massell Quad. They show this because Shapiro has the Massell Quad lounge, which is one of the stops on the tour. So chances are, if you come to Brandeis, you will be in a renovated dorm. Although they might not look so pretty, they are actually quite spacious and the furniture is quite nice compared to other colleges.</p>

<p>The food is of the same quality as many other institutions. Many universities use Aramark, so you can expect the same food at a majority of schools. Brandeis's food is no different than other schools and in my opinion, it could be A LOT worse. </p>

<p>And to the OP, don't listen to Colbert. You will find that at any institution, you have to decide for yourself whether you fit in or not. You might like some schools some people hate, and you might not like some schools that other students rave about.</p>

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<p>"And to the OP, don't listen to Colbert. You will find that at any institution, you have to decide for yourself whether you fit in or not. You might like some schools some people hate, and you might not like some schools that other students rave about."</p>

<p>I don't disagree with this comment. I do disagree with what you said about the food, but I have the civility to refrain from telling the OP to not listen to you, unlike you. I already told him/her my opinion, and I'm fine with that, but people like you aren't satisfied until they attack another person's opinion just because that person disagrees with you. The OP posted here with a question, and the OP expects replies to the question to be opinions, because there are no completely factual answers, some people don't understand that, but I hope the OP found my input somewhat helpful, at least as much so as yours. Good night!</p>

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<p>i have often found here at cc, that the more a poster continues to post on a subject, the easier it is to judge their credibility. what may initially be presented as solid assertions (the anonymity of the forum makes it so easy to present things in absolute terms) often are revealed to be opinions influenced by a person's experiences, positive or negative (which can include having been rejected, not having gotten the merit aid they hoped for, having had a personal bad experience in a class or in contrast having done well in a class people say is challenging, having found their fit at a given school, etc.). so i always think it very helpful for those reading to see those comments play out.</p>

<p>i think the op and others reading here have been given enough information to judge what they might want to further explore for themselves regarding brandeis.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
make sure you eat lunch at their cafeteria (versus eat off campus) to get a feel for what you would have to eat for four years.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>i think eating in the dining hall is a good way to get a sense of any school -- not just the food, but to also see the students -- look around and see if you can imagine yourself fitting in with the groups you see sitting around you. </p>

<p>at brandeis -- also realize that what you experience in the dining halls may vary depending on which dining hall you eat in. if you eat in sherman (the traditional all you can eat dining hall), it includes the kosher line, so you will see more of the students who keep kosher and may feel more of the Jewish atmosphere. if you eat in usdan (the pay as you go cafeteria), you will probably see a broader range of students (many feel that usdan has the better food of the two).</p>

<p>one thing about brandeis that you should also be aware of if the quality of on campus food is an issue -- many of the upper class housing options include apartments -- which means that you can stay in campus housing and cook for yourself without being on a meal plan. for some people that can be a real advantage. (other people like not having to cook, in which case staying on a meal plan is always still an option as well.)</p>

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<p>Ohio State is a fun school to attend. Academically it's also the second-best
public university in the state of Ohio.</p>

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<p>when i stayed on campus, I thought the food was great. they have actually revamped the whole menu, and its rated an A- in **************. which offers great incite to college life.</p>

<p>I chose Brandeis over A+ food and A+ dorms Bowdoin lol. I love Brandeis because i love the people. They are open, quirky, and politically aware. that is what i wanted most on a college campus. so check out the people, i think u will like them !</p>

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<p><<ohio state="" is="" a="" fun="" school="" to="" attend.="" academically="" it's="" also="" the="" second-best="" public="" university="" in="" of="" ohio.="">></ohio></p>

<p>Really. How do you see that? It's the most selective public university in Ohio. It's the highest ranked in every undergraduate and graduate survey. It has far more faculty resources (National Academy members, Guggenheim Fellows, Fulbright Fellows etc) than the other 12 Ohio public universities COMBINED. Last year's freshmen class enrolled more 30+ ACT scorers than the other 7 residential public universities in Ohio combined. As a percentage of the freshmen class those students were enrolled at almost double the rate (27%) than the next closest campus (Miami of Ohio at 15%). More cutting edge research is conducted there than every other public university in Ohio COMBINED.</p>

<p>How, on God's earth, can Ohio State be considered the second best public university in Ohio?</p>

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<p>Sensitive are we?</p>