<p>Bring em. I’m class of 2009.</p>
<p>I can chime in too. I’m Class of 2010.</p>
<p>Potato Kid is doing an alum interview at this very moment.</p>
<p>I have a few questions…</p>
<p>I follow the student papers online to get a vibe for what is happening on campus. I get the sense (which surprised me) that Brandeis resembles Oberlin in the crunchy-granola-Birkenstocky way. I don’t know if it always has, or this is new, or I’m mistaken. I see stuff like being named among the most “vegan-friendly” campuses and going with the cage-free eggs (which I’m sure are not inexpensive), all commendable, along with other examples involving other social issues, but it reminds me of a course in women’s issues I took in college. In that class, different viewpoints really weren’t tolerated, only very extreme viewpoints (think of the character in “Legally Blonde” who petitions to get the second semester renamed the “ovester”).</p>
<p>I don’t mind a generally liberal, social activist stance, but can you comment on this aspect of the “vibe,” for lack of a better word?</p>
<p>@DeskPotato</p>
<p>I think you will find that most top-tier campuses, especially in the northeast, are very liberal. The majority of students here can definitely be described that way, but its not like thats the only option here. Among other examples, I remember most clearly when the student body voted on a measure to make all coffee sold on campus fair-trade coffee. I didn’t care much as long as prices didn’t go up too much. Haha. I wouldnt be surprised about a push towards cage-free eggs. As much I am all for socially and environmentally conscious measures, I was more interested in more direct community action, so I did a lot of volunteering and work for non-profits (or not-for-profits, the technically correct term). I did have a lot of friends interested in student activism (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur, Student Peace Alliance, etc.), and I was always in awe of the dedication they had in addressing their causes.</p>
<p>I dont think the liberal attitude really defines much of the overall vibe at Brandeis, but then again, I always try to avoid the sort of reductive, overarching labels that are sometimes attached to campuses. Students at Brandeis have so many different interests outside of activism. Certainly Brandeis is liberal, but you wont find many classes, or people for that matter, that wont listen to your opinion backed with solid arguments.</p>
<p>That’s all well and good, brandeisalum, but if you think of a continuum from, say, Antioch to West Point, where does Brandeis fall? And, to use DeskPotato’s benchmark, which side of Oberlin?</p>
<p>My best guess: Antioch Oberlin Brandeis West Point</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I’ve never heard of Antioch, I know a modicum about Oberlin, and my only friend from West Point was a male cheerleader there.</p>
<p>Hope that helps</p>
<p>OK, then, let’s try this: imagine a continuum with the Karolinska Institute on one end and the University of Bologna on the other… ;-)</p>
<p>I mean, thanks, Brandeisalum.</p>
<p>If I’m admitted to Brandeis, I will seriously consider majoring in Education Studies. I want to eventually go to Law School and have a career in educational policy. Do you think Brandeis’ program is a strong one?</p>