<p>I have been accepted to Brandeis and Boston University (Honors Program). Brandeis gave me $25,000 in merit scholarships. BU gave me about $18,000 in merit scholarships. I have visited BU but never visited Brandeis. At this point, I cannot visit Brandeis because of time and obligations. I live out of state so I would have to fly. How do the two campuses compare? How do the two schools compare academically? I would be majoring in either philosophy or poli sci (liberal arts) and plan on attending graduate school. I realize Brandeis is not in downtown Boston but what are the other differences? Help!!</p>
<p>Other than the fact that they are both in Boston (OK, Brandeis is in
Waltham 9 miles west but you can see Boston from the higher spots on campus), Brandeis and BU have little in common. </p>
<p>Start with size. BU has 30,000 students and is one of the largest private schools in the country. It is a collection of buildings more than a real campus and is a very urban environment. Basically the buildings are arranged in a long, narrow row along Commonwealth Ave--and hemmed in by by Storrow Drive (a freeway) and the Green line (an above ground T line). Brandeis, in contrast, is one of the smaller research universities with only 3,300 undergraduates. It has a real campus--with green grass and trees.</p>
<p>Academics. In most areas in which Brandeis has a department or program, Brandeis will be stronger academically than BU and, overall, has a better academic reputation. Because of its size, BU will have a lot more departments and programs and offer fields of study--particularly at the graduate level--simply not available at Brandeis.</p>
<p>Community--Brandeis has a strong sense of community. Most students live on campus or immediately adjacent to it. As you would expect of a 30,000 student urban university--there is little cohesion and sense of community at BU but the city is right there for all it has to offer. The city is easily accessible to Brandeis students--but you aren't going to walk there.</p>
<p>Mission--both are research universities with a mission to educate and create knowledge. Brandeis has another mission, however,--to seek and pursue justice. Thus, it tends to be more socially conscious and active.</p>
<p>Both are good schools but, frankly, the difference is rather stark. Good luck.</p>
<p>This might sound like a really strange question, but when you say philosophy, what type of philosophy do you mean? Analytical or continental? Brandeis's department is largely analytical, but BU is very good for continental.</p>
<p>I'm not a Phil major, AT ALL, but my sister is, and she is currently waging war on whoever decided to make most departments analytical. :P </p>
<p>You'll probably have more access to your professors at Brandeis, at least your first couple years. My two friends from HS go to BU.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. Both were helpful. I am Jewish but not very religious. Would this be a problem at Brandeis? I have been brought up reform but am not all that religious. Thanks again.</p>
<p>No problem.</p>