<p>any arguments for either brandeis or boston university?</p>
<p>also, how bad is the economic situation at brandeis? are programs going to be cut?</p>
<p>(So I saw from the BU thread you want to be a POL major. I’ll post here since I’m going to be talking about Brandeis…) I’m a graduating senior at Brandeis and a history major. I’ve taken two politics courses that cross-list with history and I really enjoyed them. Politics is a strong major at Brandeis. [Brandeis</a> University Politics Department](<a href=“http://www.brandeis.edu/departments/politics/]Brandeis”>http://www.brandeis.edu/departments/politics/) If you have any questions about the major, contact the Politics UDRs [09-10</a> UDRs | Brandeis University](<a href=“http://www.brandeis.edu/das/programs/udr/reps_09-10.html]09-10”>http://www.brandeis.edu/das/programs/udr/reps_09-10.html) </p>
<p>In terms of the financial situation, no programs will be cut. The CARS committee released its report about how to continue to offer students the same Brandeis experience with 10% fewer faculty. They proposed turning three departments into programs, but not one program, department or major is getting axed. Brandeis will still be here in 50 years. Period. I haven’t noticed anything different this year than I did in 2005-2006.</p>
<p>Also, more info on what you want out of social life would be helpful. Brandeis is on a suburban campus and I really like that therefore I would never consider an urban school like BU. On weekends, there are plenty of parties, shows, concerts, sports games, etc. There are also a lot of students that like to just chill with friends. </p>
<p>I don’t know the details of the BU honors program, but Brandeis simply carries more prestige. I’ve been truly happy here the last four years. I couldn’t see myself being anywhere else.</p>
<p>BU and Brandeis are extremely diferent. To begin with BU is a large and impersonal urban school with no distinct campus of its own. In contrast, Brandeis combines a nurturing, small liberal arts college and world-class research university-with the smallest student body I believe (less than 800 in a class) of any top tier national research university. And that small student body is matched with high-powered professors who actually teach in small classes. As you can imagine, the research opportunities are tremendous. Plus it’s very close to Boston but on its own suburban campus.</p>
<p>BU is a good university, but, as I’ve mentioned to others on CC, for undergraduate students, Brandeis is truly amazing. Its intellectual environment is comparable in many ways to its University Athletic Association sister school, U Chicago (perhaps no coincidence that the President of U Chicago is a Brandeis alum). Yet its students are down-to-earth, friendly and non-competitive with one another. FYI in a recent Forbes national college rankings survey, Brandeis was ranked 15th among research universities and 30th overall among all private univerities and LAC’s–a testament to its focus on undergraduate education. Larger schools, including some Ivies, were ranked much lower. </p>
<p>Despite its small size and relative youth, Brandeis’ alumni are very distinguished–to name just a few: Nobel Prize winner for chemistry Rod Mackinnon, Fields Medal winning physicist Edward Witten (often called “Einstein’s successor”), 3-time Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Friedman of the NY Times, The Earth is Flat etc; Mitch Albom of Tuesday’s with Morrie (about his Brandeis professor), the Creators/Producers of Friends; actress Debra Messing; Robert FX Sillerman (billionaire businessman–currently owner of American Idol and Graceland) and Christy Hefner, former CEO of Playboy). Also, if you’re into social justice (Angela Davis and Abbie Hoffman are alums as well, I could go on) or theater/music/art, it’s a very exciting place to be.</p>
<p>Also, the school is very diverse undergraduate and graduate, with a strong international flavor (in fact the majority of its International Business School is international students). </p>
<p>As for the financial picture at Brandeis, the reports of its budget issues lack context and have been overblown due to the administration’s inartful handling of its proposal to sell a few paintings from its world-renowned Rose Art Museum–which has caused international attention to be focused on this issue. Brandeis is hardly alone in this economy. According to news reports, many universities, even the wealthiest lke Harvard, are making budget cuts in response to severely diminished endowments and donations. Brandeis has pledged to maintain financial aid and maintain, or improve, its world-class education by resisting the type of budget cuts that could undermine its core mission. The art-sale proposal is just one way it is considering to fund that pledge. The key here is that Brandeis is prioritizing students over things. BTW, recenty the school received a grant of $15 million dedicated to student scholarships–a successful beginning in its renewed commitment to financial aid.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>