Brandeis, Tufts, Wesleyan, or Johns Hopkins

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
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<p>My sister has found herself in the rather fortunate situation of having to choose between Tufts, Wesleyan, Brandeis and Hopkins. She likes all four schools, however, no one stands out to her as “the best fit.” She’s planning on attending the accepted student days for each of the schools. Basically, what she’s looking for is some guidance on what to pay attention to at the accepted student days as well as general advice on whether or not Brandeis sounds like the best fit for her.</p>

<p>A brief description of my sister: very bright and driven, but in such an unimposing way that you’d probably think she was a bit lazy upon meeting her. She’s interested in a double major in music and chemistry and wants to be able to participate in some on-campus classical music ensembles. She doesn’t make friends easily, which is probably in part due to the fact that she’d rather practice her instrument or draw than go to a party. On that same note, she has no intention of joining a Sorority in college. A school full of jocks is pretty undesirable for her, as is a school full of hipsters, hippies, preppy people, etc. Basically, she wants to go somewhere that’s going to be pretty hardcore in terms of academics and music.</p>

<p>Other factors to consider: She’s a physical science scholar at Brandeis. She was rejected from Peabody, but if she attends Hopkins, she plans to reapply for it next year.</p>

<p>So what do you think? Is Brandeis the best fit, or should she plan on attending one of her other options?</p>

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<p>Socially, I’d say Brandeis is a very good fit for her. It’s not a party school (that was one important factor for me). While there are athletes and unofficial frats at Brandeis, there’s absolutely no pressure to join it or go to parties at all. There’s definitely all kinds of kids at Brandeis. Lots of kids just like to “hang out”. Also, I can sympathize with your sister’s experience/concern about making friends. Especially your first year, that’s facilitated through the (pretty intense) orientation experience and your hall. I’m still friends with my first year hallmates even though I now live with another group of friends. I also picked a single-gender hall for first year housing, which I think made the hall more close knit (although a lot of other kids prefer co-ed by room there are benefits to both).
I can’t speak personally to the music area, but I know people who are involved in the Brandeis Wellesley orchestra, one of my friends recently tried and got accepted I think to that one with the violin, even though I think she had only been practicing intermittently before (she’s not a music major though so in the end she decided not to do it because it would be easier for her to fill her distribution requirement another way). There’s also Top Score, a student club which plays film music that is pretty active. And I definitely see signs up a lot for different orchestra concerts, although I haven’t been to that many.</p>

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<p>it’s sounds like Brandeis is a good fit. the chem department is very strong. i don’t know much about the music department, but i’ve heard good things. the fact that she’s modest in her ability and intelligence definitely seems to fit the profile of a Brandeis student well.</p>

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<p>littleatheist, I know you’re getting a lot of advice in other forums grounded in school stereotypes. Based on the facts (not stereotypes) that I know as a Brandeis alum and keen observer of the school, it does sound like Brandeis is the best fit for your sister.</p>

<p>Without deriding other schools, Brandeis is an exciting intellectual environment with both superb science and music programs.–and lots of performance opportunities. Yet its students are down-to-earth, friendly and non-competitive with one another. </p>

<p>Brandeis is a special combination of 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 matched with high-powered professors who actually teach in small classes. So, the research opportunities are tremendous. Plus it’s very close to Boston, which is the world’s best college town, but on its own suburban campus. Her three other choices not only have far more jocks, preps, hipsters and driven/competitive students (sorry, I couldn’t resist), but also cannot quite match that special combination of attributes. </p>

<p>I would compare the intellectual atmosphere of Brandeis with its UAA sister school, U of Chicago (FYI its President is a Brandeis alum) only Brandeis is more relaxed and more undergraduate-oriented.</p>

<p>As you may know, 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). I went to school with several of these folks and can tell you that it’s no coincidence that these fascinating alumni have emerged from the stimulating brew that is Brandeis. Also, if you’re into social justice, Brandeis is a very exciting place to be (Angela Davis, Abbie Hoffman, I could go on, are alums as well).</p>

<p>Good luck to your sister. She’s got some great choices.</p>