Hi everyone. I was recently admitted into both Carleton College and Brandeis University, and I cannot decide between the two of them.
To give a little information about myself, I am a secular white male who is interested in the sciences. I currently intern at a local research institute; I am conducting/overseeing five separate research studies, three of which will likely be published (one certainly by the end of this year). In an undergraduate institution, I highly value opportunities (scientific or not), intellectual curiosity, and strong interpersonal relationships.
I understand that both Carleton and Brandeis are very different schools, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses. I really like the idea of being close to Boston, but I believe that Carleton will be able to offer me a higher quality of education. Furthermore, I believe that I will be able to form closer bonds at Carleton, but their trimester system is one that I don’t overly like. One additional factor is that Brandeis is offering me a $11k/yr merit scholarship, whereas Carleton is offering me nothing, but money is not a deciding factor. Despite talking things over with many individuals, and considering what I want, I can’t seem to decide on one place.
With all of that said, do any of you have any opinions as to which might be a better institution to attend? Thanks!
For science for Boston for economics Brandeis would be terrific for you.
I have visited both schools. Unfortunately, I did not get quite as good a feel of either as I would have liked. I liked the individuals I met at both of the schools, and I thought the people at Carleton were immensely kind. At Carleton the professors really made an attempt to get to know me, whereas at Brandeis I did not like the professors I met, but I think that was just bad luck. I really could see myself attending either institution.
Carleton is a bit more rural and is a prettier campus. Brandeis is… slightly austere. Carleton is a bit farther from its big city(-ies) than Brandeis is from its big city.
Brandeis offers more majors.
Carleton offers smaller classes.
Carleton is more highly regarded among LACs than Brandeis is among universities, if that matters to you. (both are highly regarded…).
Both are very good in the sciences.
You’ll have more support at Carleton and more direct access to professors.
Do you think the better atmosphere and classroom experience (and maybe teaching) at Carleton are worth the $44k cost difference? And can you learn to live with trimesters and weekend trips to the Twin Cities instead of Boston? These are some things I would consider.
I want to be near Boston, but I want to be a part of the Carleton community. During my visit to Carleton, I fit in better. Furthermore, I believe that attending Carleton will be the best for my professional career, but perhaps not for my wallet.
Does anyone else have any opinions?
Carleton is in a little town. It is cold and not exciting. Brandeis is near Boston and much more lively. As you can tell, I’d pick Brandeis, but if you think Carleton would be better for you, go there. I don’t think kids are going into Minneapolis all the time or even ‘often.’
Twoinanddone, do you not consider the quality of Carleton’s academics to be significantly above the academics at Brandeis?
I’m not sure why you’re nervous about the academics at Brandeis. There is no college or university that is “significantly above” it. Brandeis is one of the finest schools in the country, and they put $$ into hiring top professors rather than, say, prettifying dorms. It may be harder to get into other schools, but that does not mean you’ll get a better education elsewhere. I have always found Brandeis students to be a fairly self-selecting group. My husband and I are alums, and he went on to earn an Ivy law degree while I’ve got a masters from the #1 school in my field. We are sending our son to Brandeis in the fall as a pre-med. You’ll get a great education there, so choose between it and Carleton based on other factors such as location, size, and feel.
I’m nervous about the academics because many advisory individuals around me have said that Carleton’s faculty are more committed to teaching, and they have smaller class sizes that allow for more individualized and in depth learning. I do not think that Brandeis is bad in ant sense of the word, but I am slightly worried that I’ll be put in a space where I can’t learn to my maximal potential.
I would suggest Carleton for its academics and atmosphere unless you think you will feel isolated in a small town. Do you think you will be someone who spends most of your time studying? If so, then being near a big city won’t matter because you will be very busy on campus. But if you are someone who likes to leave campus often, Carleton may not be the best choice.
@prezbucky I love Brandeis is austere. Yeah. Agreed. A bit 1970s Brady bunch. Lol. But the science inside is first rate.
My D was offered a place at Brandeis and we visited on Admitted Students Day
I did not like the campus - it very very institutional; that said, it is my understanding Brandeis has a very well regarded sciences program, and from what we were told, classes are small and almost, taught by professors, not TAs, and each student has the opportunity to publish research
Go with Carleton. Our sophomore daughter has no problems getting to “The Cities” two or three times each trimester to eat out and attend a concert or movie. Just last night she went to a concert performed by “Rainbow Kitten Surprise” (Really, now?!) at 1st Avenue (a former Prince venue) in downtown Minneapolis. Usually not much reason to (or need to) leave the campus, though.
My one-word response above is because I am a fanboy (and graduate) of an LAC, so I always prefer LACs. As a Jew, I also admire Brandeis. One concern I hear about Brandeis (and this is what @privatebanker is alluding to) is that the environment isn’t exactly lush lawns and collegiate-style buildings. “Austere” is a polite way of putting it, though there are those who like more modern-looking campuses like Brandeis, Skidmore, etc. The other “concern” I hear about Brandeis is that it’s not the most vibrant place in terms of social life.
These may be stereotypes, but I do think that these are very different schools (as you mention). Carleton will be more of the traditional college experience and probably more intimate (you’ll know almost all of your professors by first name; you’ll be invited into some of their homes; you’ll live, breathe, eat, sleep Carleton 24/7). Brandeis will have some of this, but despite its smallish undergraduate size, it is still very much a university, not a college (there is a difference).
I posted this same following comment in another thread where a student is deciding between Wellesley and UCSB, but you should be able to have a strong sense of which environment “feels” right: the traditional (and excellent) LAC or the more modern (and excellent) university.
Oh, and I’ve been on the trimester system. I’m not sure what your worries are, but I loved it. Everyone else starts the third week of August, but the school I attended (I assume Carleton works the same) did not begin its fall classes until after Labor Day. Ten weeks of school, and then we were done before Thanksgiving. We enjoyed a six-week holiday break, not having to come back until January. Then we paid the price! We started earlier than everyone else (Jan. 3) and then went twenty weeks with only one week off for spring break. When everyone else was finishing in early or mid-May, we finished in early June. Pick your poison. But I also liked focusing on three classes at a time instead of four or five.
Well spoken and on the mark, @Hapworth , in regard to Carleton’s trimester system. I treasured the three-class-per-term experience when I attended back in the '70s and now our daughter is, too. The 10-week term does not at all feel like whirlwind.
I think I am going to go with Carleton. Overall, I think it is too good to pass up: Carleton is a top 10, it will provide me with a lot of professor interaction, and from my visit I think that the people who go there have an intellectual curiosity that matches well with mine. If anyone else has any other opinions, I’d love to hear them; I am going to submit my acceptance later tonight.
Yay! Another LAC convert! You’ll be fine, @WhatToDo65 . Carleton is an excellent school. Really, it feels like you’re the kind of student who will thrive in this environment, which should be much more collaborative than competitive. Small schools have their quirky traditions that you’ll love, and, honestly, the close relationships you’ll develop with students, faculty, administration, and staff will be life-long. I worked for one year in the PR office of the LAC I attended, and two of the staff members who still work there remember me and email me from time to time. I doubt that this would be the case if I had attended the state flagship. I was invited into professors’ homes. My first day on campus, seven of us met at our advisor’s home (also a professor) to have dinner, to chat, and then to meet with him one at a time in his office/den to discuss classes that we wanted to take for the fall. Senior year, I was strapped for cash, buying one book at a time for my English class (we read ten novels/books in ten weeks), and when my professor found out, he said, “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have given you the thirty bucks to buy three weeks’ worth of books.” I doubt that that would have happened at the state flagship.
Enjoy! You are attending one of the finest schools in the country. Congratulations!