<p>Not being from Boston, who knows the physical and academic differences between these two nearby and fine instiutions? What is the difference in the makeup of the the student bodies? For pre-med would one be more advantageous than the other? Any other differences including clubs, social life ect would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I have visited both schools as I too am interested in a school that has a strong pre-med. Both are fine institutions and have similar stats in terms of admission difficulty. Both Brandeis and Tufts are located close to the city but they are still in quieter neighborhoods. Tufts undergrad in mostly in Medford, MA and has a beautiful campus. Brandeis has a nice campus, but I felt that it was a bit bland in terms of the grandeur most colleges in the New England area have.
Brandeis definitely has a large Jewish community while Tufts is more diverse racially/culturally/religiously.
In terms of Pre-med, both are great! They both offer this program where Sophomores at the institutions can apply early to Tufts med school. They still have to take the MCATs and they still have to go through the full 8 years of undergrad and grad school. Both Tufts and Brandeis yeild fantastic students who go off to top medicalschools every year.</p>
<p>I have felt that the major difference between the 2 schools while visiting. I guess Tufts was more commericialized and well known as opposed to Brandeis. The best way to find out which school is for you, I think you should visit or take a virtual tour. The institutions are pretty much equivalent academically, but each one's social lives are different</p>
<p>Tufts is bigger and more diverse. It's right on the Medford/Somerville border, which is a pretty happening area for somewhere not actually in the city itself. Waltham is pretty run-down and boring except for one street across town which has some nice restaurants and a movie theater. However it's not within walking distance. Tufts probably has a "prettier" campus although I personally feel that aspect of a school isn't all that important. As for social life, it depends on who you ask (the 'Deis lovers will do the whole rah-rah go Brandeis, it's the best, thing), but Tufts is both bigger and fuller of parties on weekends. Friday nights at Brandeis are absolutely dead, that's no exaggeration.</p>
<p>I did pre-med here, so I haven't experienced Tufts' program for myself. I'm going to be very blunt--most of my fellow pre-meds were not very happy here. If you visit try to talk to some real pre-meds, not some non-pre-med pyschology-major tour guide who tells you how wonderful the program is. It was very stressful, with large classes, low grades, and lots of inattentive professors who all but leave the TA's in charge, who by the way often speak poor English. The new pre-med dean seems pretty good, but while I was applying during 2005, the previous two deans quit within a few months of one another. So basically during my year's crucial period for applying, we had to deal with three different deans. I was an above-average student here and I only got into 2 out of 17 schools I applied to. Very few people get into the big-name schools, largely because of the low GPAs but also because they have a policy of limiting the number of "strong" recommendations they write, rather than doing everything they can to get everybody in somewhere. So unless you're the next Watson or Crick don't expect to get tremendous support here.</p>
<p>I'm sorry to hear that deis, but at least you're going to medical school! That's an accomplishment unto itself!</p>
<p>umm makes me want to not to go deis...i'm also premed too.. :(</p>
<p>I wish I had seen this post before. I just want to touch on a few things...</p>
<p>"It's right on the Medford/Somerville border, which is a pretty happening area for somewhere not actually in the city itself. Waltham is pretty run-down and boring except for one street across town which has some nice restaurants and a movie theater."</p>
<p>If you think Waltham is run down, then please never visit the Medford/Somerville border. I lived there for a year before I moved across the country, and it wasn't pretty.</p>
<p>"I'm going to be very blunt--most of my fellow pre-meds were not very happy here. If you visit try to talk to some real pre-meds, not some non-pre-med pyschology-major tour guide who tells you how wonderful the program is. It was very stressful, with large classes, low grades..."</p>
<p>It's called a "Weeder program" for a reason. Most of your classmates were probably unhappy because it's the first time in their academic careers that they're working their asses off and not getting the usual rewards (high grades and praise). Want to know why nearly 80% of Brandeis pre-med graduates get into their first choice med schools? Because there are a good number of first-year pre-med students who end up dropping out of the program because it's too damn hard. And THAT is why Brandeis has such a stellar reputation amongst graduate schools.</p>
<p>"and lots of inattentive professors who all but leave the TA's in charge, who by the way often speak poor English. "</p>
<p>If you think this only happens at Brandeis, you need a reality check - quick.</p>