Please help me decide between Brandeis and URochester, I will be studying Sociology/Politics and Business. I also will be applying to US law schools. Here is my list of pros and cons. Thank you for your help.
Brandeis: Pros!!
Close to Boston and NYC >> City life, groceries, fun activities, public libraries, and work opportunities
Strong focus on social justice and policy
Nerdy and friendly ppl
A lot of people go into law school. School seems to have a focused advisor for law school apps
Smaller class size and caring professors
Great profs
Cons:( (from my research and from asking ppl)
Ugly campus
Bad dorm and food
Career center not v helpful
URochester Pros!!
Large school, tight knit community, many international students (from my country as well)
People are friendly and welcoming
Beautiful campus
AMAZING political science program
Great profs
Fun campus (> Brandeis)
Cons
Being in Rochester (faraway from the cities)
Strong theory-based studies
Not a lot of people applying to law school (found stats)
Not too focused law school advising
Anything will help because I’m very torn right now. Thank you!
Getting into law school is mostly a function of your undergrad GPA and LSAT score, not “law school advising.” Many schools (particularly elite law schools) now prefer that applicants have a year or two of work under their belt before applying. If you have the qualifications (i.e., high GPA and LSAT score), getting into good law schools from Rochester will not be a problem.
Take law school and career center out. You are international. You are not staying and today many kids find jobs on their own. Law school advising is a nice to have and I’m sure both do but as another sorts, a good lsat and gpa are the basis.
It seems like you prefer Brandeis.
Hopefully you can find enough food (salad etc) anywhere but food ratings are in the eye of the beholder. Students on niche rate both badly although Brandeis worse.
There should be no issue getting into a fine law school from either college. Law school admission will be based on your GPA, LSAT, any work experience, LORs, essays etc. In general your post-college graduation future will be defined by your accomplishments and not which of these fine schools you choose to attend.
As one anecdote, a friend of my D went to URochester and then onto Harvard Law (I don’t remember if he worked for a year or two before law school). Of course you should not make any decision based on one person’s experience – really just noting that attending URochester will not hold you back in terms of law school admissions. I’m confident that Brandeis will be equally strong in this regard.
Congrats on your excellent acceptances. This is a case where two reasonable people could make two different choices (assuming both colleges are comfortably affordable). Go to whichever school you prefer. And once you decide, never look back!
Thanks I appreciate your input. I actually preferred Rochester but Brandeis seems more focused on social justice so I have been switching back and forth
Assuming cost is the same or similar, make this decision about fit. From what you have listed, you seem to favor Brandeis a bit due to its environment.
I get that. DS’s college decision also came down to U of R and a Boston area school (not Brandeis). He chose the Boston school mainly because it was a better fit, but his preference for Boston over Rochester was definitely a factor.
Anecdote from one kid (mine) but she infinitely preferred the vibe at Rochester to that of Brandeis. It’s a friendly place with students and professors who care about education. Not that Brandeis isn’t those things, but it seems you prefer the feel of U Rochester to that of Brandeis.
I don’t think it makes sense to base your decision on the city when you are there to learn, meet people, and have fun. Base your decision on the college where you see yourself thriving.
Just a minor reality check, but so many kids think they will go into the city all the time, and reality is (unless you’re right IN the city) that most students stay close to campus because their bed, food, and friends are there. NY or Toronto are doable for a weekend at U Rochester. There will be plenty of stuff happening on campus.
As to location, Boston is a fantastic city, of course, but Rochester is quite underrated. There is a diverse immigrant population (which means good food!), beautiful architecture, lots of green space, and some important social justice history (it was the seat of the first American women’s rights movement and abolitionist movement – it features the historic cemetery where Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, among others, are buried). It’s worth a visit before you decide. You can always get internships in Boston or NYC if you want a taste of life in those cities. And in Rochester, you’re close to Toronto, which is another great city.
I went to Stanford Law School straight from the University of Rochester, so there’s another anecdote for you.
Social justice can be what you make of it. My sophomore year I was one of the leaders of “the largest student demonstration since the Vietnam War” according to a local TV station
Go where you like the campus/people/activities. Many people think they’re going to do so much off campus, but from what my own kids tell me and plenty who return to my high school to share experiences, you don’t really go off campus all that often.
Rochester is hardly the dregs either and the “city” itself is closer than 30 minutes. Kids have a lot of fun there. It’s quite a loved school.
You can get into law school from either. They’re both great “names.”
Yay that’s amazing! But would you say that the grading at URochester made it challenging when you applied to law school? I’m curious and would like to learn from you if I commit