Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
1

<p>Hey Brandeis CC Community!</p>

<p>So, I thought I was done with college applications, but I got something in the mail from Brandeis, and it made me want to apply. The deadline has been extended to the 20th, so I’m planning on applying! I feel as if I’ve applied to way too many “reach” schools, and want to add some match schools and safety schools. Do you think Brandeis can be a match school for me, or is Brandeis a “reach” school for me?</p>

<p>Grades
Weighted - 4.12</p>

<p>Fr: 3.9, Soph: 3.9, Jr: 4.4, Sr (first semester): 4.4</p>

<p>Unweighted - 3.53</p>

<p>Fr: 3.4, Soph: 3.3, Jr: 3.8, Sr (first semster): 3.75-3.8</p>

<p>Standardized testing:
ACT - 33 composite; 33 R, 32 M, 31 S, 35 E
*I’m not sure if Brandeis superscores, but if they do, I have a 34 superscored (36R, 35E, 32E, 31S)
SAT II Subject tests - 710 Math, 780 U.S. History
AP Tests - 5 on U.S. History and Language & Composition, 4 on Microeconomics and Government</p>

<p>Course Rigor: I graduate with 10 AP classes. Non-AP classes were all honors; I took the most rigorous schedule possible. But everyone else probably did too, so…</p>

<p>ECs:
Debate - Captain, took third in state, was named all-state, won a few awards
Sports - I played football, volleyball, tennis, and I wrestled, but only for two years, so nothing big here
Newspaper - Associate Sports Editor
NYLF - Went to a summer forum on Law and Forensics
Named Illinois State Scholar
Phi Alpha Theta - History Honor Society</p>

2

<p>Haha, after looking at some stats, I feel like I won’t get in at Brandeis based on GPA. </3 Hopefully, that’s not true. My cousin told me that Brandeis is pretty generous with aid, but he applied to colleges a long time ago. Is that still true?</p>

3

<p>I’d say you have a good shot at Brandeis. And if you like debate you should definitely join the Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society!!!</p>

4

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<p>Merit aid, or need-based aid?</p>

<p>Need-based aid? That’s my impression. If anything, Brandeis has been moving toward improving its need-based aid.</p>

<p>Merit aid? No. In order to improve its need-based aid, Brandeis has all but eliminated merit aid for students who do not also have demonstrated financial need.</p>

5

<p>@shulie26: Thanks! And I’d love to look into it! If I do go to Brandeis, I also want to look into Mock Trial teams! (hopeful law student, if you couldn’t tell xD)</p>

<p>@Sikorsky: Definitely need based aid!</p>

6

<p>GPA 3.57
Expected major - physics
School does not rank because it is a magnet (top 100 in the US)
SAT 640 CR 790 M 670 W
SAT2 Math II 700 Physics 740 USH 550
ACT E 27 M 35 R 30 S 35 essay 11/12
Drummer (section leader/co-instructor) for Marching and Concert Band since 8th grade
Assistant Researcher at a college physics lab (this year)
KLIKA - international disability caretaker (past 3 summers)
Paid AV intern at my school (freshman year to start of jr year)
Lacrosse (freshman->jv (soph and jr))
Ski Club (skiing since i was 3)
Physics Club (Mentor-3 years)
Quiz Bowl (Sr Year)
Job at Staples (4 months)-quit
NHS
AMC school winner
AP Scholar with honor</p>

<p>I’ve take AP (Calc AB, Calc BC, Physics B, Physics C E & M, Physics C Kinematics, Chem, USH, Language)
Taking AP Micro and AP Lit this year, in addition to CL Sociology and Multi-variable Calc
I’ve also taken electrical/engineering classes all 4 years
all other classes were honors</p>

<p>I applied to Brandeis, Cornell, Fordham, NJIT, Stony Brook, Syracuse and RPI</p>

<p>I’ve only received an acceptance letter from NJIT. What do you guys think?</p>

7

<p>@konpab: I can’t really say, seeing as how I’m still a high school student and unfamiliar with some of the schools you applied to. But from what I know, I’d say Cornell is a reach, and Fordham and Syracuse should be matches. As for Brandeis, our stats are similar, so our admissions decision should be similar too, haha, but who knows? </p>

<p>On a side note, I checked the financial aid calculator on Brandeis’s website, and I’d be paying $100 a year (45.5k/year in grant money, 5.5k/year from Pell grant, 5.5k/year loan, 2.5k/year work study, and $100 payments per year). This is pretty ridiculous; $100 a year for a top-caliber institution. If I get in, I’m most likely going, as I doubt my other schools can match $100 a year, and $24,000 in loans seems manageable compared to what other aid packages look like.</p>

8

<p>My aid calculations were very similar to yours, and then when the finalized package came in, I got even more. :)</p>

<p>@konpab: I’d say Cornell is a reach (but not much of a reach), and Brandeis would be a match. I’m unfamiliar with the other institutions.</p>

9

<p>@Autumncomet - NICE! More money is great. $_$! I can’t wait to see my financial aid package.</p>