<p>Hi current students, just found out that I’m into Brandeis with a Presidential Scholarship, which is by far the most money that I’ve gotten from any school. However, I will admit that Brandeis was not at the top of my list, which consisted of mostly small, liberal arts schools (middlebury, amherst, swarthmore, denison, etc). I liked the feeling of community that these schools had, and I’m a little wary about Brandeis because of it’s larger size and overall layout…so, my question is, how much do you like Brandeis? Was it easy to make friends? I am not much of a party animal and don’t see myself in the “crazy college student” catagory (that’s not to say I don’t like to have a good time, I like to play as much as anyone!), will this hinder me socially? I’m more of a poker-night/Lost watching party/“casual chilling” guy than a drinking/smoking/partying 'till 4AM person…And as far as classes, are they relatively small? Do your professors know your names or give you personal attention if you want it? Most importantly, if you had the option to go back in time, would you still choose to go to brandeis, and why or why not? Thanks…</p>
<p>I think you would fit in very well at Brandeis. I am a sophomore and I think there's definitely a sense of community, wherever I am, walking around campus or in the campus centers, generally as a rule I always see someone I know. Also all the freshmen are housed together so that adds to it, and depending on your hall, you also bond with your hall. But yet there are still people in your year and in general whom you don't know at the beginning, so in that sense it's the best of both worlds as far as the small school/big school category is concerned.
I am very much NOT a party person, I think it's safe to say I've never really been to a Brandeis party. My sense is that at least to some large degree Brandeis students who actually want parties think the parties here are "lame", but I can't say for myself. One of the main reasons I chose Brandeis is that it is not known as a party school, and I've found many friends who generally prefer just "hanging out." So if that's what you like to do, I'm sure you'll find a community at Brandeis.</p>
<p>Don't equate size with party atmosphere. Denison, Amherst, and even Swat (not familiar with Middlebury) are bigger party schools than Brandeis. I'd echo what catperson wrote about what you'll find at Brandeis.</p>
<p>As a junior, I am very happy with my choice of Brandeis. It sounds like you are most interested in learning about social life, so I'll talk about my own experience with that.</p>
<p>Brandeis has 3300 undergrads, which makes it a relatively small school. As a first-year, you will live in a dorm very close to all of your classes and dining halls. </p>
<p>Your social life preference seems to match very well what social life has been for me. I enjoy to chill more than I enjoy to be at big, crowded parties. With that said, however, I do enjoy going out a few times a month to a more "traditional" college party, and Brandeis gives you the chance to do so.</p>
<p>You sound a lot like my friends and I... down to the Lost parties. We even made Dharma candy bars and soda for the premiere! Socially, you'll find yourself very much at home. About half of my friends drink and half of my friends (including myself) either don't drink at all or very sparingly. There's not really much tension in between the two and even those that drink rarely do it at big parties. The notable exceptions are for frat parties (which often non-frat/sorority people go to if it's for charity) or club parties- especially the debate team. Most parties at Brandeis aren't exactly the stereotypical movie version of a kegger out on a lawn. :P</p>
<p>Your classes can be as large or small as you make it really. I have friends who purposely try to get larger classes so they can skip out more. This semester (2nd semester sophomore) I have one class with 7 people, one with 10, one with 20, and one with 30 ish. All of my professors know me by name. Granted, in the bigger classes I did have to make myself known so they knew me earlier, but they seem to know just about everyone. Most professors are ridiculously amazing people and office hours are really great. </p>
<p>That all being said, the biggest problem I have at Brandeis is the way it makes me feel about my Jewish identity. I came here from growing up completely separated from the Jewish community due to living in a rural location and came here trying to get in touch with my Jewishness. However, because of my position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I do not feel comfortable voicing my opinion because I've been called a self-hating Jew more times that I'd like to think about. It's gotten a lot better and I think Brandeisians are starting to be forced to look at the Israel-Palestinian conflict in a more comprehensive way than just "us" and "them", but I must say that the attitudes I've witnessed at Brandeis have embarrassed and hurt me more than having a cross burned on my lawn as a child ever did. Had I realized that this would be the case, I probably would not have applied here early decision.. but still would have applied and gone had the opportunity come up and been academically and financially competitive. </p>
<p>I would also like nothing more than the president of the university to quit because I think he's a horrible, horrible man- but I wouldn't base my decision on that. Maybe next year. :P</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful replies on this and other Brandeis topics. I have a question for you Silver Clover so have sent you a PM.</p>
<p>My daughter wanted to go to Brandeis all through Junior year...she had a lot of friends there and was active in USY. On our second trip she had her private interview and did well until the admissions officer asked her about her summer experiences. She told him about traveling around the country helping people build houses, etc. / social justice and then he asked "Was that with a Jewish organization?" After she said "Yes" his response was "That figures". It was downhill after that. In addition, the group session refused to address the questions heads on about the number of Jewish students in attendance. We both felt the Admissions people were either anti-semitic or definitely wanted to reduced the number of Jewish admits. I wrote the President of the University but the letter was intercepted by an assistance and I got a lame response. </p>
<p>It's easy to see why Silver Clover has been unhappy at Brandeis. It is no longer the "Harvard for Jews" but just another excellent academic school whose goals for diversity have resulted in a non-descript social reputation.</p>
<p>My daughter withdrew her application and will be attending a "higher ranked" school where she felt a greater sense of inclusiveness.</p>
<p>Just as a side-note: The admissions officers don't know who's Jewish or not, they never ask, so they literally can't answer.</p>
<p>^ To some degree. I mean, if your last name is Goldman, it's pretty obvious.</p>
<p>NativeNJ -- as the mother of a current Brandeis student, I felt compelled to respond to your post since I think it leaves an impression that simply shouldn't go without an alternative view being presented.</p>
<p>I have one child who is currently at Brandeis. I have another child who was in the application process this past year (has ended up choosing another school for reasons unrelated to this post). Both were very active in USY (the youth movement of Conservative Judaism). Both attended information sessions and interviews. Both freely discussed their USY involvement at their interview. Both left their interview feeling they'd had very positive experiences.</p>
<p>When we went thru the formal admissions presentations it did strike us that they were not mentioning Brandeis' Jewish origins. In fact, if we knew nothing else about Brandeis, from these presentations we would have known nothing about the current Jewish community at Brandeis. But we would have known that they emphasize social justice and diversity -- two values which are rooted in Jewish values. Brandeis is secular school founded by the Jewish community with many Jewish values still at its core -- and part of those values, perhaps ironically to some people, involve diversifying its population. [When Brandeis was first established and its Jewish character much clearly on the forefront, Brandeis built 3 chapels -- NOT just a synagogue -- and built them so that they never cast shadows on each other -- I think that very powerful statement still reflects Brandeis' values -- diversity is respected.]</p>
<p>Brandeis has a Jewish community unlike any other college (from what I have seen). Not merely because approximately 50% of its population is Jewish, but because that Jewish population covers the full range of the Jewish experience -- from Orthodox Jews to secular Jews and everything in between. The Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements are all well represented. There are Hillel clubs for Jews who want to express their Judaism through political or social action forums rather than religious. And many Jewish students do not even bother to involve themselves with any Hillel group, instead involving themselves in any of the incredible assortment of clubs at Brandeis.</p>
<p>There are students for whom their religious Jewish identity is incredibly important (in each of the denominations). There are students for whom their religious identity is somewhat important, and involve themselves in religious life to a limited extent. There are students for whom their cultural identity, rather than religious, is important. There are students for whom Judaism describes their ancestry, but little about their current life. </p>
<p>The applicant pool to Brandeis is probably largely self selecting -- they get a vast number of actively aware Jewish students applying for whom the presence of a Jewish community (wherever on the spectrum they find it) is important. But Brandeis also seeks a diverse student population beyond this. Other threads on this forum clearly show that non-Jews are often concerned as to whether Brandeis will be the proper place for them. Brandeis' Jewish image is already out there. Admissions does actively market to non-Jews. Should anyone really be surprised at this? All schools market to increase their applicant pool and to attract a more diverse population. I had friends who compared Brandeis' admissions to those of another school that seemed to be much more actively friendly to Jewish applicants -- well that other school had a relatively small Jewish population and THEY were trying to increase diversity by marketing to Jeiwsh students. Why should Brandeis be criticized when it pursues the goal of diversity by marketing to non-Jewish students?</p>
<p>I have known many Jewish students who have applied to Brandies -- some religiously active, some not. What I have often seen are kids who somehow assumed that being Jewishly active somehow gave them a leg up in Brandeis admissions -- and then been angry and disappointed when they didn't get in. I have heard other people complain that Brandeis' admissions is "anti-semitic" - when the truth is that they are generally complaining that it is less "pro-semitic" than they thought. Brandeis is a selective school -- and they have their choice of both Jewish and non-Jewish applicants.</p>
<p>The fact that the admissions office steers away from the Jewish atmosphere at the school should not, in my opinion be seen as evidence of anything regarding what the nature of the school is like once one is there. Each year, many Jewishly active students (from across the religious spectrum) enter and find a welcoming Jewish community. As well as the chance to be learn with students from a wide assortment of other religions, from across the country, from overseas, etc. </p>
<p>I am sorry that your d had an interview experience that soured her on Brandeis. I don't want to comment on her experience since obviously I wasn't in the room -- obviously there was a discord between you d's expectations and what she found. and sometimes admissions officers do just say the wrong thing, whether they mean it or not. </p>
<p>I would just urge anyone else reading this who is considering Brandeis, to perhaps enter the admissions process more careful in their expectations of the admissions office -- and to judge the school on what life is like once one is there. [I will just add - I've known other situations involving other schools in which an admissions office left a bad impression, and I think it is sad, but I also always think an applicant should remember that the although the admissions office is what you see as an applicant, it really doesn't necessarily reflect what a school is like -- and I really think one needs to look past any admissions' info sessions to find out what a school is really all about.]</p>
<p>and by the way antrophicwhisperer -- looking at last names is a really poor way to judge someone's religious or ethnic background -- and admissions offices know this.</p>
<p>
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and by the way antrophicwhisperer -- looking at last names is a really poor way to judge someone's religious or ethnic background -- and admissions offices know this.
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<p>I agree with you there. LOL. I'm sure that there are Christians with Jewish last names (that's my mother) or Jews without Jewish last names. But I'm glad the adcoms know that. </p>
<p>Also, I like how you spelled my name "atrophicwhisper*er*." That just put a smile on my face. :)</p>
<p>ah! sorry about the name mistake -- i didn't realize -- you must have shortened it to americanize it ;) :)</p>
<p>.... That happened to my grandfather, actually. Weird.</p>
<p>I posed this question (thread title) to two students on April 10 (admitted students day). Male first year (non-Jewish), female second year (Jewish). Identical answer. "I really couldn't see myself anywhere else". That was great to hear. My D made me write the check this morning.
Love to hear anyone else's response/decision after visiting April 10, particularly those of you who attended the scholar's dinner. It was a beautiful day, and I'm sure that pleased the Brandeis adcoms.</p>
<p>My D posed a similar question on admitted students day. The student panel was pleased with all aspects of its experience -- excepting the weather - and a wish for a marching band. :) </p>
<p>We wrote the check weeks ago -- and after this weekend's visit to WashU, -- we're glad we did! Glad your D enjoyed her visit ema99!</p>
<p>SuperMom, I'm glad your daughter ruled out WashU. No possible regrets now. They're going to have a great class of 2012 at Brandeis.</p>
<p>Supermom- there actually IS a marching band. It's just very small. :P Since we don't have a football team, it's hard to really function as a true marching band. We play as a pep band at some soccer and basketball games and hope to get more involved actually marching at rugby. </p>
<p>As far as Native NJ- where did I ever say I was unhappy at Brandeis? I'm in the crowd where I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. And anyway, where else could I triple major with a minor and STILL spend my entire junior year abroad and graduate on time with extra credits to spare? No where, that's where! I'm just unhappy with a certain sector of the community who get a bit brainwashy on the Israel-Palestine debate. People go on Birthright to Israel and then think that they're the be all, end all authority on the subject. ;) I'm sure you find this in any youth group at a synagogue across the country but it's not something I'm pleased with. It's a problem with the greater Jewish community at large NOT just Brandeis.</p>
<p>We had a WONDERFUL visit on April 10! Now it's time to make the tough choice. Brandeis vs Rochester. Has anyone been in this boat? Both have superb sciences, Rochester has open curriculum (no gen eds/dist reqs) and offers more $$$. Brandeis has -- well, you all know what Brandeis has. My question is about student body -- I liked the slightly geeky, edgy, politically active, intellectually sophisticated vibe I picked up at 'DEIS. Perhaps it's just 'mishpocha' -- the familiarity. But has anyone spent enough time/actively considered/know students at Rochester and can tell me whether that 'feeling' exists there as well? I guess I'm looking for something nuanced, but it's important to my student's 'fit' at the school of choice.</p>
<p>I think this is something only the student can decide. Perhaps the face book groups might give the info you're looking for. </p>
<p>DS knew that the kids at Chicago were too intellectual for him (Libby Pearson made a joke of reading War and Peace while waiting and many wrote it asking for which translation. Many began reading it. He's smart enough to be admitted to UofC but not committed enough to want to read War and Peace just for the fun of it.</p>
<p>Then he looked at the Dartmouth blog and the kids were talking about winter carnival and how much they were looking forward to it. That leaned a little too much in the other direction for him.</p>
<p>So, like Goldilocks, he found a school that was just right.</p>
<p>A caveat since I've mentioned specific schools: This is just for him. I would have signed up for UofC on the spot, and others would have signed up for Dartmouth on the spot. Social "fit" is a very individual choice.</p>
<p>That said, I'm sure Rochester's vibe is not exactly the same as Brandeis. If Brandeis is perfect, Rochester probably won't be as an exact a fit, though it might be wonderful and a good fit.</p>
<p>There aren't that many "perfects".</p>
<p>Edit: Libby Pearson is a Chicago adcom person. He was reading school blogs and not face book groups at the time, but the principle still holds.</p>
<p>Facebook --- great idea! I'd been thinking about LiveJournal and wondering what other 'student only' blogs & resources were out there that I could point him to, as he is feeling a bit overwhelmed by what is clearly a 'win-win' choice. Thank you!</p>