<p>How is the diversity at Brandeis? I have heard a lot about how a majority of the student population practices some sect of Judaism, which is fine, but what I am worried about is if someone who isn’t Jewish can feel comfortable in that kind of environment…are there a number of other groups and cultures represented in large numbers?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>There is a decent asian population. I know an asian guy who goes there and likes it a lot.</p>
<p>There are a sizeable number of Asians. We have a pretty popular Korean night and the Holi celebrations are always fun, if not super populated (although they WOULD be if people knew what Holi was!). Also, the Latino club Ahora is really great. I'm not Latino and they're welcoming.</p>
<p>The Jewish statistics are in some ways overblown. I'd venture to guess that at least half of the Jews at Brandeis are really agnostic/deist but retain their Jewish identity culturally. I did not grow up around the Jewish culture at all because I lived in originally a rural area that has slowly turned into a still very homogeneous WASP suburb. I don't particularly feel left out. Many of my friends are not in any way connected to the Jewish religion or culture and they all have had really no problems with it.</p>
<p>My D has completed her freshmen year at B. Her friends include Jewish students -both religious and non-religious as well as a number of non-Jewish students--the latter are various types of Asians, Asian-Americans, African-Americans, and other non-Jewish Americans of various flavors. My daughter is one of a group on facebook at Brandeis called "Semi-Semites" -students with one Jewish parent and one non-Jewish.</p>
<p>Brandeis would likely be a new cultural experience if you come from a place that has few or no Jews. But there are plenty of non-Jewish students-both American and International -who are happy there.</p>
<p>Brandeis has lots of international students, so you will find that kind of diversity, and no one will make another student feel uncomfortable because of his background. However, there isn't too much political diversity, though. The student body seem to all think alike when it comes to most issues. This can get very annoying at times, because a lot of Brandeis kids are very political and love a good debate, but there's not really anyone to argue with when everyone thinks the same thing you do. Trust me, everyone agreeing with you all the time? Gets annoying and fast.</p>
<p>When we toured Brandeis, our guide was an international student who claimed to be politically conservative. He said this put him in the minority but that he enjoyed arguing with people on campus.</p>
<p>I know it can be easy to be put off by a lot of Jews, especially if you're not from an area with a large Jewish community, but they don't bite, contrary to stereotypes.</p>
<p>Do you think an Arab-American would be welcome at Brandeis, or would I be looked at as some freak of nature?</p>
<p>Quite the opposite! I there are many Arab-Americans as well as Muslims (not that the two correlate) of all ethnicities at Brandeis. Not that I can speak for all of them, but my Arab friends are perfectly comfortable at Brandeis.</p>
<p>hmmm, that's pretty cool! I know a lot of the Jews at Brandeis are pretty liberal, so I should be ok. I'm a pretty liberal Arab myself, so it should be worth a shot!</p>
<p>I mean, it might not be super wise to talk about Israel- I've been called a self hating Jew and told that I have no right to speak about Israel because I haven't served in the IDF. You pick your battles. Other than that though, it's a pretty chill campus in terms of racial differences as far as I can tell.</p>
<p>Dude, my Jewish psychology professor told me about attending a Jewish University (and Brown because she beleives that I'm intellectually capable). She says I can argue/charm people so well that it'll be fun for me lol.</p>