Hey everyone. As a current Brandeis student I am more than happy to answer any questions people have about Brandeis because I know this site was very helpful when I was trying to decide 
Hey,
I am a current senior, and have just applied to Brandies. I am fairly confident of admittance, but will be unable to come on a college visit. How do you think i know if Brandeis will be right for me?
Hi vedwards1127. I think one of the most awesome things about Brandeis is that there is more than just one type of person here. We are an incredibly diverse school with students that have a whole range of interests both inside and outside the classroom. Yet, all Brandeisans have a common desire to learn and help others.
I remember for me personally I would look at the biggest social aspects of a school to determine if I felt I would fit in. I was involved in a lot of community service activities in high school and wanted to continue that in college so I was really excited to learn that the biggest club at Brandeis is the Waltham Group, which is a service club. I would research the list of clubs, sports, and Greek life here at Brandeis and see if anything seems interesting to you. If none of them line up with your interests you can always start your own club, but I feel like it would also give you a good sense of the many interests of Brandeisans. And it is true that Brandeis is not an extremely sporty school or a big party school, but both aspects are there if you want it. I do know of people that watch a lot of the sport games and those that have never been to a single game. And there are frat parties every weekend, but there are also people here that have never tried alcohol.
Also, you are going to college to learn so I would browse the list of classes and majors available. You want to make sure that you go to a school where they teach multiple things you are interested in, in case you decide to switch your major.
Adittionally, Brandeis always livestreams their accepted students day and that is very helpful. It was actually when I decided to commit.
Hope this helped!
Hi vedwards1127. I think one of the most awesome things about Brandeis is that there is more than just one type of person here. We are an incredibly diverse school with students that have a whole range of interests both inside and outside the classroom. Yet, all Brandeisans have a common desire to learn and help others.
I remember for me personally I would look at the biggest social aspects of a school to determine if I felt I would fit in. I was involved in a lot of community service activities in high school and wanted to continue that in college so I was really excited to learn that the biggest club at Brandeis is the Waltham Group, which is a service club. I would research the list of clubs, sports, and Greek life here at Brandeis and see if anything seems interesting to you. If none of them line up with your interests you can always start your own club, but I feel like it would also give you a good sense of the many interests of Brandeisans. And it is true that Brandeis is not an extremely sporty school or a big party school, but both aspects are there if you want it. I do know of people that watch a lot of the sport games and those that have never been to a single game. And there are frat parties every weekend, but there are also people here that have never tried alcohol.
Also, you are going to college to learn so I would browse the list of classes and majors available. You want to make sure that you go to a school where they teach multiple things you are interested in, in case you decide to switch your major.
Adittionally, Brandeis always livestreams their accepted students day and that is very helpful. It was actually when I decided to commit.
Hope this helped!
Hi vedwards1127. I think one of the most awesome things about Brandeis is that there is more than just one type of person here. We are an incredibly diverse school with students that have a whole range of interests both inside and outside the classroom. Yet, all Brandeisans have a common desire to learn and help others.
I remember for me personally I would look at the biggest social aspects of a school to determine if I felt I would fit in. I was involved in a lot of community service activities in high school and wanted to continue that in college so I was really excited to learn that the biggest club at Brandeis is the Waltham Group, which is a service club. I would research the list of clubs, sports, and Greek life here at Brandeis and see if anything seems interesting to you. If none of them line up with your interests you can always start your own club, but I feel like it would also give you a good sense of the many interests of Brandeisans. And it is true that Brandeis is not an extremely sporty school or a big party school, but both aspects are there if you want it. I do know of people that watch a lot of the sport games and those that have never been to a single game. And there are frat parties every weekend, but there are also people here that have never tried alcohol.
Also, you are going to college to learn so I would browse the list of classes and majors available. You want to make sure that you go to a school where they teach multiple things you are interested in, in case you decide to switch your major.
Adittionally, Brandeis always livestreams their accepted students day and that is very helpful. It was actually when I decided to commit.
Hope this helped!
Sorry I posted this three times. Don’t know why that happened haha
Hi, erk. I just got accepted into Brandeis ED, and I would like to know what you recommend I do now. I was told that freshmen get a choice of two residential dorms, North and Massell. Any suggestions? Also, I saw a list of meal plans on the website, and I am wondering what points are worth.
Hi kbf123. First of all congrats!! If I remember correctly housing forms don’t come out until late spring. It is true that freshmen live in either North or Massell Quad (or the Village for midyears), but Brandeis makes this decision for you. The only exception I am aware of is those who need to keep kosher can request to live in Massell because it is closer to Sherman dining hall, which has a kosher section while Usdan dining hall does not. You will also complete a meal plan form around this time. I would highly recommend the 12 meal swipes a week plan because it has the most points. Meal swipes can only be used at the dining halls and certain selections in the Upper Usdan While points are used for anything in Upper Usdan, Einstein’s, Starbuck’s, and the C Store. Points are worth around a dollar and thus, those that have the 19 meal swipes a week plan which only has 150 points often quickly spend all of their points and have to ration for the rest of semester.
Hi vedwarsd1127,
I have just recently applied to Brandeis. I sent in my application yesterday, and my Sat scores on the 23rd. I’m now really worried because I doubt the scores will be received by Brandeis before the January 1st deadline. Do you think they will still accept the scores if they arrive a few days late? Or will the scores not arriving on time result in an automatic rejection?
Sorry, I meant erk138
@bananafish28, I don’t think you should spend the rest of your vacation worrying. Schools usually give some leeway when it comes to things like this.
The application itself must be received by the deadline, but most schools are ok with the transcript or scores coming in a bit later. You could phone to ask.
Thank you very much!
Hey @erk138. My son is thinking about applying to Brandeis. Maybe you can answer some questions for him to help him make his decision. Sorry for so many…
- Is there AC in the freshman dorms?
- Which freshman dorms have been renovated more recently?
- Are there single rooms available for freshman? (if he has a doctors note…He has really bad allergies, etc…)
- Do people that apply ED2 have a better chance of getting in than if they apply RD?
- How far are most classes from each other and from the dorms? Is the campus laid out nicely or do you find yourself having to walk really far to classes?
- Are there programs offered to accepted students to start a little early taking a class or getting involved with something so they can get to know other students?
- Are you required to meet with a college advisor on a regular basis? Assigned the same advisor for all 4 years?
- Is it easy to get involved in clubs? Club Fair?
- How would you describe the students who attend Brandeis in general terms?
- How often do you go into Waltham or Boston to eat or go to concerts,etc…?
Thank you!!!
@Monkeypanda Hey! I am a Brandeis student and can answer your questions as well!
1.) Yes, in some of the rooms. Not common, but you can request that your room has one if it is for a medical allergy.
2.) North, specifically - Reitman!
3.) Yes!
4.) Call Admissions and ask! I know it shows demonstrated interest - but your son should really be set on Brandeis if he applies ED2.
5.) 10-15 minutes, max. My classes are all in the Mandel Humanities Quad and I am in North, so it is about 5 minutes. The campus is nicely laid out. If you don’t want to walk, google about our 'Campus Branvan.
6.) Yes! There is a Facebook page that students use to talk with each other. It resulted in a skype group for my year that had about 10 kids on every night. There are also really active GroupMes. Additionally, Brandeis has a few pre-orientation programs that are about a weeklong. I know some kids did it - there was a social justice one and an outdoors one I think this year.
7.) Yes, you have three advisors - a Roosevelt Fellow (peer advisor), Academic Advisor, and Faculty Advisor. You have the same Academic Advisor all four years. You do not need to meet with them on a regular basis. The academic advisors arrange skype calls for all students before classes start for your first-year. I met with mine before I did my Spring Semester classes, but its optional. They are VERY helpful - I would meet with them every semester before classes, or at least once a year. R
8.) Yes! There are over 280 clubs. There is an activities fair in the fall and spring. It is super easy to get involved - I am in three clubs right now, and with two leadership positions.
9.) I don’t know if there is a way to generally describe Brandeis terms. Definitely passionate, and ambitious. Kids here get really involved with their interests, and it is really common to see kids with more than one major/minor.
10.) Depends on the week and how busy I am. I’m a homebody so I don’t go too often, maybe once every two weeks. Some kids go every weekend. Really depends on who you are and what you want to do! I have one friend that manages to go out to Boston and Waltham every single weekend.
Hope this helped!
@bananafish28 Colleges are lenient about these types of things - as long as your application is in, you have done your part.
Thank you so much @DrummerGenius! I really appreciate all of your help. How hard is it to get to Boston or Waltham? Can you request a certain dorm when submitting a housing application - North for instance? Oh and one more question…how are the shared bathrooms? My son is such a private person - he hates the idea of a hall bathroom. Thanks again!
There is a shuttle that goes into Waltham everyday, it runs about every half hour. Boston is from Thursday-Sundays, and runs every hour and a half.
I don’t know if you can request a certain dorm - you can do it under the disability form. but it needs to be legitimate. DCL will probably question if you say ‘I want a nicer dorm so put me in North.’ If you have say, a walking impairment, and know that you would be a humanities major, you could say that you prefer North as it would be less walking to the humanities buildings.
The shared bathrooms are cleaned pretty often - but they’re still shared bathrooms. I hate to be ‘that guy’ but it is college, he will learn to deal with things like small rooms and shared bathrooms! I have a serious stomach disease, and deal with the bathrooms just fine. At least with a shared bathroom, you don’t have to be the one to clean it!
Any idea what time ED decisions are released tomorrow?
Are all decisions released at the same time?