Help,chances Brandeis

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
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<p>Sat 1990/1380 (740 reading/640 writing/610 math) male,turn 20 on may 30 2013
Background-super orthodox Jewish family , we literately were not allowed to talk to girls.i was taught Non-Jews are ANIMALS /secular education is an obligation and frowned upon,the main focus of our education is Talmud.
9TH -12TH GRADE-struggle with doubting my faith throughout high school .Despite school hours being 7AM -11PM we only receive 3 hours of secular education daily ,and in 12th grade we receive no secular education at all.A+ student in Hebrew subjects Except a o B+ because of my growing atheistic tendency ,which i received at the end of 12th grade.Secular subjects are a joke and i am allowed to skip classes if i pass my regents,Something i did at the start of every year, allowing me to receive a passing grade and rarely attending class .</p>

<p>Like all boys in my culture i studied in a Jewish seminary for a year (beis medrash),and was expected do so for another 4 or 5 years .I however left and became and abandoned my faith at the end of slightly before the end of my first year.
I am now alienated and ostracized by my friends family and community ,i am an obligation ,a loved one now only worthy of pity and condescension .I spent this previous year at home doing nothing ,lamenting my alienation ,unsure how i am to enter secular society,scary and foreign as it is
Take sat and get 1990(2200 ON PRACTICE TESTS WAS NORM) .despite my complete absence of education i have done fairly well .
I DISCOVER BRANDEIS ,AFTER I AM TOLD IT WILL BE A ENVIRONMENT WELL SUITED FOR INTELLECTUAL INCLINATION .I FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.
I AM STARTING SUMMER CLASSES IN NYU IN 2 DAYS.</p>

<p>NOW I WILL LIST MY PROS AND CONS ,AND I HOPE YOU CAN ADVISE ME ON MID YEAR ADMISSION TO BRANDEIS .
PRO-
(1)1990 SAT AND 740 READING DESPITE HAVING MINIMAL SECULAR EDUCATION EXPOSURE
(2)FAMILY IS KNOWN TO GIVE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENTS , ALTHOUGH I DOUBT THEY WOULD GIVE MONEY TO SECULAR INSTITUTION
(3)SKILLED AT REASONING FROM YEARS IN TALMUDIC SCHOOL ,WHERE I WAS THE NUMBER 1-2 GUY IN THE SCHOOL.BRIGHT ALL AROUND GUY.
(4) TEACHER WHO TRIED COAXING ME TO GO TO GOOD COLLEGE AND SKIP SEMINARY WILL GIVE AMAZING LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
(5) COMPELLING LIFE STORY ,MUCH I HAVE SKIPPED FOR BREVITY
CONS
(1)SECULAR GPA OF 2.5
(2)MYOPIC ,SHELTERED LIFE
(3)MAJOR RISK
(4)WILL BE A JUNIOR AGED FRESHMAN</p>

<p>PLEASE SHED SOME INSIGHT ONTO MY SITUATION</p>

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<p>If you know anything please respond , i need some advice,so if you read my post wait a moment and try to help</p>

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<p>Chorse77 – I read your post with great interest. I was not raised in an ultra-Orthodox household, but in a Jewish household, and my paternal GM was orthodox. I too rejected my faith and became an atheist about a year after my bar mitzvah, resulting in years of conflict with my GM and, to a lesser degree, with my F (who admitted to doubts about his faith after death of GM and now identifies as agnostic). I am now a 50-something happily living a religion-free life with my atheist W and four atheist D’s. It gets better. If you have not discovered it yet, I highly recommend you check out the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), which is a very supportive organization for freethinkers.</p>

<p>As to the question of your chances for admission to Brandeis, I cannot really help you. Your SAT scores may be a little on the low side but not out of the range of admission stats. You should read the 2017 admissions thread for examples. I think your story is a compelling one, i.e., you have a “hook.” I think you would certainly have a chance. Brandeis would probably be a good place for you culturally as it has a large number of students who identify as Jewish (approx. 50% according to Hillel) even though it is a secular institution. Good luck!</p>