<p>I really like Brandeis in many ways. I just want to know how diverse is the student body really. People say different things about it and I’m a little confused.
Tell me about the greatest people you meet at Brandeis! Where are they from? What do they do? etc.
I’ll appreciate your reply. ^_^</p>
<p>Brandeis is very diverse: I am black, my roommate is from pakistan, a few of my friends are asian, and some of them are indians. The students in my opinion are very talented and smart.</p>
<p>Brandeis does have a higher percentage of jewish kids like many other Boston area colleges...but it is a really diverse campus on the whole.....it is a secular university committed to establish itself as a Jewish funded univ rather than a Jewish univ...</p>
<p>great! thank yall!</p>
<p>I'm hearing different things too. A few people have told me that it's about 65% Jewish, which didn't matter to me until my guidance counselor asked if I wanted to go anywhere that's 65% anything. On the other hand, I keep hearing that Brandeis is really diverse. Can someone clarify?</p>
<p>Brandeis is obviously heavily Jewish, but there are many clubs and organizations dedicated to diversity that are open to all. For example, one of my hallmates chartered the Mixed Heritage Club last year with widespread support. At the same time, you'll find lots of international students and students from widely varying backgrounds. I wouldn't say Brandeis is extremely diverse (I believe it's still 85% white), but you will generally have no trouble finding people from all walks of life as long as you make the effort.</p>
<p>P.S. I heard that Boston College is more Catholic than Brandeis is Jewish...just fyi.</p>
<p>I see, thanks.</p>
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my guidance counselor asked if I wanted to go anywhere that's 65% anything.
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<p>shame on your guidance counselor. aren't other schools you are looking at 65% or more white? or 65% or more Protestant? Most minorities are used to attending schools where there are 65% or more of some majority group. The majority just never realizes. Truth is, I bet your guidance counselor would be hard pressed to find schools that AREN'T 65% something. But it seems to be ok with him/her, if the 65% is a group more traditionally in the majority?</p>
<p>Jews are not a monolithic group (just as whites or Protestants aren't either) -- there is an enormous amount of diversity among Jews and the Jewish students at Brandeis range across a huge spectrum religiously, culturally, socially, politically. I think you really need to examine your assumptions (or those of your guidance counselor) as to why the percentage of Jews should matter to you. </p>
<p>Look at the listing of clubs at Brandeis -- that should give you a pretty good idea of how diverse a school it is. Contact students in the clubs that sound of interest to you.</p>
<p>Good point, brandeismom, I hadn't thought of that. So true how "the majority just never realizes," and thanks for helping me see the other side.</p>
<p>I'm well aware that Jews aren't a monolithic group -- a good part of high school and my family is Jewish -- but my concern was more that the remaining 35% or whatever it is isn't a ton of space to encompass the entire spectrum of human experience. My perceptions were probably also skewed by comparisons to other schools I'm looking at... maybe most schools have a solid majority that's white, but at Stanford, for instance, it's only 42%.</p>
<p>I think much of it is dependent upon your definition of diversity. If you're looking for a broad range of skin colors, religions, stated sexualities, etc., you can certainly consider Brandeis to meet those criteria.</p>
<p>However, the range of political diversity on the campus is quite limited. The student body and instructional staff are overwhelmingly liberal in viewpoint. Deviation from a number of prevailing political orthodoxies can generate a strongly intolerant reaction. Some examples are a 45 minute lecture on President Bush's crimes in chemistry class, a 5 minute lecture on appropriate modes of personal address if you call an instructor wearing a wedding ring "Mrs." in a writing class, and so forth. The College Republicans, if they exist, could likely meet in a phone booth.</p>
<p>Now, this should not be surprising. College campuses in the Northeast trend strongly liberal from the start. Brandeis carries it pretty far.</p>