<p>I'm international. Anyone got into Brandeis? Got accepted the other day. I Applied because people said it modeled itself on U Chicago and because the courses are said to be rigorous. It was also ranked ok (31) on USnews. How good is it really? Would you recommend me go there if I don't get into my top choices? Applied for Econ. I do want a social life but at the same time I want an environment that's conducive to learning.</p>
<p>oh and I'm not Jewish. lol</p>
<p>Think of it this way, it would be like being jewish and going to ND or BC. You wont have any problems but it may be awkward at times.</p>
<p>How good is it though???</p>
<p>Brandeis is a very good school. It's like a liberal arts-focused school within a research university. It's 45% white so there is much diversity and it's not as "Jewish" as other schools like Yeshiva. The school is located in a suburb outside of Boston with a good downtown I believe, and you can easily get into the city seeing it is not too far. If you don't get into your top choices you should consider going to Brandeis. It has very good academics.</p>
<p>Congratulations on getting accepted to Brandeis! It is truly an amazing school. As you mention, as an intellectual environment, it is comparable in many ways to its University Athletic Association sister school, U Chicago. </p>
<p>I don't know what your top choices are, but I wouldn't consider Brandeis a second choice. Brandeis is a special combination of small liberal arts college and world-class research university-with the smallest student body I believe (less than 800 in a class) of any top tier national research university matched with high-powered professors who actually teach in small classes. </p>
<p>As a "most selective' school, Brandeis has lots of excellent candidates to choose from (its pool is smaller than larger schools but it is self-selecting by top students), so you should consider yourself fortunate to be admitted. BTW, it has a very significant percentage of international students (in fact its International Business School is majority international students) and has long offered the presigious Wein Scholarship to top international students, many of whom are leaders in their respective countries today. FYI in a recent Forbes national college rankings survey, Brandeis was ranked 15th among research universities and 30th overall among all private univerities and LAC's--a testament to its focus on undergraduate education. Larger schools, including some Ivies, were ranked much lower. In terms of prestige at graduation, Brandeis student admission rates into the best law schools, med schools and other grad schools are excellent.</p>
<p>With respect to your reference to you not being Jewish, you should understand that Brandeis is quite diverse overall and less than 50% of its student body is Jewish. Brandeis is a non-sectarian school that embraces students from all types of backgrounds based on merit. This is highlighted by its illustrious alumni--e.g. nobel and pulitzer prize winners, international leaders and those accomplished in business, academia and the arts --so many of whom are not of Jewish backgrounds. The school has no religious affiliation, although it was founded and is funded signigicantly by the Jewish community. Its diversity is attested to by numerous posts on this website. </p>
<p>As for the Brandeis Econ department, I will leave it for others to comment on it, but I believe it is quite good and, in conjunction with the Brandeis International Business School, about to launch an innovative Business major. </p>
<p>Good luck with your applications!</p>