<p>I’m trying to decide where to mail my deposit…Brandeis is one of my favorite schools, but is it worth the $25,000~ debt I would incur? My other options would leave me with no debt, and at a UC, I would even have money left over. My parents definitely want me to go to a UC for financial purposes only.
I’m basically just looking for someone to tell me Brandeis is worth it. I couldn’t make it to the open house thing…can someone tell me about it, please???</p>
<p>Which UC's are we talking about? Hurry and visit then decide.!!</p>
<p>Davis, Irvine, Santa Barbara, and San Diego. I've visited UCD and UCSB. I thought the campuses were nice, but HUGE.</p>
<p>i'm in the exact situation as you too and for us, i'm leaning towards attending a UC instead of brandeis b/c even with scholarships, i would still have to pay 30K per year and my goal is to go straight to grad school so money is a huge factor for me</p>
<p>I was also choosing between UCSD and UCI.. but I sent in my deposit to Brandeis already! Which part of california are you guys from?</p>
<p>I want to go to grad school too, which makes it difficult...but at the same time I don't have a clearly defined career path. I'm trying to figure out my future at the same time as trying to make a decision...pretty tough!
Which UCs are you considering?</p>
<p>norcal....how about you?</p>
<p>Personally, I would have gotten a full scholarship to UGA due to the Hope Scholarship in Georgia, but I applied to Brandeis ED instead last year. A year at Brandeis plus airfare and books is about 3 times my family income. Even with the scholarship I got, the extra left over is about a year's salary. But I don't regret it one bit.</p>
<p>I'm from San Diego :)</p>
<p>Are your parents cool with the idea of attending college so far away?</p>
<p>UCSD is like a large university but broken up to 6 "Liberal Arts Colleges". Go take a look on their website.</p>
<p>I think they're okay with me going away. (Well.. they paid for the deposit) </p>
<p>They're afraid I'm going to get on the wrong flight home or something, but they trust me to take care of myself. What about your parents?</p>
<p>My brother went there 25 years ago and he met his wife there; he became a lawyer (family law). She got an MBA in economics at Harvard and now runs the business office of a public school board. They're sending their son there and we're all ecstatic for him, but most importantly, he's thrilled. </p>
<p>A student from our town, now a jr, who goes there reports back because we're family friends. Putting together her positive thoughts and mine, I'll report to you: </p>
<p>Brandeis community is intellectually dynamic, people are passionate about their studies and politics (all stripes), the 52 percent Jewish is NOT homogeneous because there is every type of Jewish service on-hand and a range of political stance from left to right, then the other 48 percent are very diverse.
They work and study hard there, then often go in to Boston together on weekends to relax a bit. Boston is a great city; Waltham's just a typical upscale suburb and it's all about the campus not Waltham. Boston culture is heavily influenced in every positive way by all the colleges and unis there. There's a free shuttle bus that runs from the campus right to Boston. You absolutely don't need a car to enjoy Brandeis U., because of course Boston also has a good public transportation system of subways and busses, and in Waltham all you need is in walking distance.
The ethic is to combine intellect with activism and DO something about your beliefs, whether it's become expert in global studies or fundraising events to help some worthy cause nearby. People care about things like ending the genocide in Darfur.
The president of Brandeis is a real hands-on person who meets with students and listens well.
You'll need a coat and ski-hat, and discover wearing socks in the winter, but it's not ridiculous-cold like...Buffalo. Students NEVER wear snowboots although parents always buy them; unnecessary.
You'll meet many people from around the world and across the country, but at Brandeis you'll also get a handle on what this whole NOrtheast thing is about, from the corridor of Boston - New York - Washington D.C.
So you'd learn about another part of the country which might be an interesting way to expand, even if you end up returning for the rest of your life to California.
Professors publish so the national reputation of the school stays quite strong in their fields. Yet, they are very available to students; so it's a university with an LAC feel. I forget it's a university, sometimes, b/c all I hear about is about the good contact with the profs and students.
If you hate Brandeis, you can also transfer right back to California in a year, right??
Good luck! </p>
<p>I have no negatives to report except: there's a lot of buildings per square inch of campus so it's not greeeeen and spread out between buildings. Lots of diversity in the college architecture, something for everyone, including some distinguished buildings with stained glass windows (by Chagall, I think...)
to inspire.</p>
<p>Pre-med reputed to be competitive but the rest of the departments are intellectual/sharp/yet collaborative. Students talk and share ideas, a lot!</p>
<p>There's a fine grad school in theater, plus undergrad theater opportunities; an art museum; and music. Student-run cafes, etc. So whether you participate/ perform or just want to go and watch your friends doing college & grad school level plays and musicals, or see their art shows and orchestras, you can do all that right there on campus. As for Boston, the cultural possibilities (museums, symphonies etc) are endless. </p>
<p>On long weekends, there's New England: Cape Cod or Gloucester for the oceans,
nearby New Hampshire for the mountains and skiing; southeastern Maine for oceans and mountains together.</p>
<p>Our son was in a similar position. We are from northern California and he was admitted to a number of UCs. The Ucs are fine schools but they are huge, and you have to be comfortable with that to go there. We allowed our son to choose between those schools and Brandeis and another similar school. He chose Brandeis and couldn't be happier. There are enough academic challenges to satisfy anyone looking for intelligent life, and enough activities to keep someone busy for years. The campus has some campus-wide social events over the year and lots of smaller parties.</p>
<p>However, it seems that the decision of where to send your deposit isn't strictly up to you if your parents want you to go to a UC for financial reasons. In that case, if you decide you want to go to Brandeis, you might need some good reasons to back up your choice. If so, come back to this board or ask on another board.</p>
<p>Brandeis seems such a great school but I'm 98% sure that I'm putting my deposit for UC Irvine because it's much more afforable. :( I hate how money gets in the way since I'm paying for my college tuition</p>
<p>You haven't talked to the financial aid office?</p>
<p>I've decided...going to Brandeis!
I know there might be a lot of debt, but I think it will be worth it, and if not, I can transfer back like the very helpful paying3tuitions pointed out.</p>
<p>Haberdashery, don't be sad! </p>
<p>Everything I described about Brandeis is generally true about life in the Northeast. Sometime for a summer job, for graduate school (which you mentioned) or even for your first job after you finish at Irvine, just get a JOB in the Northeast and you'll be able to try it out that way. Especially with all the saved money from the UC system.</p>
<p>Just do very well at school, check out your Career Center sometime around late freshman or early sophomore year, and find out how to keep your eyes open for national employment opportunities when they come to your campus to recruit. As for grad school, I'm sure you could apply anywhere in the country, right? </p>
<p>It's a big, beautiful free country and once you have your degree, you can choose to live anywhere you wish. Ever since the Beach Boys, I've always figured Californians are friendly, open and smart. So bring it!</p>
<p>PS, I'm sending my youngest to California in September, so that'd be an even trade. Gosh, I'm going to miss him something fierce.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the encouragement! Right now, I'm financially forced to attend a UC so I don't think that Brandeis will be a possibility but I will send a financial aid appeal letter tonight to see if I can get more money. :)</p>
<p>Haberdashery- calling is much more effective than writing a letter. I mean, that's good too, but call as well. Make sure to emphasize that you really would love to go to Brandeis and that it's your top choice but UC offered you so much more money. I know of cases where that has worked. Good luck and I'm sure you'll be happy wherever you are!</p>