<p>Hello,
I’ve heard that Brandeis isn’t as “intellectual” as schools like Wellesley and UChicago. What does this mean exactly, and how is intellectualism defined? Have you guys found your coursework to be challenging and interesting?</p>
<p>wow ninnykins you stole the words right out of my unconscious! I'm actually debating between Wellesley, UChicago, and Brandeis (yeah i have a couple of days to resolve that dilemma)...(I'm sorry if I sound elitist) I've often found myself hesitating in regards to Brandeis simply because I didn't encounter the level of intellectualism I crave when I visited (and I met a lot of people from all parts of campus). Everyone was delightfully kind, intelligent, and quirky (good things), but I didn't sense kindred spirits who thrive on intensive learning and discussion. Of course my experience could have been misrepresentative. The quality of which I speak is difficult to describe and admittedly sounds somewhat elitist and excessively nerdy, but can anyone offer any insight? Could I find a niche of intensely intellectual and ambitious (not necessarily reclusive or pompous) people?</p>
<p>I PMed you, Kaulie.</p>
<p>kaulie, from all I 've heard, U Chicago would be a first choice for "pure intellectualism". Wellesley is quite different from Brandeis in many respects--both schools probably have ambitious students, but I doubt that either of these two is more "intensely intellectual" than the other. From our visits to Brandeis, we met some intellectual types, some less so, but the overall environment was more intellectual than many other schools we visited.</p>
<p>People seem to me to be pretty intellectual. When I first found out that I got in ED in December, I got into some AIM chats with other EDers and we had some pretty good discussions on Che Guevera, Israeli disengagement policy, and politics in general. I've also discussed philosophy with several people as well. Granted, I don't know what type of intellectual you are shooting for, but I've found most people to be intensely intellectual in at least one or two areas which interest them. </p>
<p>For instance, I may not be able to meditate on string theory but I can discuss Latin American politics and have a thirst to learn more. Most people I've talked to have been very passionate about a few things and want to learn everything they can about those things. So perhaps intellectual isn't the best word, but passionate is.</p>
<p>I've found most of the people here to be quite nerdy, in the best sense. By nerdy, I mean very interested in whatever they are studying and other random things as well. One of my best friends was a representative to the DNC in 2004. She can talk for hours about politics. And we have. Me and other chem majors often discuss our classes and interesting things that we've learned. I discussed poetry the other day with one of my friends from a workshop I'm taking. If this is what you mean by intellectual, than Brandeis definitely has it. I find it's less long conversations into the night and more just little things slipped into generic conversation. Which is good. College is stressful and work is intense. You probably shouldn't discuss intellectual things ALL the time...you would go crazy.</p>