<p>Can someone please describe the atmosphere at Brandeis? I've heard that it's intellectual, but I also don't hear it mentioned in the same breath as MIT or UChicago...I posted this thread on the Brandeis forum too, but not that many people go there.</p>
<p>The intellectual atmosphere at Brandeis is one of the reasons why I am very excited about attending there next year.</p>
<p>I'm trying to decide whether or not to attend next year. Can you be more specific, just_browsing?</p>
<p>Hey jackson.</p>
<p>The intellectual fervor that embodies Brandeis is one of the main reasons I chose to go last year.</p>
<p>Brandeis students take pride and joy in their ability to think. It is truly a community sentiment. "Intellectual" conversations are not at all uncommon over lunch, walking to class, or just late night (and often all night) conversations. </p>
<p>I've always said that to me Brandeis most closely resembles Swarthmore among its teachings (social/ethical justice and intelligence) and its student body (intellectual, quirky, little emphasis on athletics). It's slightly larger and less intimate but that is what you get at a university. Mind you, Brandeis is less prestigious and considerably less well endowed (but most of that can be attributed to the young age of the university)</p>
<p>Thanks, descant - exactly what I needed to hear. Any other opinions?</p>
<p>bump......</p>
<p>Yeah, I support what descant said.</p>
<p>Well, it isn't anywhere near the same level as MIT, so of course you wouldn't hear about Brandeis in the same breadth =P 'Intellectuality' depends on what schools you compare it with. For it's ranking, I'd say it'd be more intellectual to equivalent schools because of a lower emphasis on athletics.</p>
<p>Brandeis isn't mentioned in the same breath as UChicago because Deis doesn't require you to do multivariable calculus for your essays (okay, so that was only one option). UChicago is the biggest stereotype I know. I first heard it in line with Dostoyevsky, and the person I know best who go there is most assuredly Nietzsche's anti-Christ. </p>
<p>But I was wondering this question too.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, however, that the intellectual atmosphere you find at Brandeis will really differ from the atmosphere you see at UChicago. Brandeis really serves the Jewish community, and from my mom's experience, that resulted in a very clique-y social scene along with girls flaunting this season's LV or Gucci bag slung over their shoulders. At UChic, you'll probably see some of that, but MUCH MUCH less. After all, UChic is "where fun goes to die."</p>
<p>How would it compare to a place like Reed?</p>
<p>Kind of the opposite - Reed is a very liberal place. Brandeis... is... well... not.</p>
<p>Ugh...really? I'm guessing Brandeis is more intellectual in a pre-professional way...</p>
<p>What are you talking about? Brandeis is know for being very liberal. The University is named after Justice Louis Brandeis, who was most certainly a leftist. The University has always had a tradition of social justice throughout its years. Abbie Hoffman and Angela Davis are alumni.</p>
<p>lololololol @ Brandeis not being liberal. The Deis Republicans invited Charlton Heston to, as legend goes, "to show that Brandeis Republicans actually exist" (according to my regional officer at the info session). Brandeis has a strong activist tradition, especially rooted in its 1960s history. Is it still the '60s? Heck no. But remnants still remain, i.e. professors, ha! The difference between Brandeis and Reed is probably the difference between Dennis Kucinich and Ted Kennedy. </p>
<p>But you'll always find someone "like you" no matter where you go. Come to Deis and hang out with me, who when assigned a one page paper on Roman history, writes 15 pages comparing the transition from Republic to Empire to Hobbesian and Machiavellian theory.</p>
<p>lol, hemingwayisdead...how'd the professor like that?</p>
<p>Ed Witten, Fields Medalist and inventor of string theory, went to Brandeis for undergrad. I'm guessing it is somewhat intellectual. </p>
<p>I also know they have a giant in the field of Artificial Intelligence...other than that, I don't know much about Brandeis.</p>
<p>One advantage to Brandeis if you are majoring in science/engineering is that the profs you get recs from will know the profs in the Boston area (Harvard, MIT, etc.), so you might have a good chance of getting in.</p>