<p>I know there’s a midyear thread here already, but it’s from two years ago and seems to drift into other directions, so I figured I’d make a new one for those of us accepted for January 2014!</p>
<p>I’m from NY and extremely torn, though of course grateful. Brandeis was always at the top of my list, but I’m not sure how I feel about starting in January. What are you guys thinking?</p>
<p>Hey! I’m an international student was accepted as a midyear as well. I agree with you…Brandeis was my top choice at first, and I think the reason why I was a little disappointed when I saw the result was because I have never heard of such a program. I did look at some of the study abroad options though, and it seems fun! Going to wait till the other college decisions come out before I make my final decision though :)</p>
<p>I was accepted to the Midyear 2017 class too! I was so excited to hear from Brandeis because it was the very top of my list. And when I saw Midyear class I was thrown fro a loop. I wanted to go so bad but now I’m not sure what to do. I will wait and see what some of the other universities will say that haven’t released decisions yet but I’m thinking about what to do if I do decide to do the Midyear program. I can’t afford the study abroad programs and was looking at taking classes at another college I was accepted to and then transferring after the first semester but I don’t want to get in to a lot of stress with transferring. It’s like they want me and at the same time they don’t. What are you guy’s thinking? D:</p>
<p>I totally understand where both of you are coming from! This is such a tough decision… I’m also still waiting for other schools and while I of course need to evaluate all my options, I cannot imagine turning down Brandeis :(! I’m taking our midyear acceptance as they really want us but for whatever reason couldn’t offer us fall admission (be it space, a low score, something). I’m not sure my parents would want me abroad, so I’d probably end up commuting to/from a local college, which isn’t ideal but I guess in the long run I’d still be at Brandeis, graduating from Brandeis, etc… I think my main fear here would be acclimating midyear…</p>
<p>It’s going to take some tough decisions, and I’m sure it will be very stressful in the next couple of weeks but I’m sure it will work out. I had always thought of starting and finishing at the same university, and that after the summer like everyone else I would start college. January 2014 just seems so long away and I’m from Alabama and I REALLY don’t want to stay here any longer than I have to. I guess also another deciding factor in this process in financial aid. If another university offers a great award I have to go with them. What other universities have you applied to? I applied to the University of Denver, Baldwin Wallace University, and Eugene Lang College for the Liberal Arts and was accepted to them and haven’t heard from Fordham, NYU, and George Washington University in DC.</p>
<p>Yeah, these next couple of weeks are going to be crazy stressful!!! I too never even thought about starting in January, but I now find I’m actually considering it and think the extra wait might be worth it for Brandeis. As far as other schools go, I only applied to schools on the east coast. I was accepted to Emerson, Binghamton, Pittsburgh, Maryland & Syracuse, but am waiting for BU, Skidmore, & Lehigh.</p>
<p>I’m an international student with dual citizen ship to both Israel and the U.S and got admitted for the fall 2013 year. Does anyone know about the Alumni and Friends scholarship, apparently I am being awarded this scholarship but am afraid it does not cover tuition fees, room&board, exc…</p>
<p>Hi, I was also accepted into Brandeis as a mid-year. I live in Arizona at the time and the thought of staying here makes me cringe just as it does the same to some of you for your state. I am going for pre med so I might end up doing a summer class of gen chem at Brandeis then stay in a family member’s house till the spring starts. I’m thinking of devoting my extra time in the fall doing an internship at a hospital to get my name out there while also having a part time job in a museum. They say study abroad is a great option, however our FA packages do not cover study abroad whatsoever. I’m not committing just yet to Brandeis, but my only other option is BU which would be a little more costly. I can only speculate now why we were chosen as midyears, and the biggest answer would be test scores. I have the extracurriculars and am valedictorian, however my test scores are low. My test scores were too low for Brandeis, and my reasoning behind this is because I was rejected from NYU (for my test scores I strongly believe). I also did get the Alumni and Friends scholarship which is basically just a fancy way of saying “financial based grant/scholarship”, which is subject to change every year at Brandeis. </p>
<p>Are any of you willing to accept the midyear offer even if you are on a “pre-” track?</p>
<p>Also I just have to point out that we have all the right to feel a bit under appreciated or angry, because a big conspiracy of the midyear program is that we are only there to fill up junior dorms that will be vacated once they do study abroad. Do not listen to the boastings of the program that say it is an “honorable” experience, because it isn’t much of a program at all if you do really think about it. However, be PROUD you will still be going to a world class university!!</p>
<p>Matthew did you receive your FA packet? </p>
<p>And can you tell me what you know about the alumni and friends scholarship?</p>
<p>Yes I did. </p>
<p>That scholarship is the financial based scholarship. Your amount for it will only be calculated by your finances, not your academic achievements. As if with every other university, financial based grants/scholarships are subject to change every year (if your finances have changes). The reason why they change is because what they send to you is only for ONE year. You have to apply for FA each year. If your finances do not significantly change each year then you can expect to keep the same amount for all 4 years.
You can expect to pay the same amount of money at each private university if they all agreed to fully meet your need. Sadly not all universities fully meet your need so this is what people mean by “this university gave me more money”. It really just means that university decided to fully meet your need and only charge you what you can afford. FA packages are kind of misleading. Students think universities GAVE them all that money when in reality it is just what the university chooses to charge you. </p>
<p>(to anyone) Email me if you are choosing the midyear path please.</p>
<p>I might be choosing the midyear path. Right now its between Brandeis or Syracuse for me. I would just not know what to do in the several months before classes start… while all my other friends are going to college. Brandeis offered more financial aid and is closer to home, but Syracuse obviously gave me normal admission and is more dedicated towards my major (Comp Sci). Decisions decisions.</p>
<p>I haven’t committed yet, but I’m probably leaning towards Brandeis as well. I’m trying to convince my parents to let me go abroad, but if that doesn’t happen, I’m probably going to have to settle to take classes locally and/or work.
Also, you guys should totally join the midyear Facebook group. There’s already a decent amount of people in it, and I find talking to people in a similar situation is way helpful.</p>
<p>Thanks Mathew, i just got mine in today!:D</p>
<p>Here’s a link to a very good article in yesterday’s New York Times on mid-year acceptances at various colleges. Brandeis is prominently featured, and the benefits of its program are highlighted.</p>
<p><a href=“More College Applicants Don’t Get In Until Winter - The New York Times”>More College Applicants Don’t Get In Until Winter - The New York Times;
<p>Sat 1990/1380 (740 reading/640 writing/610 math) male,turn 20 on may 30 2013
Background-super orthodox Jewish family , we literately were not allowed to talk to girls.i was taught Non-Jews are ANIMALS /secular education is an obligation and frowned upon,the main focus of our education is Talmud.
9TH -12TH GRADE-struggle with doubting my faith throughout high school .Despite school hours being 7AM -11PM we only receive 3 hours of secular education daily ,and in 12th grade we receive no secular education at all.A+ student in Hebrew subjects Except a o B+ because of my growing atheistic tendency ,which i received at the end of 12th grade.Secular subjects are a joke and i am allowed to skip classes if i pass my regents,Something i did at the start of every year, allowing me to receive a passing grade and rarely attending class .</p>
<p>Like all boys in my culture i studied in a Jewish seminary for a year (beis medrash),and was expected do so for another 4 or 5 years .I however left and became and abandoned my faith at the end of slightly before the end of my first year.
I am now alienated and ostracized by my friends family and community ,i am an obligation ,a loved one now only worthy of pity and condescension .I spent this previous year at home doing nothing ,lamenting my alienation ,unsure how i am to enter secular society,scary and foreign as it is
Take sat and get 1990(2200 ON PRACTICE TESTS WAS NORM) .despite my complete absence of education i have done fairly well .
I DISCOVER BRANDEIS ,AFTER I AM TOLD IT WILL BE A ENVIRONMENT WELL SUITED FOR INTELLECTUAL INCLINATION .I FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.
I AM STARTING SUMMER CLASSES IN NYU IN 2 DAYS.</p>
<p>NOW I WILL LIST MY PROS AND CONS ,AND I HOPE YOU CAN ADVISE ME ON MID YEAR ADMISSION TO BRANDEIS .
PRO-
(1)1990 SAT AND 740 READING DESPITE HAVING MINIMAL SECULAR EDUCATION EXPOSURE
(2)FAMILY IS KNOWN TO GIVE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENTS , ALTHOUGH I DOUBT THEY WOULD GIVE MONEY TO SECULAR INSTITUTION
(3)SKILLED AT REASONING FROM YEARS IN TALMUDIC SCHOOL ,WHERE I WAS THE NUMBER 1-2 GUY IN THE SCHOOL.BRIGHT ALL AROUND GUY.
(4) TEACHER WHO TRIED COAXING ME TO GO TO GOOD COLLEGE AND SKIP SEMINARY WILL GIVE AMAZING LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
(5) COMPELLING LIFE STORY ,MUCH I HAVE SKIPPED FOR BREVITY
CONS
(1)SECULAR GPA OF 2.5
(2)MYOPIC ,SHELTERED LIFE
(3)MAJOR RISK
(4)WILL BE A JUNIOR AGED FRESHMAN</p>
<p>PLEASE SHED SOME INSIGHT ONTO MY SITUATION</p>
<p>One of the issues you will need to deal with either at NYU or at Brandeis is the cost. Are your parents willing to contribute anything to your secular college education? If not are you prepared to take out loans and hope for partial merit aid?</p>
<p>Yes ,my parents will pay for my college, i am all covered in that regard.thankfully my mother is willing,her parents instilled a value for education in her,one which is rarely found in my community</p>