Hi everyone, I got accepted into the midyear program but I have some questions/concerns. How do they choose people for this program? Reading the previous posts, some people have said that Brandeis chooses students who seem more outgoing or mature to start in the second semester. I don’t really consider myself outgoing, and I’d be a little nervous to start school in January while all my friends go to college in the fall. If anyone has any more information on this that they could share that would be great. Thanks!
Hi, I’m in the same boat as you. I am the opposite of outgoing, and I wanted to go in the fall as well. My older sister goes to RPI, and her roommate who was accepted for spring there had some reassurance. She said that starting the college experience at home makes the transition easier, and that orientation/socializing is much more intimate once you’re there. I still don’t know what to think, and I’m trying to get switched to fall, but that made me feel better.
I also want to mention that they offer studying abroad in London or Florence for Fall 2017. You would take a few classes including a writing seminar at a local college. I don’t know how I feel about that personally, but it’s an option.
I am in the same boat. I have no idea what to do because even though I really like Brandeis, I am not sure I want to miss out on meeting everyone and possibly feel left behind when I get there. Plus, even if I do the midyear thing, I have no idea what I would do during the fall term. I guess I would have to take classes at PC or URI (I live in RI) or try to find a job I guess. Is there anyway to switch out of this and into a fall semester slot?
I talked to an admissions representative this morning, and she said there is no way to switch to fall or be put on a waitlist for fall. I think I’m still committing if the $$ is there, but this isn’t how I envisioned starting college.
Curious about test scores and required FA for those asked to start mid-year. I imagine there is a correlation…I was accepted mid-year at Brandeis and asked for a lot of FA. My ACT was 24. Many relatives are alumni. Please share your situation if possible.
My ACT is a 32 (4.15 GPA) and I don’t have any alumni relatives. I do need significant financial aid though.
This sounds like an alternative freshman entry program similar to Northeastern’s NUIn program and BU’s CGS January-London program. These programs are common now and are for students who did not meet the qualifications for Fall admission.
“Are for students who did not meet the qualifications for Fall admission.”
I’m not so sure about that for this year. From what I can see with real kids, it seems pretty random who’s getting put into these options and who isn’t.
Both of my kids have been part of the midyear class at Brandeis. My daughter did not submit her SAT scores, but showed a lot of interest by interviewing in a town near us, we visited Brandeis a couple times and she had told them it was her top choice. She had a 4.0 gpa and a lot of extra curriculars. My sons had a gpa of about 3.8, submitted his “ok” act scores and interviewed at Brandeis. Initially my daughter was extremely sad and wasn’t sure what to do, but because of the reputation of Brandeis she decided to enroll. She really wanted to do the London program but we didn’t allow her to (she has done a lot of traveling our if the country though) because it is not covered by financial aid. She stayed home, worked and attended community college. During the fall she spent a lot of time texting and on Facebook talking to other midyears. Two years later my son comes along and also gets midyear. We decided to let him do the London program since he had never really traveled (and at this point we realize we are already so far in debt). Both of them transitioned into Brandeis in the spring with not problems at all. Because of social media they knew others before they arrived. My son is currently a freshman and in the middle of his first semester, which he seems to be enjoying immensely and my daughter is now a junior studying abroad in London. If asked neither of them say that they regret making the decision to be a midyear. Also if you haven’t found it yet, usually former midyears have a seperate page for Brandeis midyears.
Also Brandeis has NEVER said anything about this program being for students who don’t meet qualifications. My kids have met so many midyears who were in the top of their class and had amazing SAT scores.
Not true that kids admitted midyear did not meet the qualifications. They DON’T ADMIT kids who don’t meet qualifications. Midyear admissions is a way for the school to fill spots emptied due to attrition.
I definitely believe Brandeis when they say that some of the BEST students are admitted midyear:
https://mobile.twitter.com/BrandeisU/status/845071393528139777
Very different from the NUin midyear program at Northeastern which is used as @TomSrOfBoston describes, above.
@mamaful Has Brandeis published stats for the January cohort? An earlier poster stated that he was admitted to January with a 24 ACT.
I’m not sure if Brandeis publishes stats for midyear students vs. fall admits, though I do recall reading an earlier CC post by a midyear student who asked an admissions officer and was told that Brandeis does not track those statistics. Wish I could find the thread …
Anyway, according to Brandeis’s most recent Common Data set, it wouldn’t be that unusual for someone with a 24 ACT score to be admitted to Brandeis. Brandeis reported that 26.34% of enrolled freshmen who submitted ACT scores had composite scores in the 24-29 range (as opposed to only 6.36% of enrolled freshmen at Northeastern). Brandeis seems to have a less rigid view of test scores. They have a “test optional” admissions policy. And, Brandeis only “considers” standardized test scores as part of an admissions decision, as opposed to a school such as Northeastern that views standardized test scores as “most important” when evaluating candidates. Interesting.
@MominVT You said your daughter attended community college in the fall… How was the help from the registrar’s office in making sure she was taking courses that would transfer? My son would like to do the London program but we’re thinking staying home and attending fall courses could save us some money in the long run. He traveled extensively in Eastern Europe/Israel the summer before his hs jr year so we’re fine with him waiting for junior year to study abroad.
@bmosmom if I am correct my daughter her to go through the registration department to have all of her classes approved for transfer to Brandeis. I do remember that there was one specific person at brandeis that is responsible for approving classes. They were very helpful with what classes would transfer, because initially her first couple classes she chose were not approved. There might of been a form she needed to fill out. I can check and see if I can find it.