<p>So, on Friday I got a call from my Brandeis Admissions Counselor telling me that they’ve accepted me off the waitlist. I’ve been in a sort of limbo ever since; I never thought that I would actually make it off the waitlist considering that I’m also waitlisted at NYU.</p>
<p>For a month or so now, I’ve been comfortable with the idea that I was going to a very good but unknown nationally school near my home (John Carroll University). I got a lot of financial aid and I was prepared to study my butt off to get into an amazing graduate school. My best friend and I actually found out that we had both picked the same school and we’ve been growing even closer. (I know that a friend is a dumb factor for deciding between colleges, but I can’t help it.) Even more stressful is the fact that John Carroll’s orientation is the 27th and 28th of June and I have 10 days from the time I receive my Brandeis letter in the mail to decide! (Which hopefully will come on or after Monday so I can go to orientation.)</p>
<p>I’m going to visit Brandeis on Thursday and Friday this week, and I’m hoping to be able to go to John Carroll’s orientation so I can compare the two. (By the way, is there anyway I could ask for a delay in my receipt of my Brandeis letter or a few days extension for my decision, or is that unheard of?)</p>
<p>I guess I’m asking a general what should I do question and also how Brandeis is ranked beside other colleges and universities. Is it in a high tier? What other schools is it comparable to? Is it worth going to over John Carroll?</p>
<p>If it helps, I’m undecided, but I’m interested in Humanities and Sciences. Any response at all would be greatly appreciated! I’m on the verge of a breakdown, haha.</p>
<p>Brandeis is in a very high tier of nationally known universities. The last USNWR placed it #34 among universities in the US. This puts it close in the USNWR rankings to Schools such as Tufts, Michigan, UNC Chapel School, Boston College, NYU, Lehigh and UC Davis. Brandeis competes for students with the very top schools in the country. Brandeis has an excellent reputation and an excellent record of graduate school admissions. </p>
<p>I’ll be honest, I hadn’t heard of John Carroll before your post, which is not to say it is not a fine school. Based on what little I could see, it looks as though it is a very good regional school. I’m sure you would get a good education there.</p>
<p>Comparing the two – Brandeis has a much better reputation. Period. </p>
<p>For example 80% of Brandeis students fall in the top 10% of their high school class, while at John Carroll only about 25% of the students do so. Brandeis admits about 1/3 of the students who apply, John Carroll about 75-80%. Other metrics for ranking schools will yield a similar conclusion. This puts John Carroll several tiers below Brandeis in this regard. </p>
<p>Assuming that money isn’t an issue, it’s definitely worth going to Brandeis over John Carroll. </p>
<p>If there’s a significant cost difference, and going to Brandeis would put an undue strain on your family … honestly, whether it’s worth it is something only you and your family can answer.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the information. I was thinking Brandeis was ranked much higher than John Carroll but no one in my town has heard of it so it put me off.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, why did you apply to Brandeis?</p>
<p>Most people also have never heard of the Webb Institute, which is the number one school in the entire country for Marine Engineering, and Naval Architecture. </p>
<p>People who matter with your future career choices will know Brandeis.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptance! I think you have the right idea in going to John Carroll’s orientation to compare the two. Yes, Brandeis is “higher ranked” and better known (mostly in the Northeast - I live in the South and very few people have heard of Brandeis). However, that should be one of the lesser factors in your decision. Just because a school is considered “better” doesn’t mean it’s better for you, so do as much research as possible (including talking to current students - that’s the most helpful research you can do!), ask a lot of questions, visit both schools if you can, and go to whichever school you like better. How you use your time and how successful you are in undergraduate school matters more than the school itself. You should go wherever you see yourself being happy and successful.</p>
<p>@sstGO27</p>
<p>While I agree completely that which school is 'higher ranked" is not the only factor in choosing a college, I strongly disagree that it should be one of the lesser factors.</p>
<p>If two schools are reasonably close reputation, I agree completely. I even agree where one of the two schools is a level below the other. But without meaning any disrespect to John Carroll, it isn’t in the same league as Brandeis.</p>
<p>Assuming there isn’t a compelling reason to reject Brandeis, the gap between these two schools is just too big.</p>
<p>Finances would certainly be a compelling reason.</p>
<p>Absolutely hating a campus would also probably be a reason.</p>
<p>Wanting to study something where Brandeis is weak (and John Carroll is particulary strong) would be another – if there is such a field.</p>
<p>Otherwise – On average, Brandeis will provide better graduate school opportunities, and equal or better job opportunities in most cases.</p>
<p>From an education/career point of view, I’m not sure what the argument would be in favor of John Carrol.</p>
<p>my son goes to brandeis and i can only say that he has had a wonderful experience and we love the place and wanted my younger son to go there too but he chose tufts. as my son comes close to graduating he has seen how much respect brandeis gets in the real word. It is a kind and nurturing environment. you cannot go wrong going to brandeis. the only issue really is the money.</p>
<p>I wonder where she decided to go.</p>