<p>How well would a kid fit in there who is conscientious but not intense about academics, who seems to like Brandeis as much for its size, location, prestige, and religious connections as anything else? She wants to do her work and then party, but definitely in that order. She has no idea yet what she wants to do with her life, but is definitely not the type to skip through 5 majors in 6 years by getting exicited and then disillusioned. Is this school right for her?</p>
<p>Good question!
If you had said "party and THEN do her work" I would have told you that she should look elsewhere.</p>
<p>Typically students who dislike Brandeis fall into three broad categories:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Kids who somehow managed to do very well in HS without doing much work or studying. The admissions process attempts to weed these candidates out, but some "sneak through" and when the cold, hard reality of how much work they NOW have to do sinks in, they are miserable. </p></li>
<li><p>Kids who didn't really want to go to Brandeis in the first place, but ended up going there because of an attractive financial aid offer, parental pressure or it was the "best school they got into."</p></li>
<li><p>Kids who have a complete fantasy about what college is like and pretty much would not be happy anywhere.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think that she needs to visit, sit in on a class or two and if she still wants to attend, give it serious consideration. I think "size, location, prestige, and religious connections" can and should be important factors, but there is more to it than that.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Very good question, indeed. In addition to what soze suggested, I'd recommend talking to some kids while on campus, outside of those hand-picked for canned presentations (this applies to anywhere else your daughter might consider, as well as Brandeis). Try approaching kids who seem to be hanging out, either out of doors or in a student center. It generally works.</p>