<p>I just visited Brandeis and was blown away by the astounding academics, beautiful campus, and great vibe that I got from the diverse student body. My tour guide explained how Boston is only a short bus/train ride away and that she frequents the city nearly every weekend. She also commented that more students stick on campus to find entertainment and social activities than venture into Boston…reason being…the plethora of activities on campus. However, when I confronted a student after my tour he informed me that the university is notorious for a lacking social scene on campus, especially a party scene. Going to Boston is always a good time, but I wouldn’t want to depend on a weekly visit to fulfill my entertainment needs. The student told me that the social scene on campus can be more lively if you have a select group of friends or “crew” but otherwise to consider the dearth of social options in my decision making process. Brandeis caters to every one of my desires except for an adequate social scene. Am I overreacting to the insight from one student or is Brandeis truly lacking in social activity/partying?</p>
<p>My friend goes there and he said it's pretty fractured, it's not a great campus scene but you meet cool people and stay in smaller but fluid groups. It doesn't sound like it's a strong campus scene but you can still party as much as you want to.</p>
<p>My sense of it is that people choose Brandeis for all the reasons you give rather than the social scene. If social life is a make or break for you, you're probably better off somewhere else. That said, while some B. people are dissatisfied, many Brandeis students are happy with the social lives they build for themselves; they are not hermits but are not into heavy frequent partying.</p>
<p>Well, personally I find there to be too MUCH of a party scene, but it's easy to avoid. During the week, there's not much. However- at least in my dorm- people get plastered on the weekends. It's easy to avoid if you want to or join in if that's your thing as well. Last weekend I sat in a room watching a Star Wars marathon while random drunk people would pop in and sit down or entertain us with their stumbling and such. It's fun for everyone! :p</p>
<p>To me, partying is not a social activity. There are tons of social activities to do and I don't have much downtime (and when I do, I lucked out with an awesome roommate and good friends on my floor so we all just hang out in my room). On any given night, there are tons of clubs and activities to go to. Partying is a whole separate thing. Most of the CAs are pretty cool with it as long as you're not running around the halls with it in hand. If you're in a room, it's a totally different situation. </p>
<p>Personally, I have a great social life here without drinking or partying... both of which seem wicked immature to me. If you want to party, you'll be able to, but keep in mind that only about half of the school is down with it. That's really the biggest sense at where the campus "fractures". For the most part, everyone gets along otherwise.</p>
<p>If you're looking for your typical college social scene, with lots of drinking, partying, and waking up the next day hung over with someone you don't remember sleeping with in your bed, then no, Brandeis probably isn't for you. Not that it isn't there at all, because it is, but to far less a degree than most colleges. And because there are so many people who hate parties (see earlier post), the ones that do spring up are usually ratted out by a fellow student to the police, who break them up really quickly.</p>
<p>I graduated Brandeis and now attend medical school, and if you can believe this, the med school party scene is way more active than Brandeis'. Just a little comparison for you all to illustrate my point.</p>
<p>A comment about disimpred.... I've seen this person always post negative stuff for the past year... (If you are in med school, and you were unhappy with your experience here, why do you keep coming back to post in the Brandeis forum? Seems pretty odd to me...)</p>
<p>it seems this person had a horrible experience, but I wouldn't blame the school... </p>
<p>Nobody is going to hand you a sheet of paper with a list of all the parties going on. If you are a social outcast and stay in your room the whole day, do not complain about the "lack of a social scene". There are parties going on all the time here, and I just got here.</p>
<p>The other question you may want to ask yourself is if you want to be on a campus with people who want to party 24/7 ... If that is the case, Brandeis is not for you. The school is full of people who came here motivated to get a good education. I consider that a positive... Still there are plenty of parties and fun things going around campus, so I think it's the best of both worlds..</p>
<p>Good luck with your app process.</p>
<p>If you really must know, I was bored the other day and was fooling around on the computer--I left this site in my bookmarks.</p>
<p>You're right, though, trync. I'm out of this place. And loving, or at least liking where I am now. So it's not like I'm a miserable person who hates everything. For me Brandeis sucked. For you and hopefully most other students there it's good, and that's good for you and the school. I honestly felt that part of Brandeis' problem was the attitude there, because there were a large number of people, myself included, who didn't like it. We probably should have gotten more involved and tried to at least work for changes, but we were lazy or too busy and apathetic and left the tiny bit of power allotted to students in the hands of those who already loved the school to death and weren't hungry enough to make any real changes. That's our fault. I'll take plenty of blame for that.</p>
<p>And so I say goodbye. Seeing as I got where I wanted to go, I don't hold too much of a grudge against Brandeis, even though there are a few good reasons for holding one. Stay well everybody, and work hard. But play hard too.</p>
<p>Is there an easy way to get to Boston? If there isn't that much partying going on what else do people do on th weekends?</p>
<p>Have fun since partying is a lame way to have "fun". Yeah.. lets all get drunk and puke our brains out and look like idiots.</p>
<p>We go into Boston which is easy or just hang out with each other. Lately my friends have gotten into having movie marathons and ordering out a smorgishboard of food. We also go to Chinatown every Sunday morning for Dim Sum and to stock up on cheap snacks. Plus there is stuff on campus and the Rose Art Museum which is crazy. Its not like theres nothing to do, because theres plenty.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people who have been going to Boston regularly.. apparently it's not hard as long as you follow the schedule... but to be honest, there has been so much going on on-campus and with all the homework, i havent had the chance.. all my parties have been on campus, but i plan on going to Boston next chance i get!</p>
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I know a lot of people who have been going to Boston regularly.. apparently it's not hard as long as you follow the schedule
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<p>What schedule.... Is there a bus or train station nearby?</p>
<p>There is a commuter rail about 5-10 min. walk from the campus center. At least 6 or 7 trains a day to Cambridge/ Boston--20 min. ride. Brandeis also has vans on weekends to Waltham, Boston and Cambridge and is discussing increasing those services.</p>
<p>How will an Arab American fit in this school? Do people tend to go in cliques or what? Any insight about this will be immensly helpful.</p>
<p>I am the parent of a freshman. My impression is that B has a tolerant environment--there are many students (and faculty) from Asia, Turkey, India, for example. There are also enough Moslem students for them to consider building a place of worship for them. There are also, as you might expect, a lot of people with strong feelings about Israel--if you are tolerant and open-minded and try to avoid hostile confrontations, you should be OK--it would certainly be an educational experience for all involved. But current students on this board should be able to give you more first hand info on this.</p>
<p>Personally I can't definitely say how Arab Americans on campus feel because I am not one. There is a Muslim Student Association <a href="http://people.brandeis.edu/%7Emsa/%5B/url%5D">http://people.brandeis.edu/~msa/</a> Email them if you have any specific concerns and I'm sure they'd help you. I've seen many women walking around with the Muslim head coverings. The other day there was a Ramadan feast type of thing open to all students too. </p>
<p>that's all i know about Arab Americans on campus~~ sorry... I'm sure others can help more</p>
<p>that sounds awesome, thanks for the info</p>