Tufts, Rochester, Brandeis

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So....i have about one week left until i have to decide, and i still have no clue where to go...my choices are:</p>

<p>Tufts, University of Rochester, and Brandeis</p>

<p>I am interested in premed, but i am not 100% yet.</p>

<p>I was considering a Chem major, but now i am looking for into bme.</p>

<p>I've visited all the schools multiple times, and although i didnt love rochester, i feel like that one would be the best academically, but i'm not sure.</p>

<p>I actually keep kosher too, so if anyone knows which school, tufts or rochester would be easier....that would help.</p>

<p>My last question: is tufts a party school? i didn't think so before i went to visit, but it really seemed that way when i stayed there overnight. But that may have been just my host...</p>

2

<p>All three are great, although if finances is not an issue, i’d go with TUFTS.</p>

3

<p>well, Brandeis has a good chem department but i don’t think we have bme. brandeis has a very respected pre-med program with an early assurance program to Tufts Medical. </p>

<p>in terms of Kosher, as you’re probably aware, Brandeis would be your best bet. At Tufts, the kosher meals are microwavable. I don’t know what the case is at Rochester. Sherman serves 21 full Kosher meals a week and the best part is that the cafeteria is fully integrated so you can eat with all your friends–not just those who eat the same way as you. i’m being completely honest as somebody that keeps Kosher and spent a summer at UPenn when the Kosher dining hall was closed, relying on microwavable meals to eat meat sucks. if you like eating vegetarian instead of kosher meat, then maybe you’ll be fine at a school without a full Kosher cafeteria, but I definitely could not do it.</p>

4

<p>What does the money look like?</p>

5

<p>kosherwise–i know that brandeis is amazing, but i’m worried about the lack of engeneering there…</p>

<p>i was thinking of just making my own food at college…and although that would proabbly be difficult…i could probably manage…</p>

<p>rochester is giving me the most money</p>

6

<p>in terms of engineering, Brandeis has a special program with Columbia where you can spend 3 years at Brandeis then 2 years at Columbia. At the end of the 5 years, you’ll earn a BS in Physics from Brandeis and a BS in Engineering from Columbia. [url=<a href=“http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/advising/opportunities.html#columbiaeng]Academic”>http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/advising/opportunities.html#columbiaeng]Academic</a> Opportunities | Academic Advising | Brandeis University<a href=“As%20you%20probably%20know,%20Columbia%20also%20has%20plenty%20of%20kosher%20options.”>/url</a> Another thing to consider is that you can take classes at the Frank Olin College of engineering while at Brandeis and earn a certificate in engineering from Olin. (more info on that and contact info for program coordinators is also on that page). it’s a tough decision with many factors. good luck!</p>

7

<p>You’ll find that folks actually utilizing these 3+2 programs ANYWHERE are very, very, very, very rare.</p>

8

<p>you’re right they aren’t that popular but people do take advantage of them because everyone has their own interests and needs. my across the way neighbor is doing the 3/2 engineering thing and another friend is doing a semester at Olin. Both really like what Brandeis’ liberal arts education has to offer and both like the campus community for different reasons. one for the Jewish aspect and another for the activist community. so it may be right for the OP or it may not be.</p>

9

<p>I am biased for Rochester here, and they are giving you the most money. If you are going to cook your own meals you would not have to go far to find all of the kosher delis/groceries, etc., in fact, once you turn out of the campus it is a straight shot to the twelve corners in Brighton, and not much farther is the flagship Wegmans with an excellent kosher section.</p>

<p>Best of luck whichever choice you make…</p>

10

<p>blahdeblahdeblah, I’m a Brandeis alum who chose Brandeis over Tufts, and Colgate and other similar schools. I feel passionately about Brandeis and have shared my views with others on CC.</p>

<p>In terms of education and prestige, I believe Brandeis is the easy choice overall.
Brandeis is truly an amazing school. It’s a special combination of small liberal arts college and world-class research university-with the smallest student body I believe (less than 800 in a class) of any top tier national research university matched with high-powered professors who actually teach in small classes. So, the research opportunities are tremendous. While not huge, I believe Tufts’ undergrad enrollment is at least 50% larger than Brandeis’ and Rochester’s is larger as well.</p>

<p>Brandeis’ intellectual environment is comparable in many ways to its University Athletic Association sister school, U Chicago (perhaps no coincidence that the President of U Chicago is a Brandeis alum). Yet its students are down-to-earth, friendly and non-competitive with one another. As you may know, in a recent Forbes national college rankings survey, Brandeis was ranked 15th among research universities and 30th overall among all private universities and LAC’s–a testament to its focus on undergraduate education. Larger schools, including some Ivies, were ranked much lower. With respect to prestige as it affects success rates in admissions to the best graduate schools, including med school , it would be hard to beat Brandeis. Plus it’s located just outside of Boston, the world’s greatest college town, but on its own suburban campus.</p>

<p>The kind of person who would feel comfortable at Brandeis is an intellecutal and/or creative sort who is friendly and comfortable with himself or herself and not competitive or pretentious. Intellectual but down-to-earth and friendly I think is an apt description of the student body. Unlike some preppy place or frat-oriented environments where social interraction is based on the “exclusivity” of the frat system, Brandeis has a welcoming, relatively-nonjudgmental environment–yet there are some off-campus frats for those who like what they have to offer. There is no pressure to party, but parties are there if you want them. Often social interaction centers around the numerous clubs and other terrific extracuriculars like theater and music. Tufts is a good school as well, but my impression is that it is much more preppy/frat’party oriented. I’m not familar with Rochester’s culture, but, since it’s in Rochester, NY, that in of itself would be a deal breaker for me.</p>

<p>Despite Brandeis’ small size and relative youth, its alumni are very distinguished–to name just a few: Nobel Prize winner for chemistry Rod Mackinnon, Fields Medal winning physicist Edward Witten (often called “Einstein’s successor”), 3-time Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Friedman of the NY Times, The Earth is Flat etc; Mitch Albom of Tuesday’s with Morrie (about his Brandeis professor), the Creators/Producers of Friends; actress Debra Messing; Robert FX Sillerman (billionaire businessman–currently owner of American Idol and Graceland) and Christy Hefner, former CEO of Playboy). Friedman returned to teach not long ago and I understand that Hefner will be teaching as well. Also, if you’re into social justice (FYI Angela Davis and Abbie Hoffman are alums) or theater/music/art, Brandeis is a very active and exciting place to be.</p>

<p>Finally, the school is very diverse both among undergraduate and graduate students, with a strong international flavor (in fact the majority of The Brandeis International Business School is international students). As you must know since you keep Kosher, although the school is completely non-sectarian (embracing students from all types of backgrounds based on merit), it’s welcoming of Jewish practices, and its population is less than 50% Jewish. </p>

<p>Good luck with your decision!.</p>

11

<p>thank you so much for all that information, but i guess my main issue with brandeis is that it didnt see too science-y…rochester is known as a science school although it is liberal arts, and tufts, although it is international relations oriented, the engeneering school is obvious strong in science</p>

12

<p>Actually, Brandeis is very prominent in the sciences. Not only are the faculty award-winning researchers on cutting-edge projects, but the school just completed an awsome new science center for both teaching and research. The fact that a recent Nobel Prize winner in chemistry was trained at Brandeis (and did a lot of his early, relevant research as an undergraduate and post-doc at Brandeis) exemplifies this strength. Engineering of course is another matter. The school doesn’t offer it except in conjunction with Columbia or Olin. You should talk to Brandeis folks specifically involved in the sciences to learn more. I think you’ll find that Brandeis is superior to Rochester in the sciences.</p>

13

<p>blahdeblahdeblah, i have no idea where you got the impression that Brandeis isn’t strong in the sciences. that’s simply not true. while we don’t have engineering, the biology and chem departments have great reputations. they just spent $154 million to build a new science complex [Office</a> of Capital Projects | Brandeis University](<a href=“Facilities Services | Brandeis University”>Facilities Services | Brandeis University) i’m not trying to sell you Brandeis, but you are deeply mistaken if you don’t think Brandeis is science-y</p>

14

<p>Just to put in my two cents, when I recently went on a campus tour @ U of R… the tour guide talked about tons of food options for vegans, vegetarians and kosher people… so yeah, I don’t think that it will be a problem at U of R.</p>

<p>You have three amazing schools and best of luck deciding!</p>

15

<p>Just a thought: Since you are serious enough about your faith to keep kosher (deeply admire this btw), I would want to to go a school where there were many like minded religious people to experience a faith community with. From what has been posted here, sounds like Brandeis fits the bill. I admit however, that I know nothing about these three schools. But I would think about comparing them based on the Jewish community each school has, especially since you are not completely decided on your major.</p>

<p>Best wishes on your decision.</p>

16

<p>blahdeblahdeblah: Hey, just wondering how things are going in terms of your decision.</p>

<p>Best wishes</p>

17

<p>heartart: i wish i knew :-(…i think brandeis is seeming like a smaller possibility because it doesn’t have engeneering…but i’m stuck between tufts and rochester…</p>

<p>i think rochester has better academics in the fields i want to study, its cheaper, and has more kosher food…but…</p>

<p>tufts is closer to home, it is in a better area…and…i guess that’s it…but for some reason, it seems like a better choice…i think its because the people there seem more social…</p>

<p>but then on the other hand, i’m not much of a party person…at all…although i am extremely social. So…i have no idea which people i would fit in with more…</p>

<p>any ideas?</p>

18

<p>My son was stuck trying to decide between 2 schools, so I feel for you. They all obviously have their strengths and weaknesses. The Brandeis/Columbia option for engineering sounds interesting, the chance to attend 2 amazing schools. I know Tufts and U of R are amazing as well, so academically you can’t go wrong here.</p>

<p>The thought of having to shop/cook/microwave your meals and not eat with your classmates sounds horrible to me. Sharing meals is when you get to know your classmates and developing friendships. So I would rule out the schools with no kosher cafeteria because otherwise it would be too lonely. Also, which schools have the most vibrant Jewish student community? I think you would be happiest at that school. You said you were social but not really a party person. Well, meeting like minded people will most likely happen at Hillel or at a student shabbos meal, don’t you think? You may or may not pursue engineering but your passion to observe kosher and stay connected to your faith will never change. Besides, you have a better chance of meeting your basherte when you pick your school based on a faith community, don’t you think?</p>

<p>Hope this helps, I will be keeping you in my prayers.</p>

19

<p>As you can tell by my name, I live in MA so I know a lot about Tufts. However, D attends UR, and I would say the New England school most like UR is Tufts.</p>

20

<p>I’m going to argue against the safe choice of Brandeis. College is a unique time to stretch yourself and explore and grow both academically and socially. Would you be open to eating in the caf and choosing veg options?</p>