<p>Sorry for the late post, but I just thought I’d report (one of the posters requested) that my sister has chosen to attend Tufts. </p>
<p>Brandeis was ruled out because she felt the school just wasn’t at the same level as her other options. She wasn’t very impressed with the current and prospective students she met and didn’t seem to be a big fan of the “natural sciences scholar” program she would have been a part of… while the opportunities appealed, aspects of the program sounded a isolating.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins was out because she was really disappointed with the lack of music and art opportunities for non-Peabody students. Had she gotten into Peabody, she would have probably attended, but she was disheartened to find out that students are limited on the amount of art courses they are allowed to take (that’s something she heard from a friend who is a current student there). In addition, the JHU music program was pitifully small compared to her other options.</p>
<p>Lastly, Wesleyan was out because she didn’t think she’d fit in with the student body particularly well… after a day on-campus, she had trouble imagining herself with any of the people she observed, while she felt much more comfortable with the Tufts students she met. I don’t think it was anything specific that led her to this conclusion: it was just a feeling she got.</p>
<p>Again, much thanks to everyone who contributed their opinions… they were truly helpful!</p>
<p>Sounds like your sister went through the right thinking process and came up with the right place for her. Congrats and may her college career be a big success.</p>
<p>Glad your sister is happy with her decision. Sorry she didn’t click with the Brandeis students she met. Obviously Brandeis students and alumni who chose Brandeis over Tufts, Wesleyan or Johns Hopkins, of which I am one, would strongly disagree with her feeling that Brandeis is “not at the same level” as those other schools. Again, good luck to your sister. Tufts is a fine choice.</p>
<p>B77 - I’m curious: did Brandeis offer you merit aid as part of your decision to attend vs. Tufts, Wesleyan, and JHU? I’m wondering whether their generous merit aid policies (certainly more generous than these other three) is one reason they are in financial hot water now.</p>
<p>Merit aid played no part in my case–to the contrary, I turned down more financial aid elsewhere to attend Brandeis. We all recognize that aid plays a role in most attendance decisions for all colleges. Like other schools, Brandeis uses aid to help shape a highly qualified and diverse class. </p>
<p>As for “financial hot water,” the reports of Brandeis’ budget issues lack context and have been overblown due to the administration’s inartful handling of its proposal to sell some paintings from its world-renowned Rose Art Museum–which caused international attention to be focused on this issue. (And, BTW, the museum will not be closed after all.) Brandeis is hardly alone in this awful economy. According to news reports, many universities, even the wealthiest like Harvard, are making budget cuts in response to severely diminished endowments and donations. Brandeis has pledged to maintain financial aid and maintainor improve, its world-class education by resisting the type of budget cuts that could undermine its core mission. The key here is that in choosing measures to balance its budget Brandeis is prioritizing students over things. FYI, recent fundraising efforts already have resulted in a new $15 million grant for student aid.</p>