<p>I'm having trouble which school to go to, and as the deadline is in only five days, this is getting a bit nerve-wracking. I visited all the schools this past month, but am no more sure where I want to go than I was before.</p>
<p>Although I applied to "artsy" schools, I'm not a very artistic person (as in the way I dress, I mean). I'm not a big party person (I don't drink) but I'm very sociable. Musical theater, acting opportunities, and acapella groups are essential. </p>
<p>I'm interested in studying political science/international relations, and maybe education or drama, but all three seem to have classes in those fields.</p>
<p>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I was actually deciding between the same schools, and stayed overnight at all of them this month as well. Oberlin struck me as having more laid-back students and being a little more hippie than hipster as opposed to Wesleyan which was the other way around. Wes also seemed a little bit more heavy on the social scene/partying than Oberlin. Brandeis is a bit more mainstream in general… though I did get the sense their music and theater programs are really good, even if not everyone there is into those things. I ended up choosing Wes over a full scholarship offer from Brandeis, but from what you said, it sounds like Brandeis might actually be the best for you assuming the costs are comparable. I bet you’d do fine at any of the schools, though.</p>
<p>I think you’ll find the most acting opportunities at Wesleyan. I don’t dress in an “artsy” way either, but I applied to those schools because those are the kind of people I enjoy and find myself drawn to (and I am a kind of craftsy type and a singer).
Wesleyan’s a cappella groups look like a lot of fun and it seemed like there was much more going on at Wes than at other schools I visited, including Oberlin.
Hope you come to Wes!!</p>
<p>I went to Brandeis and my son is at Wesleyan – both are great schools! </p>
<p>I hate to disagree with FP, but Brandeis has a much bigger theatre department, in part because of its graduate program. Though there’s more competition because of the larger (and older) population of students, there are many more opportunities, even for undergraduates, and more faculty and better facilities. There’s plenty going on at Wesleyan in theatre, but not nearly as much. For musical theatre, they’re probably about the same, with mostly student-directed productions. </p>
<p>I agree that with JarS that Brandeis students seem more mainstream these days, and Wes students more artsy. But there are all types at both schools. Brandeis feels a lot more Jewish, which could be positive or negative, depending.</p>
<p>My son chose Wes over Brandeis because he felt it was a bit more rigorous academically. He loves it.</p>
<p>Congrats on your decision, JarSilver! And good luck B-islove!</p>
<p>broadwayislove, I responded to your similar question in the Brandeis forum. I respect jarsilver’s choice and that of skie’s son, but jarsilver and FP simply are wrong about theater and music at Brandeis. They are much stronger departments then at Wesleyan. Plus the Undergraduate Theater Collective puts on lots of shows as well. I’m glad Skie’s son is enjoying Wesleyan, but, as a fellow Brandeis alum, I would have to disagree that Wesleyan is more rigorous. I think that Brandeis is the more exciting place s well, on campus (arts, politics etc.) and given its proximity to Boston.</p>
<p>OK…on second look, I see that jarsilver’s comment was positive about Brandeis theater and music. But my point on that remains, in contrast with FP and alligned with skie.</p>
<p>just to clarify, overall I would say that theater is stronger at Brandeis than at Oberlin and Wes, knowing several theater majors at Brandeis, but there’s no shortage of theater at any school. as for music, Brandeis’ department seems to be a bit stronger but Wes has definitely has a lot more student bands, so it’s a trade off. (Oberlin is obviously the best for music because of the conservatory.) all three have, like, 10 a capella groups each.</p>
<p>Lin-Manuel Miranda went to and wrote In the Heights at Wes…</p>
<p>As an actor myself I got the impression that there were only 2 faculty-produced productions per year at Wes but that there were many many student productions.</p>
<p>Hi Broadwayislove,
I just wanted to chime that I think you’d be a really good fit for Brandeis. The Brandeis Theater Company uses both undergrads and grad students, while the student run Undergraduate Theater collective has multiple groups for undergraduates only. I’ve seen great performances of Into the Woods, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Once Upon a Mattress. The Hillel Theater Group I believe gives some kind of part to anyone who audition (like in the chorus, for example). I have many friends who have been in productions and have enjoyed them.
There also many, many acappella groups, there is some statistic even that Brandeis has the most acappella groups per students, or something. I went to acappella fest the other day where about 8 or 9 different groups performed. My suitemate is in an all-girl’s acappella group which is the process of releasing it’s new CD.</p>
<p>It’s also a good school if you don’t really know what you want to study yet and you can try out a lot of different things. There are also all kind of student at Brandeis so I think you would find a niche where you could fit in. I also know many students who are doing education and they get to student teach at the Lemberg Children’s Center or nearby elementary and high schools.</p>
and it seemed like there was much more going on at Wes than at other schools I visited, including Oberlin.