You might want to think twice about coming here

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
21

<p>article about endowment declines affecting a lot of schools -- <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/education/27college.html?ref=education%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/education/27college.html?ref=education&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>when you are at a school it is easy to get upset about the changes that occur there during financial difficulties -- but you have to remember a lot of other schools are experiencing tough times now -- they will all probably handle it in different ways. it'll probably be years before we can really tell which schools managed thru these times without sacrificing their academic standing and which didn't.</p>

22

<p>Thank you for the link to the Times story. As a grad in the 70's, I loved Brandeis then and still do. My son intends to hopefully transfer TO Brandeis and I fully support his move. And I am of Irish and Italian descent and never felt out of place even when Brandeis was less diverse than it is now. But for her desire to go to a Southern school, Brandeis was one of my daughter's top choices, given her interest in the outstanding Health, Science, Society and Policy major.</p>

23

<p>First off, I agree wholeheartedly with symphonyofdissent's last post. </p>

<p>spsdds, thanks for the kindness. I'm not making concrete plans to transfer, but like some of my friends, I'm keeping on eye on application deadlines and such just in case. A lot of people are on edge with all these massive surprise changes (the Rose Art decision being the latest). We're watching to see how things go, but here's hoping it all works out in the end.</p>

24

<p>As a prospective student, thank you jackson17 for taking the “unpopular” stand. It has been EXTREMELY helpful in my college-making decision process. I’ve heard enough about how great every school I applied to is; finally, I get to see some cons to go with the pros. </p>

<p>Good luck jackson17 as you continue your academic journey and good luck to everyone else in picking the college that is best for them!</p>

25

<p>Just read this thread. Thanks to Jackson. Request any student updates on Brandeis.</p>

<p>Also, the suppression of opinions or reports that may be negative as well as realistic is unnecessary – this is a forum.</p>

26

<p>PolarBear, rather than dredging up this three-year-old thread, it might have been better to start a new thread asking people currently in the know how Brandeis weathered its financial hardships of 2008-09.</p>

<p>A lot of the information in this thread is out of date. And the university has new leadership since that time–both a new president and a new provost.</p>

<p>If you’re concerned about Brandeis, the living conditions, and the university’s financial condition, a new thread is really warranted.</p>

<p>Moderators, maybe it’s appropriate to lock this one?</p>

27

<p>Sikorsky, this thread is retrieved by Google when googling Brandeis; 2008/2009 is hardly the distant past, nor are the initial issues raised irrelevant to students with interest in this school.</p>

<p>I’m interested in perspectives of current students: How conditions as described in the original post have gotten better or otherwise.</p>

28

<p>I disagree with the above comment. As far as the current economic state, what the OP notes is absolutely the distant past. Brandeis seems to have weathered the bad economy well and moved into a new phase. They have recovered from losses and are having successful fundraising. The new administration also makes a comparison to 2008/2009 an apples and oranges thing. It is clear all over campus that investments are being made to continuously improve student life, the campus, and the value of a Brandeis education.</p>

<p>I think it is unfair to talk about thinking twice about coming to Brandeis when the reason is PERSONAL finances. Brandeis is committed to meeting 100% of need and most of my friends are more than happy with their FA packages. In fact, many of them got more money than expected. The OP likely would have had difficulties financially even if the economy hadn’t tanked…and that’s a different discussion than the way this thread has gone.</p>

29

<p>PolarBear, in terms of an internet message board, 2008 *is *the distant past. People who participated in this thread originally will be long gone by now. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon to see new participants replying to conversations that have been dormant for years, as you just did. For regular participants on the boards, that’s unhelpful at best, and irksome at worse. (OK, actually, I could use more forceful words than irksome, but I think you get my point.) So I’m trying to ask nicely: no matter what Google does, when you have questions about the current goings-on at any college or university, will you please start a new thread instead of reviving one that’s basically dead?</p>

<p>Moreover, in terms not just of Brandeis but of the national economy overall, 2008 has little bearing on 2012. Brandeis was hit hard by the economic downturn of 2008, not only because its own investments lost significant value, but also because many of its benefactors were in a precarious financial situation. When the economy tanked, all kinds of organizations that rely on donations (colleges, symphonies, food pantries, etc.) saw donations drop off because their donors had less cash to spare. In addition, while Brandeis was not damaged financially by the Madoff ponzi scheme, many of its benefactors had invested with Madoff. So, the benefactors who lost a bundle to Madoff could no longer support Brandeis. But the point is, since that time, the financial markets have rebounded considerably, even if the economy hasn’t added jobs in the way anybody would have wanted. People’s investments, generally, have now recovered all the value that they lost when the markets crashed in 2008, and more.</p>

<p>With Brandeis’ endowment having recovered the value it lost in 2008, and with new institutional leadership in place, I’d give odds that Brandeis’ condition today is barely more influenced by the downturn of 2008 than it is by the stagflation of the recession of the 1970’s or the Panic of 1873.</p>

<p>In other words, I beg to differ. For the purposes of this discussion, I think 2008 is the distant past. And EenyMeeny seems to think so, too. </p>

<p>But now that we are where we are, having already revived this thread, I’d be curious to know what others, more connected to Brandeis than I am, have to say.</p>

30

<p><<but now="" that="" we="" are="" where="" are,="" having="" already="" revived="" this="" thread,="" i’d="" be="" curious="" to="" know="" what="" others,="" more="" connected="" brandeis="" than="" i="" am,="" have="" say.="">></but></p>

<p>Well, there’s this: Brandeis afforded my (non-jewish) daughter a 1st class educational experience she wouldn’t trade for the world. The school appears to have weathered its financial hiccup of 2008 and continues to do a fine job providing services, amenities and support to its students. </p>

<p>Much credit is due to the fine faculty, staff & academic programs @ Brandeis. D enjoyed a semester abroad, a lifetime of wonderful memories & close friendships, and will matriculate at a Top 10 Law school (with merit $$) this fall, and has grown exponentially as an independent young adult.</p>

<p>(BTW, her group of graduating roommates/friends includes several Teach for America appointees, a Fulbright scholar, & recipients of numerous other prestigious awards. Those not pursuing additional education/fellowships have found employment in their respective fields.)</p>

<p>Perhaps financial adversity makes us stronger?? </p>

<p>Just sayin.</p>