Brandeis University

Date: May 01 2003
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
I was going to say that Brandeis kids complain too much, but then I realized most of those doing the bitching are Manhattanites. Not to be general, (it's too late now, isn't it?) but most of the kids I've had a problem were from the echelon upper-class who expected a Harvardian party school. Or, they were so self-absorbed that they are not down-to-earth enough to be sociable to the very nice Mass kids, who I sympathize with. Don't call me biased, either. I'm only from Philly area.

The people who complain are those who do not get off their asses and join a club or start a band. Unfortunately, I'm not doing much of that this semester because the classes are very challenging, but I'm not complaining. There are plenty of parties to go to if you know where to look, and are willing to go off campus. Please excercise the latter every now and then, because small colleges don't work well with inbreeding.

The good things about Brandeis: brilliant and sincere and down-to-earth friends. Brilliant and sincere and down-to-earth Professors, too. My roomate's girlfriend at NYU had only one real professor during her first year. The rest were poorly trained Graduate students who could barely speak the language, let alone teach.

But you get to live in the city!

Oh, that's exciting! But I don't need 150,000 dollars over four years to live in a city. I can do that afterwards when I have secured a good job.

The departments, the teachers, the classes. They all are amazing. Even the classes that suck, they are still good. With the professors, it is extremely easy to develop a strong, long-lasting, 1-to-1 bond that could never exist in a huge school such as UCLA or a graduate-oriented school such as Harvard. Ever read Tuesdays with Morrie by alum Mitch Albom? Those relationships are hard to find at other schools but commonplace here.

At Brandeis, graduate school is deemphasized. The Undergraduates are catered academically. This is a trade-off for being pampered with the social activity that is multiplied by a 30,000-large state school. I would seriously think about what you would trade away for consistently small classes and close supervision by professionals who have had large stakes in the government and the arts.
PS.

The best way to get a feel for the campus is to meet a normal, (preferably non-Manhattan) to show you around and take you to classes. Definately reccommend sleeping over and meeting as many faculty as you can. Develop a bond, conversation, get email addresses. If you like the feel of talking to Professors in a very laid-back and casual manner, then you have to be pro-active in finding them. Besides, if you decide you want to be here, how bad could a professor's endorsement be? More importantly, what would you have to lose?