Allison

I'm the Waltham Group, which is the student-run community service organization. There are 13 programs, and students can get involved in as many as they want. They address issues of housing, education, healthcare, immigration, and homelessness.

Students leave their doors open until they go to sleep, when they lock them. It's a safe campus, and people are generally open to visitors.

I met my closest friends by living in the same dorms.

The dating scene is very chill. People generally meet through friends or at a party, and then hang out until something happens. A lot of people end up dating their close friends.

If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I'm probably talking to my friends, watching TV, playing video games, or smoking/drinking.

There are parties every Friday and Saturday, along with smaller party-like gatherings on Thursdays, and sometimes earlier in the week. There are a few bars off campus that students over 21 go to on Wednesdays. There are plenty of people who drink heavily every day, and plenty of people who abstain entirely.

There is a small unofficial greek scene at Brandeis. Their only point is really to throw parties. There is no pressure to join them, and they are not an overwhelming part of campus life. They don't think of themselves as being different than anyone else, and they're not cocky like fraternities and sororities at other schools. It's easy to be friends with them if you're not involved in Greek life.

There are always enough university-sponsored events on Saturdays (guest speakers, dances, shows, concerts) that you don't need to drink to have fun. There is also an hourly shuttle that goes into Cambridge and Boston, so you can go there if you're bored of campus.