Brandeis University Top Questions

Describe the students at your school.

Minnie

Brandeis students are for the most part friendly, funny, and open-minded. They are intelligent and driven during the week, yet they know how to let loose on the weekends. There are a lot of Brandeis students who are Jewish (no surprise there) but there is a sizable population of other religions as well; primarily atheists, agnostics, and christians. Brandeis students know how to have good conversations too. One thing that struck me is that the people who know how to have a good time are the same people who know how to hold a conversation on deep and meaningful topics ranging from their ethnic backgrounds to ideas in politics to their futures and what they want to do with them. Brandeis students are also really open-minded with most topics (due in part to the orientation process) and they know how to be respectful of other peoples' experiences and opinions.

Samantha

My classmates are a support system that stretches worldwide.

Annie

My classmates are a quirky bunch of enthusiastic and passionate global citiznens.

Rachel

Students at Brandeis are great. Not competitive, welcoming, warm, nonjudgemental. Most people are not overly concerned about their appearance - it's a very relaxed environment. I'm always amazed when I walk around campus and see different friend groups around - the groups are so diverse. The thing I love about Brandeis is I know everything about my best friends except what kinds of grades they make and how much money they have. It's just not something people talk about or care about here.

Bethlehem

They are a unique set of students that desire to excell in all that they do.

Dana

The students at Brandeis respect one another's privacy and are completely respectful. I really don't know what kind of student would feel out of place at this school because it is an open place where any and all students can adapt. The school is definitely not perceived as "jappy" and students come from all across the U.S., Canada, Israel, South America, Europe, and many places abroad. Students wear a plethora of things to class- ranging from sweatpants to nice jeans and sweaters. In the business school students tend to dress a little nicer because they are usually between meetings or interviewing. However, there have been days when I am dressed down, too. Students are not "flashy" and do not discuss money.

Sam

Brandeis students are definitely a motivated group. People here care a lot about their academics, but it the various activities and causes students get involved in are the things Brandeis students tend to be most passionate about. For some people that can be promoting autism awareness, for others it could be debate, or something unique like their love of cheese. Brandeis students also know how to have a great time on the weekends, but collectively were not a group that party's nearly as much as the people do at most State schools. The other thing that has always stood out to me is how accepting and genuinely nice Brandeis students are. I honestly feel like nine out of every ten people I meet at Brandeis are people I could be potential friends with. Brandeis is a pretty great place, and that is because the students are such an awesome group.

Sam

Brandeis students are definitely a motivated group. People here care a lot about their academics, but it the various activities and causes students get involved in are the things Brandeis students tend to be most passionate about. For some people that can be promoting autism awareness, for others it could be debate, or something unique like their love of cheese. Brandeis students also know how to have a great time on the weekends, but collectively were not a group that party's nearly as much as the people do at most State schools. The other thing that has always stood out to me is how accepting and genuinely nice Brandeis students are. I honestly feel like nine out of every ten people I meet at Brandeis are people I could be potential friends with. Brandeis is a pretty great place, and that is because the students are such an awesome group.

Sara

Students at Brandeis are go-getters. There are very few students with only one major or minor, many take on a full course load with double or even triple majors and minors. Sure, students are competitive but they are also helpful and encourage their friends to be the best students they can be. I believe the Brandeis campus is one of the friendliest in America. Students are open and welcoming- you truly feel at home here. Most of the students hail from the East Coast with a small contingent from the Mid-West and West Coast. The number of international students is growing tremendously by the year, especially from Asian countries. The thing that is so special about Brandeis is their commitment to bringing students to this campus from all walks of life. Many students are on some sort of financial aid package to help ease the load on this expensive education. We are an activist campus- although a far cry from the Radical Brandeisians of the 1960s. The campus leans to the left although all students are represented in some form. Being a Jewish-sponsored school, many students are of Jewish faith and there are many Kosher food options, but it in no way dominates campus life. A student can be involved in Jewish activities and clubs if they wish and they are highly active on campus, but they can just as easily opt out and never attend. There are more orthodox students than you would see on most campuses. Although many tend to claim that Brandeis is a "Jew School", the diversity in race, ethnicity and religion is tremendous. There are hundreds of cultural clubs and activities on campus for everybody to enjoy.

Todd

We have a very active student body on campus. People care about our community and we really work well together to make it better for the next generation. This passion really makes it a great place to be.

Sam

Brandeis is a place with outstanding diversity, even though people think of it as a university filled with Jews. While it is true that many of the students are Jewish, the school has a large contingent of students from abroad, and a sizable population of students who are ethnic or racial minorities. Racism, sexism, and homophobia are not tolerated by the student body, let alone the administration. Brandeis was founded on the ideal of social justice, consequently it has admitted students of color, women, and Jews since it was founded in 1948. It is not a school for the close minded and ignorant. As well, students rarely segregate themselves based off of race or ethnic group. It is the norm for students to have friends from different backgrounds. Brandeis students tend to be very liberal, and while many students are from upper-middle class backgrounds, many are not because of the generous financial aid packages the school offers. Flaunting wealth is something that is looked at very negatively, and the rare people that do it alienate others.

Lauren

Brandeis attracts literally all types of students from jocks to computer geeks to book worms to political activists. You know it, they're at Brandeis. The only type of person who wouldn't fit in is a close-minded student. The student body is predominantly left. 'Deis Dems, the Democratic group on campus, is extremely active. Most students are from the New England area, or international. There is a handful from the Boston area, but it's definitely not a suitcase school.

Yehuda

The students at Brandeis are diverse, friendly, and caring human beings.

Christina

My classmates are extremely cheerful and intelligent people.

Rose

My classmates are definitely unique and diverse, a good amount of them are very outspoken while a lot of them are shy.

Audrey

They seise to amaze me everyday.

Ynbal

Everyone here is really nice and friendly and it's very easy to make friends here!

Elysha

My classmates are incredibly dedicated, intelligent, hard-working individuals.

Victoria

Though the Brandeis student body presents a rather diverse group of people, in some ways, they are of like mind. The classmates I have spoken to are dedicated, disciplined, and fun-loving. They aptly balance work and play in such a way that helps them succeed academically. The rigor of the cirriculum challenges the mind of the students and therefore encourages them to study harder. I am proud to know these people; they rekindle the desire to be the best in me.

Theodore

My classmates are warriors, striving to accomplish their goals as they receive their education, seeking the truth in every subject to better themselves and the world.

Shira

My classmates are generally very smart, friendly, serious about their studies, helpful, creative, and diverse.

Michael

My classmates are too diverse to completely describe them, but the majority is very punctual, competitive, and respectful.

Liana

The students are Brandeis are academically stimulated, but sometimes not individually stimulated. I feel like students are so concerned with the blind completion of work and the grades that they receive, they forget that the most important thing is to learn, as in retain information.

Lauren

My classmates were mostly jewish and a little socially awkward, and very smart.

Hillary

My classmates are very supportive and a positive influence on me because they have a lot of drive, but help eachother, as opposed to competing with eachother.

Jonathan

Students are mostly smart and studious, and professors certainly give enough work to meet the students expectations. Students are ambitious and friendly, but are also known for being somewhat socially awkard at times.

Zach

Intellectually curious and interested, liberal people who enjoy a highly-reputed University.

Adam

Everyone is very friendlyand interested in the world.

Melisa

Overachievers.

Stacey

So yes, as I mentioned, this is a very liberal school. Being a somewhat moderate conservative, there are definately times when I feel outnumbered. But Brandeis is very academic, and I can share my contrary opinions; as long as I am prepared to defend them. It makes for exciting conversation, which most of the time, I just choose to avoid. Again, largely Jewish, there's a very large stronghold of atheistic Jews, or agnostics, but there is growing religious diversity. The Christian Fellowship is small (20 people or so) but very much alive and active on campus. There are also Muslim Student Organizations, Humanists, Bhuddists, Hindu; something for everyone. Oh yah. $$$$! So a lot of people come to Brandeis because of the financial aid package they're offered. That said. There are still PLENTY of people who come who have PLENTY of money. I'm from lower middle class family, and when I saw my roommate's closet freshman year, I was in shock. It's generally very white, very upper middle class. This is something I'm not a huge fan of at Brandeis. But it is a reality that you live with. There is enough variety in people that a) this is not an issue for you or b) you can find someone in a similar economic situation

Harper

Certainly, Brandeis is not as diverse as colleges come. Most students are white, upper-middle class, and politically liberal. Still, I have learned so much from my peers, both those who fit the typical Brandeis profile and those who do not. Brandeis students are laid back, but they take their academics seriously.

Jung

Some people are really nice, but some are just awkward.

Simon

friendly, liberal nerds who need to get out more.

Adam

Our student body, I've found, has its own flavor. We aren't incredibly diverse, with at least 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the school being some kind of Jewish, and a strong draw for middle and upper-middle class white folks. But the administration has definitely taken notice at the mostly creamy complexion of our student body and has been actively trying to diversify over the past few years. (Reportedly, the class of 2011 is the first year to be less than 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Jewish - though this might just be a rumor. And I don't know how easy this is to verify.) A majority of the student body is from the Boston, New York, New Jersey area, but we still have people from all over the country. We also get a good amount of international students, the top contributor being Paris. The administration also tries to get as many urban students as it can, with several scholarships and a transitional year program geared towards students who haven't had access to the best resources during secondary education. These students tend to become solid groups due to their constant interaction through scholarship and TYP events, but they are also well-integrated members of the student body and take part in clubs and social events with everyone else. Brandeis also has a 'mid-year' acceptance program where students are matriculated halfway through their freshman year. (Beginning of spring semester). It's slightly awkward when an entire dorm's-worth of freshmen appear after winter break. The mid-years have a separate orientation, a separate dorm and because they are a semester behind, usually take all of their introductory courses together. Breaking into/out of the mid-year social groups can be tricky. I have a bunch of friends who are mid-years, but I still haven't met a majority of the mid-years from my year just because they tend to stick together. It's nice to see new faces, though, and it means that new people are coming to Brandeis every semester. Brandeis' political scene is a mix of liberals, moderate liberals, and moderate conservatives. But really, what do you expect from a small liberal arts college in the Northeast?

Susan

Brandeis students are diverse and interesting. I have found that I keep meeting people who intrigue and inspire me--what more can you ask for in a circle of peers? The student body is made up of all different kinds of people, of varying opinions and backgrounds; if you look hard enough, you will surely find a group of friends to suit any preferences.

Anne

The Brandeis student body has representatives from every race and walk of life. Really! Some of the biggest events on campus are those put on by groups who want to share their culture, especially if it is somewhat unknown to most students. Freshman year, my group of friends was made up of: a poor girl from Southie (Boston), a Jewish, Republican guy from a wealthy family in L.A., a girl from Wisconsin, a guy from Pakistan, and two Catholics from the Northeast. It was amazing to learn about so many different kinds of people. LGBTQQetc is totally accepted on campus. There are some LGBT-centric groups that host great events. Brandeis is quite liberal, but there is always room for some conservatives. As long as you're open-minded, you're welcome.

Rachel

Being totally honest, the typical student here is white, Jewish, from the upper-middle class, is rather nerdy, a democrat, and enjoys sweatpants. That is not to say that the Brandeis student body is not diverse, there are a large number of international students and students of all different walks of life, but white/Jewish happens to be the slight majority. Cultural, physical, political, religious, and other differences don't really phase Brandeis students. Really, the only type of person who wouldn't fit in here is the intolerant, stuck up, uber-preppy type, and we have some of those anyways.

Rachel

Brandeis is very white. There are problems with racism, and students of color will often feel marginalized or left out, but no more so than at any other predominantly white school. It is generally very friendly and inclusive of GLBTQ students, although the queer/sexuality studies department is seriously lacking. Some Christian or non-Jewish students report feeling out of place; others (like myself) don't. There are more international students than at most New England schools; it's very easy to find people who hail from other countries, and whose second or third or fourth language is English. There's a lot of politically active/oriented people on campus, mostly very left-leaning. An underlying issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; a Palestinian or Arab student is likely to feel uncomfortable a lot of the time.

Kate

Brandeis students are primarily Jewish. There is a huge orthodox Jewish community on campus that are visible. We have a kosher dining hall available. Our basketball team is pretty good and Brandeis has one of the largest percentage of a capella groups on campus! They're great! Brandeis students are all unique in their own way. There are a lot of sketch comedy teams, bands, and dance troops. We even have a step team. I'm from Maine, but most Brandeis students are from either New York City or California. Most of the student body is well off but money isn't really an issue, it's a private matter. If you are ignorant to world issues, into looks and status, or a slacker, you might feel out of place at Brandeis. Brandeis students are fun!

Alex

brandeis has a diverse student body and as far as i know this is one of school's visions: to have a diverse community at brandeis.. it is a jewish sponsored school so half of teh students are jewish but in my point of view, all students are secular and can freely share their opinions about different religions. there are many other religions represented on campus.. the orientation was very successful you get to know many people in orientat,ion.. i think everyone can find him/herself a place at brandeis, people are welcoming, no discrimination of anykind.. the international people get along very well with americans.. students vary in terms of the financial background they come from. studnets are politically aware, they engage in actions for global welfare.. social justice is teh motto of teh university.

Paul

Brandeis students are by and large to the left. My views may be skewed because I am on the track team and as a result my friends are comprised of recruited athletes mostly from the Boston area. However, in a seminar of 18 people 5 countries are represented besides the U.S. I really can't think of anybody who would feel out of place at Brandeis. There is a large population of politically active students. Being on a sports team I know that if you are on a team your social life will probably revolve around that team, however, I have made friends with many different people from all types of backgrounds. Class is pretty informal. Because Brandeis gives a lot of merit money, there are a lot of middle class kids who are a bit overqualified for Brandeis admissions standards who make enough to not get significant need based aid but not enough to afford full tuition. I fit into that mold.

Amy

Brandeis is incredibly open and caring about different groups be it in terms of ethnicity, race, religion or sexual orientation. I think ever minority group on campus has a vocal outlit for their opinion. What;s really great is often times these groups or other activist or social groups team up for join programing and mixers. Recently the Brandeis Black Student Organization and the Orthodox group under the Hillel umbrella held an event featuring kosher soul food. The students for environmental action and the LBGT group on campus also just hosted a campus wide, environmentally sustainable dance. I really have no idea what sort of student might feel out of place at Brandeis, because the great thing about Brandeis is everyone can make their own space. Clubs are a very important part of the community and all sorts of clubs hold open and educational events that expose other cultures to the general student body. Brandeis student are pretty laid back. This is not the sort of school where girls get all dressed up for classes- we're very much a jeans and hooded sweatshirt type of school. And pretty much everyone gets along. Brandeis is perceived to not have a diverse student body, but we do and the different groups interact all the time. While there is a sort of self segregation at Brandeis, is more about the type of clubs students are active in rather than their ethnicity or race. While we do have active ethnic clubs, other students find their place with an academic or theater group, so it's not ethnically or racially self segregated as much as other places can be. A large part of the student body is from the northeast- like the New York/New Jersey area and Massachusetts. But there are many of us, myself included, from further away. Someone at work told me last week that Brandeis currently has students from all the states except Mississippi, Alabama and Idaho, but that could always change next year. We also have a great international student population from Western Europe, China, India, Latin America, Israel and many other places. I love learning about other cultures from a lot of these students. Most Brandeis students come from an upper-middle class background- but I feel like that has a lot to do with the fact that we're a pretty expensive school and there are only so many scholarships that can be given. That said, 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are on some sort of either need or merit based aid, and money's not often a topic people talk about. At least the people I know.

Cameron

The average Brandeis student is a middle-class Conservative Jew from New York or New Jersey. He or she loves Andrew Lloyd Webber, thinks 'Garden State' is agreat movie, and has been on Birthright. As such there's not a whole lot of racial or ethnic diversity, and it can be especially difficult for the small African-American and Arab contingents. As with many organizations, the best people are Brandeis are the dissenters. The more religious a person is generally the more clicky they are, partly for ritualistic reasons (they're all at services together) and partly because the Orthodox Jewish community looks on the rest of humanity as subhuman garbage. Best not to deal with them. And the Israle thing gets really creepy. There is a kind of weak-willed 'liberal' atmosphere reigning on campus, but my time with the Brandeis Democrats taught me how hard it is to motivate people to action.

Nico

People are ugly and socially awkward.. the party scene is lacking.. many are crunchy liberal protesters. most people come from middle-class backgrounds who don't qualify for financial aid but would not be able to afford Brandeis without academic scholarships. The majority of said people hate Brandeis and wish they could afford somewhere else. They feel stuck.

cindy

There are a lot of race/minority issues right now, that they are discriminated against, etc. But the community is coming together to find a solution. That's what's great about this school - there's a real community.

Jesse

Brandeis is a very liberal college. There are currently 61 service, activist, and political clubs on campus, and there's almost always some group standing on the Rabb Steps passing out fliers for one thing or another. Although the school is 45{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Jewish, there are also plenty of students of different backgrounds including MANY international students. There aren't really cliques at Brandeis, either. Students tend to join so many clubs that they'll know student from all over campus just from that. We're not really that big a school.

Jordan

People are incredibly tolerant here. As a gay student, I feel more at home here than I probably ever will in the "real" world. Politically, the student body is definitely left of center, on average, but there are vocal minorities on the right and on the far left, as well.

Kendall

How is it possible that some students come here not knowing that over 55{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the school's population is Jewish? It's almost as if the administration uses two sets of recruiting materials: one set for Jewish students and the other for goyim. Bare feet rock! Lots of New York, but thank god a good Chicago representation as well.

Madison

Diversity is decent but because it's somewhat forced, groups tend to hang out. Some of the dances and TYP-related events are attended mostly minorities, which is sad, but they're fun so people are really missing out.... The only people that would feel out of place at Brandeis would be unintelligent people. Everyone fits in somehow. International students tend to be loaded but also some of the most down-to-earth rich people you will ever meet. While there are a decent number of Jewish people, these people are Jewish by religion or culture....versus the usual BU Jewish girls, which seem to be Jewish only by the excessive Tiffanys jewelry that they wear and their "JAP"iness (jewish-american princess).

Jessica

Stereotypically, most students on campus are from Jewish white middle-upper class homes. However, there is much diversity on campus and I really think that anyone would feel comfortable at Brandeis. There are so many different types of interesting people to get to know from all different backgrounds.