Brandeis University Top Questions

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.

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

friendly, liberal nerds who need to get out more.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.