Brandeis University Top Questions

At Brandeis, there's not a lot of pressure to party. People make their own fun rather than depend on fraternities or sororities, and people turn instead to clubs that they are involved in. There's a very particular kind of person who goes to Brandeis-- people are very accepting here and open to new things.

Small camus feel, great professors who are very knowledgeable and well educated, friendly people, decent food, close proximity to Boston.

It is small, and has its own campus, but it is still close to a large city. It has unusual breaks. There are a TON of study abroad opportunities.

Brandeis' is like a high school, cliques and what not. Can be good and bad, depending on what group you may fall into. Also the Jewish community is very noticable and dominant.

Accapella groups. Brandeis has about 9000. Not quite. But it's a really big thing here for some reason. If you can't get into one, make your own. That's the motto. And why there are so many!

The weather is good during September, April, and May. Otherwise, it's cold!

I do have some pet peeves about Brandeis. The drinking culture bothers me. It is obviously indicative of a problem among college-age Americans which isn't likely to be resolved anytime soon, but the fact that every party is judged by the quantity (quality is often ignored) of its alcohol says a lot about the way a student body chooses to have fun. Alcohol is usually a prerequisite for 'hooking up' and it is the norm to get liquored up before heading out to dances or parties. I consider myself to be pretty liberal, but it seems like every week there is a new cause being paraded on campus. I have nothing against activists or people who believe in a cause, but after three years of constant exposure to marches, rallies, vigils, sign campaigns, camp-outs and pledge drives, my acceptance of activism turned quickly to tolerance, then apathy, then quiet annoyance. Intolerance is one thing that a liberal campus like Brandeis should not be ready to accept. But every once in a while there is a blip of ignorance that seems to silently slip under the radar. Last year there was an art exhibit at the library which showcased the drawings of Palestinian children, with many (if not all) of the drawings having a negative depiction of Israel. A whole lot of hoopla was raised about the exhibit, and it was promptly taken down. Maybe a library at a mostly-Jewish school isn't a great place for art which showcases anti-Israeli sentiment, but it's also not a great show of scholarship to remove the exhibit based on disagreements in ideology and passionate discourse. Israel is a touchy subject around Brandeis. Disagreeing with Israeli policy (even on minor points) might brand you as anti-Zionist. It is unfortunate that a student body with such a strong Jewish background is unwilling to discuss ALL politics openly, regardless of topic. The food has been getting better recently. Aramark is our dining services company, and this means that our convenience store and dining halls are limited to the selection offered by the mother company. But we recently got an Einstein's Bagels in the Shapiro campus center, (they even have lox!) which is easily my favorite eatery on campus.

Confidential to the girls: If you are not Jewish, don't waste your energy on the dedicated Jew male, even if he does have beautiful blue eyes. Religion is passed on through the mother in Judaism and they won't date someone they can't marry. I mean what if their mothers found out? You could always tell them you're willing to convert, of course.

the food at Brandeis is tolerable, and the options have gotten better year to year. there is a lot of construction going on, which is annoying around 8 am, but most of it should be done in about a year or 2.

I don't want to give an overhwelmingly negative impression of the place. I've had some wonderful experiences here and while it may not be perfect for a big-school party-hearty kind of student it worked out pretty well for me.