Major: English/Biology
Concentration: Premed?
1) What are the dorms like there? How about off-campus housing?
To be perfectly honest, the dorms at Brandeis do need some work, especially some of the freshman dorms. This is not to say that housing buildings need work, but it would be nice to live in beautiful dorms especially at a school as reputable as Brandeis. Juniors and seniors at Brandeis are not guaranteed housing, although there are suites exclusively for seniors and some for juniors. Every underclassman will receive housing, but if juniors and seniors do not get housing in any of the suites set out for them then it is their own task to find off-campus housing. If you are lucky or an active individual you will find housing off-campus quickly. But it isn't as easy as it sounds if you are not lucky or not active in your search. There are several apartments right on South Street (the street Brandeis is on) and many around the area. But walking is a pain in the .
2) How hard are the classes compared to high school?
The classes at Brandeis cannot be compared to the classes in high school because they are many many times harder at the university level than at the high school level. In high school the teachers keep track of you and your work but here you are on your own. If you don't work on your own or push and motivate youself then you pay for the consequences. Students entering college definitely have to be prepared for the loads of reading and hours and hours of late night studying. And let me tell you, if you dont prepare thoroughly for your classes, the exams are going to kill you. Its not like high school where you could skim through the material and get an A; you really have to go through every detail and understand the material to do well. But again, I'm talking about Brandeis, which is an Ivy League qualified school.
3) What is your average workload?
I don't know how to estimate the average work load because it may vary from major to major or from class to class, but I can say one thing. That is, since I have been in college for the last two years, I have never gone to sleep before 2 am on weekdays through which time I would be studying.
And all day Saturday and Sunday the majority of the students at Brandeis spend their time in the library. The students at Brandeis are extremely competitive and and very hard-working. I haven't heard anyone I know at Brandeis say "I give up" or "forget this" etc. Most of the students at Brandeis (as i was told by an admistrator) were selected from the top ranks in high school, meaning he or she will not be the only intelligent one anymore, the competition gets much more intense. While speaking of work load, for example, a student may have to read a 300-page book per week, cover 100-200 pages a week for another class or two, and at the same time if you are a science person (which the majority of Brandeis students are) you probably have to study for a lab and write up a lab every week, while at the same time cover 3 or 4 chapters of the science text, while taking an elective.
4) How open are your professors for extra help?
All of the professors have office hours at which time he or she has open time for students to come in and ask for help or talk, get advice, or simply get to know the professor. If the office hours conflict your schedule, you can set up an appointment to see him/her. and most of the time he/she will
be there after class for additional help. Most professors are eager to help and generously offer their availability. There may be a few who expect you to know everything as if you have been studying the subject for 50 years or something.
5) What are the sports at your school like?
Unlike high school many students do not have time for sports in college. However there are many students to continue sports in college. Brandeis has many sports in which students may participate, men's and women's teams, and a few coed. Even if you dont have time for sports but want to stay healthy and fit, Brandeis has wonderful facilities for your needs.
6) The extracurricular activities?
You may not always have time for sports, but you may find yourself involved in one of the many many many extracurricular activities. Brandeis have a diverse range of clubs and events to choose from. All the clubs are student initiated and run by students, and you can create your own club if you want.
7) What is there to do besides schoolwork (i.e., for entertainment)?
At a small school like Brandeis you will always find yourself socially entertained. With small schools you make closer quality friends. If social groups aren't your scene, student events bring films every Friday and Saturday to Brandeis. If that doesn't please you, there is a free shuttle every Friday and Saturday nights that takes you to and from Harvard Square and Boston where you are bound to find something to do.
8) What made you decide to go there?
I really like Brandeis and what it had to offer when I first came here, but the main reason was because I didn't get into Johns Hopkins. But being at Brandeis for two years I would definitely have to say I am very glad I came here. Again, Brandeis is an Ivy League qualified institution and is number one in research, as well as being a very reputable school on the level of Brown, Tufts, Harvard, etc. which makes a difference when you graduate and and look for a job or apply to grad schools.
9) What did you do to cover the costs of a college education?
For myself, I got a few scholarships to help me pay college costs. Also, loans are available as well as financial aid.
10) Any additional comments?
I just want to say that when you get into college stay on top of things or else you will find yourself in deep water.