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Brandeis University Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

Dorm Life

Food and Dining

See Brandeis University reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Brandeis University. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Brandeis University reviews, or contribute your own Brandeis University review if you're a current student there.

  • 5 out of 5 people found this review useful.

    Abigail from Verona, NJ

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    The professors are absolutely brilliant.
    Am enjoying being here

    I've met the most amazing people. The community is incredible.
    Bang for the buck

    A little on the expensive side. I've had some trouble with their scholarships.
    Tips for prospective students

    If you get accepted, check out the Course Evaluation Guide before signing up for classes. And don't be afraid to shop classes for the first couple weeks before deciding which ones you really want to take.
    Great for these types of students

    Down to earth, accepting, hard-working, fun loving, adventurous

  • 8 out of 11 people found this review useful. 1 person found it offensive. 1 person found this inaccurate.

    Emma from Oklahoma City, OK

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am enjoying being here

    The Brandeis community is amazing!
    Tips for prospective students

    Check out the opportunities at Brandeis and make sure that Brandeis offers everything you might want to do.
    Great for these types of students

    Non-party students
    Serious Students
    Students Committed to Community Service

  • 4 out of 4 people found this review useful.

    Audrey from Littleton, CO

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I am offered tons of opportunities to explore Academics at Brandeis. I love that can take courses that count towards my major and minors, while still taking courses that just happen to spark my interest. For instance, last semester I took beginning Russian, because I was fascinated by the Russian language and culture. In addition, most classes cross count for more than one department (and major). There are a plethora of Academic programs at Brandeis including: Experiential Learning, JBS semester long programs, Study Abroad, etc. All of my Professors attended the most prestigious universities including: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Berkley, etc. Above all, I learn every day from my peers, whom are truly remarkable people in and outside of the classroom. I am challenged Academically at Brandeis!
    Am enjoying being here

    Brandeis is an incredibly welcoming community. The people at Brandeis are making my college experience stellar. I look around and admire my friends for all their fantastic accomplishments. While everyone here is an overachiever invested in his/her own Academics and Extracurriculars, it is a supporting community. Each of my friends truly want to see me succeed just as much as they do for his/herself. That said, I study really, really hard and often.
    Bang for the buck

    Brandeis provides good financial aid, yet I still have a lot in loans. They offer need based as well as Academic scholarships. My advice would be to apply to Brandeis even though the sticker price is over $50,000. The university provides aid to students who are accepted. Overall, money did not stop me from attending.
    Tips for prospective students

    Brandeis is a wonderful school for students interested in gaining the perspective of other bright minds. It is the perfect size for me, because it is a big, small school with 3200 undergraduates. It is quite a liberal university in terms of social political policy. Overall, Brandeis students are involved with Academics and are almost always dedicated to extracurriculars.
    Great for these types of students

    Brandeis is right for people who are: bold, unique, bright, funny, well cultured, kind, caring, adventurous, and tastefully awkward.

    Brandeis is the first place that I have been able to totally and completely be myself. I am not afraid of what others will think of me.

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Rachel

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Learning at Brandeis is largely what you make of it: I know I'm learning a lot because I take time to meet with professors, select interesting classes, and pursue a major that I'm passionate about. Brandeis does have distribution requirements to fulfill throughout your four years, but if you search a little it's possible to find a class in each discipline to interest you. Introductory-level lecture classes can seem limiting, in terms of opportunities to meet with professors and grow academically. However, upper-level classes (which you can start taking even as early as late freshman year) really provide an experience to connect with professors in a small, intimate setting and learn quite a lot.
    Am enjoying being here

    Brandeis is a kind of idyllic college environment - it has an open, green campus, very active student life, and wonderful academic opportunities. Students really get involved in everything from political and cultural clubs to intramural sports, theater, and music groups. However, though Brandeis is only nine miles away from Boston, those nine miles are quite substantial unless you have a car. The campus can sometimes seem like a bubble - if you are the kind of person who wants to spend a lot of time in the city, or have a really active and dynamic social life, this might not be the place for you.
    Bang for the buck

    When you pay tuition at Brandeis, you're paying for a great liberal-arts education as well as a degree from a very well-respected academic institution. Unfortunately, you're still paying about $50,000 a year. Though Brandeis offers some financial aid to most students, it can still be a struggle to afford for some. However, Brandeis has a unique focus on undergraduate education and can really open the door to great opportunities.
    Tips for prospective students

    Visit the campus! It's important to get a feel for the place, and there's no better way to do that then visiting - for a full day and night, if you can. Interacting with current students, sitting in on a couple classes, and navigating the campus yourself is the best way to tell whether Brandeis is a good fit for you.
    Great for these types of students

    Brandeis is a really comfortable place for someone who is looking to become a big fish in a small pond. The rather isolated campus and close-knit student body is perfect for students who are academically focused and want a close community. It's great for students who are looking to expand their involvement in extracurricular activities, especially in politics or social justice. However, it's not a party school in the slightest; if you want easy access to Boston or a thriving social scene, Brandeis may not be the place for you.

  • 0 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    Robert from Plymouth, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments

  • Emily from Marlborough, CT

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    I am SO excited to be attending Brandeis in the coming fall! Every experience I have had on Brandeis' campus and with Brandeis' students has been amazing!
    Tips for prospective students

    Talk to people you see that don't look busy. Everybody at Brandeis that I ran into or asked for directions or about their experience was happy to talk with me. Their cheerfullness and friendly attitudes helped me make the big decision.
    Academic Rigor

    The classes I've attended and students I have interacted with really showed me how dedicated to academics Brandeis is. I am so proud to have been accepted and to be enrolling at such an amazing school
    Dorm Life

    It sounds like most people spend some time in their dorms but the majority of their time between studying and socializing.
    Food and Dining

    I'm not too picky about my food but what I have eaten at Brandeis was good. They have a lot of choices for more restrictive diets like kosher, pescetarian, veagen, etc.
    What to do for fun

    This campus seems incredibly active.

  • Jasmine from Forestville, CA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Brandeis University is overflowing the opportunities and community. Not only are students challenged in an academic setting, but we are also constantly given the chance to be involved. Brandeis wants to create an environment where its students can connect, and it succeeds.
    Tips for prospective students

    One tip I have for prospective students is become involved. There are so many clubs, volunteer groups, lectures, and activities that are fun, informative, and really worthwhile. Once you get here, it almost seems overwhelming how much students do for extracurriculars, but trust me, once you get in the swing of things you won't be able to help getting involved with all the fun and interesting stuff they have available.
    Academic Rigor

    I fell like Brandeis is very challenging. Brandeis requires its students to think outside the box and take initiative, so students don't have a choice when it comes to applying themselves. I think that this creates a better environment to study because everyone is trying very hard to succeed.
    Dorm Life

    I live in a dorm with all of my friends because I am a midyear, thus we were all put in the same dorm and I absolutely love it. My dorm is my favorite place on campus not only because it is nice and an easy place to live, but all my friends are here and I think of it as my home.
    Food and Dining

    I don't think the food is horrible here, but it is not the best all the time. Sherman dining hall is rarely fantastic, but I have had some really good meals in Usdan and the POD markets are very convenient.
    What to do for fun

    There is so much to do for fun at Brandies from clubs to organized activities like dances or Bronstein Week to theater performances and lectures, students are rarely bored. And if you want to get off campus, there are shuttles all weekend to take students into Cambridge and Boston and experience activities there.
    Bang for the buck

    Brandeis is expensive, but they are pretty good with financial aid and they really give you your moneys worth. There is so much stuff going on and students are always learning and there are so many classes that the price is worth it.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    One tradition on Brandies Campus in Purim. It is a Jewish holiday and the whole campus gets involved even if you aren't Jewish. Throughout the day students will be walking around in costume ready to celebrate.
    Great for these types of students

    There is a huge Jewish community and a lot of opportunities to explore Judaism, so if you are interested in that Brandeis is great. Or if you're not, Jewish culture isn't so overwhelming that you can't express yourself. Also, it is fantastic in the sciences, so science majors should look into that.
    Clubs and Activities

    There are hundreds of clubs at Brandies and student events are always putting on activities. I could not write them all down, but their are opportunities for anything that you may be interested in.
    Greek Life

    Greek life is not recognized by Brandeis or the town it is in because it goes against Brandeis' ideal of community. It is definitely there though and if a student is interested it isn't hard to find. It definitely isn't part of the Brandeis community though.
    Campus Safety

    Brandeis is very serious about their campus safety with an escort service as well as its own police force and emergency medical service. I don't feel threatened walking around at night because I know Brandeis is protected.

  • Anna from Burke, VA

    Reviewer is A past student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Great academics, pretty far from downtown Boston.
    Tips for prospective students

    When you visit make sure you figure out the best ways to get into the city. You might find it takes a little long.
    Academic Rigor

    Great!

  • Christina from Waltham, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    in three sentences, brandeis is academically rigorous - the science courses in particular are taught at a much higher level here than at other schools. the social life is atrocious because parties end early and are usually pretty lame but the people at brandeis are really friendly and approachable (which you don't get at bigger schools). and lastly, the professors are incredibly qualified and if one was taking advantage of their education, they would be bugging their professors often.
    Tips for prospective students

    don't come expecting brandeis to be easy, especially since it isn't an ivy league and many students use it as a back up for ivy league schools - brandeis is very much ahead of its time. come to brandeis with an open mind and a tough exterior because this school will really help shape you.
    Academic Rigor

    have i not mentioned this yet? brandeis is not an easy school.
    Dorm Life

    the dorms are honestly kind of unfortunate but hey, most dorms are.
    Food and Dining

    the dining services on campus are only getting better than they were when i was at brandeis.
    What to do for fun

    make friends and hang out with them...
    Bang for the buck

    utilize your professors' office hours, work for them in their labs, take courses outside of your major, get fridays off and play an instrument on the great lawn.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    sachar woods has a few bonfire pits and there are lots of sneaky locations on campus to explore, for whatever reason.
    Great for these types of students

    socially awkward!
    Clubs and Activities

    there are over 300 clubs at brandeis, choose one and choose wisely.
    Greek Life

    fortunately, the greek life isn't acknowledged by brandeis because they feel in its existence, it purports exclusion based on whatever (religion, race, social standing, what-have-you), but it does exist. we have i think three sororities and four fraternities and they throw decent parties... usually.
    Campus Safety

    private school, small campus - i'm surprised it's as safe as it is given there seems to be no regulation of who comes on and off campus but the three exits/entrances to campus make you feel either incredibly safe or incredibly cornered.

  • ManOfLaMancha

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Brandeis is an all inclusive school with everything a student could wish for. Busting at the seams with student diversity, clubs of all kinds, and professors that you can approach at almost any time, the smaller community of Brandeis University is perfect for those who want to do it all. The opportunities for study and involvement in the campus and surrounding community are immense, and you will never have a moment where you find yourself without options of entertainment or participation in the school or the surrounding area.
    Tips for prospective students

    Brandeis has a very flexible faculty that will help you pursue your goals, even if you don't know what they may be right now. You can follow your interests and dreams through a multitude of majors, but also fill in any holes with the almost ridiculous amount of clubs. Close to Boston, it is easy to get off campus for some fun, but you and also always find something to do at school, whether it be a play,an a capella performance, comedy troupes, guest speakers, or special showings of movies before they get released in theaters.
    Academic Rigor

    You get what you take at Brandeis. There is a very strong academic presence on campus, and many student work tirelessly throughout each semester, but it is a personal choice. Students often overwhelm themselves with too much on their plate, but regardless of the number of clases you take, each class is challenging in its own way, and teachers will make you work for your grades. After all, you are here to learn.
    Dorm Life

    The dorms at Brandeis are eclectic to say the least. The division between grades is evident for underclassmen, with freshmen living by themselves. Once you get to sophomore year however, your options explode. Our biggest dorm attraction has to be the castle, because really, who doesn't want to live in a castle. There are plenty of buildings to go around, and with a growing emphasis on green living, the options you can take to enhance your sustainability can also be catered to whe choosing a dorm. Dorm life is social and a great way to meet people too, and you will often be surprised how much fun a roommate can be!
    Food and Dining

    The food here is what most would call average. While students have tried to made recent changes to dining options, the food has been slow to adapt. That is not to say that Brandeis food is bad. Its not. The food here is nothing to brag about, but the options are numerous. You name it, we probably have it. A big part of dining here is the presence of kosher dining options which are excellent.
    What to do for fun

    Brandeis is synonymous with fun. As I mentioned above, club activities are constant on campus, but to reiterate, international food nights, quidditch, club sports, concerts, open mics, coffee houses, plays, poker nights, school sponsored parties, movies, activity fairs, the list goes on. And if there isn't enough for you on campus, nearby Waltham has excellent restaurants, and Boston, only a bus or train ride away is filled with things to do.
    Bang for the buck

    Brandeis is just about as expensive as many other private colleges in this day in age. Your money is worth a lot here. You are getting an amazing education, and will learn so many valuable skills, and meet so many helpful and influential people. Brandeis is a great investment for your education.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    There are often school breaks on Jewish holidays due to the large percentage of the student population that is Jewish. That is not to say, that we don't get breaks for other holidays as well, there is just a larger presence of Judaism, and many other religions at Brandeis than you might find at other schools.
    Great for these types of students

    Eccentric, and possibly shy students. If you haven't made up your mind of what you will do in the future, great! Brandeis may be for you. You will follow your passions here and find your future a much clearer path than when you started.
    Clubs and Activities

    If I havent said enough thus far, I apologize, but there are over 250 clubs that do seriously anything and everything you could ever imagine!

  • Nathanel from Hollywood, FL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    The courses here all require that you want to learn. It's not hard to learn something new in any class.
    Am enjoying being here

    There's always new people to meet and things to do around campus. Everyone manages to have some free time from studying so its not work work work all the time every day. It's easy to find fun even when there's a lot of work to get done.
    Bang for the buck

    Some things could be done better money-wise. Mostly with food. It's probably similar across many schools although its a bit tough to get a proper meal in just the meal plan depending on where you go. Also remember that it's a private school, you pay a lot to attend, make it worth your time and effort :). There's a lot to take advantage of here.
    Tips for prospective students

    This school has something for everyone. It's not just liberal arts or all science, its got a good mixture of the two. The school is very liberal in general and there are many student activist groups. The school likes to see applications from students with strong beliefs and a will to serve the community.
    Great for these types of students

    Anyone willing to put time and effort into their education and caring for the community. There are countless community service activities going on throughout the year.