Brandeis University Admission
Brandeis University Undergraduate Program
Brandeis University Application

The Facts

Brandeis University is a small, private university located in the town of Waltham, Massachusetts . It is perhaps best known for its Near Eastern and Judaic studies programs, as well as its Peace and Conflict Resolution program. The university is actually divided up into several smaller undergraduate colleges specializing in areas from science to diplomacy. The school offers a wide array of majors for every interest, and some of the most popular choices are economics, biology, politics, psychology, and sociology. The university is also quite well-known for its pre-med program, which is notorious for being fiercely competitive; however, those who do graduate are almost always accepted into medical school, and prestigious ones at that.

Admission to Brandeis is quite competitive, and the entire applicant pool tends to be comprised of students who are incredibly driven and have been very academically successful in the past. Last year, over 6,000 students applied for admission, and approximately 2,500 were accepted. Eventually however, only about 820 of those admitted actually enrolled for the coming Fall semester. The admitted students had an average combined SAT score ranging from 1250 to an impressive 1440, and an average comprehensive ACT score ranging from 28 to 33. Furthermore, over 70% of those admitted were ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating class with an average high school GPA of 3.82.

The university has an extremely low student to faculty ratio of a mere 8:1, and the individualized attention is a major plus for the students. They are able to develop strong bonds with their teachers that last beyond graduation, and often result in jobs. Many students do complain that their teachers are way too wrapped up in their own work to help out students, but they are generally very approachable and willing to answer questions.

The Social Scene

The town of Waltham is quaint, and has a pretty good assortment of shops and bars, and is particularly known for its fantastic restaurants that are usually quite affordable and friendly to students. Many students own cars, and that helps when it comes to getting out of the town for the weekend. The vibrant city of Boston is only about an hour and a half away by car, and New York City is pretty easily accessible for weekend trips, particularly by train.

The school doesn't have any official fraternities or sororities, but that doesn't seem to bother students at all. There are many student-run clubs and organizations to choose from, and a large amount of students get involved. There isn't really a whole lot of partying happening at Brandeis, as students are usually way too focused on their studies to let go too much on the weekends.

The dating scene is what you make of it; there are lots of great catches to be found-- if you have the time.

What’s Good

“There is a real passion for learning here, and it makes it quite easy to focus on your studies, which is what counts.”

“The housing is great, and it's usually pretty easy to secure a great room.”

“The party scene exists, but it doesn't overwhelm your world here.”

What’s Bad

“People can be really bull-headed here sometimes. It's their way or the highway.”

“Many professors don't seem to care about you. They'd rather work on their own stuff.”

“The town kind of sucks. You've seen one shop, you've seen them all.”

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