College Road Trip Day 4: Brandeis & Brown My new definition of "overwhelming": Two college tours and one college visit in one day...

Visit: Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Presentation by Admissions Advisor and a rising senior, followed by a tour by a rising sophomore. (Photos here)

• Brandeis was founded in 1948 by a group including Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Maslov and Leonard Bernstein.
• Named after Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.
• Focused on Academic achievement
• Research university w Small Liberal Arts College approach
• Intro Classes will be over 100 students, other classes will be under 20 students
• 235 acre campus
• Rail station on campus & Thurday-Sunday shuttle to Boston
• Guaranteed 2 yr on campus housing, but housing available all 4 yrs
• Flexible academic requirements: 32 courses to grad. No required classes, but 9 areas of study for breadth of knowledge
• Undergrad research & study abroad (45% of students go abroad)
• Typical to have 2-3 internships in 4yrs
• Brandeis grads have double the research/internships when applying for grad school
• 6 months after grad, 95% job rate (the 50% not going to grad school)
• Brandeis is looking for a fit. HS transcript is key - challenging courses and getting harder.
• Teacher recommendation - what is your class experience.
• Extracurricular- involved & leadership
• SAT/ACT req
• Essay: you control - sell yourself to the admissions team, Tell us why Brandeis is for you (internship, socjus, etc)
• 63% of students with FinAid, $28k/yr avg package
• Dorms: Freshman, 2 dedicated quads. All doubles with same or mixed-gender floors. Vote for same or mixed bathrooms (1 vote for same guarantees same). Laundry in dorms.
  
• Suites available for upperclass, lottery system

After the tour, a stop at the college Bookstore, then a 60 mile drive to RI.

Visit: Brown University, Providence, RI
Presentation by Admissions Advisor and a rising junior, followed by a tour by a rising sophomore. (Photos here)

• Founded in 1764. Diversity is top priority
• University with Small Liberal Arts College feel
• 5600 undergrad, 1500 grad
• Open Curriculum. Select any classes you want (and can get in to), except for your major. Approach created in 1969 by students researching curriculum.
• Architects of your own education. Students more engaged in classes they want to attend.
• Over 2k classes to choose from.
• Shopping period - 2 wks to reg/attend/drop before finalizing ur schedule
• Faculty Adv from ur field of study.
• Peer Adv so/jr help u choose based in their experience
• Letter grade or Pass/fail option for all classes. Must pass 30 classes to graduate
• 8-10 classes in your concentration. Double majors are not the norm.
• Research opportunities beginning first year.
• Undergrad Research Assistant fellowships are funded. You initiate this.
• Study abroad is available and encouraged.
• Guaranteed housing all 4 years.
• All RI public transportation is free with Brown student ID
• AP credit goes to advanced placement
• Full IB Diploma = 1 semester credit
• Self-motivation and self-direction is key to success at Brown.
• Jan 1 is admin deadline
• HS curriculum and grades are key
• Extracurricular shows range and engagement
• Recos; guidance and 2 teachers
• ACT/writing
• Personal statement: help us learn about you = sell yourself, not what others say about you.
• Interviews are recommended. All alumni interview, none on campus
• 1/3 of Early Decision are admitted
• 9.4% acceptance
• Need blind admission
• FinAid meets 100% of need, FAFSA: 60k = free; 100k = no loans; >100 = 5k loans/yr
• Reapply annually for FinAid
• 1% of classes over 100. Classes over 40 students have smaller discussion groups
• 70% of classes 20 and under
• Brown U first to implement Blue Emergency poles.
• Safe ride/ Safe walk program
• Dorms: Doubles for freshman, 6-8 students to a bathroom, laundry in dorm
• Suites available for upperclass, lottery system
• Dining: 20/12/7 or flex points.
• 10% Greek but all events are open to all
• Greek/Program houses for upperclassman

After the tour, we headed west to CT, deciding that since we were so close by, why not stop and see Yale...

Visit: Yale University, New Haven, CT
No formal visit. (Photos here)
Why didn't I ever hear about the beautiful Yale campus? I thought UChicago was something, but this is fantastic. Anna said "Even the ugly 70's architecture buildings are good looking here" and she is right! The blend of historical New Haven and idyllic Yale structures makes this my number one campus experience.

Trip Log
Location: Lexington, MA
Departure Time: 9:30 AM
Destination: Fishkill, NY
Mileage: 280
Breakfast: Quality Inn (Lexington, MA)
Lunch: Taco Bell (East Walpole, MA)
Dinner: Sal's Pizza (Fishkill, NY)
Lodging: Quality Inn (Fishkill, NY)

Labels: college

  ¶ 6:18 AM