Brandeis University Top Questions

When I was high school age, I lived in a very conservative Mennonite community. If I would have chosen to go past the ninth grade, the expected age to stop high school, I would most likely have had to defy my parents’ wishes. Basically, the attitude was that “higher education” was unnecessary, and that we could survive quite well in the world without it. My peers also would have thought I was a little strange, perhaps even conceited, if I would have chosen to finish high school. The advice I would give my high school self is: “Do not let peer pressure define what you do. Just because something is the accepted thing to do does not mean it is the wisest thing to do. Learn to evaluate things for yourself. Sometimes that means doing things that are considered strange or different.” “Never undervalue the strengths of your community, but realize that your community does not have all the answers. Do not be too proud to admit the flaws of your community. Be brave enough to challenge those weaknesses and to not be defined by them.”

Going back in time is something I think everyone would enjoy doing. Changing my past to make a better future is something I can only wish for and write about. My first semester of college was exciting, challenging, and eye opening in many ways. All the confidence I started off with faded away little by little as the semester went on. Having confidence in one's self is one thing but having the knowledge and study habits to secure it is a total different thing. Going back in time I would give myself two pieces of advice. The first being to never stop studying and to plan my everyday so that when things like student union events go on for too long I can easily adjust because I am already ahead in my work. The second would be picking something and sticking from the beginning. I was dedicated to alot of clubs from the beginning but as time went on I couldn't continue to assist in those clubs and left with disappointment in my heart. If i could go back I would tell myself the important organizations and clubs to hang on to and steer clear of the rest.

If I could go back to last year and give my high-school-senior self advice, I would say: -DON'T let the application process keep you awake at night. Whether you end up at your first-choice school (as I did, fortunately) or life takes you in a different direction, you will find your niche and end up happy. -Find a healthy balance between studying, socializing, and breaks. -Don't stay up so late that you wear out your immune system. -Build a support system in college. Never be afraid to ask for help, or too proud to accept it. Just a month after beginning college far from home, I broke my ankle and ended up on crutches in a boot. I had no idea how I'd even get myself to class on a very hilly campus. Now I am physically healed and emotionally stronger than ever. I know I could not have gotten by without the kindness of friends or strangers. My new friends who cheered me on when I finally made it up the stairs, the strangers who carried my cafeteria trays for me, all of them showed me the meaning and value of kindness.

The first thing you should know is that the 21 meals a week plan is a rip off meant to confuse Freshman and their parents. There are not actually 21 meals a week served in the dining halls, on Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch are combined into brunch. It is also the most expensive meal plan, and it means you cannot take advantage of the better eating options on campus like Einsteins, the Stein, or the Faculty Club. Instead immediately get the 10 meals a week, 550 points plan. That way you can eat in the dining halls when you want, and can use dining point in the other places. As well, if you go to the dining halls more than 10 times a week, guess what, you can use points in the place of a meal. You will also save your parents a few hundred dollars in the process by going on this plan, its a win-win. Secondly, if your Jewish, don't think you will be forced to be involved in Jewish life. It is definitely there if you want it. Hillel, and BOO, the Brandeis Orthodox Organization, are both very active, however, if you don't want to be a part of that you don't have too. Two good friends of mine are from orthodox families but decided to make friends with people who weren't orthodox so could experience something they never had before. Thirdly, if you aren't Jewish, don't worry about that being an issue. Brandeis is a very accepting place, and people don't care what your religious background is. I'm personally an agnostic Jew, but I have friends who are Episcopalian, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Orthodox Jewish. It is the norm at Brandeis to have friends of diverse religious backgrounds. The only religious group who ever came to Brandeis who were ostracized was the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group who call themselves Baptists, but are not in any way.

The first thing you should know is that the 21 meals a week plan is a rip off meant to confuse Freshman and their parents. There are not actually 21 meals a week served in the dining halls, on Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch are combined into brunch. It is also the most expensive meal plan, and it means you cannot take advantage of the better eating options on campus like Einsteins, the Stein, or the Faculty Club. Instead immediately get the 10 meals a week, 550 points plan. That way you can eat in the dining halls when you want, and can use dining point in the other places. As well, if you go to the dining halls more than 10 times a week, guess what, you can use points in the place of a meal. You will also save your parents a few hundred dollars in the process by going on this plan, its a win-win. Secondly, if your Jewish, don't think you will be forced to be involved in Jewish life. It is definitely there if you want it. Hillel, and BOO, the Brandeis Orthodox Organization, are both very active, however, if you don't want to be a part of that you don't have too. Two good friends of mine are from orthodox families but decided to make friends with people who weren't orthodox so could experience something they never had before. Thirdly, if you aren't Jewish, don't worry about that being an issue. Brandeis is a very accepting place, and people don't care what your religious background is. I'm personally an agnostic Jew, but I have friends who are Episcopalian, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Orthodox Jewish. It is the norm at Brandeis to have friends of diverse religious backgrounds. The only religious group who ever came to Brandeis who were ostracized was the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group who call themselves Baptists, but are not in any way.

The first thing you should know is that the 21 meals a week plan is a rip off meant to confuse Freshman and their parents. There are not actually 21 meals a week served in the dining halls, on Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch are combined into brunch. It is also the most expensive meal plan, and it means you cannot take advantage of the better eating options on campus like Einsteins, the Stein, or the Faculty Club. Instead immediately get the 10 meals a week, 550 points plan. That way you can eat in the dining halls when you want, and can use dining point in the other places. As well, if you go to the dining halls more than 10 times a week, guess what, you can use points in the place of a meal. You will also save your parents a few hundred dollars in the process by going on this plan, its a win-win. Secondly, if your Jewish, don't think you will be forced to be involved in Jewish life. It is definitely there if you want it. Hillel, and BOO, the Brandeis Orthodox Organization, are both very active, however, if you don't want to be a part of that you don't have too. Two good friends of mine are from orthodox families but decided to make friends with people who weren't orthodox so could experience something they never had before. Thirdly, if you aren't Jewish, don't worry about that being an issue. Brandeis is a very accepting place, and people don't care what your religious background is. I'm personally an agnostic Jew, but I have friends who are Episcopalian, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Orthodox Jewish. It is the norm at Brandeis to have friends of diverse religious backgrounds. The only religious group who ever came to Brandeis who were ostracized was the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group who call themselves Baptists, but are not in any way.

I would tell myself not to stress out about classes. I mean that in the way of, don't freak out if you get an A- instead of an A. I'd also tell myself that even though college isn't madetory, I need to go anyway. Because I'll meet my best friend, discover so much about myself, and have the chance to have a great job in the end. Oh yeah, I would also tell myself to study harder in biology so I wouldn't get a B+. Thank you for your time.

If I had the chance to go back and talk to myself, first, I would tell myself not to wait a few years to get into college as I did. The second tip, to give myself is to keep up with the homework and out of class reading. It is so easy to not do those things but you will fall far behind real quick. Third, and most important, do not let partying get in the way of school. Lastly, do not ditch class to hang out with friends, it is not worth it by any means. All in all, if you follow these tips you will do fine and be sucessful.

I would tell myself to stay in school and get the proper education needed to suceed in life. I choose to at the end of my high school years to get married and raise a family instead. I would encourage myself to get the proper trainning for what the future had in store. I have deadicated myself to helping save our planet, and find alternate fuel sources for humanity. I would have directed my future in the renewable energy sources. I am curruently trainning as a Wind Technologist, and want to make our future as bright as I can for future generations to come.

Getting caught up in the luxuries of ordering Chinese take-out at two in the morning and not having to attend class every day makes it easy for students to think that they do not need to finish the required readings for class. Even myself, who timely completed every assignment in high school, managed to find myself with 200 pages of reading a few days before my first psychology exam. I would tell my high school self what I quickly learned after that experience—that keeping up with assignments, even if they are not checked, avoids unnecessary stress and allows students to understand the material better than if they cram. I would also tell myself that other students are very welcoming and non-judgmental at Brandeis. I avoided joining several clubs that I was interested in because I was afraid of being rejected. For months, I would read emails about the week’s agenda and upcoming games and long to join my peers. One day, I decided to attend a meeting and quickly found that this was not the case. I only wish that I were encouraged to join sooner so that I could have enjoyed these activities more.