Brandeis University Top Questions

If I got the chance, the only thing I would tell my high-school-senior self is: have fun. I?ve always worked very hard as a student. I knew that in college I would continue to push myself academically and creatively, and Brandeis is a great place for that. But in my senior year, I realized the importance of stepping outside of the college bubble once in a while. Especially in times of great stress, in the middle of finals or tech week for a play, I really need to pause and look at the big picture. The truth is, I?m only in college for four years; I?m only young once. Yes, I get a lot out of studying and participating in clubs?but it?s important to leave some free time for yourself. At Brandeis everyone is so passionate about getting things done, and we?re all hard-wired by the admissions process to cram all our time with productivity. But life doesn?t have to be like that. Sleep, good food, vegging out?there are all worthwhile! Relax, for God?s sake. Work hard and play hard?it?s a delicate but crucial balance.

Figure out what you want and go for it. Try a lot of different things and don't hold back. Make new friends but try to keep in touch with high school friends too.

I would tell myself to not worry about anything petty. Life is really what you make of it and if you get involved with anything too dramatic, life will be difficult. I would tell myself not to sweat the small stuff and learn how to go with the flow, to be open minded and be yourself. I think that college is definitely a time of learning, but not all learning happens in the classroom. College teaches you social skills that last a lifetime. It is a great time to figure out the type of people you are compatible with and those that you aren't so you have the skillset to surround yourself with people that bring out the best in you, while you help to bring out the best in them.

Finding the right colleges would be tough so I suggest that students and parents should visit the school to get first impressions. For the best college experience, dorm, dorm, dorm! There is nothing better than making long lasting friendship and finding the right group to hang with and study!

In the process of finding the right college, I believe starting research early and college visits are most helpful. The earlier you start researching colleges, the sooner you will know which ones to apply to, giving you ample time to complete the application and increasing your chances of getting in. As for deciding on a college, a visit is most helpful. You don't know how you're going to respond to a college until you're there. As for making the most of your college experience once you're there, I advise you not to be shy. The first few weeks may be awkward, but once you find the group of people you click best with you can start having fun. Once people have already established groups of friends, it is hard to find your group.

When looking at colleges you must ALWAYS observe the people who make up the campus. The cafeteria food will always be cafeteria food, but the people are what actually create your college experience (consider seeing a bad movie with great friends versus seeing a great movie with so-so friends). While college-hunting you should have conversations with people, ask students about their biggest pet peeve about the school, and look around for lots of smiling. This is a key factor for finding a good atmosphere. When at college, no one is going to lead you to your destiny. As cheesy as this may sound, college is your first taste of life as a grown-up. Don't let anything phase you and don't be scared of anything. You can customize your life. You can start from scratch. It is liberating and scary at the same time, but of course you should always look to the positives. Keep your material possessions to a minimum and your social and spiritual possessions to a maximum. And the #1 rule for college: If you haven't tried something before, and this means everything except hard drugs, you have to try it now.

The truth is, no matter where one chooses to attend college, there is only so much that the university can do to make the experience enjoyable. A subsitantial part of any college experience is finding one's self, learning how to make the best of specific situations, and facing obstacles on one's own. One must be prepared to enter college with a genuine and sincere willingness to work hard and maintain success, in which ever definition of success one may have (sports, academics, socially, etc.). When times get tough, one must learn how to cope and push through. When choosing a college one should ask themself, "Which insititution will provide me with the tools to make me (for lack of better word) smarter? Which insitution will teach me more about history, science, math, and literature?" While in college however, the student should ask him/herself, "Now what can I do as an individual to enable myself to graduate from here wiser?" College provides the opportunities, but it is up to the individual to take advantage of those opportunities and then apply those experiences to real life. Getting accepted and choosing the right college is only the first step.

Being a first generation American, born to Greek native parents, I was urged since young age to make the most out of life. On my first day of college, this advice held nonetheless true. Before departing to go home, my dad told me to study and work hard, but to always cherish each moment of my college career. Having these words in mind, I embarked on the most amazing experience of my life, my college years, and tried to make the most of every interaction that came my way. College was absolutely wonderful to me. Brandeis' strong academic background, ranked 30th best college in the country, coupled with the amazing credentials that our professors had, made my time at Brandeis very well-worth it. I do not regret anything that I've done in my life or in my college career, for I believe that every stumbling block that comes along the way is an opportunity to learn from. There have been times where even among the worst of failures, there was ALWAYS a silver lining. Words to live by!

I have gone throught the process of picking the right school twice in my life now-when I had to choose a prep school and when I had to pick the college I wanted to attend. It strangely happened that during both decisions, I chose the schools that I had not visited as opposed to the ones that I did visit. This was because I visited the schools that I had always desired to attend since I was in elementary school. However, a lot of things change between then and college. Hence, when picking the right school, it is important to throw all past conceptions behind. The schools, believe it or not, pick individuals for specific reasons despite the large amount of applicants they recieve. Therefore, once admitted, even if it is not the first choice of a student and he applied to it only as a "safety school," should give it a thought, a chance. During the consideration, the biggest question should be about the student's desired size of the school. This lays out everything about colleges: size of classrooms, diversity, parties, role of Greek life, sports, and availability for assistance. Size allows students to predict everything.

College is what you make it. Make sure wherever you go has the basic elements you value, and then it is really up to you to take it from there. Remember to cherish the classroom experience itself just as much as what happens outside, because that is what will be absent from your later life.