Brandeis Admissions Viewbook

BRANDEIS AND BEYOND

a first-person guide to making the most of college

Your Brandeis Application checklist

Your Brandeis story starts here! Follow this checklist to help you keep track of your materials and submit your application.

get your application in order

ȗ Complete your Common Application

ȗ Submit an application fee (or fee waiver)

Here are the supplementary documents you’ll need for your application:

required:

ȗ Official copies of your high school transcripts

ȗ Senior midyear grades

ȗ School report and counselor recommendation

ȗ Letter of recommendation from a teacher who has instructed you in a core academic course (math, science, history, foreign language, or English)

optional:

ȗ SAT or ACT scores

ȗ Early Decision Agreement (if you know Brandeis is your top choice) apply to Brandeis

For more on the application process, including deadlines and what we look for, go to brandeis.edu/admissions/apply.

Learn more about why Early Decision at Brandeis can be a great choice. brandeis.edu/ early

time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who I am and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, I often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot of those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling a sense of belonging is just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter. My professors have believed in me and supported me these first few semesters. They have helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and overall intelligence. My peers have supported me and stood up for me in times of need. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community. I also just feel confident. I feel like I am starting to shape into a full-fledged adult. The way I am handling situations is much more mature than I did during my high school years. I feel like I will be prepared for the life ahead of me. Brandeis and its vibrant community have made me feel invincible in a way. Just walking around campus and seeing and waving to peers makes me feel like I have a place in this world and that feeling is really priceless. * My time at Brandeis has forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I would not be the person I am today without exposure to the rich, diverse culture of Brandeis. As I have learned, the only way to grow is to do things that are uncomfortable. Being so far from home and away from my family has forced me to be independent and take on more responsibility. Not to mention, Brandeis has allowed me to foster close relationships with people from an array of backgrounds. Lastly, I learned to be okay with receiving “no” as an answer as I blaze my path to success, even when there’s no path in sight. * Brandeis, as a school and community, has given me the courage to use my voice as a source of power, and to fearlessly go after the things that I want. Everyone here, whether they’re part of the student body or faculty, is uniquely and genuinely innovative, ambitious, and curious about the world. Being immersed in this mindset for the past three years has greatly shaped and shifted my perspective — I’ve fulfilled accomplishments and am achieving goals that I never thought I would even have the courage to reach for, all because I know I have a community here that deeply supports ambition and aspiration. Brandeis has encouraged me to break beyond my own perceived limitations and abilities, and to no longer let a fear of failure hold me back. I’ve learned that there’s a lesson in everything, and being surrounded by a community of determined students has made me realize that we are constantly evolving, growing, and changing for the better. * It’s helped me gain skills and valuable connections which have put me in a position to succeed both on campus and in the world. * As a home-schooled student, my time at Brandeis has shaped me by helping discover who I am. At Brandeis, I have been able to pursue my passion for fencing and figure out what my goals and interests are, as well as my long-term career goals. * Since I arrived at Brandeis University, I have experienced transformative personal growth. Brandeis has helped me to develop as a leader, increased my confidence in my abilities, allowed me to build a community among my Posse, and helped me recognize the knowledge that I bring beyond the classroom. When I first applied to Brandeis, I wrote that I hoped to be active in the Waltham Community Service Club and be a Boys and Girls Club Mentor. I also expressed my desire to be accepted into the Community Engagement Ambassador Program at Brandeis. Now, looking back, I am proud to say that these aspirations have become a reality. Being a part of the Waltham Community Service Club and serving as a Boys and Girls Club Mentor has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I have truly met my people from programs ranging from Rich Collins, COMPACT, Roses in Concrete, Adagio Dance Group, BeWISE, and Posse. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Brandeis has given me a voice to make influential changes on campus, develop my leadership skills and connect with others who share my passions. If I spoke to myself 2021, I would be so proud and grateful I came to Brandeis. I have gained valuable experience, developed important skills, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. I look forward to continuing to grow and learn in my next years. * My time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who I am and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot of those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here at Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling sense of belonging is just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, no matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter. professors have believed in me and supported me these first few semesters. They have helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and overall intelligence. My peers have supported me and stood up for me in times of need. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community. I also just feel confident. I feel like I am starting to shape into a full-fledged adult. The way I am handling situations is much more mature than I did during my high school years. I feel like I will be prepared for the life ahead of me. Brandeis and its vibrant community have made me feel invincible in a way. Just walking around campus and seeing and waving to peers makes me feel like I have a place in this world and that feeling is really priceless. * My time at Brandeis has forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I would not be the person I am today without exposure to the rich, diverse culture of Brandeis. As I have learned, the only way to grow is to do things that are uncomfortable. Being so far from home and away from my family has forced to be independent and take on more responsibility. Not to mention, Brandeis has allowed me to foster close relationships with people from an array of backgrounds. Lastly, learned to be okay with receiving “no” as an answer as I blaze my path to success, even when there’s no path in sight. * Brandeis, as a school and community, has given me the courage to use my voice as a source of power, and to fearlessly go after the things that I want. Everyone here, whether they’re part of the student body or faculty, is uniquely and genuinely innovative, ambitious, and curious about the world. Being immersed in this mindset for the past three years has greatly shaped and shifted my perspective — I’ve fulfilled accomplishments and am achieving goals that I never thought I would even have the courage to reach for, all because I know I have a community here that deeply supports ambition and aspiration. Brandeis has encouraged me to break beyond my own perceived limitations and abilities, and to no longer let a fear of failure hold me back. I’ve learned that there’s a lesson in everything, and being surrounded by a community of determined students has made me realize that we are constantly evolving, growing, and changing for the better. * It’s helped me gain skills and valuable connections which have put me in a position to succeed both on campus and in the world. * As a homeschooled student, my time at Brandeis has shaped me by helping me discover who I am. At Brandeis, I have been able to pursue my passion for fencing and figure out what my goals and interests are, as well as my long-term career goals. * Since I arrived at Brandeis University, I have experienced transformative personal growth. Brandeis has helped to develop as a leader, increased my confidence in my abilities, allowed me to build a community among my Posse, and helped me recognize the knowledge that I bring beyond the classroom. When I first applied to Brandeis, I wrote that I hoped to be active in the Waltham Community Service Club and be a Boys and Girls Club Mentor. I also expressed desire to be accepted into the Community Engagement Ambassador Program at Brandeis. Now, looking back, I am proud to say that these aspirations have become a reality. Being a part of the Waltham Community Service Club and serving as a Boys and Girls Club Mentor has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I have truly met my people from programs ranging from Rich Collins, COMPACT, Roses in Concrete, Adagio Dance Group, BeWISE, and Posse. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Brandeis has given me a voice to make influential changes on campus, develop my leadership skills and connect with others who share my passions. If I spoke to myself in 2021, I would be so proud and grateful I came to Brandeis. I have gained valuable experience, developed important skills, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. I look forward to continuing to grow and learn in my next years. * My time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who I and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, I often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here at Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling a sense of belonging is just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, no matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter. My professors have believed in me and supported me these first few semesters. They have helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and overall intelligence. My peers have supported me and stood up for me in times of need. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community. I also just feel confident. I feel like I am starting to shape into a full-fledged adult. The way I am handling situations is much more mature than I did during my high school years. I feel like I will be prepared for the life ahead of me. Brandeis and its vibrant community have made me feel invincible in a way. Just walking around campus and seeing and waving to peers makes me feel like I have a place in this world and that feeling is really priceless. * My time at Brandeis has forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I would not be the person I am today without exposure to the rich, diverse culture of Brandeis. As I have learned, the only way to grow is to do things that are uncomfortable. Being so far from home and away from my family has forced me to be independent and take on more responsibility. Not to mention, Brandeis has allowed me to foster close relationships with people from an array of backgrounds. Lastly, I learned to be okay with receiving “no” as an answer as I blaze my path to success, even when there’s no path in sight. * Brandeis, as a school and community, has given me the courage to use my voice as a source of power, and to fearlessly go after the things that I want. Everyone here, whether they’re part of the student body or faculty, is uniquely and genuinely innovative, ambitious, and curious about the world. Being immersed in this mindset for the past three years has greatly shaped and shifted my perspective — I’ve fulfilled accomplishments and am achieving goals that I never thought I would even have the courage to reach for, all because I know I have a community here that deeply supports ambition and aspiration. Brandeis has encouraged me to break beyond my own perceived limitations and abilities, and to no longer let a fear of failure hold me back. I’ve learned that there’s a lesson in everything, and being surrounded by a community determined students has made me realize that we are constantly evolving, growing, and changing for the better. * It’s helped me gain skills and valuable connections which have put me in a position to succeed both on campus and in the world. * As a home-schooled student, my time at Brandeis has shaped me by helping me discover who I am. At Brandeis, I have been able to pursue my passion for fencing and figure out what my goals and interests are, as well as my long-term career goals. * Since I arrived at Brandeis University, I have experienced transformative personal growth. Brandeis has helped me to develop as a leader, increased my confidence in my abilities, allowed me to build a community among my Posse, and helped me recognize the knowledge that I bring beyond the classroom. When I first applied to Brandeis, I wrote that I hoped to be active in the Waltham Community Service Club and be a Boys and Girls Club Mentor. I also expressed my desire to be accepted into the Community Engagement Ambassador Program at Brandeis. Now, looking back, I am proud to say that these aspirations have become a reality. Being a part of the Waltham Community Service Club and serving as a Boys and Girls Club Mentor has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I have truly met my people from programs ranging from Rich Collins, COMPACT, Roses in Concrete, Adagio Dance Group, BeWISE, and Posse. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Brandeis has given me voice to make influential changes on campus, develop my leadership skills and connect with others who share my passions. If I spoke to myself in 2021, I would be so proud and grateful I came to Brandeis. I have gained valuable experience, developed important skills, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. I look forward to continuing grow and learn in my next years. * My time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who I am and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, I often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot of those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here at Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling a sense of belonging just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, no matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter. My professors have believed in me and supported me these first few semesters. They have helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and overall intelligence. My peers have supported me and stood up for me in times of need. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community. I also just feel confident. I feel like I am starting to shape into a full-fledged adult.

THERE’S MORE TO THE BRANDEIS STORY

Life at Brandeis is an adventure — an experience marked by the freedom to explore, discover, and grow in whatever direction you choose.

But what comes next?

The paths that lead from Brandeis into the world are as diverse and dynamic as the individuals who make up our community. And those individuals have some insights to share — about what it’s like to be here, what you’ll learn, and where it all might take you.

So here it is: six students with six unique perspectives on the Brandeis experience, and all the amazing places it will prepare you to go.

Always a pleasure.

Sylvia she /her

“My time at Brandeis has shaped who I am and who I’m going to be. My professors have believed in me. My peers have supported me. Feeling that sense of belonging is so liberating.”

Class year: 2026

Where I call home: Sammamish, WA

Majors: Creative Writing; Health: Science, Society, and Policy; Psychology

Find Sylvia on page 6

Harrison he /him

“I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone. The only way to grow is to do things that are uncomfortable. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Brandeis. I’ve grown into someone who will blaze a path to success, even when there’s no clear path in sight.”

Class year: 2025

Where I call home: Douglasville, GA

Major: Biology

Find Harrison on page 10

Destiny she / her

“Brandeis has helped me develop as a leader, increase my confidence, build a community, and recognize the knowledge I bring beyond the classroom. It’s been a time of really transformative personal growth for me.”

Class year: 2025

Where I call home: Kennesaw, GA

Majors: Biology; Health: Science, Society, and Policy

Find Destiny on page 14

Emily she / her

“Everyone here is uniquely and genuinely innovative, ambitious, and curious about the world. Being immersed in that for a few years has given me the courage to use my voice as a source of power, and to be fearless in going after the things I want.”

Class year: 2024

Where I call home: Tokyo; Hong Kong; Gill, MA

Major: Business

Minor: Psychology

Find Emily on page 18

Evan he / him

“So many of my friends at other schools don’t know their professors at all. I’ve gotten to know mine, in a place where I’ve also gained skills and valuable connections. It’s put me in a position to succeed, both on campus and in the world.”

Class year: 2024

Where I call home: Wellesley, MA

Majors: Business; Economics

Minor: History

Find Evan on page 22

Tony he /him

“Brandeis helped me discover who I am — an aspiring immigration lawyer, an all-American fencer, a teammate, a mentor, a volunteer, and more. From studying to hanging with friends, Springfest to the national championships, this experience has been so meaningful to me.”

Class year: 2025

Where I call home: Grand Prairie, TX

Majors: International and Global Studies; Politics

Minor: Legal Studies

Find Tony on page 26

Great expectations. Greater reality.

Choosing B randeisis

Whatyou’ll find here is evenbetter.

HARRISON “I was drawn in by the small student population. I always joke with my friends that everybody knows everybody, or you know somebody who knows someone else. That facilitates making more friends.”

SYLVIA “Brandeis itself feels super nice. It’s homey. There’s sunshine, and stuff to do, and time to relax. We have a great time on Moody Street in Waltham, which I absolutely love. I feel like I could live here the rest of my life.”

EMILY “I expected that if I looked, I’d find places for me. But the reality is that here, the opportunities actually find you.”

DESTINY “You hear about this being an undergraduate research campus, so a lot of people in science come here for research. But getting involved is so much more accessible than people realize.”

TONY “Someone was handing out roses to people, saying, ‘Happy Kindness Day.’ I don’t know if you can say — ‘At Brandeis, they will hand you flowers, that’s a guarantee.’ But people make an effort to do small things, go out of their way.”

EVAN “There was a consulting and investing club I wanted to be a part of, so I emailed the president and he said, ‘Hop on a call with me.’ That afternoon, we spent an hour and a half talking about Brandeis.”

Whatever your aspirations for your college experience, there’s more to Brandeis than you might expect.

brandeis.edu/awesome

92% are employed in fields related to their Brandeis field of study

95% were satisfied with their experience at Brandeis

“That’s what I was looking for: a place to belong.”

I was very nervous about college interviews. It’s tough! You want to look good, all of that. My sister is going through it right now. I don’t miss it. Going into my interview at Brandeis, I just felt very … welcomed. It didn’t feel like a scary thing when I walked in there. My interviewer was super kind — she wanted to hear my opinions and my point of view. I think that’s when I first thought, ‘Okay. I feel like I could really belong here.’ And that’s what I was looking for: a place to belong.

I also wanted strong academics without the “get ahead of people to succeed” type environment of some schools. Brandeis does a good job of that. It ties into that feeling of belonging — you can get good grades, have good relationships with your professors and your peers, without it being “get to the top.”

Honestly, I guess I was worried it was too good to be true. The culture, the academics, what if I'm going to crack under pressure? What if people are actually mean or cliquey? But it really wasn’t too good to be true. It is fantastic. Everybody is super friendly. My professors are absolutely amazing. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community.

I also just feel … confident. I had a lot of anxieties and insecurities growing up. The way I’m handling situations, I feel like I’m starting to become a full-fledged adult. I feel like I’m prepared for the life ahead of me, and that feeling is priceless.

Brandeis and its community have made me feel invincible in a way. Just walking around campus and waving to peers makes me feel like I have a place in this world — that no matter what happens in my life, I always have somewhere to come back to.

DESTINY “There are so many pockets of community at Brandeis. It’s really great to see how fast people connect here.”

TONY “I was home-schooled for all of high school, so I didn’t really know what kind of community I wanted. Talking to people here, I saw that Brandeis is a really supportive place where you can pursue your passions.”

EMILY “Brandeis is able to foster real community. There’s a genuine kindness Brandeis students have that really adds to that.”

19 varsity teams and 30 intramural sports leagues and competitions 200+ clubs and organizations

3 dining halls, plus a pub, multiple coffee shops, and a food court

*Why interview with Brandeis?*

Interviews are a chance to tell your story in ways that essays and transcripts can’t. Let’s chat!

brandeis.edu/interview

Sylvia

At Brandeis, we do the work of repairing the world.

Have your say.

A culture of activism and a commitment to robust discourse are part of the Brandeisian DNA. Here are just a handful of the 26 groups on campus working for a better world:

Brandeis Effective Altruism

The Right to Immigration Institute

Brandeis Impact Club

Students for Environmental Action

Challah for Hunger

The Multicultural Hair, Art, and Empowerment Club

Brandeis Students Demand Action

Carceral Awareness, Reform, and Education Club

Intersectional Feminist Coalition

Advocates for Health

Looking to launch your professional life from one of the original epicenters of social justice?

Look no further.

brandeis.edu/culture

What’s a Waltham Group?

The Waltham Group is a network of over 20 student-run volunteer programs that partner with local organizations and the Waltham community. Through service, education, and outreach, the Waltham Group engages and empowers the local community to drive change that helps address disparities in the city we’re proud to call home.

The Brandeis Habitat for Humanity chapter seeks to alleviate housing insecurity through advocacy, education, and volunteering.

EMILY “Brandeis students want to make an impact on a larger community. There are lots of places where Brandeis is directly supporting students to make that larger impact and add that sense of involvement to our campus.”

HARRISON “At Brandeis, there’s a culture of love and compassion and just trying to be there for one another.”

SYLVIA “There are so many different service opportunities — working with kids, working with animals, doing environmental stuff. Everyone wants to get involved. Everyone’s doing something. I’ve done Habitat for Humanity trips. Next year, I’m doing SPECTRUM Club, where I'll tutor and play with kids with autism.”

DESTINY “It’s about how we can do right among ourselves and other people. Brandeis is a social justice school, and we’re aware of what we need to do to live up to our name — always thinking of new programs and new opportunities.”

Evan “I want to learn about doing business in a more socially-minded country, so I’m going abroad to Denmark next semester to learn about business practices there. I'm trying to take the values that resonate with me and integrate them into what I'm studying.”

TONY “It’s a school focused on helping people and giving you opportunities to help people, especially groups that need it.”

justice louis d. brandeis

of the in the they were

had been

Language Empowering Action Project (LEAP) is a Walthambased community service group focused on helping non-Englishspeaking adults develop English language skills. LEAP recognizes the power of language and its ability to change people’s lives. LEAP students volunteer in English at McDevitt Middle School’s Family Literacy Program.

Brandeis is really huge on community service. It’s how I get tapped into meeting people, get out of my comfort zone, and find spaces where I can be myself.

I’m part of a program called *LEAP (Language Empowering Action Project),* and I also do general and (autism) spectrum tutoring. That’s been awesome. But really, you can do whatever kind of service you want here at Brandeis. The Rich/Collins Fellowship is essentially a grant where you make a plan and a budget for a service project, partner with an organization, and allocate the money toward whatever you had in mind for the project.

So I started the Youth Health Initiative and chose to partner with the Waltham Boys & Girls Club. Essentially, I teach middle schoolers the benefits of nutrition, healthy eating, physical fitness, and the role those things play in mental health. And then we jump rope. We just finished last Monday with a jump rope competition. Gave them some Brandeis swag. It’s been really fun.

But the opportunities are endless — some people in my cohort are teaching kids how to play instruments. It’s a wide variety of things. You just have to find your own, or even create your own, which isn’t hard to do. This program has also contributed to my goal of becoming an effective communicator. Planning, networking, overall outreach, and time management have all been part of it — start on a certain day, finish on a certain day, communicate with my partner, and make sure everything’s all together.

When it comes to community service, especially at Brandeis, it’s easy to get involved. All you really have to do is show up. Get moving on whatever you’re interested in or want to do.

SYLVIA “I grew up in a special ed program, so through elementary and middle school, I had a lot of great experiences with older kids. College kids would come in and do stuff with us, and that was just really impactful for me. I just remember thinking, ‘Okay, I can get through this, my disabilities or whatever. At the end of the day, I can go to college and I can make a difference, too.’”

Emily “The Brenda Meehan Social Justice-in-Action grant is $1,000. You write a proposal explaining how you’ll use this money to further social justice in action. I applied for the grant on behalf of the Southeast Asia Club. As Brandeis students, we have access to these really great facilities, and there are all these Southeast Asian communities nearby who don’t. We realized we have the resources to host events, and we should be reaching out beyond Brandeis.”

“I teach middle schoolers the benefits of nutrition (and) healthy eating … then we jump rope.”

Harrison

*TAKE THE LEAP*

Say it with us: Learning is the part of college.

TONY “You can study a lot of different things at once, and there are lots of opportunities for research. Great potential to do a million different things at a high level — I think that characterizes academics here.”

SYLVIA “The professors really make their classes engaging for their students. They want students to show up and to learn a lot. The subject matter itself is interesting and thought-provoking. It’s often even fun (as fun as a research paper can be).”

LEARN FROM THE BEST

Pick a discipline, and you’ll likely find Brandeis faculty among its best and brightest. Here’s what just a few of them are working on outside the classroom.

Pursuing nextgeneration energy storage systems by observing light-induced phase change and molecular rearrangement

Protecting voting rights and reestablishing democratic stability by refuting baseless claims of voter fraud

DESTINY “I took Waltham Speaks: Multilingualism, Advocacy, and Community with Rachel Kramer Theodorou. She’s really passionate and has involved so many students in her studies. We worked on a fundraising program called Fiesta, raising money for the Waltham Family School, which helps bilingual parents learn English and understand the American school system better. I think it’s really cool to bring students in that way and get us involved.”

Exploring the Black experience in World War I after rediscovering a lost manuscript by W.E.B. Du Bois

Searching for dark matter, Z’, and long–lived particles at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider

Watch a video of Gabriella Sciolla talking about Training the Next Generation of Scientists

Using AI to explore new models for aging-in-place and elder support

EVAN “I’m a history minor. One of my friends said, ‘Evan, you have to take A Global History of Sport.’ I didn’t expect much, but it’s been my favorite class. It wasn’t just memorizing who won the World Series — it was a deep dive into how sports affect culture and how geopolitics is often very interlaced with sporting events. Professor Singh is absolutely amazing.”

Zachary Albert, Politics Chad Williams, History

Margie Lachman, Psychology

Gabriella Sciolla, Physics

Grace Han, Chemistry

BRANDEIS CORE*

Other schools have general education requirements. Brandeis has the Core — a curriculum that fosters curiosity, professional skills, intellectual freedom, and practical know-how. With the Core, you’ll explore new perspectives and develop new knowledge through a shared academic experience rooted in open inquiry and inclusion. the novum

Percentage of Brandeis students who have multiple majors, using our flexible curriculum to combine multiple interests and fields of study

HARRISON “If it wasn’t for the *Brandeis Core ,* I wouldn’t have taken Out of This World: Science Fiction’s Cyborgs, Time Travelers, and Space Invaders. It was a little tough, but I really got something from it, learning about sci-fi from perspectives that aren’t just sci-fi movies. It was about the literary angle of it — ‘the novum,’ they call it.”

Rabb School of Continuing Studies

Brandeis International Business School

~50% majors minors

Plus an ever-evolving curriculum of interdisciplinary programs and pre-professional pathways

CHART YOUR COURSE

4

World-class Brandeis graduate and professional schools with courses available to undergraduate students

51

Heller School for Social Policy and Management

At Brandeis, you'll gain a broad-based, research-driven, hands-on education that will enable you to make a difference — wherever you might be headed. brandeis.edu/ academics

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

EMILY “They give you a full skill set here that is applicable or transferable to different fields after graduation. I’m taking classes with the business school and with Brandeis Graduate Professional Studies. I’m studying UX design, even though that isn't offered to undergraduates.”

And what you learn at Brandeis will help you make a difference everywhere you go.

*THE

SYLVIA “Brandeis has all these opportunities and alleyways you can go down to discover new things. A year ago, I never thought I’d take health classes at all — I was thinking about film and Creative Writing. Now I’m thinking about triple majoring in Psychology, HSSP, and Creative Writing. I’m really excited.”

TONY “I took Introduction to Comparative Politics with Steven Wilson. He is one of my favorite professors. He made every single lecture, every topic — even heavy things like ethnic conflict — really interesting and engaging.”

DESTINY “There are disparities I feel like a lot of schools look past. That’s something about Brandeis: We’re not afraid to have those conversations. We really focus on what has happened and how we can do better as a social justice school.”

In the classroom

I’m pre-med, majoring in Biology and Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP). There are so many different facets of pre-med. You’re really encouraged to go outside your comfort zone here. My *Roosevelt Fellow* literally said, “It’s like throwing pasta at the wall and seeing what sticks.” It’s cool that we can take other interdisciplinary and cross-curriculum-type courses to see what we really care about the most.

I’m currently in a class called Health Care Technology: Evaluating Emerging Medical Services, Drugs, and Devices. It’s an elective for Business, HSSP, Biology, and Neuroscience, so we have a range of different perspectives. Professor Cindy Thomas really plays into that. She’ll ask the Business students, “What is your perspective on this technology? Do we understand why this price is this way in the context of supply and demand?” And then people from my majors, we’re all trying to understand how this aspect of health technology actually works. It’s really cool to bounce off of one big idea and see so many different perspectives.

In the lab

Labs on campus rely on undergraduate students to keep them running. I work with Suzanne Paradis in the Paradis Lab, which focuses on the hippocampus, and specifically the REM2 gene, which is related to neuroplasticity and memory.

You really see behind the scenes. Talking about the scientific method, messing up, trying to find something new — all of it helps you understand how we move forward in science. And the community behind the lab is so much more than you think. We have lab meetings every week, and community events, and birthday parties. We have a lab dog, and his name is Duncan. Suzanne will have me come into meetings just to talk, or say hi to Duncan. It’s cute.

And beyond

I’m a *Posse Scholar* as well as president of Brandeis Encourages Women in Science and Engineering, and I've really connected to professors on working with nonprofits. Because I work with the Department of Student Engagement and a lot of other groups on campus, I’ve been able to develop business skills that are also applicable as a health care professional. It’s cool how my academics and community service have come together to give me opportunities to develop these skills.

* POSSE SCHOLARS *

Brandeis Posse is a merit-based scholarship program founded by Brandeis alumna and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Deborah Bial ’87, H’12. Brandeis Posse Scholars from Atlanta and New York City are selected for their academic capabilities and outstanding leadership potential. They receive four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships. Since 1989, more than 8,400 Posse scholars have earned $1.2 billion in scholarships from Posse’s partner colleges and universities.

The Roosevelt Fellows (named for Eleanor Roosevelt, an early trustee of Brandeis) are a trained group of junior and senior peer advisors who provide an informed, accessible perspective on navigating academics at Brandeis. All first-year, midyear, and transfer students are assigned a Roosevelt Fellow to support them in their academic transition. Roosevelt Fellows are also a resource for the entire undergraduate community.

“You’re really encouraged to go outside your comfort zone.”

* ROOSEVELT FELLOWS *

Brandeis supports learning across all the dimensions of Destiny’s pre-med track.

Don’t overthink it.

Research, internships, and mentorship all help you discover what you’re capable of.

Very inter(n)esting

From gaining practical knowledge in the fields you’re interested in to working alongside professionals who can help guide you along your journey, internships are what experiential learning is all about. Each one is a chance to explore, engage, and immerse yourself in the kind of learning that enriches all other aspects of your Brandeis experience.

40 undergraduates publish research with Brandeis faculty each year

57% of Brandeis undergraduates participate in research

destiny “Internships are definitely important for developing your skills further. You’re going out into the real world, doing something that’s similar or related to the field that you want to go into, and you’re applying your skills outside the classroom.”

SYLVIA “I give campus tours, and when I was applying for that job, I knew a bunch of other people who were, too. And the vibe was, ‘I hope you get it!’ and ‘I hope we can do this together!’ or ‘Here’s how my interview went yesterday. I hope yours goes well!’ Everyone shares their insights. Everyone wants you to succeed.”

HARRISON “I’m a tech for the Paradis lab. We work with mice to study synapse formation. It’s a cool experience and it’s taught me a lot, especially about being patient. I’ve messed up lab preps. It happens. Come back the next day and try again.”

tony “Internships are a great opportunity for networking and meeting other people. Also, you get to see what you’d be doing if you were to follow the career path you’re currently interested in. You get a glimpse of what your day-to-day would look like.”

EMILY “Every school says they want to help you get hands-on experience outside the classroom, but Brandeis actually applies that in concrete ways. The Hiatt Career Center offers travel grants that have enabled me to pursue two internships during the semester.”

evan “The thing about being an intern is that you’re expected to be a sponge and ask questions and not know everything. It’s like being in the classroom; you need to be smart and willing to learn, but you don't need to have all the answers.”

In the words of Justice Louis D. Brandeis, “Experience should teach us.” Come experience experiential learning for yourself. brandeis.edu/experience

Brandeis Interns work at the Hoosic River Watershed Association and New England Aquarium.

“Toward a ‘More Perfect Likeness’: Shifting Visual Agency in Black America”

Creative arts

“A Transcriptional Constraint Mechanism Limits the Homeostatic Response to Activity Deprivation in Mammalian Neocortex”

neuroscience

“Humidity Sensors that Alert Mosquitoes to Nearby Hosts and Egg-laying Sites”

biology

“Becoming Israeli: A Study of Soviet and Ethiopian Integration in the 1990s”

Political science

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

“A-Spec: Conceptualizing Asexual Identity, Experience, and Phenomenological Form”

eight REAL (AND REALLY COOL)

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS

Whether they’re part of the Undergraduate Research Symposium or co-authoring papers with Brandeis faculty, Brandeis undergraduates pursue ideas, seek truth, and contribute to their chosen fields.

(Imagine what you could be working on this time next year.)

brandeis.edu/imagine

Anthropology

“The Duality of Disaster: Disability Politics in an Age of Climate Change”

“How Emotion Regulation Affects Positive and Negative Social Media Experience”

Psychology

Legal Studies

“Reclaiming Humanity in an Inhumane System: The Reintegration Experience for ExIncarcerated Individuals with Disabilities”

Emily learns by doing — and by helping others do the same.

My experiential learning journey really started during my first year through the *Hiatt Career Center.* I talked to them about how I wasn’t super sure what I wanted to commit myself to. They assured me that it was totally okay and said a great way to figure it out was to get a bit more hands-on through internships.

At Hiatt, they tell every student that it’s super important to find (internships) where you feel like you can grow — where you have a team and community that supports you, just like on the Brandeis campus. I think this kind of mindset of helping others and giving back to others has really influenced the kind of internships I take.

Hiatt helped connect me to a lot of opportunities, starting with smaller companies. I’ve worked my way up, and over the summer I did a CX Strategy and Advocacy internship with CVS. I chose CVS specifically because I saw that same attitude of helping others and making a genuine impact on others. And I don’t think that’s a company I would’ve resonated with strongly if I hadn’t come to Brandeis and talked to Hiatt about what I really want to do.

It’s kind of a domino effect: During each experience, I learn a little bit more about what suits me, not only the tasks and the industry, but the company culture.

As a student career advisor at Hiatt myself, I talk to a lot of people about what they want to do. I’ve noticed that everyone — no matter where they are in their career or academic journey — takes the time to think about how they can help others and contribute to their peers’ journeys. That’s something unique about Brandeis that I really don’t see reflected in a lot of other places. Brandeis is a small community, but everyone is so genuinely intent on lifting each other up. Everyone cares a lot about their future and their career, but there isn’t that sense of competitiveness.

One of the most important things I do as a Hiatt advisor and also as a club leader is to let people know that it’s okay to pivot. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to struggle, and be open and real about that. I’ve been through that. Every student here has been through it, and it doesn’t make you any weaker or any less of a Brandeisian.

As long as you’re open and vulnerable about who you are (which I think every Brandeis student is), people will see that and understand it. It creates an opportunity for you to become yourself and get involved.

Harrison “Experiential learning shows you’re willing to grow, willing to be exposed to a wide variety of fields and a wide variety of people. Whatever you do outside the classroom, there are always transferable skills to gain from your experience.”

Tony “Whether you’re in a STEM or humanities class, guest speakers will come talk about experiential learning opportunities that are relevant to the subject you’re studying. Brandeis makes sure that you know internships and research opportunities exist and are available to you.”

*THE HIATT CAREER CENTER, A FIVE-STAR CAREER PREP EXPERIENCE*

Choosing a career is much more than simply finding one job or making a single decision. The Hiatt Career Center empowers students and alumni to harness their individuality in exploring majors, industries, and paths.

Evan “One piece of advice: Reach out to the Hiatt Career Center. Just schedule an appointment, even if you don’t know what you’re talking about or you’re not sure. They’re there for you. Not knowing what you’re talking about is the first step.”

“It’s okay to pivot.

It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to struggle, and be open and real about that.”

Emily

We can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

destiny “You do a lot of reflection here. Brandeis has helped me find my strengths and weaknesses — in academics, in relationships, in my communication style. It’s prepared me for the field I want to go into and put everything in context for my future.”

EVAN “I’ve created a student network of people who all want to go into finance and economics, and I meet with them multiple times a week. We talk business, that sort of stuff. Also, the alumni network is great. If you reach out to a Brandeis alum, they’ll want to talk to you.”

SYLVIA “I’m taking a class with professor Sarah Lupis called Adolescence and the Transition to Maturity. Studying psych, you learn how people think, and it makes you reflect. I think it has really helped me cement what I want to do. I want to work with foster kids. I’m interested in policy and changing the foster care system for the better.”

Tony “Being here has challenged me to explore my interests, learn about myself, and become really self-sufficient — to understand how I work best when I have to balance a lot. All these things have made me more confident in my ability to be successful.”

Jonathan Goldman, ’19 , majors: philosophy, politics/ Minors: economics, legal studies, social justice and social policy. Building on a journey that began at Brandeis when he helped to co-found The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII), Jonathan is the executive director of the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice — an organization that partners with schools in Worcester, Boston, and Providence to train college students to provide pro bono legal support to asylum seekers.

Iyvon E., ’13, majors: international and global studies, Italian studies/ Minor: theater arts. A theater producer, dramaturg, and artistic programmer based in New York City, Iyvon is the founder of the play development company The Parsnip Ship. She is also the Director of Artistic Programs at Signature Theatre company, where she leads the company’s newest residency program for early-career playwrights while working to curate and cultivate free artistic programming.

Emily Eng, ’14, majors: biochemistry, music/ Minor: chemistry. Co-founder of the Lift Music Fund, Emily works to ensure greater access to musical study for BIPOC student musicians. Focused specifically on combating high costs of instruments and musical education as well as other incidental and hidden costs that serve as barriers to entry, Lift provides monthly microgrants and funds large cost barriers like tuition expenses, making careers in music more affordable and accessible to students from all walks of life.

harrison “I think I’m more bold. I think before, I was doing more of what I’m used to. Brandeis has helped me be more comfortable being uncomfortable and taking more initiative than I used to.”

EMILY “My business communications professor really takes the time to get to know each student, understand what industry they want to go into, and adjust course content based on what we need to hear. She’s setting us up for the future. Our time together is temporary, but she cares about us past that time frame. She genuinely wants to see us succeed. I think that’s one of the most important things a professor can do.”

Sarah Ackerman, ’17, major: psychology/ Minor: theater arts. Drawing from a lifetime of experience overcoming the social and psychological challenges of life-threatening allergies, Sarah is a food safety advocate turned activist. After launching Girl Behind the Hive, a website providing advocacy resources, recipes, and stories from her own life, she worked closely with lawmakers to encourage the passage of the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act, which was signed into law in 2021.

Ayan Sanyal, ’14, major: economics/ Minors: business, politics. Motivated by a passion for sharing the vibrant and authentic food culture of West Bengal and Kolkata, Ayan co-founded Kolkata Chai Co. — a cafe in New York City specializing in chai tea made in authentic Indian traditions. With two locations and more than 40,000 followers on Instagram, Ayan and his brother, Ani, have been featured on Good Morning America to discuss the importance of celebrating and preserving their heritage.

Rima Tahini, ’16, major: business. As director of Artist and Repertoire for Nigeria’s Mavin Records, Rima oversees the label’s roster of artists — developing their brands, sounds, visual identity, social media presence, and performance opportunities. Working alongside superstar artists like Rema and Ayra Starr, whose collective stream counts stretch into the billions, Rima plays an instrumental role in shaping the landscape of popular music in Africa and the wider world.

As people and professionals, Brandeisians do great things.

Brandeis graduates go on to do incredible things across a whole world of disciplines. brandeis.edu/next

Brandeisians of the Last Decade

The most recent Brandeisians of the Last Decade (BOLD) cohort of outstanding artists, activists, and entrepreneurs are driving important conversations, challenging the status quo, and making waves in their respective fields. Less than 10 years after graduation, they’re already changing the world.

I feel like I've had lots of opportunities at Brandeis to get career-ready. I was looking for a business program rooted in a liberal arts core — the best of both worlds. Most schools have a huge business school that’s separate from the liberal arts college, but I wanted a place where they were on the same track.

A lot of the business classes are taught by people who aren’t necessarily from academia. They are people who used to work, or sometimes still work, in industry. And these professors really want to tell you about their experiences. So I’d meet with professors during office hours and talk about what I want to do with my life, and what they would recommend I look into. They’ve been very supportive and helpful.

The Hiatt Career Center is so helpful, too. I’ve had three really cool internships. I’m interning within commercial banking at Citizens Bank this summer. Before that, I worked with a FinTech startup, and it was great to be in the startup environment. The other was at an investment firm that manages pension funds for union members. I helped do research and develop resources for pension members. Doing all the normal finance stuff was very interesting, but knowing that at the end of the day, you’re helping teachers’ unions and the firefighters’ unions made it even more enjoyable.

Finally, a big part of my social life is clubs — I’ve been a part of Brandeis Consulting Club from the start, but I was also on the Hillel board last year. I come from a background that’s extremely Reform Jewish. So when I came to Brandeis, I only went to those activities at first. But over time, I started making friends from different walks of life. Now, I have friends who practice other forms of Judaism, I have friends who are Buddhist, I have friends who are Catholic — all sorts, all over the spectrum. These new friendships and experiences I’ve gained — they’ve changed what being Jewish means to me.

Through my involvement with clubs on campus, I’ve also gained a lot of leadership skills. I’ve taught people how to do finances and how to run their clubs — a lot of the back-end stuff. I’ve learned how to break down these complex, frustrating topics into more digestible parts. And I’ve helped others succeed and feel a lot more confident in themselves. That’s awesome to say. The world is your oyster.

Brandeis graduates go on to impactful careers with great organizations near and far. Here are some that you probably recognize.

DESTINY “One thing I’ve seen is how diverse each person’s goals are at Brandeis. There have been instances where I’ve taken the exact same class with someone, with the exact same professor, but we want to do completely different things after graduation. That’s really refreshing — that you still retain that individuality and have a graduating class that is diverse and going to do a ton of amazing things across all fields.”

Tony “I’ve developed my communication, personal skills, and also so many connections. The small size of Brandeis is extremely beneficial for being able to interact more closely, on a personal basis, and explore different interests.”

Emily “I’ve learned to rely on my community in a way that helps me advance professionally. Everyone here is driven, but also so focused on helping each other. If you see someone as competition and you’re not open with them, then you lose access to so much knowledge and support.”

“I’ve helped others succeed and feel a lot more confident in themselves. That’s awesome to say.”

Once a Brandeisian, always a Brandeisian.

Join a global community of friends, peers, mentors, colleagues, and change-makers.

Harrison “I wasn’t sure I’d make close connections in college, but these people are great. Everybody at Brandeis has goals in life, something we can bond over. Everybody’s just so supportive. It brings a good feeling to my heart.”

DESTINY “I met my friend Patrick my first year, running on the track at 6 a.m. He turned out to be in my hall and all of my classes. He’s also a Biology major, so we’re always studying, and we’ve become best friends. It seems simple, but it’s such a great part of the experience — you meet so many great friends from random places, and it can continue on forever.”

Sylvia “There’s a spiritual connectivity. Brandeis accepts you for who you are and you can make religion your own thing. Me, personally, I love being culturally Jewish. I connect with the values. This community — you’re going to be accepted no matter what.”

Name a city, name an industry. Brandeis alumni are likely there, and thriving. brandeis.edu/after

EMILY “I also want to talk about one of my friends! His name is Josh. We’ve never had a single class that overlapped, but he is still one of my best friends, and he’s been there for me. You can meet people with similar interests, but you also can create strong connections with people you never thought you’d meet. And you’ve never been friends with anyone like them before.”

Rise Together is a web-based platform connecting Brandeis alums to one another and to current students. It’s a university-wide initiative that empowers Brandeisians all over the world to communicate about careers, networking, professional development, and more. Rise Together provides everything from industry-specific career mentors and expertise to community-based cohorts, plus exclusive access to networking activities and events.

All laurels. No resting. Wherever they go, and whatever they do, Brandeis alumni have an outsized impact — in their communities as well as their chosen callings.

63,986 Total alumni

169 countries where you’ll find Brandeis graduates

1 IN 5

Brandeis faculty and staff who are also Brandeis alumni

98%

of the Brandeis Class of 2022 were employed, attending grad school, or engaged in other meaningful activities within six months of graduation

50+ graduates have been offered Fulbright grants over the past 10 years

~25% Brandeis’ admission rate to medical school is 20-30% above the national average

The Rise Together Mentor Network

Tony talks teammates, mentors, and how strong relationships can help you make the most out of life.

been able to accomplish so many things.”

Teamwork makes the dream work

Last year, I hosted a recruit named Lev for the fencing team. He came to Brandeis, and he’s been on the team with me all year. We’re both really passionate about fencing, and we really push each other. We have strengths in different areas, I think. I’m older, so I help Lev by giving him advice on classes: what to take, what to do, good study habits, stuff like that. And then Lev helps me be more confident in fencing. He’d pick me up when I was having a bad day at a meet or losing motivation and not competing well.

I’m really thankful that we’ve been able to push each other, both in athletics and academics, to be as successful as we can be. We’re just really maximizing our time at Brandeis by working so well together. And we’ve been able to accomplish so many things. Lev went to the Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Bulgaria, and he won gold! It was a historic performance. He’s one of my best teammates, and I’m really proud.

Mentorship that leads from the classroom to a calling

When I came to Brandeis, I knew I wanted to go to law school, but I had no idea what kind of law I wanted to study. I thought, ‘I don’t have to worry about that while I’m here. I’ll figure that out in law school.’ But so many people I talked to — in classes I had, professors I met, even upperclass students on similar tracks — were able to give me advice that helped me explore my own interests.

Professor Rosalind Kabrhel runs this program called the Law and Society Internship and Seminar, and she is AWESOME. For the program, you enroll in the seminar, and that same semester, professor Kabrhel will help you find an internship. I’m going to be interning at WATCH CDC, which is a housing clinic that helps low-income families and marginalized groups get affordable housing in Waltham. With professor Kabrhel’s help, I’m learning more about this work, and now I’m leaning toward going into immigration law. It’s been a really cool experience that has helped me further define my direction and my interests, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

Meet Your Biggest Fans. Brandeis faculty invest in the success of each student — both while they’re on campus, and throughout long and successful careers. Three professors reflect on how they approach mentorship.

“I get to know my students and they get to know me. And they really come to love something they hadn’t even heard of before. My class is about learning how to study something you love.”

“Curiosity has always been my fuel. I’m a huge believer in that kind of lens for the world. Because it’s really about learning, it’s about curiosity, it’s about the journey. And it helps shape the world in different, important, profound ways.”

“I teach primarily undergraduates, and they have a lot of questions when they come in. ‘Where do I start?’ To be successful in science, you have to follow your passion. It might not be easy, but it’s important that you have a light that always drives you.”

They Lead by Example

Watch faculty videos

professor: Ulka Anjaria department: English

professor: Neil Swidey department: Journalism

professor: Gabriella Sciolla department: Physics

“We’ve

Tony

This nine-foot bronze figure of Louis D. Brandeis was created by noted sculptor Robert Berks in 1956 to commemorate the 100th birthday of the Supreme Court justice. With his judicial robes billowing out behind him, Brandeis appears to be in mid-stride.

Ready to begin your own Brandeis journey?

We’re a medium-sized, top-tier research university where students who love to learn, discover, and make a difference work with world-class faculty who love to teach, mentor, and create new knowledge. Our beautiful suburban campus, just nine miles from downtown Boston, is home to clubs and organizations for every passion and interest — and to a welcoming, fun-loving community where everyone is free to be exactly who they are.

Peers and friends who are invested in bettering themselves as well as the world. Unmatched undergraduate research. The flexibility to combine different interests, pursue different paths, and engage in graduate-level coursework. Sound good? We can’t wait to meet you.

At Brandeis, we’re committed to providing the best possible college education — and to making that education attainable and affordable. We are proud to meet 100% of calculated financial eligibility for students who apply for needbased financial aid by submitting the FAFSA and CSS Profile.

Take a close look, and you’ll discover that a Brandeis education isn’t just an incredible value. It can also be a lot more affordable than you think.

$16.2 MILLION in scholarships and grants awarded to the Class of 2024

$47,790

in average needbased awards

68% of students admitted to the class of 2026 received need-based financial aid or merit awards

brandeis.edu/admissions

facebook.com/brandeisuniversity

@brandeisadmissions

@brandeis

@brandeisuniversity

Brandeis prohibits discrimination and harassment against students, staff, and faculty on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, caste, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, including transgender identity, religion, disability, age, genetics, active military or veteran status, and any other characteristics protected under applicable federal or Massachusetts law, known as “Protected Categories.”

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content Strategy: 43,000 Feet

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My time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who I am and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, I often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot of those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here at Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling a sense of belonging is just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, no matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter. My professors have believed in me and supported me these first few semesters. They have helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and overall intelligence. My peers have supported me and stood up for me in times of need. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community. I also just feel confident. I feel like I am starting to shape into a full-fledged adult. The way I am handling situations is much more mature than I did during my high school years. I feel like I will be prepared for the life ahead of me. Brandeis and its vibrant community have made me feel invincible in way. Just walking around campus and seeing and waving to peers makes me feel like I have a place in this world and that feeling is really priceless. * My time at Brandeis has forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I would not be the person I am today without exposure to the rich, diverse culture of Brandeis. As I have learned, the only way grow is to do things that are uncomfortable. Being so far from home and away from my family has forced me to be independent and take on more responsibility. Not to mention, Brandeis has allowed me to foster close relationships with people from an array of backgrounds. Lastly, I learned to be okay with receiving “no” as an answer as I blaze my path to success, even when there’s no path in sight. * Brandeis, as a school and community, has given me the courage to use my voice as a source of power, and to fearlessly after the things that I want. Everyone here, whether they’re part of the student body or faculty, is uniquely and genuinely innovative, ambitious, and curious about the world. Being immersed in this mindset for the past three years has greatly shaped and shifted my perspective — I’ve fulfilled accomplishments and am achieving goals that I never thought I would even have the courage to reach for, all because I know I have a community here that deeply supports ambition and aspiration. Brandeis has encouraged me break beyond my own perceived limitations and abilities, and to no longer let a fear of failure hold me back. I’ve learned that there’s a lesson in everything, and being surrounded by a community of determined students has made me realize that we are constantly evolving, growing, and changing for the better. * It’s helped me gain skills and valuable connections which have put me in a position to succeed both on campus and in the world. * As a home-schooled student, my time at Brandeis has shaped me by helping me discover who I am. At Brandeis, I have been able to pursue my passion for fencing and figure out what my goals and interests are, as well as my long-term career goals. Since I arrived at Brandeis University, I have experienced transformative personal growth. Brandeis has helped me to develop as a leader, increased my confidence in my abilities, allowed me to build a community among my Posse, and helped me recognize the knowledge that I bring beyond the classroom. When I first applied to Brandeis, I wrote that I hoped to be active in the Waltham Community Service Club and be a Boys and Girls Club Mentor. I also expressed my desire to be accepted into the Community Engagement Ambassador Program at Brandeis. Now, looking back, I am proud to say that these aspirations have become a reality. Being a part of the Waltham Community Service Club and serving as a Boys and Girls Club Mentor has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I have truly met my people from programs ranging from Rich Collins, COMPACT, Roses Concrete, Adagio Dance Group, BeWISE, and Posse. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives others. Brandeis has given me a voice to make influential changes on campus, develop my leadership skills and connect with others who share my passions. If I spoke to myself in 2021, I would be so proud and grateful I came to Brandeis. I have gained valuable experience, developed important skills, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. look forward to continuing to grow and learn in my next years. * My time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who I am and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, I often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot of those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here at Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling a sense of belonging is just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, no matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter. My professors have believed in me and supported me these first few semesters. They have helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and overall intelligence. My peers have supported me and stood up for me in times of need. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community. I also just feel confident. I feel like I am starting to shape into a full-fledged adult. The way I am handling situations is much more mature than I did during my high school years. I feel like I will be prepared for the life ahead of me. Brandeis and its vibrant community have made me feel invincible in a way. Just walking around campus and seeing and waving to peers makes me feel like I have a place in this world and that feeling is really priceless. * My time at Brandeis has forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I would not be the person I am today without exposure to the rich, diverse culture of Brandeis. As I have learned, the only way to grow is to do things that are uncomfortable. Being so far from home and away from my family has forced me to be independent and take on more responsibility. Not to mention, Brandeis has allowed me to foster close relationships with people from an array of backgrounds. Lastly, I learned to be okay with receiving “no” as an answer as I blaze my path to success, even when there’s no path in sight. * Brandeis, as a school and community, has given me the courage to use my voice as a source of power, and to fearlessly go after the things that I want. Everyone here, whether they’re part of the student body or faculty, is uniquely and genuinely innovative, ambitious, and curious about the world. Being immersed in this mindset for the past three years has greatly shaped and shifted my perspective — I’ve fulfilled accomplishments and am achieving goals that I never thought I would even have the courage to reach for, all because I know I have a community here that deeply supports ambition and aspiration. Brandeis has encouraged me to break beyond my own perceived limitations and abilities, and to no longer let a fear of failure hold me back. I’ve learned that there’s a lesson in everything, and being surrounded by a community of determined students has made me realize that we are constantly evolving, growing, and changing for the better. * It’s helped me gain skills and valuable connections which have put me in a position to succeed both on campus and in the world. * As a homeschooled student, my time at Brandeis has shaped me by helping me discover who I am. At Brandeis, I have been able to pursue my passion for fencing and figure out what my goals and interests are, as well as my long-term career goals. * Since I arrived at Brandeis University, I have experienced transformative personal growth. Brandeis has helped me to develop as a leader, increased my confidence in my abilities, allowed me to build a community among my Posse, and helped me recognize the knowledge that I bring beyond the classroom. When I first applied to Brandeis, I wrote that I hoped to be active in the Waltham Community Service Club and be a Boys and Girls Club Mentor. I also expressed my desire to be accepted into the Community Engagement Ambassador Program at Brandeis. Now, looking back, I am proud to say that these aspirations have become a reality. Being a part of the Waltham Community Service Club and serving as a Boys and Girls Club Mentor has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I have truly met my people from programs ranging from Rich Collins, COMPACT, Roses in Concrete, Adagio Dance Group, BeWISE, and Posse. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Brandeis has given me a voice to make influential changes on campus, develop my leadership skills and connect with others who share my passions. If I spoke to myself in 2021, I would be so proud and grateful I came to Brandeis. I have gained valuable experience, developed important skills, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. I look forward to continuing to grow and learn in my next years. * My time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who am and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, I often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot of those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here at Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling a sense of belonging is just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, no matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter. My professors have believed in me and supported me these first few semesters. They have helped me gain confidence in my academic ability and overall intelligence. My peers have supported me and stood up for me in times of need. I feel truly loved and accepted by the Brandeis community. I also just feel confident. I feel like I am starting to shape into a full-fledged adult. The way I am handling situations is much more mature than I did during my high school years. I feel like I will be prepared for the life ahead of me. Brandeis and its vibrant community have made me feel invincible in a way. Just walking around campus and seeing and waving to peers makes me feel like I have a place in this world and that feeling is really priceless. * My time at Brandeis has forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I would not be the person I am today without exposure to the rich, diverse culture of Brandeis. As I have learned, the only way to grow is to do things that are uncomfortable. Being so far from home and away from my family has forced me to be independent and take on more responsibility. Not to mention, Brandeis has allowed me foster close relationships with people from an array of backgrounds. Lastly, I learned to be okay with receiving “no” as an answer as I blaze my path to success, even when there’s no path in sight. * Brandeis, as a school and community, has given me the courage to use my voice as a source of power, and to fearlessly go after the things that I want. Everyone here, whether they’re part of the student body or faculty, is uniquely and genuinely innovative, ambitious, and curious about the world. Being immersed in this mindset for the past three years has greatly shaped and shifted my perspective — I’ve fulfilled accomplishments and am achieving goals that I never thought I would even have the courage to reach for, all because I know I have a community here that deeply supports ambition and aspiration. Brandeis has encouraged me to break beyond my own perceived limitations and abilities, and to no longer let a fear of failure hold me back. I’ve learned that there’s a lesson in everything, and being surrounded by a community of determined students has made me realize that we are constantly evolving, growing, and changing for the better. * It’s helped me gain skills and valuable connections which have put me in a position to succeed both on campus and in the world. * As a home-schooled student, my time at Brandeis has shaped me by helping me discover who I am. Brandeis, I have been able to pursue my passion for fencing and figure out what my goals and interests are, as well as my long-term career goals. * Since I arrived at Brandeis University, I have experienced transformative personal growth. Brandeis has helped me to develop as a leader, increased my confidence in my abilities, allowed me to build community among my Posse, and helped me recognize the knowledge that I bring beyond the classroom. When I first applied to Brandeis, I wrote that I hoped to be active in the Waltham Community Service Club and be a Boys and Girls Club Mentor. I also expressed my desire to be accepted into the Community Engagement Ambassador Program Brandeis. Now, looking back, I am proud to say that these aspirations have become a reality. Being a part of the Waltham Community Service Club and serving as a Boys and Girls Club Mentor has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I have truly met my people from programs ranging from Rich Collins, COMPACT, Roses in Concrete, Adagio Dance Group, BeWISE, and Posse. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Brandeis has given a voice to make influential changes on campus, develop my leadership skills and connect with others who share my passions. If I spoke to myself in 2021, I would be so proud and grateful I came to Brandeis. I have gained valuable experience, developed important skills, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. I look forward to continuing to grow and learn in my next years. * My time at Brandeis has greatly shaped both who I am and who I am going to be. Before coming to university, I often struggled with emotional control, often feeling intensely sad and lonely. Since being here on campus, a lot of those lonely feelings have faded away. I have made great friends who have instilled me with confidence. The community here at Brandeis truly makes me feel like I belong, something I could not often say in my teenage years. Feeling a sense of belonging is just such a liberating feeling. I feel like now, no matter what happens in my life, I will always have Brandeis to come back to and feel like I truly matter.

Instax Mini 11 photos: Destiny, Emily, Evan, Harrison, Sylvia, Tony. other photography: Mike Lovett, Heratch Ekmekjian, Liz Linder Photography, Bob Handelman. Image collage of BOLD alumni includes photos courtesy of the alumni and photographer Bryan Joseph Lee.

Dan Holmes, Gaelen Morse, Brandeis University illustrations of students: Julia Emiliani Office of Communications © Brandeis University 2023 P045