hopefulbob

So I'm thinking about transferring to Brandeis from Skidmore. I pay half tuition at Skidmore ($25000). I really like Brandeis and would prefer to go there. But I don't hate Skidmore and feel that I could go back there too. So is Brandeis that much better that it is worth the money? Or should I stay at Skidmore and make the most of it? I applied to transfer because students at Skidmore (at least the ones I met) did not seem too serious about academics and the academics weren't amazing or particularly challenging. But it has some good professors and I would be willing to seek them out. I'm considering majoring in psych and politics (and maybe some combination of philosophy and English minors). My parents can pay for Brandeis but it seems like they would be very reluctant to. They say it is my decision. any advice would be appreciated.

rebelliousduck

What you are really asking is is Brandeis $XX,000 better than Skidmore? Only someone who attended both schools is in a position to answer and, even then, it is a matter of personal preference. You might be better off sticking with the devil you know.

hopefulbob

yes! that is exactly what I'm trying to figure out. And ya, I was hoping that by some stroke of luck someone familiar with both school might see this and be able to give an opinion.

sulsk

the psyc and politics departments at brandeis are both pretty strong so i think that may cause you to think about studying at 'deis. i would recommend touching base with professors in those departments to see if you'll get more out of a brandeis education in terms of your specific disciplines. another big factor would be social life. are you happy at skidmore socially? do you like your group of friends? do you like the activities, the food, etc.?

hopefulbob

I am not very happy with my group of friends..they are good people and fun to be with but drink every weekend while I never do, and don't care as much about schoolwork at all..I hear a lot of people complain about the social life at Brandeis though. Most of the complaints seemed like plusses for me (since they were complaining about the lack of partying) until I heard that there were a lot of cliques. If true, this would be very bad for me since I'd be a year behind to begin with, not to mention I'm very introverted. So I feel like I'm taking a chance but have little to lose. (On the other hand, at least I met people at Skidmore...I met a lot of ppl because my roommates were outgoing and I became friends with their friends..which ultimately didnt lead to the best friendsships, but at least they existed.)

catperson247

Obviously there is no guarantee, but also keep in mind that there are probably other transfers. I knew 3 transfer girls to very varying degrees the past 2 years and they adapted pretty well, I think,. Of 3 boys I sort of know, 2 I think adapted pretty well, the third I don't know since we lost touch since he was 2 years older than me and we weren't in any classes or clubs together. I know of 2 girls who were in a forced triple my first year, one considered transferring out of Brandeis, one of them a good friend of mine, because of some of the latter social concerns you mention, but in the end she chose not to and I think was happy last year (she also had a single as compared to a triple) and is going abroad next semester. The other is transferring to Brown this coming semester. There are also definitely many people who are not the hard partying type. What kinds of things do you like doing in your free time for extra curriculars? What type of clubs do you think might be interested in joining? Do you think you will have a job? Those are good ways to meet people. I'd say most Brandeis students do work hard, take their studies seriously, but balance work with other activities usually of the extracurricular or hanging out kind, not necessarily the partying/drinking kind.

ETA: You can see a list of clubs here, if you haven't already: Club Center