ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Established in 1948, Brandeis University is a medium-sized private research university located in Waltham, MA, a pleasant residential neighborhood only nine miles west of Boston. Named after the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, the school is the only nonsectarian Jewish-founded university in the United States. Originally founded by a group of Jewish intellectuals (including Albert Einstein) who wanted an elite institution to call their own, Brandeis is now down to about 55 percent Jewish and seeking students of all faiths. The university supports an innovative and exciting program of learning that emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge and the pursuit of social justice. Academic specialities include the natural sciences, the Middle East, and Jewish studies. Brandeis also maintains a commitment to the creative arts, with strong theater offerings and a theory-based music program founded by the late Leonard Bernstein. Students benefit from learning in an environment of small, discussion-based classes, while also having the ability to engage in hands-on, primary research during their undergraduate years. For more information about the university, see www.brandeis.edu/about/index.html.
MOST POPULAR MAJORS
Economics, biology, psychology, international global studies, neuroscience, health, Near Eastern and Judaic studies. For a complete list of majors and minors, see www.brandeis.edu/learning/programs.html
FAST FACTS
Undergraduate students: 3,621
Graduate students: 2,131
International students: 20%, from 70+ countries
Student-to-faculty ration: 10:1
Classes with fewer than 20 students: 64%
4-year graduation rate: 80%
Selectivity: Highly selective
Fall 2015 acceptance rate: 35%
SAT test scores (middle 50%): 680-740 (Reading), 690-780 (Math)
ACT test scores (middle 50%): 29-33
Recommended minimum TOEFL: 100
Application deadline: Jan 1
Tuition and fees: $49,586/year
Room and board: $14,224/year
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
For international students, Brandeis awards a limited number of need-based scholarships each year that meet 100% of the student’s demonstrated need. In addition, the Wien International Scholarship Program is unique in the sense that it offers a merit-based scholarship exclusively for international students. It was the first of its kind in the US when it was launched in 1957. Scholarships range from 2-3 full scholarships every year that cover all costs to 20-25 partial scholarships.
HOW TO APPLY
For detailed information about the application process for international students, see www.brandeis.edu/admissions/apply/international.html.