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Helpful Tips for Parents
From the Roosevelt Fellows

The Roosevelt Fellows are upperclass peer mentors who assist first year students' with academic and personal acclimation to Brandeis. They offer knowledge and perspective to students gained through their own Brandeis experience and their extensive training.

From the heart and soul of students who have gone through the college experience... read their academic advice and insightful tips for parents!

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From Josh Koppel ‘08

Urge your student to get involved and to take advantage of the myriad of opportunities that Brandeis presents.  Particularly, encourage him or her to seek out professors in their office hours and to get to know them.  Some of the best learning a student can get at Brandeis comes through personal interactions with these amazing people.  All the professors here are open to working with and getting to know students, but the students do have to take the initiative.  Also encourage your student to get involved in clubs, sports, social activities, and leadership positions here.  These are great preparation for life, teaching all of the skills that a student can't learn in the classroom.  But also remember to let your student make his own decisions and to explore for himself.  Brandeis is a place where students find themselves, and this can only happen when a student tries new things on his own.

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From Katie Broderick ‘08

I guess all I can say to a parent of another Brandeis student is what I love that my parents do.  My parents have always supported me and never let me down.  When I think about it it's really amazing.  I feel the need to call them when I get a bad grade and when I get a good grade which says a lot.  They are there for me either way and always know that I gave it my best shot.  They have also been selfless, like when I went abroad.  They always said that they missed me but never made me feel guilty for being far away which is priceless.

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From Matt Rogers ‘08

I think that one of my favorite things about Brandeis is that regardless of what major a student has, everyone walks out at graduation with the same degree. Okay, some get a B.S. and some get a B.A., but you catch my drift. A student who spends four years painting and sculpting and exploring the edges of their creativity has a degree of equal value to a student who analyzes economic trends and one who runs gels day and night in the lab. A senior thesis that results in the production of a play earns the director the same honors notation as the senior thesis that results in a treatise on political philosophy. The combinations and permutations of potential classes and majors are endless at Brandeis (I knew someone who had a combination of majors and minors in Art History, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Women's and Gender Studies), but the end result is the same for every single student.

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From Tamar Moskowitz ‘08

Brandeis is an amazing community with so many academic, and other intellectual opportunities to offer its students.  I would advise each first year student to get involved in at least one if not two clubs.  This way, social networks are expanded and opportunities for future leadership positions become available.  The extra curricular activities in my experience have enriched my time at Brandeis immensely.  Also, students here tend to challenge themselves by exploring classes in departments that they might not have had the opportunity to at other schools--parents should encourage this as it will definitely supplement the student's education and help them to see the world in different ways.  Students shouldn't rush into a track or major without fully investigating what Brandeis has to offer.  I'd also recommend that students seek out resources like BUGS (group study sessions), TAs, the writing center, and tutors when tough exams, homework or papers come up.  Brandeis encourages people to be independent and to know when to seek advice and assistance, because learning the material is the focus, as well as gaining the ability to seek answers.  I've absolutely loved my 4 years at Brandeis because of the unique community here that focuses on academics and stresses the benefits of leadership and community involvement in its commitment to a real education.

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From Rachel Friedman ‘08

What made me feel so comfortable at Brandeis, starting from the very first day of orientation, is how incredibly outgoing Brandeis students and staff are, and how much the staff truly cares about all aspects of how a student is doing. When a student comes to speak to an advisor, a professor, or a Roosevelt Fellow, they do not just get their questions answered, but they get a chance to talk about how they are doing at Brandeis as a whole. I have been at Brandeis for three years, and I have had the great opportunity to form wonderful relationships with many of my professors, and the staff here, along with my fellow students. My best advice to a Brandeis parent would be to encourage your child to reach out not only to friends, but to advisors in Academic Services, professors, and Roosevelt Fellows as well. We are here to help, and make sure that all students get as much as they can out of their time here at Brandeis.