Undergraduate First Year Experience

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: International and Global Studies (IGS); History; Legal Studies
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The close community of people and the campus events!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Biology; Neuroscience; Psychology
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: I would tell myself, be prepared to walk around and have a more open mind. It's okay to yap to people because that is how you make friends with people on campus. As well as, there are a lot of hills on campus, bring good walking shoes and be ready to walk around a lot to places, such as to class, to on-campus events, and to get food.

Pronouns: They/Them
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Creative Writing; Politics; English
Hometown: Buckeye, Arizona
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: All of the different people and communities on campus. Everyone is so welcoming. I have attended meetings for many clubs and I have always been welcomed with open arms. Everyone is just so happy to see you.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Computer Science; Linguistics 
Hometown: Lexington, MA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The amazing and wonderful people!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Anthropology; Classical and Early Mediterranean Studies; Psychology
Hometown: The Woodlands, TX
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: That there is something for everyone. No matter what you're interested in, you will at least be able to find one thing that you can join and be passionate about. Some of the best friends I've made have come from things that I joined randomly.

Pronouns: They/She
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: International and Global Studies (IGS) 
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: You definitely don't need to limit yourself to one club or a certain number of social commitments, but it's also important to know your limits - schedule more downtime for yourself than you think you'll need. There's always more to do, but resting and self care keeps you at your best so you can do the things you need.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Psychology; Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP) 
Hometown: New York, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The community is so warm and authentic. Everyone is bound to find a space that they belong.

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Computer Science
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis: The Gosman Athletic Center because of it's size and large variety of activities you can be a part of.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Computer Science
Hometown: Brandon, MS
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Going to events on campus! Not only is it one of the best ways to meet new people, but there are also a lot of fun activities and free food to help you de-stress from class assignments.

Pronouns: He/They
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: History; Economics; History of Ideas; NEJS; Yiddish
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Put yourself out there as much as possible!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Biology; Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP); Chemistry
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The lore- Leo Gerstenzang, who one of our buildings is named after, invented the q-tip!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Neuroscience; Health: Science, Society, & Policy (HSSP)
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: I really appreciate how Brandeis offers strong academic support. There are so many free resources available, like TA office hours and BUGS tutoring, that truly make it easier for students to succeed.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Neuroscience; Biology; Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP); Music; Psychology
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. Exploring different interests, changing your mind, and asking for help are all part of the process, and Brandeis is full of people who want to support you through it.

Pronouns: He/They
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS); Politics; Religious Studies; Education
Hometown: Boston, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Say yes to trying as many new things as possible! Brandeis is full of unexpected magic when you step outside your usual rhythms—and some of the most meaningful moments come when you take the time to really get to know your peers and faculty.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Biology; Chemistry
Hometown: Westford, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It’s okay not to have everything figured out—everyone’s adjusting, and it’s normal to take time to find your people and your path.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Business; International Global Studies (IGS)
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The community I have found! I love the people that I have met throughout the years whether they're in the clubs I'm involved with or within the classroom. It's always great to have those people you can rely on at any time and make Brandeis feel closer to home.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Neuroscience; Psychology
Hometown: New Hyde Park, NY
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: I wish knew that I would meet so many amazing people and have a lot of fun!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Psychology; Studio Art 
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The peaceful feeling when everywhere can become your space and everyone can share, whether it is a powerful question that can reshape your world or a small little story from last week that marks the beginning of a new friendship.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Business; American Studies 
Hometown: Princeton, NJ
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: All the waves and smiles you’ll get throughout the day! The community here is so friendly.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Biology; Environmental Studies (ENVS)
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It's so easy to stay on campus all the time, but getting off campus into Waltham or Boston will remind you that you are a real person who knows how to exist, which can sometimes feel far away in the Brandeis bubble.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Biology; Health: Science, Society & Policy (HSSP); Business 
Hometown: Queens, NY
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Do not feel pressured because this is also everyone else’s first time having this experience.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Education Studies; Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS)
Hometown: Lewisburg, PA / Princeton, NJ
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew how many opportunities there are to get involved in anything you’re interested in, and that I’d make friends and form so many different communities with each thing I got involved in.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Biology
Hometown: Methuen, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: There is a lot of academic freedom, and many people change their plans many times throughout their time at Brandeis!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Undeclared
Hometown: Scarsdale, NY
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: The professors are happy to help so you should not hesitate to reach out for any reason!

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Theatre; Environmental Studies (ENVS); Music; Legal Studies
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
My favorite thing about Brandeis: The small departments make it easy to form connections with both my professors and peers!

Pronouns: He/Him 
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Business; Hispanic Studies; Computer Science 
Hometown: Plainsboro, NJ
My favorite thing about Brandeis: I really love how diverse the campus is and how many different clubs you can join. It’s a great community and there’s always events going on that are super fun and engaging!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Health: Science, Society & Policy (HSSP)
Hometown: Laurelton, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The community!

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: International Business
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The community. You can go just about anywhere and find a community of people who are ready and willing to help you in whatever it is you want to do, whether it’s academically, socially, or anything else.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Economics; Psychology
Hometown: Medford, OR
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Your skills and confidence will grow throughout college but that journey starts with showing up, trying new things, and being okay with not having it all figured out yet. Just take the first step.

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Undeclared
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: This experience will always be what you yourself want to make of it, keep that in mind whenever you have doubts.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Applied Mathematics; Theater Arts
Hometown: Waterford, CT
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The entire theater community that has embraced me and introduced me to some of the most wonderful people I know, as well as put on some truly incredible and impactful shows.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Biology
Hometown: NJ
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Join clubs that interest you and form relationships with people - it will help you in the long run!

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: International and Global Studies (IGS); Politics; Legal Studies 
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: The friends you meet your first year are not always your friends forever and that is okay-- you are still meeting new people and navigating what it means to be a college student to you. 

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: International and Global Studies (IGS); Psychology
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: I love how so many people study so many subjects that they love. Fun fact: Many of us have multiple majors and minors just because we have so many interests!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Biology
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The people, the kindness, and the feeling that you belong here. The connections I've built, the unique strengths I've learned from others, and the support of the community have shown me that I'm never alone.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Psychology; Creative Writing
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: We have a ballroom dancing club!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Business Administration; Legal Studies; Art History
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Orientation is really fun and actually one of the most important parts of your journey at Brandeis. This is a new student's first week at school and its important that you use this opportunity to really put yourself out there and try to meet new people.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Neuroscience; Biology 
Hometown: Cranston, RI
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Don't be afraid to try new things! There are so many opportunities that you'll miss if you don't put yourself out there!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Neuroscience; Biology; Creative Writing 
Hometown: Waltham, MA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The supportive and kind community - everyone is friendly and welcoming on campus. Whether you need directions to Usdan or class recommendations, the Brandeis community will always be willing to help!

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Education Studies; Psychology 
Hometown: Atlanta, Kenya & India
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew that college isn't perfect. Not everyone has it figured out and not everything is sunshine and roses. However, its when you see that little ray of sunshine peak through the clouds where you can sit and smile and remember what you are doing this for.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Neuroscience; Theater Arts
Hometown: Camas, WA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: My favorite thing about Brandeis is how passionate and welcoming the community is. It is so easy to strike up a conversation with anyone because everyone has something that they'd love to chat about.

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Psychology; Computer Science 
Hometown: Chesire, CT
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: How many different support systems are out there, but also that I didn't need to connect with and use every one of them -- I just needed to find the things and people who I needed to succeed and thrive.

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Business; Politics; Legal Studies
Hometown: Nashua, NH
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: You will make friends. Really good friends. Give it time and don’t rush it. 

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Computer Science
Hometown: New York, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The professors here are awesome! I'm an especially big fan of the Business faculty.

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Health: Science, Society & Policy (HSSP); Chemical Biology 
Hometown: South Korea
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Utilizing Hiatt Career Center

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Biology; Neuroscience
Hometown: China
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The flowers in spring.

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2026
Areas of Study: Economics; Business  
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I learned about the importance of thinking about my career path early on. I used to focus solely on getting perfect grades, but I’ve learned that the difference between an A and an A- often matters less than gaining real-world experience and building a strong professional network. Internships, career exploration, and making connections in your field can be just as valuable as academic success, if not more!

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Politics; Legal Studies 
Hometown: Millburn, NJ
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew how many resources were available to me. It is genuinely so easy to find help here if you know where to look, and everyone is always eager to help.

Pronouns: They/Them 
Class Year: 2027
Areas of Study: Psychology
Hometown: White Plains, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: How kind and accepting everyone is. 

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study: Biology; Psychology; Studio Art 
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey is that you will change and that’s a natural part of growth. Whether it’s a small shift or a big transformation, you won’t be the same person you were when you first entered college, and that’s okay! It’s your life, change into who you want to live it as.

Pronouns: She/They
Class Year: 2028
Areas of Study​​ Psychology; Theater Arts
Hometown: Brattleboro, VT
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: I love how many different courses are offered and that we are encouraged to take a variety of classes.