New Undergraduate Student Orientation

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: History & International and Global Studies (IGS)
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Be as open-minded as possible and say yes to new opportunities!

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Biology major; History & Classical Studies minor
Hometown: New York, NY
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Just how much you can grow as a person. When I started at Brandeis I knew I wasn’t done growing as a person, but what has surprised me is just how much one can change over the course of your college career.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Computer Science & Linguistics major; French and Francophone Studies minor
Hometown: Lexington, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Brandeis Fellowships department!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Psychology & Anthropology major; Creativity, the Arts, and Social Transformation minor
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: she/her
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: International and Global Studies (IGS)
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: Being able to be a part of and try so many different things!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Major/Minor: Psychology Major; HSSP & Sociology Minor
Hometown: New York, NY
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It's okay to not have everything figured out! It takes time to adjust to the college environment, classes, new responsibilities, and new people so be patient with yourself, trust yourself, and try your best. Embrace the journey!

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Math & Physics
Hometown: Madison, CT
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew how interesting and fun the Brandeis community can be.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Neuroscience & Biology major 
Hometown: Madison, CT
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: How collaborative and supportive the environment is!

Pronouns: they/he
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Undeclared
Hometown: Lyme, NH
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Go to as many events as you can. Not only will these events help you meet people, but it is a well-deserved break from schoolwork.

Pronouns: they/them
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Undeclared
Hometown: Rye, NY
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: You'll need more luggage when you move out vs when you move-in.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Computer Science
Hometown: Brandon, MS
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Go to events! This isn't to say that you NEED to go to every event on campus, but it's a nice way to make friends who have similar interests as you or just find hobbies to de-stress from school work (for me, this would be the Brandeis Pottery Club).

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Psychology & Education Studies major
Hometown: Andover, MA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The community! Everyone at Brandeis is always more than willing to help, whether it be faculty, staff, friends, or a student you just met today. Brandeis is a school that cares about the holistic student experience; academics, co-curricular opportunities & health and wellbeing are all top priorities.

Pronouns: they/she
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: History major; Legal Studies minor
Hometown: New York, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: How passionate everyone is about their interests or topics they care about! I love how welcoming and encouraging everyone here is.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Politics & International and Global Studies (IGS) major 
Hometown: Dallas, TX
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: Sherman Dining Hall cereal (specifically Cocoa Puffs)

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Environmental Studies major; Education Studies minor
Hometown: New Paltz, NY
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Yes, there are a million things to do at Brandeis and it seems like every student is involved in at least ten things, but pick a passion and dedicate yourself to it. Try and avoid the pressure to overcommit which may lead to feeling spread thin; instead, do what brings you joy and/or intrigue.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Neuroscience & Biology major; HSSP & Music minor
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It’s okay to take some time to adjust and make friends. Don’t stress to make your first week define the rest of your year.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Linguistics; Psychology; Social Justice Social Policy (SJSP)
Hometown: Madison, CT
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: You may not find your people immediately and that’s okay, you will soon! Also, bring a fan!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Applied Math major & Hispanic Studies minor
Hometown: Maplewood, NJ
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The supportive community of students who genuinely want to see everyone succeed. Everyone is super smart and driven, which makes Brandeis a really great place to study and live!

Pronouns: he/they
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS)
Hometown: Boston, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Don't stress too much! Everyone is nervous and everything will work out.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Linguistics & Computer Science
Hometown: Denver, CO
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Your study habits in high school won’t necessarily be the best for college. Try different habits, it could be beneficial.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Psychology & Studio Art
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: It's okay not to know what you want to study, or where you want to be.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Business, History & American Studies major
Hometown: Princeton, NJ
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Be kind to yourself! Give yourself patience and prioritize your wellbeing.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Biology
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew that I didn't have to do everything all of the time. There is so much to do in college that I could hypothetically fill all of my time, but taking time to rest is still productive, in its own way.

Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Biology
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Academic advising isn’t scary. They’re really sweet and want to help!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Neuroscience
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It is okay to not know what you want to study right away. Take some classes that are out of your comfort zone to get a feel for what you like!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Education Studies
Hometown: PA/NJ
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: The environment at Brandeis is not competitive. Everyone wants to support you and see you succeed.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Theatre & Environmental Studies major; Music minor
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Push yourself outside of your comfort zone!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Business & Psychology major; Fine Arts & East Asian Studies minor
Hometown: IL & China
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: I love how inclusive it is!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Politics, German & Legal Studies
Hometown: Chicago, IL
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The opportunities for exploration! Whether through our 200+ clubs, the community, or the liberal arts core curriculum, there are so many ways for you to find your niche and passions.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: History, Politics & American Studies major; Classics, History of Ideas, and Religious Studies minor
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It is so easy to get involved in research, no matter the topic. Professors are so eager to connect with students and allow them to pursue their passions in an academic setting.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP) major; Business minor
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The community you can find here! There's a club/organization for everyone!

Pronouns: any
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Sociology & American Studies major; Legal Studies & Film minor
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: I love how everyone comes with a collaborative attitude rather than a competitive one. Brandeis is a school where people feel comfortable embracing their strengths and improving their weaknesses, while encouraging the same for every other student.

Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: History, Politics & American Studies major; Legal Studies, Religious Studies & History of Ideas minor
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: To make the most of every opportunity and recognize how special your time here truly can be.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Undeclared; Considering Applied Math major with Theater Arts & Computer Science minors
Hometown: Waterford, CT
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The variety of clubs and organizations I have been able to join!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Biology
Hometown: NJ
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Don't be afraid to reach out to people, the staff and faculty are all very kind and welcoming people!

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: International and Global Studies (IGS) & Politics major; Legal Studies minor
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: Boris' Kitchen Sketch Comedy!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: International and Global Studies (IGS) & Psychology major
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: No matter how shy or anxious you are about meeting new people, everyone speaks to you with kindness and patience, and in the end you feel like you belong.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Business Administration major; Legal Studies & Art History minor
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 of 2026
Majors/Minors: Neuroscience & Biology major
Hometown: Cranston, RI
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey:  I wish I knew how many opportunities there are on campus so that I could have been more involved right from the start of my experience at Brandeis!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Politics & Jewish Studies major; Sociology minor
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew that I was going to figure it all out. I was so worried when getting to Brandeis that I wouldn't make friends, or find clubs that I liked, or that I'd struggle in my classes. I spent so much time overthinking what could go wrong that I didn't give myself time to be excited over everything that could go so well. I wish I had known before coming to Brandeis that I'd find my people, and that classes could easily be changed, and that there were so many clubs I'd have a hard time fitting everything I wanted to do into my schedule.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP) & Biology
Hometown: Foxboro, MA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: The number of majors/minors you have does not matter! It is so easy to get pulled into overloading your plate with several classes just to get to a certain number of majors or minors. Through these last 3 years, I've really learned that in the grand scheme of things, what matters more in the workplace are the experience and skills you gain inside and outside of the classroom.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Psychology & Computer Science major; Education minor
Hometown: Chesire, CT
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The culture of support while everyone pushes each other to be the best versions of themselves.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Computer Science & Business
Hometown: New York, NY
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: It’s totally fine to do things at your own pace. After all, slow and steady wins the race!

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Applied Mathematics major; Economics minor
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew that Chum's was such a cool place on campus!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Education major; Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies (AAPI) & Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGS) minor
Hometown: New York, NY
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Do not stress about controlling everything. Everything works out the way it is supposed to!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: American Studies & Education
Hometown: Englewood, NJ
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Before I started my Brandeis journey, I wish I knew how many resources were available here on campus!

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Politics & International and Global Studies (IGS) major; Legal Studies minor
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Brandeis has a lot of resources like Hiatt Career Center, the Writing Center, the BCC (Brandeis Counseling Center), etc. that everyone should take advantage of.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Biology & Neuroscience major; Psychology minor
Hometown: China
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: Don't be afraid to ask professors for help! They are all super nice and supportive people.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Economics & Business major & Legal Studies minor
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: Its diverse student body; I have learned from so many different identities and backgrounds!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Applied Mathematics
Hometown: San Clemente, CA
Something I wish I knew when I started my Brandeis journey: Ask for what you need! There are people and resources that are here to help you.

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2025
Majors/Minors: Neuroscience & Biology major; Psychology & Politics minor
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: The resources available for both science and humanities students. I am currently majoring in biology and neuroscience but am still able to take courses that I'm interested in and become a politics and psychology minor. I do research and TA (Teacher's Assistant) for STEM classes and am still able to venture into the humanities, which is a facet unique to Brandeis in its variety of opportunities.

Pronouns: he/him
Class of 2026
Majors/Minors: Politics, International and Global Studies (IGS), Philosophy, Hispanic Studies
Hometown: Washington, DC
Something I wish I knew before I started my Brandeis journey: I wish I knew to start using a calendar as soon as possible!

Pronouns: she/her
Class of 2027
Majors/Minors: Undeclared; Considering Sociology & Psychology
Hometown: China
My favorite thing about Brandeis is: There are plenty of opportunities for students to explore their potential.