Brandeis University is a private research university located just outside of Boston in Waltham, MA. The school is named after Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, and the school has a strong secular Jewish identity. Popular majors at Brandeis include Biology, Economics, and Public Policy. Brandeis’ acceptance rate floats in the 30-35% range, so writing a great supplement will be key to helping you stand out.
The Brandeis supplement changed last year, but they’ve reused the prompt again this year. We actually really love this question because it allows you to show off sides of yourself that you wouldn’t be able to do in a Why Brandeis style essay. Let’s dive in.
The Brandeis community is a diverse group of critical thinkers defined by their ability to dive deeper into their learning by questioning, analyzing, evaluating, creating, critiquing and seeking other perspectives. Share an example of how you have used your own critical thinking skills on a specific subject, project, idea or interest. (250 words max.)
This is a big question with a small word count, and long-time readers of the blog will know what our suggestion is going to be. Tell a story.
The biggest part of this essay might be brainstorming. Sit down and think of times you’ve solved problems or created solutions, especially in your extracurriculars, hobbies, work experiences, and family life. Maybe you looked up how to fix your own car, or finally solved that puzzle box your Grandma gave you years ago. Maybe you just simply solved a Rubik’s Cube for the first time. Whatever the problem was, share your solution.
Don’t make this essay bigger than you. Make sure what you’re writing about is something you actually had control over. Not that we don’t believe in your ability to solve world crises, but writing about recycling so you can save the planet or fundraising to end homelessness is much too large for this prompt. The story should end with the thing being solved, and climate change and homelessness won’t be solved by an action at home.
Now that you have an idea of the anecdotes you want to share, it’s time to put the words upon the page! If you’re going the fix your own car route, bring us into the scene with a lot of detail. Start with something eye-catching, like “It’s going to cost WHAT?” and how you decided then and there to fix it yourself. Describe the process of getting under your car. What did it smell like? What did you feel, both physically and emotionally? We’re going for sensory overload here.
Once you’ve told your story, it’s time to edit and review. This is your only supplement for Brandeis, so you want it to be perfect. 250 words isn’t a ton, so make sure you cut out the chaff and leave the key details.
Good luck! If you need help with your Brandeis application, your Common App essay, or any other supplement, reach out to us today.