Brandeis University Admissions

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Applying to Brandeis as a first-year student? Below, you'll find everything you need to include in your application.

In addition to the core first-year applicant materials list, be sure to check out the additional guides below for more info, advice and supplementary information! And remember, we're always here to help.

All First-Year Applicants

• A completed Common Application or Coalition Application.
• $80 application fee (or fee waiver).
• Official copies of all high school transcripts and/or GED certificate and/or marks from any externally graded national exams. (If the original documents are not in English, please submit both original documents and English translations.) This should include transcripts for courses taken for credit outside your high school. Transcripts must include official grades from all years of secondary school.
• A school report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official.
• High School Senior Grades: Send your senior midyear grades as soon as they become available. We understand this may not be until late January or early February for some students, though we encourage you to send them as soon as possible. For Early Decision applicants, submit first marking period grades, which may be first quarter or first trimester grades.
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher who has instructed you in a core academic course (math, science, history, foreign language or English). (Homeschooled students and those applying for the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, see the tabs below for more details.)
• Optional standardized test scores: Learn more about our test-optional policy.
• A completed Early Decision Agreement Form (pdf). If you're applying for Early Decision I or Early Decision II.

Additional Materials and Information

• English Proficiency: If you're an international student for whom English is not your native language, you should submit results of an English proficiency exam. You have the choice of submitting scores from one of the following exams. Scanned copies of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Assessment exams are accepted; Duolingo (DET) scores must be submitted directly from the testing agency.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • Cambridge Assessment English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
  • If you have spent four or more years attending a high school where the full academic curriculum is in English, you are exempt from this requirement, and may submit a request for a waiver in your DEISconnect portal after applying.
  • If you're applying directly from a United World College (UWC) campus, you are also exempt from this requirement.
  • If you are not applying for financial aid, you must submit:
    • The Certification of Finances for International Students through your DEISconnect portal.
    • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family will contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
    • A completed CSS Profile.
    • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family can contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
    • Visits: We encourage you to participate in a virtual visit and, if possible, schedule an interview with an admissions representative.
    • Third-party interviews: Interviews through services like InitialView or Vericant are also encouraged. Deadlines are as follows:
      • Early Decision I : Record and submit by November 15.
      • Early Decision II / Regular Decision: Record and submit by January 16.
      Homeschooled Applicants
      • A detailed description of your homeschool curriculum.
      • Identification of affiliation with a state or national homeschooling organization.
      • An interview with a Brandeis representative is recommended, but not required.
      • It is recommended that one letter of recommendation be from an outside teacher if coursework was taken beyond homeschool.
      Undocumented / DACA Applicants

      Undocumented/out-of status students, with or without Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) students, and those with Asylum Status are welcome and encouraged to apply to Brandeis. These applicants will be given full consideration for admission.

      If your status falls into any of these categories, you'll automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships. To be considered for need-based financial aid, you'll need to submit a CSS Profile so that we have the financial information we need to consider you for these funds.

      Track Your Application

      Once your application has been processed, you'll receive an email with a username, password and link to your DEISconnect account. This is where you can check the status of your application, and see your admissions decision when it becomes available.

      We work to handle the documents we receive as quickly and accurately as possible, but it can take up to three business days to process credentials once they are delivered to the admissions office. Before contacting us about missing items, please make sure they have been sent to Brandeis.

      Brandeis accepts self-reported exam scores for admissions review. Applicants who self-report scores, earn admission, and choose to attend Brandeis will have to send their official scores via the testing agency or on an official school document before they can matriculate. For missing recommendations or transcripts, please contact your college counselor or teachers to confirm if and when the documents were sent to us.

      Still have questions? We're here to help. Email us at admissions@brandeis.edu.

      • First-Year Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • Visiting Students
      • Early Decision at Brandeis

      Interview with Brandeis!

      Rising high school seniors can interview with Brandeis. While optional, interviews are a great way to add to your application to Brandeis and speak with a student Admissions Fellow.

      Application Deadlines

      See deadlines for admissions and financial aid.

      Office of Undergraduate Admissions

      415 South Street
      Waltham, MA 02453
      781-736-3500
      admissions@brandeis.edu

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