My second college visit yesterday was to Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Brandeis was founded in 1948 by the American Jewish community in an era when many people were being discriminated against. Today, while Brandeis has an amazing program in Judaic studies and Hebrew, Brandeis welcomes people from all faith backgrounds, and strives to provide an equitable educational environment. I think they're succeeding. For example, all clubs on campus must be inclusive in order to receive university activity funding. Therefore, there are no tryouts and no cuts. To be clear, this stands in start contrast to the club environment in many highly selective colleges in the US. I'd like to join the popular Water Battleship Club which is exactly what it sounds like: sink your opponent's canoe while you remain afloat. Also, they host a Kindness Day every fall. Among other events, they take the time to thank their dining and janitorial staff. Additionally, as a music lover, I think it is very cool that Leonard Bernstein himself helped create the music program at Brandeis and was a member of the faculty. There still remains a Leonard Bernstein fellowship which is a renewable scholarship worth $20,500 per year for accomplished musicians applying to Brandeis. This year, it will be awarded to a violinist. Lastly, it's important to note the test-flexible policy. If you choose to not submit SAT scores, there is a requirement for submitting other exams or an additional paper and recommendation. Nine miles west of Boston, Brandeis is a great option for high-achieving students!