<p>I went to Hamilton a long time ago, so my thoughts need to be taken with a grain of salt. But I’ve known a few people whose kids have gone there in the past decade, and from their reports I gather that this much hasn’t changed: Hamilton places an extraordinary emphasis on learning to think critically and write clearly, and does a great job of teaching these skills at a high level. (Apparently they still think of this as a key part of their identity, since the tagline on their website is “A national leader in teaching students to write effectively, learn from each other and think for themselves.”)</p>
<p>This is not to say, of course, that Brandeis doesn’t do a good job of teaching writing and critical thought–just that if the idea of a school that puts these things front and center appeals to you, Hamilton may be a good fit for you.</p>