I’d vote the same way.
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Regarding Brandeis’s architecture, I think most of the early buildings are in the International Style, or what this Dwell article describes as midcentury modern design.
I find many of the buildings on campus brilliant. I think if one looks at them individually and without preconceived notions of what a college campus should look like, they are better appreciated.
I also think the buildings at Brandeis are more authentic than acid-washed Gothic, and authenticity is kind of what Brandeis is all about. They continue to add buildings that are contemporary, not buildings that hark back to the halcyon days of… the 15th century. 
I do think better landscaping could transform the campus. Nevertheless, I would not discard a school that has top-notch professors, provides a rigorous education, and is a powerhouse of a small R1 (though it feels more like a LAC) based on that.
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Preaching to the choir, here. I’m a big fan of Mid-Century Modern, particularly since they have been increasingly prone to demolition over the space of the past half-century and the “real McCoys”, the ones that date from the late 1940s and 1950s are approaching heirloom status. These light, airy, multi-purpose buildings are often referred to pejoratively as “motel architecture”, but when you think about it, what could be more emblematic of the post-Sputnik, pre-Beatles, Kerouac era? Wesleyan University 's late president, Victor L. Butterfield who served from 1943 to 1967, was known for his innovative educational approaches (interdisciplinary majors, non-letter grading, the study of World Music) and when it came time to expand the century old campus in 1956, it was Mid-Century Modern that best expressed his vision for the future:
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Everyone is always tough on the ugly buildings at Brandeis, but my daughter is a freshman there and is SO HAPPY. I can promise that the architecture is the last thing on her mind.
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Trust me, I’m in the same place. I was so disappointed in the boys’ response to Macalester (and bewildered by how enchanted they were by the architecture at Lehigh). One of these places is in an amazing city; the other is across from a defunct steel mill turning into a casino. But hey, turrets!
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Yeah, but did you go into Lehigh’s library? It’s pretty amazing (see some photos here: Lehigh's Linderman Library named 1 of world's most stunning - lehighvalleylive.com and the architectural digest article with the 12 most amazing college libraries worldwide, including Lehigh, here A University Library Is an Understated Architectural Marvel | Architectural Digest)
I’m still a little cranky with them (they were the only school that didn’t offer my older child merit aid) but they have some very Hogwarts vibes going on.
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Take a look at University of Redlands. A couple of months ago, the “Your College Bound Kid” podcast did a feature/highlight segment about the school.
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Never underestimate the importance of the Hogwarts aesthetic to this generation of kids!
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Definitely not immune to the allure of spires and gargoyles. And I do agree with @NiceUnparticularMan that environment (particularly light and green spaces and – for me – trees) can be really important. I’m just astonished (well, not astonished, because it’s been so very well documented in these parts) by how much of an outsized role these components can play in a student’s decision. It’s like swiping right or left on Tinder. Ugly library? NEXT!
Depending on how things develop, you may learn to love the petty decisions. The fact is there are really way too many great colleges. And the list has to be cut down to size somehow.
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I just started listening to it. How cool! I am an Alum. 
He says it’s a school that flies under the radar and I agree. It is hardly ever mentioned on this site, but it is a great school. Trying to convince D25 to apply!
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Might be time to resurrect this classic thread. You’re welcome.
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Early on, my youngest was interested in Lehigh. We ended up spending a couple of weekends near campus and crossed it off the list. Beautiful buildings on campus (and beautiful library!), but our car was broken into, we were approached for money, and she just generally didn’t love the surrounding area. She also didn’t love the fact the athletic fields are a few miles away. She wanted to like it more, which is why we went back, but same experience.
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Colby has a beautiful campus that was built in the 30s to look old, which is my favorite fact about the Maine NESCAC’s. (it’s gorgeous! and way newer than Bowdoin’s campus!)
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Daughter: NO RED BRICK (or at least, not too much red brick)
Son: where’s the Panda Express?
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Tell your daughter to stay away from WashU - the whole university and seemingly every house in St Louis is red brick!
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My S22 is a current conservatory student and this is not his experience. In fact, there is even a member of the baseball team in his studio (performance major), and my S plays in the very popular intramural basketball league (not that intramural is part of the athletics, but there are lots of athletes from other sports who play). I know there can be some separation of interests, but my S has come across people from many of the various interest groups.
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Westco always brings a tear to my eye. I loved living there.
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Whoa, whoa, whoa–WUSTL is red GRANITE, not red brick!
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Easily the best dorm on campus, IMO.