<p>Catperson’s advice is sound. Everyone should choose the best-fit school for themselves. However, in my opinion, the choice is not close. In terms of both prestige and education I would pick Brandeis. </p>
<p>Brandeis is a truly an amazing school. It’s a special combination of small liberal arts college and world-class research university-with the smallest student body I believe (less than 800 in a class) of any top tier national research university matched with high-powered professors who actually teach in small classes. So, the research opportunities are tremendous. Plus it’s very close to Boston, which is the world’s best college town, but on its own suburban campus.</p>
<p>Its intellectual environment is comparable in many ways to its University Athletic Association sister school, U Chicago. Yet its students are down-to-earth, friendly and non-competitive with one another. FYI in a recent Forbes national college rankings survey, Brandeis was ranked 15th among research universities and 30th overall among all private univerities and LAC’s–a testament to its focus on undergraduate education. Larger schools, including some Ivies, were ranked much lower. </p>
<p>Despite its small size and relative youth, its alumni are very distinguished–e.g. nobel and pulitzer prize winners, international leaders and many renowned folks in business, the sciences, academia and the arts. Also, if you’re into social justice or theater/music/art, it’s a very exciting place to be.</p>
<p>Finally, I’ll leave it for others to comment on the current Psychology faculty, but you should know that the department has a distinguished history in that, among others, Abraham Maslow, the father of humanistic psychology, taught at Brandeis for many years and eminent psychologist Eliot Aronsonis an alumnus.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>