<p>I. Am. So. Confused. Both financial aid packages are almost exactly the same, so that's nt a factor (though GW does have a fixed tuition and scholarship plan). Brandeis is 30 minutes from my house, which my parents seem to really like. I'd like to double major in History and IR. GW definitely has a better IR program, as its ranked 7th among undergrad programs. Don't know if there's a much of a difference between history programs. However, I very much like the small liberal arts feel of Brandeis, with the research background to boot. Also, I'd very much prefer an urban campus like GW, but Brandeis is only about 15 minutes from Boston, the best college city ever (DC is pretty close though). Help help help!</p>
<p>GWU sounds like the answer in this situation…unless you don’t want to go far away</p>
<p>You haven’t mentioned one big difference. Brandeis has a real campus, GW is a classic urban environment where you are living in the city as much as you are attending college. I also think the student bodies differ somewhat, with GW attracting students who are urban-oriented, more sophisticated, independent, not seeking their identity/lifestyle from their school. While Brandeis students do frequent Boston on the weekends, their weekday life revolves around the campus. There is really a very different feel to the two schools, which you must have felt when you visited. (Full disclosure–I graduated from Brandeis but couldn’t convince either kid to attend; DS transferred from GW after one year because 1) he realized he wasn’t a city mouse and 2) he wanted the warmth and connectedness of an LAC.)</p>