<p>Any thoughts? I honestly have no idea which one to chose, and I'm pretty much 50/50 at the moment. </p>
<p>I got into Brandeis midyear (starting in Jan '09) though. UF tuition is free for me because I have 100% Bright Futures. However, I also got financial aid from Brandeis that pays for all of my tuition and some room and board through a scholarship and a $3500 a semester loan.</p>
<p>I go to Brandeis so I can only tell you the Brandeis perspective. They are very, very different schools so please provide more info about what you'd want to major in, which extra-curriculars you'd want to join and what type of social life you prefer.</p>
<p>Okay, at Brandeis I think I'd want to double major in psychology and sociology and possibly minor in journalism. I'm pretty open to what extra-curriculars I'd join, but I definately want to write for the campus newspaper of wherever I go, so I definately like that Brandeis has 3. :) I'm also not really outgoing so I feel like it would be easier/not as intimidating to get involved at Brandeis since there are wayyy less students than at UF? But then again I don't know if there would be more opportunities at a big school like UF.</p>
<p>And social life wise, I know UF and Brandeis are like exact opposites. I guess I just want a good mix of social life and academics. I don't want a complete party school, but I don't want campus to be dead on the weekends either. Basically, I want the students around me to care about academics but still go out and have fun. I know Gainesville is a great college town, but I LOVE the atmosphere of Boston as well. </p>
<p>Anddd one of my big fears is dealing with the weather. lol I'm from Florida and haven't even seen snow. I even thought it was cold when I just visited in April! =/</p>
<p>Brandeis is going to be a much more academically focused school, to put it simply. U of Florida is a nice school, but Brandeis blows it out of the water when it comes to UG research opportunities. Plus, being a big fish in a small pond is better than the reverse.</p>
<p>Can't comment specifically on OP's proposed majors, but in general, Brandeis does not "blow UF out of the water" in terms of UG research ops. UF has historically ranked in the top-5 nationally in terms of patent transfer "mind-to-market" research...much of which involves undergraduates. There is also much undergraduate synergy with the UF/Shands medical school. And there are plenty of "academically focused" students at UF....in terms of total numbers, if not percentages, more than Brandeis.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone.. and to the people saying Brandeis, do you think it's worth the money and starting midyear?</p>
<p>The Psyc, Soc and Journalism departments are all very strong at Brandeis. I have experience in all three.</p>
<p>I was News Editor of the Justice so I know I lot about getting involved with journalism opportunities on campus. Since Brandeis is a small school, it is so easy to get involved with any of the campus newspapers because there isn't a lot of competition for the positions. </p>
<p>Based upon your post, I think you'd be happier at Brandeis. I wasn't a midyear but many of my friends were and they all don't regret their choice of having a semester to do whatever before coming here.</p>
<p>UF is VERY affordable. Only 3k a year for in-state tuition, and has great academics.</p>
<p>Also UF has easily one of the strongest Alumni networks in the USA. Check the link: List</a> of University of Florida people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>I'm not exactly sure how many newspapers and magazines are published by students at UF, but I do know that there's The Alligator (UF's main student newspaper), Orange and Blue Magazine, and the Shpiel (the Jewish student newpaper). There are probably more, but those are the only ones I've read. I don't know very much about Brandeis, but I just wanted to let you know that UF has a club or organization for just about anything you can possibly think of. These clubs make making friends very easy because you're sure to find people at this HUGE school with similar interests...and this makes the school seem a lot smaller and more personal. UF also has many dedicated students who know how to balance work and play and has a great academic reputation within the state.</p>
<p>GO GATORS!!!</p>
<p>Amanda is right, the Journalism program is very strong at UF.</p>
<p>UF.</p>
<p>Brandeis's campus was very fugly; imagine looking at the buildings every day for four years?</p>
<p>If you want to end up returning to Florida to work and live, go to UF since the alumni/interviewing connections will be worth it. If you want to go to grad school, Brandeis will give you a much better shot as a top undergrad institution.</p>
<p>...."a much better shot". Is this conjecture or do you have something to back this up?</p>
<p>Florida is not in the same class academically as Brandeis. Given the great aid package I would go to Brandeis</p>
<p>Unless you are totally committed to spending the rest of your life if Florida, I'd choose Brandeis.</p>
<p>^ Didn't you read the Alumni List? MANY UF Alumni find success outside of Florida. </p>
<p>I wonder if the average person has even heard of Brandeis, and perhaps this institution is more regional than UF. Keep in perspective that Major Research Universities have alot of credibility overseas.</p>
<p>It's not worth the battle, SSobick. You are never going to be able to compare a small new england private LAC with a large southern public in some peoples minds...even if the latter has better programs in a number of areas. It's just too different and ingrained in many people's psyches to think in those terms.</p>
<p>If the OP is a better fit for Brandeis, then by all means they should go, as it is a great school and will serve them well.</p>
<p>I don't doubt that UF has successful alumni outside of Florida and never suggested otherwise. However, outside of Florida, it is considered just another flagship state university (there are 50 of those) and, unlike Cal, UVa or Michigan--generally not though of as one of the very top publics.</p>
<p>Brandeis, on the other hand, is generally thought of as just below the most elite private universities--comparable to Tufts, Georgetown, BC ,etc.</p>
<p>UF is a good public university. It is, however, IMHO, in a different league academically. It almost has to be. As a public, it must take the vast majority of its students from Florida. Sports----well thats another matter.</p>
<p>BTW, Brandeis is not a LAC. It is a small research university.</p>
<p>actually, bonanza, Brandeis is both a small research university and a liberal arts school. all of the humanities departments are very rigorous and highly regarded.</p>
<p>AND so are the sciences. that's why 'deis is one of a kind.</p>