<p>Class of 2013 - accepted at five schools and narrowed it down to these three. Any and all inputs welcome. Thanks!!</p>
<p>All three are very good schools, yet quite different. </p>
<p>Wellesley, obviously, is all women so that is a very different experience from the other two. Excellent faculty dedicated to teaching, but the faculty is not going to be at the cutting edge in either the sciences or the social sciences compared to a research university like Brandeis. In the humanities, there is less of an issue and the faculty will be comparable. Most beautiful campus of the three (by far).</p>
<p>Bates is also an excellent small LAC. Students and faculty will be on a par with Wellesley, although probably slightly less prestigious. It will have the same issues as Wellesley in terms of faculty. Strong sense of community and most students there love it (many even marry their classmates–must be something in that Maine air). Biggest drawback in my view is its location. Maine is a beautiful state, but Lewisburg leaves much to be desired. It is no Brunswick, that’s for sure. I also think the campus is sort of mediocre–not bad but nothing special like Wellesley. </p>
<p>Brandeis is an interesting option. It is small, almost the size of a LAC (in fact some LAC’s, like Colgate, are larger). Yet it is a first rate research university with faculty (in the areas where it has doctorate programs) which are on the cutting edge. If you’re interested in science, then Brandeis will offer you considerably more than the other two. If your interest is primarily in the arts or humanities, then Brandeis’ advantage largely disappears and any of three would be good choices. If your interest is in the social sciences, the results are somewhat in between. Brandeis will have an advantage, but not as much as in the physical sciences. </p>
<p>Brandeis is also a more politically active place than the other two, with a strong emphasis on social justice. Although it is not all that far from Wellesley, Brandeis has much easier access to Boston because there is a train stop right on campus.</p>
<p>In terms of campus–Brandeis is certainly the least conventional of the two. People either love or hate the Brandeis campus. Unlike Wellesley’s gothic towers, most of Brandeis is modern architecture–very functional but less awe inspiring. It does have a castle though. </p>
<p>I know a woman who went to Wellesley (and loved it) who now is at Brandeis completing her PhD in biology (and she loves it there as well). For whatever that is worth. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>