Quote - Annie,

It's just so wierd.  Fellow student suggested that I get Maya.  Can't afford Maya right now.  I'm looking at Bryce, and my fellow Student doesn't like it.  What is Bryce's reputation?

Yeah Maya is fab.... if you have a few years to learn it, but Bryce has a more gentle learning curve, and you'll be rendering scenes of quality that may take a lot longer with Maya.
Just because Bryce is a lot simpler though and a lot of 'Maya', '3DS' people shun it as a toy, it really is quite powerful and can do a lot more than some think.
Download the free version, 5.5, from download.com like Annie suggests and try it out.... I don't think you'll be disapointed.
Take a look at my latest scene to show what Bryce can do. http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1640270