<p>All the schools you mention are excellent. Of the 3 universities, I’d lean toward Northwestern because it has very strong programs in both economics and linguistics, and because of its proximity to Chicago (since that seems to appeal to you). I don’t think Northwestern is more “pre-professional” than Duke or Cornell. All three have strong pre-professional programs (especially Cornell, which has strong programs in specialties such as hotel management, agriculture, and architecture). All 3 would tend to attract many strongly career-oriented students with very practical interests. </p>
<p>If you are familiar with Minnesota winters, you know about what to expect from the Chicago area. Maybe not quite so bitterly cold, but cold enough. Cornell also gets cold winters. The climate at Duke would be much more mild.</p>
<p>If you are interested in Northwestern, and in economics and linguistics, you also should check out the University of Chicago. Chicago has one of the most famous economics departments in the world. It also has one of the oldest (and best) linguistics departments in the United States. However, the setting, atmosphere and undergraduate program at Chicago is a little different from Duke, Northwestern or Cornell. </p>
<p>You ask about economics v. business. Economics is a social science. Business school teaches the application of economics theory, and of other disciplines including management and marketing.</p>