Cornell vs Rice vs WashU for Humanities/Pre-Law

MrSamford2014
Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:29:54 +0000

My D has been accepted to Rice, Cornell, and WashU (along with the in-state option of UCLA and several smaller/regional options, including one school with a full ride). Currently, she is planning on a double major in History and Political Science. Her career goals are not yet clearly defined, but she is considering law school, public service, and business (consulting?).

As befits her SoCal upbringing, she is friendly and laid-back; thus she would like to avoid an environment that was excessively cutthroat or snobby. Her social and cultural tastes run towards the conservative: She is a non-partier who much prefers classical music to rock (and who hates rap/techno), and she tends to be a traditionalist in general.

WashU offered her a half-tuition merit scholarship, but once FA is figured into the equation, the three schools end up costing about the same (though travel between SoCal and Cornell will be more expensive). She has visited WashU and liked the vibe, and she will be visiting Rice and Cornell next week.

I know that there are numerous CC threads comparing these schools, but they tend to be oriented towards pre-med, business, and engineering programs. I’m hoping that someone can offer feedback about how they stack up in terms of academics, campus life, and internship / law school / job prospects for students more interested in the humanities and social sciences. Any observations will be appreciated!