Thank you again for the additional feedback. My friend at Duke says the same thing, i.e. great school spirit with Southern comfort, not super stressful (he’s only a sophomore), strong Greek life on a very large campus.
I visited Tufts with family several years ago. Small and cozy campus, and the vibe was a bit on the studious/serious side. Medford is quiet but has direct access to Boston, which is a big plus. I never got to visit Northwestern, but heard it has a similar setup with trains and buses going to Chicago. NU was little known in CA until recent years (most parents here are thinking Ivy plus Stanford only); my guess is because it made the Top 10 in US rankings?
I also have a neighborhood friend attending Vandy. She is having a great time there, raving about the nice and vibrant campus, laid-back Southern fun but also world-class professors. They also have a strong Greek life that is facing some scrutiny.
Thanks again!