<p>The reason we’re keeping SF for the last is that CalDay’s on the 24th, and we ideally want it to be the last stop. (That way we’ll have enough time to get back and decide with our parents and then send the acceptances off before the 1st… :))</p>
<p>Gosh if you guys don’t stop talking about Philly crime I am going to have the spirit of Mayor Frank Rizzo hunt you down.</p>
<p>LOL- that’s funny dana’s dad
This is going to be a very entertaining trek later this month,Shriv, and many of us will enjoy sharing it with you. </p>
<p>Your financial aid packages are getting sweeter each day!</p>
<p>I’m another one looking forward to finding out what you two decide on! One US Travel tip, though—take the train (Amtrak) from Philly to Baltimore–NOT Greyhound. I’d really, really hate for someone who has never been to the U.S. to form any opinion of Americans based on who they may meet on a Greyhound bus. I know I’ll probably be slammed for such a strong opinion, but really. It can be very scary. You’d be SAFE, but there are some REAL strange characters to be found on Greyhound bus trips in the U.S. 
You’ll also want to work out the logistics of how you’ll get from the airports to the various Universities you are visiting. Things are REALLY spread out, and you may be disappointed in public transportation options. You won’t be able to rent a car; taxi fares will likely be very expensive. Hopefully the admissions offices of the places you are visiting can help you out. GOOD LUCK!!!</p>
<p>Thanks all, but the discussion’s a bit moot in the end. (Visa’s didn’t work out, hence there’s no way we’ll be able to make it by the 1st of May)</p>
<p>Guess we’re back to “decisions at a distance” then. :)</p>
<p>Well, that would have been a trip to make your heads spin round and round anyway. So…what are you 2 currently thinking?</p>
<p>Oh, we’ve set ourselves a date of around the 25th to make a final decision, so in the end, it’ll probably be decided by which side of bed we get up on, on that day… :)</p>
<p>Seriously though, Duke’s more or less out. Northwestern (though we’ve just been accepted as ‘Dean’s Scholars’) is low on the list. It’s basically Penn v Rice v Berkeley for Kaushik, and JHU v Penn v Rice v Berkeley for me. </p>
<p>P.S: Though that is, of course, exactly where we were two weeks back…</p>
<p>astrophysicsmom,</p>
<p>The USA is full of strange characters ( as is the whole world, no doubt)–some found on Greyhound buses. Granted you can walk away from them more easily on Amtrak and I agree much of our public transport leaves a lot to be desired , if it exists at all. But, I have had many perfectly fine trips on Greyhound and other long distance bus lines and often, for example, around New England or heading up to Ithaca NY, many fellow passengers were college students as well as pleasant ladies of a certain age. Most drivers make a little speech at the beginning of the journey over a PA and let you know who’s boss and that they run a tight ship (bus). Remember there have also been incidents with strange characters or worse on airplanes!</p>
<p>why is duke off of your list?</p>
<p>I live near JHU. Would it help if I went over and took pictures on and off campus to email you? Is there any info on the Baltimore area that I could supply? I have lived here for 40 years.</p>
<p>@shahwaiz: Duke’s off mainly because we realized that we’d have to remove some colleges from our list, and we really didn’t have as compelling a reason to go there as we did for the other schools we’ve applied to.</p>
<p>@cmbmom: That would be great! (If it’s not too much trouble or too much to ask) </p>
<p>Re: Baltimore, well it’s hard to say really, we’re not quite sure what to ask… Though of course, your thoughts on JHU/how the students there seem to view the college etc would be very welcome. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Shrivats, I would hate to make you widen instead of narrow your list, but atleast in America, not very many students would turn down Duke for Berkeley/JHU/Rice. Duke and Penn are probably fairly equal and I’m sure people could make cases for both. I say go to Duke, I know you said you don’t care about the social scence, but I’m sure you still want people to be happy and kind to one another (nobody smiles at cuthroat and impersonal Berkeley…yes generalization but fairly accurate). There is no school you were admited to that trumps Duke in prestige and you will get a great campus, good weather, and nice kids. I’m sure each of the other schools might have one thing that is more appealing to you and your brother, but best overall = duke.</p>
<p>ummm… not many students would turndown Duke for Rice? My DD (val, very strong scores, NM scholar) didn’t even want to apply to Duke. She applied to and chose Rice. Shrivats - Rice will give you a great education (especially in BME), and lots of support and opportunities. Kids collaborate there and the faculty to student ratio is one of the lowest around. For the price - Rice is a sweet deal for you and your brother. (If you choose Rice over some of your schools, your parents will save about $200,000. That’s a LOT of money.)</p>
<p>Given your ages, where you are from ,your interests (and don’t worry about the prestige,they are all good) you might really look at Rice.2800 undergrads. the residential college system offers support and is nurturing enough. Rice students are bright but not too uptight and not too arrogant. They also seem happy. Honor code. The campus is as beautiful as any, easy to get around. Free access to all rail and bus. Close to amazing recreational/arts stuff. Walking distance from West University for shops and restaurants, Houston Medical center for research, Hermann park.
Flexible on majors,double majors, changing majors etc. Good research opportunities. Strong in science and engineering. Known for friendly, accommodating, approachable profs. Well respected in industry and academia. Your scholarship helps.</p>
<p>I’ve got to agree with anxiousmom. Duke is a great school – my husband went there, as did my brother (for undergrad and medical school); but it’s not for everyone. My son ended up not even applying there because he could care less about basketball and fraternities. Also, Durham is not a great draw.</p>
<p>Anxious: We’re are on the same page!</p>
<p>everyone…the OP is an international who will not likely be spending the rest of his life in Texas, and outside of Texas, a Rice degree is akin to any other LAC or top 100 school. Rice is a wonderful university, but I didn’t even know it existed until the college admissions process began. 90% of Americans could not tell you what state Rice is in, so imagine how many international people have ever heard of it. People on cc are more informed than most and I’m sure you will all post how stupid my statemnt is, but OP, I’m just telling you the politically incorrect truth.</p>
<p>Agree with oracle1. The OP’s needs are not the same as those of an American kid from Kansas unless he is committed to immigrating to the US. He has to start eliminating schools. If the money is not an object (gulp) then these sorts of considerations become very significant.</p>
<p>Well if you are concerned with an international name I’d go for Berkeley. We had the smiliest tour guide ever there. Duke has never been on my radar screen, nothing personal against it - I didn’t care for my North Carolina relatives. I knew of Rice before because it’s architecture school is well respected, I know it now because my nephew loves it there.</p>
<p>People in the know DO know about good programs and schools. If OP is going to do grad school in USA, Rice will serve him very well with grad school admittances.</p>