@collegebobollege I don’t have to be an expert (nor do I claim to be). Even people who go to the schools are not experts (you would be surprised how in the dark we are about our own schools. We tend to function and live in bubbles and not know the perspective of others nor about many of the oppurtunities offered within our schools/ The first part is more difficult to solve than the last part where I can just go look stuff up if I am concerned about it). I am no expert on Emory. I can only provide information on my experience there and what I read right now. bud123 is no expert on well, anything either and provides less nuanced opinions than me in other places.
As an example of someone perhaps who would arrive unaware of the opps at their schools (because people DO NOT look this up). On the Emory forum, there is a person deciding between several schools on English and Anthropology and (Rice was a main contender against Emory) and really thought that Rice was “weaker” in the humanities. A quick look at the offerings of their departments in those areas reveal that they are actually quite good at the department level. I could not blindly recommend Emory or the competing schools over Rice do to the academic programs themselves (I am subtly advocating for Rice because the person expressed that they liked the residential system. As far as I can tell, it actually is pretty effective. That on top of the fact that the academic programs of interest turned out to be underestimated by the OP leads me to say…“I think you really need to think a little more”). All I can tell them is about what each offers (or doesn’t), what students seem to think according to how they talk aspects of the school, all things the student or whoever can and perhaps should honestly do for themselves. I pretty much step in a lot when there are interesting things going on or blind biases. I happily do it against Emory (in or out of favor) or elsewhere. To me it just seems lots of other threads (in other schools except maybe Duke) have a bit less bias and more nuanced discussions when the student comes in and does these comparison threads (like you don’t see tons of people attempting to flat out refute the idea that there are certain issues that the school is trying to deal with when it is in the media internally and externally. Honestly, once administrators at a school deem it an issue to work on publicly through various means, there may be an issue despite all of those who come out in social media to essentially protect the reputation of the place and get the student to come there).
Also, in this case, what is there to be an expert on? The fact that the OP expressed favor toward Vanderbilt over Chicago? We all saw that (let us go re-read post 1 again). And most people at least perceive Chicago to be stronger academically (especially in economics) than most schools including Vanderbilt (and likely even schools that have become known to be really good for it like Duke). No expertise needed. I am not the only one familiar with that dept and how good it is yet I still would not recommend Chicago who clearly identified themselves as not a fit and is merely willing to pretend to fit because they want the prestige. They are asking for a miserable 4 years if they do that.