<p>Wow, what a tough decision. It sounds to me like Rice would be the best fit for you, though. You thought it felt right, it’s well within your budget, and it’s an excellent school.</p>
<p>A lot of money can be really tempting - I’ve been there myself, UT Dallas offered me a full ride. But it didn’t feel like the right place for me, and I think that’s what matters most :)</p>
<p>And what you said about Duke and lifetime relationships - I wouldn’t worry too much about those. You can make excellent lifetime relationships no matter which of those schools you go to.</p>