<p>Help? I'm interested in Engineering, and GATech and Rice are probably the best in this category, but I'm also really interested in International Relations and Foreign Languages. </p>
<p>Help?</p>
<p>Wow, tough choice. Though GT does have an IR department, it isn’t the most highly regarded program around and as a result I think that narrows it down a little bit. Though WashU isn’t especially great for engineering, the IR program is decent as are the languages from what I hear. Also, WashU doesn’t have too many distribution requirements so you’ll be able to take a lot of classes across a lot of departments. I cannot really comment on the other programs but really, you can’t go wrong with any of the schools you mentioned. Go to the one you feel most comfortable at and like the most. Fit is more important than specific program rankings or prestige.</p>
<p>Congrats on some excellent acceptances.</p>
<p>Thanks, yeah. It seems that for me, the decision and not the applying is the hardest.</p>
<p>Since you are not totally undecided about your major, but also don’t know for sure, you should pick the school that you feel fits you best. It is usually a mistake to pick your undergrad on who has the “best” department in a certain area, since people change their minds regarding their major all the time. But at the same time it would be silly for you to pick a school that, for example, didn’t offer engineering at all or was clearly weak in it. So, for example, does Ga Tech really have much of a presence at all in Intl. relations and foreign languages? I know of course they offer foreign languages, but much beyond the bare bones, do they offer a lot of courses in foreign literature, cinema, sociology of other cultures, etc? They might, I simply do not know. I would ask the same about Rice, although I would guess they offer more than Tech.</p>
<p>In other words, find the schools that offer good programs in which you think you are interested, then forget about the relative “strength” of those departments at each of those schools, you have already established they are good. At that point, decide which school fits you best (size, location, sports), whatever you think will allow you to enjoy it the most and you will fit in best.</p>
<p>Sorry to interrupt. </p>
<p>How is WashU engineering? Is it fairly good?</p>
<p>WashU engineering is fairly good, especially biomedical engineering. I heard they’re almost done building a new biomedical building (due next year).</p>
<p>The new engineering building <em>probably</em> isn’t going to be finished until 2010. That’s what I’ve heard.</p>
<p>Doesn’t look done at any rate.</p>
<p>WASH U is very flexible and accommodating for double-majoring, switching majors, switching schools, etc., which might be a big plus in your case.</p>