My 2 cents is Emory! I have a friend whose daughter sounds very similar to yours and she is a second year at Emory and loves it.
Perhaps because I went to a peer institution (CMU), but in my circle Emory is as known/respected as Rice.
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Thank you all for your input! My daughter has read everything and is still struggling to make a decision, lol. At the very least, she has decided that if she goes with Emory, she’ll choose the Atlanta campus, not Oxford. (I was surprised, actually, because I thought the small setting was appealing to her – but she thinks it might be too small.)
I think she’s leaning toward the fit – esp the residential colleges – at Rice, but being a short drive away as opposed to a flight away is important to her. And some of her closest friends are staying local, so that’s swaying her more than it maybe should.
It has come down to looking at the nitty gritty of the course catalog, what the general ed requirements are, etc.
@ArrBee – she’s been looking at the Emory course atlas, and was alarmed to see that many of the classes she’d want to take are closed for the fall already. (Including the freshman seminar psychology classes, etc.) We’ve heard rumors that it’s hard to get classes at Emory, but how are the freshmen-only classes already full? Do you have any insight on that?
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The beautiful thing is she can probably be happy both places.
People crush themselves emotionally on making the right choice - but guess what - sometimes there are multiple right choices. So - she’ll be fine - pick one and roll!!
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My daughter did not consider or apply to the Oxford campus because she wanted to be in an urban area. Comparing the main Emory campus in Atlanta with Rice is more of an apples to apples decision. Both are excellent choices. Let us know what she decides. Rice freshman register for their classes during orientation week. My daughter was on a wait list for her intro psychology class first semester, but she went to the class anyway and got in after a day or two. At Rice, there is a lot of drop/add shifting and movement in classes the first week of class. It usually works out. Once the students are past the intro courses it is easier to get slots.
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They aren’t actually closed. First year registration hasn’t happened so emory locks classes for them. Other classes Emory only opens a certain number of slots as a time to ensure that 1st and 2nd year students can get them. So for example my son will be a third year but needed a 200 level class. There were a limited number of spaces that were opened for 3rd and 4th year and then it closed but it opened again for 2nd year. Emory held the spots.
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Freshmen always panic, but always seem to find classes.
My daughter was in the second to last orientation group (where they register for classes) and we thought everything was closed. Turned out her department closed ALL sections until those majoring (in theater) could register and then released them to all students (there were usually only a few spots left).
Maybe the same was done for the freshmen seminars at Emory. Do they have LLC that need those sections? Majors? Just trying to make it fair for all registration groups so only release a few spots to each group?
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Wise choice to pick Atlanta over Oxford.
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Oh, that’s good to know, thank you!
My husband and I are trying to be patient and supportive and stay out of it – but I do wish she’d just choose already, LOL.
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It will be over soon enough! And all the choices are good ones so there is that too. As for the little campus being too small - it was for me in the 1990s so I didn’t even apply. Since then it has doubled in size. It is the perfect size for my son and he loves it. If he could stay two more years he would. With its new size I think too would have applied but probably still would have gone to Atlanta. It has to be the right fit. If Rice is that then awesome too.
Hi I’m new here but wanted to comment some wisdom and facts. I’m not sure parchment or any other college decision comparison sites are remotely reliable, not should they matter. Secondly looking at USnews only 4 spots separates Rice and Emory and frankly Emory is more well known in the northeast where I’m from. Lastly looking at USnews Emory has the higher peer reputation score. 4.2 vs 4.1. obviously that isn’t significant but that does say Rice IS NOT more prestigious than Emory at least when it comes to academics. I would expect Texas residents to disagree.
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I’ve never even heard of this site, I highly doubt 18 year olds know it enough to input their information in it. Also Northwestern is a step above those schools and Emory is very much on the same tier as Rice, Vandy, Notre Dame, Georgetown etc.
It’s all opinion. Even rankings because while it may be data based, the inputs and weightings are chosen.
Historically Rice is at the level of Chicago, Duke and otherwise. Then would be your Vandy, WUSTL. Then your Emory, Gtown, Notee Dame, Wake.
It’s fun to debate. But If you have Emory and Rice to choose from, prestige shouldn’t matter. You can’t go wrong.
I’m originally from the NE. I’ve never seen Emory in the same vein as Rice. Both, along with WUSTL, have branding issues.
It’s fun to debate. But pretty much it’s meaningless to debate in that all these schools are great.
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Thankfully the prestige or name recognition of either school is not a huge concern for my kid! At least not between these two – her third choice was Furman (they gave her a lot of merit), but she ended up nixing that one because the programs at Rice and Emory are just better.
It’s really come down to the fact that she thinks the social fit at Rice - with its residential colleges and “happy nerd vibe” - would be right for her, but she thinks the linguistics/psychology dual program at Emory is maybe a tad better, and she likes the idea of being not too far from home.
(We live in the outer suburbs of ATL, not in town, so it’s not in our backyard or anything, but still only a drive away as opposed to a flight.)
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I’ve heard that if it is really even after comparing and comparing, one should flip a coin. If it comes up with the ‘wrong’ choice, you’ll know it immediately. “Oh no, I really wanted it to be Rice” or “Forget it, I’m going to Emery.”
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That’s not how Parchment gets their data.
Agree 
That’s utterly delusional to think Rice is at the level of Duke. Comical really.
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To reference Rice has the lowest peer reputation score (4.1) in the top 25. Yet somehow the other poster thinks it’s on U Chicago’s (4.6) level? I know this is just opinions but some opinions are more valid than others. Some of you in this thread just seem biased and incapable of objectivity.
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Rice is a bit of a regional university and Emory is a bit more national. Neither are particularly well-known outside the US. Probably best to visit and stay overnight with a current student if possible…
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You must be lookin’ at some old data, friend.
The 2022 Peer Reputation Scores I have in front of me have Rice and U Chicago tied at #9 … and Duke fell 5 spots and isn’t in the top 10.
Some other people in this thread just seem rude and incapable of accuracy.
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