Meh. Op has several good choices. Nice problem to have.
Visit. Hold your judgment until you visit.
UCLA and Emory were your top two choices? They are completely different types of schools in size and vibe. Michigan is much more like UCLA (except for climate).
And Tulane is much more like Emory. And a better choice if you are planning to major in History.
Dude! I`m in the exact same boat I got in to Mills, Allegheny, & Loyola, waitlisted at Sarah Lawrence, & rejected from Vassar, Hamilton, & Brown (my top 3). It really sucks, but I guess visiting will help narrow the choices I do have down?
I attended Tulane as a freshman because I wanted a warmer climate.
Ended up hating New Orleans, and transfered to cold weather school which I loved.
Weather isn’t that important.
^On the other end, I applied to mostly Northeastern schools and anticipated staying in that region because I thought I didn’t mind the cold THAT much. Then I realized that I actually really hated New Jersey winters and the crappy weather that they come with. I ended up on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, a state which I had never visited before…and I absolutely adore the school. It helped that it was the best of my choices in academic terms and (by far) the best value school as well.
From what I have read and heard, people who go to Michigan and Tulane are more likely to rave about their schools than people who attend Emory. I’m sure Emory is amazing, but I don’t think it offers anything that would make one much happier than if they went to the other schools.