UCBerkeley vs. Cornell vs. WashU

<p>Hi Everyone,</p>

<p>I'm having trouble deciding between my top 3 choices: Cornell, WashU, and UCBerkeley. I'm a PoliSci major looking to go to Law school. To be honest, other than the idealistic benefits of the reduced in-state cost of Berkeley, money isn't much of a factor. The few things I care about most in choosing a college are:</p>

<ul>
<li>academic strength/style of teaching. I feel as though I'd do better in smaller classes, but I'm also not too knowledgable about how manageable large classes are at Berk or how often students have large lectures at WashU/Cornell</li>
<li>strong PoliSci and foreign language departments</li>
<li>fun, spirited, social student body</li>
<li>interesting and inexpensive surrounding area. I want a school where I wouldn't be bored on or near campus</li>
<li>thriving alumni network at the undergrad level</li>
</ul>

<p>I feel as though all 3 of these schools are very similar, so I'd love some input about the differences in teaching style and student life on the campuses. I'll be visiting each school in the upcoming few months. Thanks!!</p>