I am going to apply ED to one of these schools because I like them equally and my chances of admission would be much higher than if I wait until RD. It would be so great if someone could offer any information comparing these schools and some of the following characteristics:
Volunteer Opportunities
Study Abroad
Greek Life (sisterhood/activities/philanthropy)
City/Town right around the campus
Kindness of the student body
Environment
I have made visits, but it is impossible to pick up on all of these things. Thanks so much in advance.
Cities In order: Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh-Duram/St. Louis. The music, food & bar scene in Nashville is amazing.
For business/internships: Atlanta, Raleigh, Nashville, St. Louis. Atlanta has many corporate HQ and businesses close to Emory.
All have great study abroad options.
At Vandy Greek life is a little different. High participation but only officers live in the fraternities and sororities. Most everyone lives in the dorms for all 4 years.
Vandy is known for friendly and happy students.
Volunteering: depends on what. Nashville, Atlanta, and St. Louis are cities with plenty of issues where volunteers are needed.
Weather at Emory is going to be the best, Duke & Vandy next, and WUSTL the coldest. . Airport access is easy from all of them with Atlanta having the cheapest flights. Politically, Vandy is about 50-50, others lean liberal.
So if it were me, I’d say Vandy, Emory, Duke, WUSTL. If you are thinking about a specific major, this list order would likely change.
@TooOld4School thanks so much. I really appreciate the thoughtful response.
I am thinking about a marketing/business major at Emory and WashU, HOD at Vandy, and Economics or Sociology at Duke (with a certificate in a business-specific area). If you have any feedback regarding these majors that would be great.
Well, you’ve picked the some of the best majors at each school 
I’d stick with economics at Duke, and I’d bump up WUSTL a bit if you are thinking of grad school.
Make sure to look at Princeton Review’s rankings for each of these schools. Many areas you are looking at are ranked. The rankings are based on student responses.
These schools will be equally good at getting you into graduate school, so I wouldn’t worry about that. Sociology is also a fine major to choose.
If you truly do like them equally, why not roll a die and pick one? I’m not suggesting actually sticking with it - but roll a die, pick one and then think about it for 2-3 days. How does it make you feel? Then rotate through them.
All of these places have fairly large and active Greek life. Duke and Vanderbilt are probably the most traditional (other than living in the houses at Vanderbilt). Study abroad and volunteer opportunities are likely to be similar. The city/town around the campus is going to be a matter of preference: the area that Emory is in in Atlanta is both absolutely gorgeous and not far from most of the action and hot spots.
One note about Emory is that if you wanted to major in business you’d have to apply to Goizueta and enter as a junior. But if you do get in - that’s one of the best undergraduate business programs in the country. Duke has the markets & management certificate and a minor in finance.
Personally, were it me I’d do ED to Duke - but that’s because of personal preference of the atmosphere there.