<p>Of the three, the only one that offers one of the majors on your list is WashU. It has both an international affairs major and an international business major not offered at Rice or Vandy. </p>
<p>See [International</a> Area Studies](<a href=“http://artsci.wustl.edu/~ias/]International”>http://artsci.wustl.edu/~ias/) for international affairs and [BSBA</a> Student Services](<a href=“Olin Business School at Washington University in Saint Louis”>Olin Business School at Washington University in Saint Louis) for international business. </p>
<p>Visit, visit, visit. It’s really easy to travel to and from WashU, since there’s a metroline stop on campus that goes to the St.L/Lambert airport. Fast and cheap. JMO, but I think someone from the NE would experience less cultural and climate shock at WU than at Rice (or Vandy). Just the difference between the Midwestern vibe — particularly on a campus that has a lot of students from the NE — at WU and the Southern (Vandy) or Southern/Texan (Rice) vibe. WU gets all four seasons, including enough snow on the hilly part of the campus to allow for the sliding-on-cafeteria trays experience. </p>
<p>Sports exist at Washu, but as with the Ivy colleges, they don’t dominate the whole social experience. (Although I think the Div. 3 men’s basketball team recently defeated Amherst to win the NCAA title. Go Bears!) There is a Greek scene at WU, but not as strong as at Vandy. However, if you want to avoid Greeks entirely, then you’d have to choose Rice. If you want Greek and a big Div. 1 sports social scene, then go to Vandy. </p>
<p>I agree that the residential college system at Rice is attractive, if that level of intimacy — being housed with the same group of people all four years is something that appeals to you. (I am “pro” this concept but it may not be for everyone.) It’s true that arranging housing for current WU students can be a hassle, due to overenrollment two years ago, but I believe the administration has been making an effort to avoid that crunch in the last two admission cycles. The differences in housing are among the questions you should focus on when you visit. </p>
<p>Even without an all-inclusive residential college system, though, WU provides an excellent freshman experience in the dorms, with many fun bonding activities such as outdoor BBQs, parties, Halloween, intra-dorm mud-wrestling contests, etc. There are several spirit-building campus wide events such as WILD (walk in, lie down), a massive concert in the quad (they put out inflatable chairs and couches for students to share) and the Dance Marathon, which raises more than $100,000 for charity, and a schoolwide carnival (frats put it on) with games and such also for charity. </p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with any of those three choices, but I am biased toward WashU.</p>