Some help needed

[ilikeverin]

What, no Michigan State?  Are we not good enough for you or something?

*insert BCS reference here*

[ilikeverin]

I would actually strongly disagree that Michigan provides the "quintessential American experience", given that 1) there's nothing campus-like about the campus at all and 2) you're in Ann Arbor, of all places.  Not that I have anything against Ann Arbor, personally—I think it's a fine town—but it's definitely not the stereotypical college town.  Way too hipster for that.

[ilikeverin]

Thank you all for your advices, it's helping me a lot to make my first choices (even though the road is still long before I can come up with a top 4...). I won't go to Southern California, for one.

Climate is indeed something important to me. I tend to suffer a lot from cold, and maybe I can stand heat more easily (my Italian roots ). Though 38°C is maybe a bit too much for me, but I hope it's an extreme example. I think that eliminates a lot of universities in New England, upstate NY and Great Lakes region, which is quite a shame because a lot of these places pleased me.

Hmmmm well Minnesota in January is frequently between -30 and -15°C...

According to this it's rather "only" -10°C...

Why do all the nicest places (Scandinavia, Northern USA, Canada) have to be so damn cold ?

If you go to a small liberal arts college in Minnesota—and it sounds like you'd prefer something like a SLAC—you hardly have to spend any time outdoors because they're so small.  It looks like Macalester College is on your list, which I think would be perfect for you.  It's in the Twin Cities, so you can enjoy city living (the Twin Cities themselves are very nice for American cities, even I as a suburbanite can vouch for it); it's small, so you can get to know a lot of people; it's very well known for international affairs and poli sci (Kofi Annan went there); etc.  If St. Olaf College and Carleton College are on the list you should consider there, too.

EDIT: Also, of course, you'll get to meet some of the nicest and most wholesome Americans, that race known as the "Minnesotans"

[ilikeverin]

I know nothing about Richmond, which I think says something in and of itself.  Emory is a fine institution, though I'm a bit wary of any good schools in the South; they tend to be rather patrician.  Also, Emory's zoology program is full of anti-linguistics heretics, not that that would trouble you

[ilikeverin]

I think I'm hesistating between Emory and Richmond. Who could tell me more about these ?

Well, there is the thing with Georgia weather which I mentioned earlier.  It is probably a net positive.  As TJ said, the campus is very nice.  It is located "in" Atlanta; it might not be within the city limits but feels a lot like the city down there.  The nice part of the city.  Directly across from Emory is the CDC headquarters, complete with every vaccine imaginable (and every virus too! ).  The university itself is certainly prestigious.  The campus houses a top-noch medical facility and is renown for it's medical school.  Little known is Emory's excellent business school, ranked either second and third in the nation by...well, whoever ranks these things.   

I can't say I know much about Richmond, though I hear they have an excellent business school also.  As far as whether goes, do not be fooled by the latitude!  The D.C metro area down into Richmond can get nearly as hot as Atlanta, but the weather swings are as bizarre as Denver!  Also, Richmond is kind of a depressing looking city.  In a faded glory sort of way. 

Atlanta has more variety on that front.  Buckhead and northwest Fulton into the neighboring counties is very upscale and trendy.  Believe it or not, that area hosts the largest Gay African-American community in America.  The business district below it is nice; lots of skyscrapers and that sort of thing.  Moving southwards it does get a little sad. The poor neighborhoods are poor.  Five of the twenty five most dangerous zip codes are in the Atlanta area.

That's everything I can think of off the top of my head.  If you have anymore Atlanta questions, just ask!

Oh, yes!  I forgot to vouch for Atlanta as a very nice city, both from personal experience and from secondhand knowledge.  Can't hold a candle on the Twin Cities, of course but it's a good town.