Considering: Rice, Case Western, Northwestern

[Kuiper]

I'm currently a junior in high school and I'm considering Rice University (Houston, Texas), Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio), and Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) for application. I plan to major in engineering, specifically mechanical engineering. Right now, I'm looking for any first-hand observations that anyone might have made of these three schools. These observations can pertain to the actual coursework and undergrad program, professors, campus life, neighboring areas, bandwidth, student demographic, or anything else you can think of.

I've already garnered some statistical information from some student guides, so mainly I'm looking for the kind of comments that would come from a first-hand observer. Ideally, I'd like to get input before the end of the month (when National Merit Scholarship applications are due).