<p>I love both schools and think that they offer a superior undergraduate experience, in and out of the classroom, when compared with nearly any other college in the USA. I also believe that both (particularly Rice) are very underrated on CC and in the world of academia. But in the real world, Duke and Rice are both powers (Duke’s brand is better known and more broadly distributed, but Rice adherents know its quality) and students coming from either do very, very well. </p>
<p>As I read this thread, it looks like you like Rice better, it will cost you less, and there are lots of folks providing comments and examples that you can succeed in your chosen field coming from Rice. In this instance, I’m struggling to see a compelling argument for Duke. Go to Rice.</p>