<p>At this point, it feels like I would be paying more for worse academics and only for the prestige.</p>
<p>I want to major in either Economics, Int'l relations, or Engineering, since I want to go to law school (And that places very few limits on my major choices)</p>
<p>A more intelligent peer group. That sounds *****y, but it’s true and irreplaceable.</p>
<p>I chose Rice over UT due to the large difference in class sizes and the sheer fact that I just felt more comfortable on the Rice campus. It is also a lot harder to change your major at UT. They make you declare a major right when you apply, you may not get into certain major right away and end up taking more than 4 years to graduate, and it’s hard to switch to a different major, especially if you are talking about switching into Engineering (these are all things that people at UT have told me). So, if you aren’t certain what you want your major to be I probably wouldn’t go with UT (and if you do I would apply to Engineering if you are interested in it because it’s easier to get out than get in–again, this is just what people within UT have told me). Hope this helps :].</p>
<p>What’s wrong with paying for prestige? When you look at one resume which reads “Harvard '86” compared with “Miami '86”, the last thing an employer is thinking is “I wonder if the person at Miami learned more?” It’s all about prestige. A degree from a private, selective university looks better on paper than a state school.</p>
<p>UT, although it doesn’t carry the same level of prestige as does Rice, is still a great school, and their Engineering school, especially, consistently ranks very high. I think in your case, you need to consider where you are going to feel more comfortable and do best (there is a huge difference between class and student-body sizes between the two, as well as structure of classes, organizations, research, and majors), and also which school will be more advantageous for getting into law school (resources, alumni, etc). Between the two, I really don’t think you can go wrong with getting a great education, and if money is an issue, I would definitely lean more towards UT.</p>
<p>Also, why do you say “worse academics” regarding Rice?</p>
<p>I think I say ‘worse’ academics, simply because Rice lacks the renown that UT has for its business and engineering. Wait, no, let’s cut to the point, I still haven’t weaned myself off University rankings, and UT’s programs consistently rank higher.</p>
<p>Sounds like you’re pretty set on UT - have fun there.</p>
<p>
</p>
<ol>
<li>It depends on the type of engineering</li>
<li>UT is better known due to it’s engineering grad program (which is really good)</li>
<li>Rice does not have UG business.</li>
</ol>
<p>^OP, I think you should wait until after you apply and are accepted at Rice before thinking much more about this. UT is OK so you will be alright if you end up there but it will never give you the experience you will have at Rice. Rice = amazing.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Most undergrad business programs are no longer considered worthwhile by many employers unless they’re among the absolute best of the best and you ranked highly in them. Unless it’s Wharton, Ross, or a similarly prestigious UG business program, it’s not going to help much.</p></li>
<li><p>You want to go to law school, so your employers are probably not going to have a whole lot to do with engineering and aren’t going to care about the ranking of your engineering program.</p></li>
<li><p>An undergraduate business program isn’t really that great for law school. They don’t emphasize reasoning skills as much as would be beneficial for law.</p></li>
<li><p>Economics and business are far from the same thing.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>UT has amazing business and engineering programs. If you’re looking for something even more challenging, you can try applying to the UT Honor’s program. Also, if you’re a Texas resident, UT might be a better value. Rice is really expensive if you don’t get scholarships or financial aid. Apply for both! But make sure you don’t wait too long to apply for UT because their programs can fill up pretty quickly.</p>
<p>UT may be known for engineering program and etc, but Rice is known as an all around exceptional school, which beats UT’s exception at engineering/business. Plus, Rice Engineering and Business aren’t exactly unheard of, either.</p>
<p>As a new freshman that picked Rice over UT and A&M, (granted I may not know everything), I’d pick Rice over and over again. I dropped both Texas schools because to register for the classes you want and the professors you want as a freshman, without immediately accepting your admission and picking the first orientation is a miracle. I have a friend attending UT for electrical engineering who doesn’t have a single engineering class in his first year schedule, except for math. And he registered in the middle of summer.</p>
<p>I think the college system and how small Rice is fosters a community that’s better than 36,000 people on a large campus, even if it is in Austin.</p>
<p>And I heard the food at Rice is better too.</p>
<p>I think the only thing UT has over Rice is football, but I am biased as a new Owl, so take that how you will.</p>
<p>Oh, and as a Texas resident, I’m paying way less for Rice than I would be for UT, because Rice isn’t public, and doesn’t have funding cuts!</p>
<p>Let me add my two cents on this. </p>
<p>As a northerner, who now lives in Florida, and as someone who lived in Houston once, I think I can say that a lot of northerners have not even heard of Rice, and if they have, it is for medicine.</p>
<p>So it may not even be true that Rice is more prestigious to everyone.</p>
<p>That’s not to say you should definitely choose UT.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Rice doesn’t have a medical school…</p>
<p>Also, davismiles, keep in mind that this is only your undergraduate degree. You should try to talk to some people who went to law school and ask them how important they think where you get your undergraduate degree is. This could help you determine whether or not you want to go to a school with more prestige for your undergraduate degree. It’s possible that it may not matter all that much.</p>