<p>Well, I'm in a similar situation as another poster, but I had a few different questions. UChicago is my first choice school for lots of reasons, such as the student atmosphere, departmental strength, location, gut feeling, etc. but it costs 25K more than Rice per year. The way finances will work for me for college is that if I go to Chicago, that's it. If I go to Rice, my parents would cover the difference to help pay for grad school. I'm interested in astrophysics and/or political science (with a possibility of law school, not sure on that one), which means that grad school/post-undergrad work may or may not be free. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Also, I know that UChicago's economics department is extremely conservative. Does anyone know if this holds true for the political science department as well?</p>
<p>Although Chicago is a terrific and prestigious school, in no way is better than Rice. What I really am trying to get here is that in no way is ANY (even HYPSM) school 100K better than its peer institutions. So while UChicago is great, It is not 100K better, both are the same pretty much in prestige and education value overall. Although Econ is another story. Rice has a great physics program and pol sci at rice is great with its Baker Institute of Public Policy. [James</a> A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Rice University](<a href=“http://www.bakerinstitute.org/]James”>http://www.bakerinstitute.org/)
Save you money for grad school/law school.</p>
<p>These two are very similar… although i would disagree that U Chicago is “in no way” better than Rice… as the above poster said… but 100 k difference? NO WAY. Easily Rice.</p>
<p>Academically, both are known for intense academics. Although I would say that UChicago is slightly better academically than Rice, the differences are very minute and are not worth an extra $100,000 over four years. I have many friends here who turned down UChicago for Rice; you will be in good company.</p>
<p>Of course it is up to you… if you really feel you will be happier at UChicago, go there. You don’t want to enroll at Rice and start having second thoughts about not going to UChicago.</p>
<p>I’m going to agree with others: if the difference in cost between Rice and Chicago is $100,000 over the next four years, I would strongly encourage you to choose Rice.</p>
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<p>Well, I think that when you have to face picking between two great choices you will inevitably experience something like this no matter what choice you make. If the OP chooses Chicago, I’m sure he’ll wonder if he could be getting the same education at Rice for $100,000 less. Personally, that thought would eat away at my conscious… </p>
<p>This is probably where my peculiarities as a person kick in, but I’d feel guilty for spending so much money for the mere difference between Chicago and Rice when I could have donated it to a cause I believe in or used it in some other more meaningful way. (I’m not saying the OP should feel this way; this is just how I think I’d feel in that situation.)</p>
<p>I had already selected slik nik’s comment for myself when I read the previous post. I’d think that you’ll have doubts either way - favorite school vs $100K. Rice is a great school, and I’d rather be worried “oh no, this school is only 93% as good in my major - what did I DO?” than “oh no, now I’ll never be able to afford grad school in my major - what did I DO?”.</p>
<p>I actually agree with GeekMom63 and zSquared. You will probably have second thoughts either way since both schools appeal to you. Personally, I would go with the cheaper option. I was in a similar situation last year between Rice and Duke; Rice was a lot cheaper for me (about $25k a year) although I loved Duke’s school spirit/athletics/environmental science program. However, I loved Rice too because of its Houston location, residential college system, small size, friendly people, etc. I did have second thoughts about Duke the entire 1st semester and a little bit 2nd semester, but I’m still very glad I chose Rice because if I was unhappy at Duke (which could be likely), then I would have kept hitting myself in the head saying “Why did I turn down a school that is just as good and was $25,000/year cheaper?”</p>
<p>And, if I had to do it all over again, I would choose Rice over Duke or any of other school for the matter.</p>
<p>Rice. And I’d probably say that even if they were the same cost, but if you were really set on political science I’d point you to UC and if you were set on astrophysics I’d point you to Rice.</p>
<p>Rice has some really good poli sci professors (i.e. Ambler, Stoll) and the Baker Institute as well. Sure, poli sci is not what Rice is known for, but it is still a strong department here.</p>