Best Option for Studying the Environment at Rice and Other Concerns

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
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<p>Ever since the start of the college application process during my senior year, I have been very keen on studying environmental studies/science in college, as I am seriously contemplating entering that field after grad school. After I got my acceptance letters, it came down to Rice, Duke, and Emory. It appeared that Emory offered a better program in this field and I loved the campus. However, the students did not seem that friendly when I visited, I was already sick of the student center (Dobbs Student Center), and the admissions office did not match the scholarship offer from Rice, so I turned them down (and it was very hard doing so).</p>

<p>I realize that Rice does not offer direct programs in this field. However, I discovered that there are many options to study the environment at Rice: a double major in environmental sciences, a double major in policy studies with a concentration on environmental policy, a BA degree in Environmental Engineering Sciences, a degree in ecology/evolutionary biology, or a BS in chemical or civil engineering with a concentration on environmental engineering.</p>

<p>I am planning on taking the pre-med track as well, as I am unsure whether I want to pursue the medical or environmental field after grad school. However, my goal is to enroll at a top medical school or environmental science grad school (i.e. Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, Yale's School of Forestry, SUNY School of the Environment, etc.).</p>

<p>Both Duke and Emory offered specific degrees in environmental studies, policy, or science without the need to double major. I was originally inclined to these two schools, but I could not turn down the financial offer from Rice... too good to pass up.</p>

<p>I am unsure what track to take. I want to focus slightly more on the science rather than the policy behind the environmental field, but I will like a nice balance between the two. So, I was thinking of focusing on the BA in environmental engineering. Does anyone familiar with the environmental programs at Rice have any suggestions which route I should take?</p>

<p>Also, although I will work my hardest in college, I'm worried that my GPA will be slaughtered at Rice... I didn't realize how intense the education was until after I enrolled and started reading some of these posts on CC. Now I kind of wish I chose Emory (been having second thoughts since a week after I sent in my deposit in May; they are still there but for the most part alleviated), since it appears to be less intense and has just as good as prestige (some claim better, although I tend to disagree) as Rice. Would you say the workload/academic rigor at Rice is any more than at similar caliber schools, such as Emory, Duke, WashU, Northwestern, etc. I don't mind working hard, but I want that hard work to open up options for grad school/career, and I know at these other schools, hard work takes you far. If I put in 110% of my effort, is it possible that I can do well here in terms of grades and enter a great grad school? I know college is what you make of it, and I am the type of person who seizes opportunities when they are available (I often stayed after school in high school to get help from teachers, especially in English, calc and physics). I'm also somewhat worried about the lack of name recognition. All the Rice students say grad schools are supposed to know about Rice's academic excellence, but do they really? Some other people throughout CC have argued that Rice is overrated and that UTexas offers a better comprehensive education than Rice, so that has gotten me a bit nervous about Rice.</p>

<p>BTW, I'm very excited about enrolling at Rice and meeting my future classmates. However, I would like to alleviate some of these concerns and dispel some of the notions that I have about the school that may not be true.</p>

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<p>Oye vey - don’t you fret none… :wink: 70% of Rice students get into their FIRST choice grad school - so obviously they don’t get “slaughtered” by being surrounded by other motivated and intelligent students, and neither will you. Your expression “hard work takes you far.” applies at Rice, too - and I would add, doing research with profs (opportunities abound either for doing your own work or theirs), and taking advantage of all the remarkable outreach programs (Center for Civic engagement, Leadership Rice, Rice Engineers without Borders, Beyond Traditional Borders, etc) and leadership opportunities (in residential college government, club sports, advisory boards, etc.) and forming meaningful relationships with the academic community, will also help take you far. If you spend your time only in the library or playing computer games in your room - not so good. But, from what you have posted here, you will do very well and have an incredible time at Rice. What you’re feeling is VERY common, and is similar to Buyer’s remorse; you are second-guessing your decision and thinking about the green grass on the other side of the fence. Very normal to do - but now, relax and enjoy your summer.<br>
Regarding your academic path. Well, my DS is a Chem E, with an Environmental Engineer focus. He found a wonderful prof, and is doing research with him this summer in an environmental field, in spite of the fact that DS had no previous research experience. He is being trained on a very, very, very expensive piece of equipment, in another state, in a two-week, all-expense-paid plus salary-paid situation, and he will continue working with this prof for the next few years. (See - opportunities abound!) I know that you are eager to have input into your coursework and major, but I recommend that you wait until you get to O-week, and can talk to the advisors. Your first year classes will be similar, regardless of which of these majors you choose - and you don’t have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year.<br>
Hope this helps! You’ll love Rice! :)</p>

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<p>slik nik, your passion and earnest manner is really great, especially for an incoming freshman, but seriously I would honestly just tell you to just chill out a bit. Rice’s rigor is not astronomically higher than Northwestern or Emory, etc. Actually, let me qualify that statement - it’s dependent upon a myriad of factors, including selected major, extracurricular activities, actual courseload, etc. It’s not something you can easily say workload at Rice is harder than that of Northwestern. If you’re an engineer or pre-med, I think I can safely say that you will be working harder and experience more long nights than someone who is an English major - but then again, who knows if the English major doesn’t wait until a day or two days before a 10-page paper is due before s/he starts to write it? Do you see what I mean?</p>

<p>Don’t worry so much. Relax and enjoy the summer. O-Week will blow your mind, and then you can set up an appointment with an adviser to iron out all of your issues and discuss your concerns. I would also highly recommend going to upperclassmen in the majors or studies you’re interested in and chatting with them as well.</p>

<p>I feel like a record player when I say this, but please rest your concerns about Rice’s name recognition. No, the average man on the street will not know Rice, but honestly, who cares? Are you trying to impress him? Top grad schools know Rice, and since I see you’re a pre-med, Rice has a 92% medical school acceptance rate, compared to Duke’s 85% acceptance rate for example. Rice is also a top feeder school to Harvard Law School, if you think law might be in your future.</p>

<p>Don’t be so set on writing out your 4-year plan… a lot of things can change. I came in as a pre-med student and by spring semester finally decided I couldn’t see myself going through medical school and residency and so forth, and just dropped it. A lot of things can change and you might develop another interest than the one you mentioned above, so don’t be so concerned and “narrow-minded,” so to speak. I would actually recommend you to, in addition to taking necessary prereq classes, to take classes that have amazing professors (note that an interesting course title might not necessarily have that great of a professor). Who knows, you might change your major within freshman year. I already have.</p>

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<p>hotasice; Great advice! I hope you save what you’ve written above in a neat little Word file somewhere so that you can use it again the next time this issue comes up - since it does come up each year on many of the college forums. Slik Nik will be well taken care of and peer advised by students like hotasice. (Big cheer from the parent gallery for Hotasice’s excellent advice! ;))</p>