<p>I’m a Rice parent, and DS will be graduating next month with a degree in CivE, and has an engineering job lined up. His friends at UT are all on the 5-year-plan and hope to graduate next year… He did two years of Chem E at Rice, then moved over to CivE for the Environmental engineering focus. He was offered scholarships and Honors Engineering at UT, but chose Rice instead and has never, ever regretted it! </p>
<p>In terms of flexibility, research opps, resources, community, etc. Rice comes out way ahead. And for a student who decides to refocus or change major (as most students do!) Rice comes out way ahead of UT. I think it is a mistake to look at the rankings as a major criteria - and they are heavily biased towards the strength and size of the graduate programs. Rice offers a rich, close-knit, supportive, and excellent program with tons of research opportunities (and WAY less kids vying for the chance to have them). DS heard some Rice profs give a talk about their research, went up afterwards and said he was interested in that area - one of them prof hired him the next day to work as a research assistant. He was flown to Boston for two weeks of intensive training on the research equipment they used, and gained valuable skills that helped him land his currrent parttime/soon to be fulltime job. At UT, there would have been 40 kids all trying for that job! </p>
<p>Both my kids loved Rice and the close connections to profs and students that they made there. If this was my kid, and I could afford all options, I would say - go to the school where you feel you will grow the most. Go to the place that most attracts you. :)</p>