<p>I'm interested in political science/international relations, combined with global health/environmental science. I love Dr. Kim's initiatives in my areas of interest (Great Issues, etc) at Dartmouth, but like the residential college system more than sororities. How much better are Dartmouth's social science/international relations programs than Rice's? If I'm from the Northeast how much should their relative prestige impact my decision if I feel like Rice <em>might</em> (or even probably would) be a better fit?</p>
<p>While Dartmouth might have slightly stronger poli sci/international relations program, the Rice program is still strong. We have the James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy on campus, and it is ranked as one of the top 30 nonpartisan think tanks in the country. The Baker Institute usually hosts some big name speakers. This year, Alberto Gonzalez and Nicholas Kristof (New York Times Pulitizer Prize columnist) came to speak. In the past, speakers such as Putin, Nelson Mandela, Yassar Arafat, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Ron Paul, Colin Powell, and John McCain have spoken at the Baker Institute on campus (almost all of these talks are open to students). Rice also has a very well developed global health technologies minor in conjunction with the engineering school that is also accessible to non-engineering majors.</p>
<p>I’m also interested in environmental science myself. However, environmental science here is only offered as a 2nd major. Nevertheless, if you are interested in environmental science, you can major in Ecology/Evolutionary Biology with environmental biology track (BA or BS), Environmental Engineering Sciences (BA), Earth Sciences (BA or BS), or Environmental Science (BA) with any other major you choose (i.e. Political Science). The resources in environmental science are slowly growing at Rice; one of the world’s energy experts (Amy Jaffe) teaches at Rice and is a fellow at the Baker Institute. The new provost, who is coming from Duke, plans on possibly creating an energy studies program and there is an Energy and Water Sustainability minor that was unveiled this year.</p>
<p>The Baker Institute also offers some competitive internships in Washington D.C. They require an extensive application and are somewhat difficult to get, but I’m sure this is going to be the same case (if not even more competitive) at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Here are some links you might be interested in:
[Beyond</a> Traditional Borders](<a href=“http://beyondtraditionalborders.rice.edu/programs.cfm?doc_id=9254]Beyond”>http://beyondtraditionalborders.rice.edu/programs.cfm?doc_id=9254)
[Rice</a> 360: Institute for Global Health Technologies](<a href=“http://rice360.rice.edu/]Rice”>http://rice360.rice.edu/)
<a href=“http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/ceve/emplibrary/Minor%20ENERGY%20AND%20WATER%20SUSTAINABILITY.pdf[/url]”>http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/ceve/emplibrary/Minor%20ENERGY%20AND%20WATER%20SUSTAINABILITY.pdf</a>
[James</a> A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Rice University](<a href=“http://www.bakerinstitute.org/]James”>http://www.bakerinstitute.org/)
[Rice</a> University Political Science](<a href=“http://politicalscience.rice.edu/]Rice”>http://politicalscience.rice.edu/)
[Ecology</a> and Evolutionary Biology at Rice University Home](<a href=“Department of BioSciences | Wiess School of Natural Sciences | Rice University”>http://eeb.rice.edu/)
[Department</a> of Civil and Environmental Engineering Undergraduate](<a href=“http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/ceve/undergrad.cfm?doc_id=4349]Department”>http://cohesion.rice.edu/engineering/ceve/undergrad.cfm?doc_id=4349)
[Energy</a> Forum | Baker Institute](<a href=“http://www.rice.edu/energy/]Energy”>Energy | Baker Institute)
[Rice</a> University Enviro-Web | Undergraduate Programs](<a href=“http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~cses/education/undergrad.html#es]Rice”>http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~cses/education/undergrad.html#es)</p>
<p>Hope these links help!</p>