The people… super chill, intellectual and still like to have fun (obviously a pretty big generalization but this is just the feeling i get…)
Residential college system (anyone agree that this is the most badass system ever?)
Academically rigorous, yet still maintains a supportive environment, not cut-throat
Small size of school in general, undergraduate focus
RESOURCES (4+ billion dollar endowment)
Across the street from the largest med center in the world, research opportunities (im pre-med)
Trustee Distinguished Scholar</p>
<p>I got into UT and Duke as well… really considered Duke but decided I would definitely fit in at Rice way better, and plus i hate the idea of going to a really fratty, somewhat socially divided school</p>
<p>I can’t visit because I have 5 AP’s in two weeks. </p>
<p>Anybody visit and really HATE Rice? I mean, after visiting Cornell, I feel like I got not that much out of it—I expected to the cold weather (even in April) and liking the school, etc. So I don’t think my choice really matters on visiting. </p>
<p>My main problem is going to a college in Texas, I still can’t seem to get over that, I know it’s stupid. Also, it costs $18K/year more than UCB for me, and even though money is not too much of an issue for me, I still need more convincing that Rice is worth it. I don’t think a visit really would matter at this point, because I"m still on the fence with Cornell as well.</p>
<p>I can’t let go of Rice because: WONDERFUL pre-med (or just graduate school in general), good interaction with professors, intellectual/social atmosphere (I got this sense from talking with some Rice students), medical center, Residential system, etc.</p>
<p>^Blueducky, I’m in the same boat (which you know). Cornell and UCB both fall under the category of big schools with lots of resources but also a lot of students wanting to utilize them. The feeling I got at Cornell is that while it’s a great school, the students seemed to more competitive because of the grading system and the fact that there are too many students. At Rice, professors are way more accessible and more willing to help you. And I feel like at Rice, it’d be easier to take advantage of research opportunities even if you’re not a Century Scholar. Plus, as a premed, there’s no better location than Rice in Houston, Texas.</p>
<p>In addition to that, the social/party scene seemed to revolve around alcohol and frats at Cornell. It’s great for people who drink and are into the Greek scene, but it can be alienating to people who aren’t into that. But at Rice, I experienced a very inviting social scene. </p>
<p>I’m most likely going to Rice because I feel like I will have an overall better undergrad experience at Rice. I hope you choose Rice. =]</p>
<p>I was actually deciding between Cornell and Rice too, but I’m almost positive I’m going to Rice. I agree with pretty much everything Modulation is saying. I think the social scene is so much more inviting and cannot stand the thought of joining the greek system. Also, I think the smaller class sizes will end up being much more personal and just all around better learning experience.<br>
Blueducky, I had the same concern about Texas being well Texas (I’m from the northeast). It ended up being actually really nice though and the people there seemed really great. And hopefully, in time I think I will be able to get past people saying y’all…</p>
<p>Haha @the y’all thing. I’m actually disappointed by the small number of people who use y’all on a regular basis. It was something I was hoping to pick up to shock my friends and family when I go home, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Maybe next year.</p>
<p>blueducky, my roommate is from nearish the San-Fran area, and her entire family has gone to Berkeley, she loves Berkeley, but loved Rice so much more that she opted for Rice over Berkeley in-state. </p>
<p>Also, I totally know what you mean about the Texas thing! I decided to apply to Rice three days before the application was due because until then I was like “Texas? No.” Then I started reading about it and I visited and fell absolutely in love. I am the type of person who would fit in quite well at, say, Berkeley, Columbia (which I was accepted to), Yale, Brown, Smith, etc. I’m a pretty flaming liberal, and I have felt very welcome at Rice. Rice is very diverse. We have far-left people, some far-right people, but really, Rice’s bell curve is very oriented to the center/slight left. Most everyone is just very moderate. </p>
<p>Houston is also very much not like the rest of Texas. The current frontrunner for the Houston mayoral race is Annise Parker, current city controller, a Rice grad, and an open lesbian. If she wins the election, she will be the first open LGBT mayor of a top 10 U.S. city, and Houston, TEXAS will make national news on the topic of LGBT achievement.</p>
<p>And I promised myself before coming to Rice that I would never use “y’all”… but it’s so convenient! I’ve been converted :P.</p>
<p>Wow, i’m so happy for your roommate but I’m kind of leaning towards Berkeley right now (academic prestige for chemistry/in-state tuition/weather vs. Rice’s better atmosphere/pre-med connections/etc). I talked for a while with the Rice financial aid lady and I explained my situation to her and she said she would not send her kids to Rice with such a huge price difference (she loves RIce and has been working there for 21 years). Wonder how your roommate was able to choose?</p>
<p>Did you get into Yale and Brown? If you did, then wow, Rice must have been one heck of a place! If only Rice gave me some sort of aid…</p>
<p>My son & I visited Rice on a spring break tour of schools. We found it to be rather nerdy with little school spirit for sports – they have to pay to get in to football & baseball games. None of the students we talked to had attended any sports. The “college” housing seemed to rely on scripted traditions and manufactured fun. Could be perfect for some, but not this kid.</p>
<p>Woah springy, I’m a little confused about what you are saying. True, Rice doesn’t have a huge following for sports, but we certainly don’t have to pay to get into football and baseball games. We show our ids and we’re in. And I have attended many baseball games and a few football and basketball games. Sometimes I wish there was more support but please don’t spread falsehoods. I don’t really know what you are saying about the colleges. Some of the traditions are pretty awesome, and I don’t really understand the “manufactured fun” comment. I’m sorry your son didn’t like Rice but if you’re going to give such harsh criticism at least explain yourself.</p>
Where did you find these kids? Our student body may not be as gung-ho about athletics as some, but most people I know go to at least a few games every once in a while.
Gah. That just sounds to me like you have a cynical outlook. Let me assure you, although we strive to put on fun events for everyone, nothing is “manufactured.” “Scripted traditions?” I’m not really sure what that’s supposed to mean, but all the traditions I know have developed pretty organically.</p>
<p>I just wanted to refute those things before they have the chance to influence somebody with no Rice experience.</p>
<p>springy, it seems that you hold sports in utmost regard – as a top school Rice gives priority to academics and research than big football and basketball. For what it’s worth, Rice won the Texas Bowl this year (pretty good considering we’re one of the smallest D1 football teams) and have made perennial appearances in the College World Series for baseball. Baseball is not as big as football or basketball in college sports, but for college baseball Rice is a HUGE name.</p>
<p>Sorry if you were expecting rah-rah spirit of Michigan or UNC. Rice is not a big state school, its reputation does not ride on football or basketball. And paying to get in - well obviously if you’re not a student you need to pay. If you are a student, just show your ID and you’re in, simple as that. Please check your facts before you spread false rumors.</p>
<p>As for “scripted traditions and manufactured fun” please explain - I honestly don’t believe this would be any different than “traditions” and “fun” you would find at a frat party or in the Greek scene at another school. Many schools and the social scenes revolve around traditions and fun - just because you may not like the traditions or fun at Rice doesn’t mean they’re automatically “scripted” and “manufactured,” set apart from other like “scripted” traditions and “manufactured” fun at other schools.</p>
<p>Great job making broad over-generalizations and over-simplifications without elaboration. It’s great to just throw blanket statements out there (sarcasm) but it doesn’t help your credibility if you can’t elaborate; I feel like you really don’t know what you’re talking about - if you do, do explain yourself.</p>
<p>@ blueducky: I can’t imagine committing to a school without a visit, but I can tell you that Rice is an awesome place. I just got back from the Admit Day on April 20th, and I have now decided to attend over the Northwestern (with acceptance into ISP) and Wash U (with $10,000 scholarship). My decision is based more on a gut feeling than anything, but here are a few concrete reasons why I made my decision: I love the residential college system. Each college is about 250-300 students, and whichever college you are put into is the best one. The college system seems to foster an amazing college experience. The college fosters a close-knit community, but are still relatively large. Furthermore, there are amazing traditions at Rice–just to name a few: the beer bike, the Sallyport superstition, and other individual ones for each of the colleges. Lastly, the campus is beautiful (intricate architecture, arches everywhere, peaceful courtyards, mature trees cover the campus–Rice is actually considered an arboretum because it has so many trees on its campus, etc) and the weather is unbeatable (except for a few weeks of August and September). Now in regards to “going to a college in Texas:” I had the exact same concern as you, but after visiting, I have no problem at all. I’m from Minnesota, so I thought that Texas would be quite a culture shock, but I was completely wrong. Houston was a very nice city (at least the areas I saw), the people were just as nice as in Minnesota, and, although there were a few Southern type BBQ around, I did not feel like I was in the South. I mean, I met very few people who had noticeable accents. So really, there is no reason to not attend Rice just because it is in Texas.</p>
<p>^Wow, I completely agree. It seems like everyone in Minnesota thinks Texas is a different country. I mean, there were a lot of "y’all"s and southern accents, but overall I found the culture there to be very rich. And since Houston’s a huge city, it doesn’t even seem like you’re going to school in Texas. It just seems like any other major city. Also, I saw palm trees, which basically sealed the deal (or brought me closer to doing so).</p>
<p>Nah, the Texas concern is just for those occasional looks people give me (which don’t matter, I know)… “where’s Rice” “it’s in Texas” “…really” along with a slight eyebrow tilt. lol</p>
<p>My main concern is that Rice might not be worth an extra $18K over UCB. UCB’s science departments are generally stronger than Rice’s. Though if i were shooting for Harvard medical school or something, I know I should go to Rice.</p>
<p>Modulation- just saying, the whole palm trees thing helped make my decision. I was so excited the first time I visited down here. I think I took pictures.</p>
<p>Yeah, the whole “Texas” thing you get when people ask the location of Rice is pretty annoying. But people totally misunderstand Texas. Also, although there are palm trees in Texas, they aren’t all over the place or anything. However, I was surprised at how green everything was. I was kinda expected more of a desert type climate, but it wasn’t really anything like that.</p>
If only Rice gave me some sort of aid…</p>