<p>I know there's a ton of threads on this subject but I just got off the waitlist for Duke Pratt. I'm planning on doing mechanical engineering, but I'm also considering the possibility of doing economics (math econ analysis at Rice), with the thought of going into banking or possibly working with some of the energy corporations if I stay in Texas. Both schools are equal academically, I'd give the edge in engineering to Rice, but Duke has that "national prestige" that I think would be advantageous in landing a job in a competetive job market like banking and the financial sector. I know Duke is a target, but does Rice have a similar presence in this area as I know their social sciences departments are great but how do they compare to Duke? Right now I'm about 70 % staying with Rice, 30% going to Duke. Cost is not a big factor, although I do like the fact that Rice is a bit less. Convince me to stay with Rice!</p>
<p>Four members of my immediate family are Duke grads, including daughter and son in law, a BME. Son is a recent BIO E grad of Rice who passed on an offer from Pratt. I would give Rice the edge not only for engineering but also for the overall academic environment, diversity, and tolerance for all points of view. IMHO the residential college system is a vastly superior living/social arrangement.</p>
<p>Go to Rice. The people are cooler and the living arrangements are better and the quality of life is higher (PR, even though rankings don't actually mean anything) and the surrounding area is better and the research opportunities are better and the student/faculty ratio is lower and it is prettier on the whole (rice is pretty all over except for the construction; duke is pretty on west campus, but east campus kind of sucks a lot, which is where all freshmen live). Besides, look up Rice's 10-point plan for becoming a nationally renowned university. We know that Rice is awesome, and Rice has a plan to make sure that everyone else does too. Also, I've never heard of anyone saying they wish they hadn't gone to Rice. I have heard people say they wish they hadn't gone to Duke.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, I had to make this decision in april, but it really wasn't that difficult of a choice for me.</p>
<p>S was waitlisted at Duke, accepted to Rice. After Owl days and various other campus visits, including getting the full picture on the residential college system, he sent the waitlist card back to Duke and checked the box to be pulled off the waitlist. The decision to stay with Rice for him was obvious.</p>
<p>i just visited rice yesterday and the campus is amazingly beautiful.... but there wasn't really anybody there though but that's probably because school is out.</p>
<p>yeah I'm comin to Rice, I really just wanted to see if I would get into Duke so i could turn them down haha.</p>
<p>I'm really conflicted here - Duke was my 2nd choice, but they waitlisted me. I picked Rice, went to Owl Days, etc, and have fallen in love with it. But I just got off the waitlist at Duke, and I don't know what to do! I hope you can help.</p>
<p>*I picked Rice, went to Owl Days, etc, and have fallen in love with it. *</p>
<p>Given that they are relatively equivalent schools academically (barring your interest in a hypothetical program that one or the other of them might be substantially stronger in), you've seemingly answered your own question. (Or, unless Duke has offered you a much more affordable education.)</p>
<p>If he was taken off of the waitlist, then I can't imagine that Duke would be more affordable than Rice.</p>