Glynn Scholar At Notre Dame VS. Rice University

College Search & Selection
1

So I’m super excited to have the opportunity to attend these schools, and now I am torn on deciding which one to attend. If you guys could provide me your opinions and insight, it would be much appreciated! Thank you so much!

Okay…some background about me first
-im a bio major
-im going to be a premed student, pretty deadset on pursuing medicine in the future
-Im not scared of working hard, but I am aware that for premed you need somewhere that has good advising and a place that doesn’t heavily weed out applicants
-I’ve never been much of a party person…I like to spend more time alone (dont get me wrong, I like hanging out with people too)
-Im an Asian male, so heavily in the minority if I go to Notre Dame
-I might consider double majoring in bio + econ/some business major. I might consider a minor in music. I don’t know which school is better for double majoring/minoring.

For Notre Dame:

  • accepted as a Glynn Scholar (around 100 accepted each year)…provides research funding, special classes, and I guess advantages when it comes to finding research. I heard that you are prioritized over other students.
  • good aid (around same price as Rice)
  • Although I am not Catholic, I have no problems with faith.
  • I heard premed advising is extremely good (if not the best). They also have fantastic acceptance rates for med school.
  • Campus culture heavily centered around Football (im not really a fan).I don’t know how well I would fit in with people. Never a super big sports person. More interested in music and reading.
  • Good collaborative atmosphere, not competitive undergrad body
  • In South Bend…which is honestly a negative for me. I’m more interested in city life.

For Rice:

  • good aid (again, around the same price)
  • Had some mixed feedback concerning how competitive the undergrad body is. Some people have told me its super collaborative (like Notre Dame), but some people have told me that undergrad is super stressful and competitive. I don’t know what to believe.
  • Premed acceptance rates are also pretty high (from what I’ve heard), but advising probably isn’t as good as Notre Dame. Not sure if Rice weeds out premed students
  • I feel like I would “fit in” more. There are a lot more “quirky” people and a bunch of cool ECs
    -Probably won’t receive special treatment here, unlike Notre Dame (since I was accepted as a Glynn Scholar). No guaranteed research funding. Although I have heard there are many good research opportunities and other opportunities
  • In Houston…which is amazing. I would love to be here.

Thank you so much!

2

Rice has the residential college system, which mitigates the competitiveness. Pre-med is not a major anywhere, so there is no pre-med track within which to be competing with other pre-meds. You can major in anything you want as long as you fulfill the requirements for med school. I think this too mitigates against ultra competitiveness. Engineering at Rice can be pretty intense, but tyat’s A different undergraduate college. The competition can be different in different schools of the university.

I’m surprised that you’ve heard that advising is not as god as ND. There is advising for pre-meds at Rice. In addition, the student-teacher ratio is lower (better) at Rice (7:1), so faculty in general should be more accessible to students. ND S:T ratio is 10:1. Overall undergrad enrollment at Rice is less than half of what it is at Notre Dame, so there’s less of a chance of getting lost in the shuffle at Rice.

Double majors are available at Rice. There is certainly a place for music as well, as there is a whole Colege of Music.

I’ve only heard good things about Rice. Overall it seems like the better fit for you from what you’ve described.

3

OP: Your post makes clear that you prefer Rice & Houston.

4

Yep, I think I’ve made up my mind!

5

Thanks for all the great info! I think I’m going to choose Rice.

6

Congratulations and best wishes at Rice!