<p>Ok, so I'm having trouble deciding between these two schools. (I know that I'm on the Rice forum and will probably get more biased answers but I really would like some advice) I'm looking to major in biology and going for premed. (I may also try to double in economics if I have the energy) I applied to the Rice/Baylor eight year medical scholars program and was invited to interview, but results aren't back for me though some people already got in. I'm going to assume I didn't get in.</p>
<p>I really love MIT, it's been my dream school. I love the nerdiness, the quirkiness, the opportunities, Boston being around the corner, and the culture that's there. The people seem amazing! However, I'm not getting financial aid and if I'm looking to going to med school, it's going to be expensive. Also, I'm worried that with MIT being so hard, I might not get a high enough GPA for med school.</p>
<p>Rice on the other hand is offering me their trustee's distinguished scholarship (20kper year for four years) and the century scholars (4k for first two years as research stipend). This makes it soooo much cheaper (even cheaper than UCs for me). Also, I'll probably end up getting a higher GPA at Rice. I visited and I really liked Rice. However, I feel that I fit with MIT better.</p>
<p>Is the money enough to make a significant impact on your family's finances? If so, I'd say you should go with Rice. That said, don't come in assuming it will be easy to maintain a high GPA.</p>
<p>I'm not assuming that it's going to be easy getting a high GPA at Rice. I just think that it will mostly likely to get a** higher **GPA at Rice than MIT since every MIT student I've talked to has told me it's hard while I haven't really heard that from Rice students.</p>
<p>You know, I don't think it's a bad idea to go to an undergrad where you can manage your GPA with some ease - that will make going to grad school easier.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much about the issue of maintaining a GPA at either school. True, it is hard to get a 4.0 at either school (there are a few people who pull it off, but not many) but med schools are familiar with both MIT and Rice. They accept people all the time from both schools (at Rice, over 90% of students applying to med school are accepted, I bet MIT has similar numbers). Med schools are very numbers based, but they do still keep in mind that there is a difference between places like MIT and Rice and the average state school. </p>
<p>Go to whichever school you like more or can make work financially. Besides, you might be like half of the premeds who enter Rice and decide that they want to do something else entirely by the end of sophomore year.</p>
<p>It has been a few years, but last I heard from faculty, MIT had a reputation as grad student friendly, undergrad student unfriendly. The two MIT profs I knew were not concerned with the fact that MIT had a high suicide rate amoung undergrads.</p>
<p>Rice has a reputation as very undergrad oriented and friendly. </p>
<p>Once you get into Med school where you went to undergrad school is only important for the friends you made and the (hopefully) great memories. Oh I guess the economics hangover from under grad school will also be important.</p>
<p>One other thing to consider are the research opportunities at Rice, if you're interested in that (and since you're premed, I'm assuming you are). Rice has the largest medical center in the world literally across the street, with something like over 40 non-profit medical institutions (13 hospitals I think) and a collaborative research center under construction whose purpose is to provide research opportunities for students. Also, Baylor College of Medicine is a five minute walk from Rice, and 1/3 of their class every year is made of up Rice students. I'm not interested in pre-med, but from what I hear BCM ain't that bad of a med school.</p>
<p>DonR-
As I mentioned on another thread about this topic, my s (who is about to graduate from Rice) had always thought he wanted to go to MIT, but after spending a few days there, felt that the faculty didnt care too much about the undergrads, and he wanted to go to a school where the focus was on the undergrad education.</p>
<p>The OP has requested feedback on this topic in several forums (good data collection, frutiaspice!) and the heavy preponderance of posters, even in the MIT forum, recommend Rice! One poster is an MIT alum and has a child at MIT, so is understandibly encouraging MIT. The OP will do well at either school. Good luck!</p>
<p>Rice and MIT were my daughter's two choices as well. Same financial picture (no merit aid at MIT and both scholarships at Rice). As far as a place to visit - I would have liked going to see her in Boston more than Houston. As far as a place to live for 4 years - she liked Houston. (It's cold in Boston when you ARE there in school and it's hot in Houston in the summer when you ARE NOT there)</p>
<p>We had always thought she'd be at MIT, but after visiting both she chose Rice - and has loved it there. No regrets for sure!</p>
<p>D is a premed biochem major. One thing that has become obvious is that the majority of her professors seem to be geared towards helping students succeed. It's a positive reflection on them and the school. We have not seen too much of the "cutthroat" competition between students either. Students don't discuss grades very much.</p>
<p>what kind of atmosphere do you want? Rice has a very aesthetic campus and students are much more sociable (this is just from my opinion- I have visited both schools). MIT is MIT, but I think Rice is a better fit for a college experience.</p>
<p>Do you enjoy frostbite in your ass cheeks? MIT may be for you. If you'd rather deal with a little rain and wearing shorts most of the time, come to Rice.</p>
<p>I would suggest considering Rice's offer carefully. Boston can still be your dream, in grad school if you decide research, or medicine is your forte. As a parent, I have heard one or two u/g unfriendly stories about MIT from former students, as well as successes. Rice is a great springboard for medical schools and grad school, one roommate went to a Harvard grad school after three years, several to top tier medical schools and specialities. The economics of Rice, and the Texas medical schools, are hard to beat. You can establish residence in Texas and get some great med school choices at ridiculously low costs. Also Rice can be very flexible on changing majors.</p>
<p>If you don't already live in Mass, you are probably already too late to establish residence for med school there (it's 5 years, I had a pre-MD-PhD student doing molecular bio/chem research at a med school there one summer, now on NIH fellowship elsewhere). Med school costs can <em>vary</em> $100 - 200,000 without fellowships, the higher cost schools including some pretty mediocre schools, the lower cost schools including Baylor and Southwestern. </p>
<p>Personally, I tend to favor more personalized schools for u/g, save the "big names" for grad schools. Also I strongly favor campus visits, it is not too late for a decision like this.</p>
<p>Agreeing with the others that the climate in both cities couldn't be more different. The time you are in Houston for school is very pleasant as ricemom said. The last few days have been fabulous - low 70s and 20% humidity. So definitely think about the climate - Boston and Houston couldn't be more different in that regard!</p>