<p>I got into Cornell, U. of Chicago, and Rice. I am interested in being a biochem major and then becoming a biotech investor (with an MBA/ masters in finance somewhere down the pipe). Any thoughts, opinions, or musings? If you need any further info, please ask! :)</p>
<p>Rice is just not well known outside of texas. For a business career either of the others. But I'm a kid!!</p>
<p>Have you visited everywhere? What is your gut-level feeling?</p>
<p>Suze, I disagree with your comment about Rice.</p>
<p>I do, too. Where it counts (grad schools, top companies, Rice is both well-known and very respected). Offhand, I would put Rice and Cornell a notch above Chicago for biotech, though others may have different information. But all three are great schools. Congrats!</p>
<p>I too, would like to do something with biology and investing. Basically I want to be on the investing or business end. I have talked to a number of people on Wall Street and in venture finance about school choices and Rice was one as it seemed a good school for my list as a kid from the East. It does not seem to be a school well represented in those circles and was not recommended by those I consulted. </p>
<p>I also take a look at where kids who are often business oriented and have a lot of choice go. At my top prep, in the last 4 years: 4 to Rice, 58 to Cornell and 35 to U of C.</p>
<p>EE: Rice is great (and suze, there are biotech investors in Texas and the south also!), and the opportunities for research are terrific. Rice is well-known to grad-schools and top companies. But, you should definitely visit. You can get where you want to go from ALL 3 of these schools. (but you may change your mind about where you want to go along the way.... so think about where you'd like to be if you decide that biology is not your passion...)</p>
<p>Cornell, hands down</p>
<p>Huge student population from all over the world. Very strong alum ties.</p>
<p>This will count when you have to raise money. Been there and done that. Raising capital is ALL about who you know.</p>
<p>Caveat: Much as I love the Rice campus, living in Houston? The humidity of New Orleans without jazz, creole cooking, beignets. chicory coffee, trolley cars, Mardi Gras, The Jazz Fest and French architecture. </p>
<p>Possibly the worst designed city in the US--absolutely soul-less--although the area around Rice is very nice.</p>
<p>* Caveat: Much as I love the Rice campus, living in Houston? The humidity of New Orleans without jazz, creole cooking, beignets. chicory coffee, trolley cars, Mardi Gras, The Jazz Fest and French architecture. *</p>
<p>Yes, but the saving grace is cheap and quick Southwest Air flights to New Orleans for weekend escapes!</p>
<p>* Possibly the worst designed city in the US--absolutely soul-less--although the area around Rice is very nice.*</p>
<p>Agreed. Rice also strikes me as the most intellectual of the southern schools--moreso than Duke, Tulane, Vanderbilt, etc.</p>
<p>There is a spirit to the Rice culture that kind of reminds me of the quirky U of Chicago culture. (Now there's another city with terrible weather--but the polar opposite of Rice's weather!) Hmmmm....maybe they could work out some sort of exchange program. Winter months in Houston are quite nice and early fall and late spring are nice in Chicago--if only one could somehow put together an academic program that rotated between the two schools to optimize the weather situation.</p>
<p>Cheers - Houston has no soul? By golly, we've got the Beer Can House!</p>
<p>But yes, it is the worst designed city in the US.</p>
<p>I just got off the phone with my s. at Rice, who is pursuing a Mech E. and physics dbl major. He just told me that he is thinking about adding a managerial studies degree to boot, and is looking at taking Engineering economics and management. (I think this is the name of a class) Oh, did I mention he's also pursuing entrepreneurial leadership? My point is, he is planning to combiine engineering, management and entrepreneurial stuff ( I am too tired to find the right words, so forgive me) to have a good foundation for the business or research world if he doesnt pursue grad school. Rice has a strong entrepreneurial program, and a good relationship with several of the big companies (Shell, NASA, etc). Lastly, the new president said that one of his goals is increasing the strength of the biochemical engineering program, to increase the interface/collaberation with the huge medical facilities across the street from the University. He talked of a new building on the corner of campus with a bridge over Main street connecting it directly to the Medical Center. Now, that's not in the immediate budget, to my knowledge, but he plans to strive to make that Engineering school #4 in the country ( not sure why he picked # 4, but thats what he said).</p>
<p>Sorry that I was away from this post for so long, but I appreciate what everyone has said so far. Any other opinions?</p>