I love so many things about both USC and Rice U. and...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>I'm having trouble deciding. I've narrowed it down to either Rice U. or USC, and I want to know from current students where they think I would have the <em>BEST TIME</em>. I am aware of the academic programs at both Rice and USC, I've visited both campuses, I am aware that Rice is slightly higher in ranking and higher in traditional prestige-- that is not what I am basing my decision on. This is a life changing decision and it breaks my heart that I have to turn one of these schools down.... so I want to make sure I am as informed as possible. Here's the deal:</p>

<p>+USC+
Pros:
- USC is in LA (big, vibrant amazing city... but also expensive)
- USC is only a couple hours away from the beach, the desert, AND the mountains
- California's amazing climate
- Highest percentage of international students of any school in the US
- World class football team & marching band
- Good Neuroscience program
- Grading policies are easier (which results in more free time, and better grades for graduate school I presume)
- Very good pre-med internship opportunities
- Amazing alumni job network
- Movies are often filmed at USC
- Students make & show movie-grade films
- Good mix of attractive boys
- Wonderful artists give concerts free for students (Andrew Bird!!! AHHHH)
- Students can swim in the fountains
- Kids were nice and friendly in general</p>

<p>Cons:
- USC would cost $36,000 a year for me since I didn't receive alot of financial aid... so we would have to take out loans on our home equity and my parents have jobs in computer science, so they're not stable if the economy dies or something
- Travel costs would be high since I live in Virginia
- LA is very expensive and so is parking at USC, so I wouldn't have a car or be able to do THAT much in LA
- The food isn't all that great in the cafeterias
- The USC campus itself only has pockets of prettiness
- The USC architecture and dorms look like they're just made for function, not form
- USC students in general seem to be less like me: I am quirky and unique, I have frequent impulses to jump over things, I smell all my food before I eat it, I can baa really well and make good dolphin noises, I go crazy in a beat
- I wouldn't be able to get my Student Pilot Instrument Rating because that money would go to paying for USC (I already am very close to getting my VFR Private Pilot's License)</p>

<p>+RICE+
Pros:
- BEAUTIFUL campus-- I LOVE ALL THE TREES AND SQUIRRELS!!
- Interesting, quirky, down-to-earth people
- Kids very active in class
- Diverse student body
- Houston has great restaurants
- Baylor medical program in conjunction with Rice Pre-med = great internships, opportunities
- Admins give Rice students so much freedom
- Pranks are plentiful
- Residential college system
- Cafeteria food is amazing
- Hispanic influenced architecture is sooo prettyyy
- Great traditions, especially streaking ones (heh)
- Voted in the top 5 Best Quality of Life consistently by US. World News
- Houston is less expensive than where I live (40 minutes from Washington DC... Sterling, VA)
- Everyone at Rice was really friendly and reached out to me and told me repeatedly to come to Rice
- RA's at Rice plan really cool stuff for their colleges (ex.: Bollywood nights, yoga)
- I could continue to take flight lessons at a small airport nearby, with the extra money
- People would probably really embrace my quirky-crazy personality</p>

<p>Cons:
- I have high standards so probably would not date at Rice
- I don't know how good the social life would be
- The curriculum & grading is EXCEPTIONALLY hard (does this mean alot less free time?)
- The Neuroscience program is not as good</p>

<p>Questions: Are there any pros and cons I haven't thought of that I should consider? Are any of my ideas about either school wrong? And which do you think I would have the BEST FOUR YEARS at??? Thanks so much for your input.</p>

2

<p>I read through pretty fast, but I see a couple of things which might not be accurate.</p>

<p>“Baylor medical program in conjunction with Rice Pre-med = great internships, opportunities” - Are you referring to Rice/Baylor Medical Scholars? Did you get into the program already? If you’re not in the program, you can still do some research stuff at BCM too, although it’s not officially affiliated with Rice.</p>

<p>Your cons for Rice are exaggerated. Rice has a CogSci major which is every bit has interdisciplinary and ‘good’ as USC’s. For Pre-Med, Rice is on par with many of the Ivies and other top schools, and I would say Rice Pre-Med >> USC unless you are in the USC Bac/MD Program. I’d also say you get more opportunities for ‘internships’ etc at Rice and MORE ATTENTION than being part of the student body at USC. The parties at Rice won’t be as good as USC’s (this is also a matter of opinion), but I’m sure you’ll find some cute guys. There are cute guys at every college. </p>

<p>“The curriculum & grading is EXCEPTIONALLY hard (does this mean alot less free time?)”</p>

<p>Maybe comparing to USC, but it’s not as bad as you say.</p>

3

<p>I have absurdly high standards and I’m dating at Rice. Social life here is just like at every other college - there are groups of all kinds at each college at you will, WILL find one that suits you. Free time is what you make if it - if all you do is go to class, yes, you will have free time, but taking on college or club leadership positions will take up large portions of this; it’s easy (and fulfilling) to fill your schedule if you want to. Not sure about the neuroscience program but I know we just added a neuroscience minor that LOTS of people from many different departments (bioe, elec, caam…) are very excited about, and I have two good friends who are very happy doing neuroscience research in labs.</p>

4

<ul>
<li>Social life here is decent, although I do think USC’s might be better</li>
<li>although USC has a more attractive student body (at least in females and I’m sure guys), Rice has plenty of attractive people, but just not that many. </li>
<li>The grading and curriculum is fair here. And, if you’re premed, classes anywhere are going to be hard. And if they are not hard, then you will have to work even harder in medical school. If you put the work in, seek help when needed, and manage your time well, you can do well in the science classes at Rice.</li>
</ul>

<p>This is YOUR decision and a decision you need to make. To me, though, it sounds like you will be quite happy at Rice. Good luck with your decision… can’t go wrong!</p>

5

<p>

You know Houston is only a couple hours away from the ocean too (and some dry places if you really want to visit). PS. Texas also has a Pasadena. Yeah be jealous. =P

Houston is big and vibrant too. It’s also very diverse. And less expensive (depends on location though).

Houston (and a good part of texas) has an amazing climate IMO. Sure it’s hot and humid during the summer, but it is mild in the winter (with some exceptions, it snowed a little but it’s nice to experience snow).

While Rice doesn’t have as high percent, there is a good amount of international students here.

Okay, maybe Rice’s football isn’t good but it does have (IMO) a world class college baseball team. And the MOB (Marching Owl Band) IMO isn’t bad at all.

Rice has a great psychology program and cognitive science that collaborates with Texas Medical Center. ALSO, and I think this is great: there are neuroscience class you can take that are taught at the Baylor College of Medicine (yes the famous/amazing BCM). They call it Building Rice Academics in Neuroscience. <a href=“http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~neurosci/[/url]”>http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~neurosci/&lt;/a&gt;

I can’t really compare for this, but I can say that Rice is smaller. in other words, you don’t have to compete with as many people. Although people here are smart. But Rice’s grading policy isn’t a GPA killer. You need challenges in college. What is the point of going though college getting a 4.0 and not challenging yourself?

Umm I think USC definitely can’t compete with Rice on this category. Rice has one of the best, if not the best, pre-med internship opportunities. It is across from the TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. I repeat the TMC, the LARGEST collection of medical institutions/hospitals. If you can’t find internship opportunities, well I’ll be darn.

Rice has a good alumni network, although they are not as big as USC, Rice is well know to many corporations.

Umm I can’t really comment much on this. But I have to say, what does that provide for you? I don’t think (and I might be wrong but) you probably won’t be in a movie. So I don’t know what is the big benefit.

Hey there are some nice video skills here.
[Rice</a> University Community Involvement Center](<a href=“http://cic.rice.edu/videocontest/]Rice”>http://cic.rice.edu/videocontest/)
[Rice</a> University | News & Media](<a href=“http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=14084]Rice”>http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=14084)

Okay, I agree California has some amazing looking people, but hey, it’s not like southern people are bad looking. I can’t comment much cause I’m a guy.

There are amazing artist that have concerts here in houston. Passport to Houston provides discount tickets to many performing arts activities. [Houston</a> Arts | Passport to Houston](<a href=“http://www.students.rice.edu/students/Arts.asp?SnID=218601268]Houston”>http://www.students.rice.edu/students/Arts.asp?SnID=218601268)

Ummm…no comment. That kinda sounds weird IMO. Although, I might be wrong.

Southern hospitality? I think they call that for a reason.</p>

6

<p>By the way, Rice has fountains too… we have a tradition up in the North Colleges (Brown, Jones, etc.) where we throw people into a fountain on their birthday.</p>

7

<p>Just to reiterate, I think this is certainly one of the easier decisions. This is not Rice vs. Dartmouth. People would tell you to go to Rice even if it was double the cost of USC, and with it being cheaper it’s a no-brainer IMO. I’ve had to make the same decision I’malsoanattractiveboy. and I’m committing to Rice.</p>

8

<p>I’m not making my decision based on prestige, Torcher… I’m basing it on where I would be happier. buuuut… IM GOING TO RICE THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!! woooooooooo</p>

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<p>Jojo…great choice…you will find that Texas is a great place and the people are friendlier contrary to the negative press you get. I came from a foreign country 20+ years ago and I’ve stayed in Texas since. I find Texans very friendly and polite. Also, remember that Rice is about 10% the student population size. So, that means that for every 10 attractive USC student , there is 1 attractive Rice student. ;-)</p>