<p>@alam1: I was pointing out the reputation of Rice vs Emory in Ohio. I do agree that they are both regional schools that have the strongest reputation in their respective states. Again, as I stated, I believe they are all peer institutions.</p>
<p>Have fun at Emory next year!</p>
<p>These threads are such a wankfest.</p>
<p>From a regional perspective W&M/W&L is considered on par with Duke in Virginia/DC/Maryland Penn and nobody has heard of Emory/Rice. Maybe Vanderbilt, but only as the punching bag of SEC football.</p>
<p>Point being is the student body at Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, William & Mary, Davidson, Emory, Washington & Lee, and Wake Forest are the best in the South. To say there is great diffences between them is truly delusional. All are great schools and peers of each other.</p>
<p>^that is the very point I was trying to make when you made “rankings” for them. </p>
<p>I, however, really do not think Washington and Lee is considered on par with Duke in all those states. Then again, I don’t live there. Just seems highly unlikely.</p>
<p>Ok this may be very biased as I have currently only been accepted to Emory (applied for emory scholars and heard back already). Though, here is kinda how most people rank Rice, Duke, Emory, and Vandy in the midwest.</p>
<p>Duke is first cuz everyone knows about it from basketball. Though, not as many people here know how excellent it is academically. I have run into a few people who regard it highly in medicine however. </p>
<p>Then, it kinda just falls into grey area. Some people have a higher regard for one of the emory, vandy, rice schools just because they have a kid attending one of these colleges or w/e. Though, in my opinion it really comes to down preference. The one thing I do know regarding those three is that rice is 10k cheaper at face value and has a 90+ med school acceptance rate (ya…I know those acceptance rates arent always a good judge of premed schools though) where as Emory has like a 60% rate.</p>
<p>However, at the end of the day, I really do like Rice/Emory/Vandy just as much as Duke…it really would come down to who offers what if I get into multiple southern ivies.</p>
<p>PS. WF, W&M, uVA really are decent schools. Though, WF specifically isnt really as renowned as these above schools and I don’t think any employer seriously equates Vandy or Rice with WM or w/e. Just my opinion though.</p>
<p>Emory’s relatively low med school acceptance rate is probably because they do not screen applicants at all… Also, different colleges count that percentage differently so it is not a good jugde of pre med study at all.</p>
<p>STOP. Really, stop.</p>
<p>A few observations from the parent of both a Duke and a Rice grad: Duke scores rating points from its law and medical schools. Rice has no law school. We could use fewer lawyers–advantage Rice. Duke has a world class hospital and medical school that has a fair amount of collaboration with Pratt. The collaboration between Rice and BCM is probably somewhat greater, and Rice has the Texas Medical Center–advantage Rice. Rice has a top architecture program and a world class conservatory. Duke has neither. Duke has political correctness (the Gang of 88). Rice has diversity. Duke has 8000 acres of forest, a primate center, and a Robert Trent Jones golf course. Rice is across the street from the Country’s second largest municipal park (compete with public golf course and zoo). Rice has residential college system–huge advantage Rice IMHO. Both offer a terrific education, but you should ignore ratings at this level. Undergraduate education at Rice is second to none.</p>
<p>“Emory’s relatively low med school acceptance rate is probably because they do not screen applicants at all… Also, different colleges count that percentage differently so it is not a good jugde of pre med study at all.”</p>
<p>FWIW, Rice does not screen applicants. Period.</p>
<p>Here are a few random thoughts from the blue north. Although most highly educated people here in the upper midwest have heard of most of these “southern” schools, there is little differentiation among them. That’s the macro scale. At the micro scale, as we learned more about Rice in the college selection process for our second son we became very attracted to it, notwithstanding our initial concern about the significant cultural, geographic and climate gaps. He has applied and is eagerly awaiting a decision. The other schools mentioned here – and they clearly are all very good – simply never attracted us. They didn’t have the unique attributes that Rice has that allowed it to overcome our initial regional/cultural disinterest in southern schools. </p>
<p>That said, of all these schools Duke is much better known here in the midwest – but that’s strictly because of its basketball team. The truth is that because of the outstanding flagship universities in the Big Ten region (including Northwestern and Chicago), whose graduates dominate the business, academic and professional communities, most people around here are not overly impressed by any university outside the region, with the possible exception of Harvard, Yale and MIT. </p>
<p>My point is that if you take an outsider’s perspective, these regional comparisons seem arbitrary. From this perspective it doesn’t matter which southern school is the best, or even the best respected within the south. It will be the individual qualities of each school that will attract students from elsewhere. Because of those qualities, I believe Rice attracts – on the whole – a different kind of student than Duke, or Vanderbilt, or W&M.</p>
<p>I wondered what you meant when you said “Rice attract – on the whole-- a different kid of student than Duke, Vanderbilt, or W& M.” </p>
<p>Rice is very appealing to my son after learning about it (He had never heard of it). He did not like the vibe at Duke. It would be great to know how you characterize the students at Rice (on the whole).</p>
<p>We visited Rice last fall and the students we met and saw were very casual, friendly, non-pretentious people. Same with the other folks we met. I think that reflects Houston and Texas in general, to some degree. In my experience traveling to Texas on business I always found Texans to be open, friendly people. Further, Rice’s college system is fairly unique nationally, and very different than most of the other southern schools. There is no greek scene, with its inherent exclusivity; the Rice colleges are very inclusive communities. </p>
<p>Those are the principle things I’m talking about. After visiting and experiencing its vibe, it did not surprise us that Rice scores so well on those “happiest students” lists. As a parent, it’s the kind of place you think you’d be very comfortable having your child attend. </p>
<p>Your mileage may vary, of course.</p>
<p>I agree with MilwDad’s descriptions of Texans, but of course I’m biased since I’m a 4th-generation Texan! I love Maine, but I do miss being around friendly Texans. </p>
<p>I felt the same way when we visited Rice. Everyone just seemed to go out of their way to make my son and me feel welcome and comfortable. I hope he gets in!</p>
<p>I definitely agree with MilwDad that Rice has a very unique atmosphere (at least in my opinion). Rice has the residential college system (and it is taken seriously), professors eating with students everyday at lunch (of course, not all professors, but still a sizable number), the presence of the world’s largest medical center and the nation’s 4th largest city right next door, and the the ability to see people you know walking around campus all the time (which, to me, makes it seem more like a community), and 70 degree weather in the middle of January for an entire week. The other great southern schools, like Duke, Emory, Vandy, UVA, UNC, Davidson, Wake, and W&M are all great, fun schools, but I do not believe their atmospheres are as unique as Rice’s. They all, in my opinion (and I have significant knowledge regarding Duke, Emory, and Vanderbilt), seem to have large Greek scenes. They just represent the traditional college experience in my opinion. All are excellent schools, but it really comes down to preference. Rice is definitely on the rise though as more people in the Northeast, Midwest, and East Coast realize how unique Rice is.</p>
<p>In the NE, Duke is better known.</p>
<p>I think it is a toss-up if don’t consider NCAA. I have visited both campuses. Both are very nice in their own unique way. I felt that student community at Rice was a lot friendlier and happier than at Duke. Just an opinion.</p>
<p>Rice is more respected than Duke. In certain parts of Asia, Rice is eaten daily; most cultures, however, frown upon eating Duke.</p>
<p>In the above post, I was making fun of this Rice thread because it is four pages long (and counting) about whether or not Rice is “respected.”</p>
<p>I was NOT making fun of Asians. I am half-Asian myself.</p>
<p>Sorry in advance to anyone who took offense at my attempts at humor. No harm was intended.</p>
<p>@ nyccard niice lol :p</p>
<p>I’m chuckling! ;)</p>