<p>Ok, so I'm having trouble deciding between these two schools. 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 program and was interviewed, 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>Don't count on a high GPA in pre-med at Rice. It is extremely tough. That said, I would pick Rice in a heartbeat. Great med school acceptances and a lot less expensive for you.</p>
<p>I don't have evidence. But MIT is definitely a hard school. All the MIT students I've talked to has told me it's hard while I haven't heard that at Rice (which I'm not taking to be easy either)</p>
<ol>
<li>Money is key here. Rice is giving you a huge break (and you can use that for med school).</li>
<li>Don't get set on med school. Lots of pre meds drop that idea. Medicine, after all, is not what it's cooked up to be, and organic chemistry (as well as other pre med courses) often weed out prospective MD/DOs.</li>
<li>If you get into Rice/Baylor, do it. Baylor is a very good med school!</li>
<li>Houston might actually be a better city than Boston, especially for weather.</li>
<li>You'll be likely to get a more diverse education at Rice. MIT has tons of requirements, and no prospective doctor should be without lots of humanities courses! Half the battle is talking to patients, after all.</li>
</ol>
<p>Rice definitely is not a walk in the park, either. If anything, students there study a LOT! Have you actually talked to current Rice students? They'll be the first to tell you Rice's academics are quite intense and obviously not for the fainthearted.</p>
<p>You'll find it quite academically intense at either school; learning bio at Rice is no less than learning it at MIT, certainly not "easier" at one place over the other, esp in terms of GPA. Premed is hard anywhere.</p>
<p>Rice is a great place :) I'm going there next year!! I think this is an obvious choice of choosing Rice, even if you prefer MIT, simply because of practical reasons. Be thankful of the scholarships and lots of money Rice is throwing at you--you'll need that for med school!!</p>
<p>Let me clarify: by no means do I think Rice is an easy school. I know that I will have to definitely work hard there. HOWEVER, I just believe that it will be harder at MIT. </p>
<p>And yes, hotasice, I have talked to Rice students and MIT ones. Rice students didn't really mention too much about academics while MIT students continuously reiterated to me the difficulty at MIT.</p>
<p>If you liked Rice when you visited, if you acknowledge that it is a good school for pre-med (which it is), if they are offering you 80K plus research money and MIT is offering you nothing, why is there a question here? Rice loves you. I'm guessing you will love it back as soon as you get there.</p>
<p>Rice is too good for you to waste any more time and energy pondering this. Be thankful for the chance to save a very large amount of money, send in your deposit and start planning to have a great experience.</p>
<p>Maybe it's cause Rice students work and play hard ;) </p>
<p>I really don't know how social students are at MIT, maybe that's why they keep bringing up the arduous workload, but yeah... it's hard at either school. </p>
<p>If you really love MIT that much, why don't you try calling up their financial aid office and try to bargain with them for more financial aid? Inform them of what Rice is offering you and see if MIT will match Rice's offer.</p>
<p>Take Rice! You have been offered wonderful opportunities there.they are much, MUCH nmore focused ontheir undergrads than MIT .My s always thought he wanted to go to MIT. After visiting he commented that they dont seem to care much about their undergrads. Hwe is goign to graduate from Rice in 3 weeks and has had incredible opportunities there. And I promise you- the academics are no walk in the park. Even <em>if</em> the academics are harder at MIT (and I am not so convinced), the difference is probably negligible. Enjoy Rice. You are a lucky guy.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with hotasice, call or email MIT! Tell them you would love to attend, but all the scholarship money that Rice is offering is making the decision realllllly tough :-P Who knows, they may end up forking up some money.</p>
<p>I don't think MIT will meet merit scholarship money for your financial aid package. You may have some wiggle room but it is highly doubtful that they will meet Rice's offer. Are you in-state for Rice? If you are truly set on med school, the state you come from is very important. Rice places very well in in-state medical schools, but is not as strong out-of-state.</p>
<p>If $$$ is a big issue and you are in-state I would go with Rice. If not, I would definitely pick MIT especially because if you change your mind (which many pre-meds do) you will still be at MIT.</p>
<p>In-state doesn't matter. Rice grads get into excellent medical schools. It is simply incorrect to say otherwise. Many Rice grads CHOOSE to stay in Texas for medical school, because there are a number of excellent ones and in-state tuition is available to many.</p>