Pomona vs Rice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Out of 12 colleges I applied to, I was denied at 4 and 5 provided insufficient aid packages. Essentially, it has now come down to a choice between Pomona, Rice, and the University of Texas at Dallas (OOS). The cost of attendance at each should be around equal, so there shouldn't be any financial issues.</p>

<p>-I plan on majoring in neuroscience (or cognitive science) and would like to attend a medical scientist training program (MSTP/MDPhD program) after I graduate if possible.
-LA is my favorite place in the world!
-A school where it is easy to become involved in research as an undergraduate is a must.
-Prestige and how well-known the school is are not major concerns.
-I'd prefer smaller classes as long as intellectual diversity isn't compromised - environments where I'm put on the spot are much more challenging.
-I'd also prefer professors that focus on teaching undergraduates.
-A nerdy student body is preferable - a place where every person is weird in his or her own way :P
-My mother wants me to go to Rice; I am leaning toward Pomona right now.
-I want to be able to learn for the sake of learning but also be free to explore many academic disciplines.
-I'd prefer a place where social activity revolves around intellectual discussion and creativity to one where drinking and partying are the primary social events. (Most schools probably have both?)</p>

<p>If possible, could you post suggestions as to which school I should attend or reasons for attending each? Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>well, given your focus of interests
“A school where it is easy to become involved in research as an undergraduate is a must”
and because of all the incredible opportunities for pre-med students to do research at the nearby hospitals in Houston, I would say you should go to Rice. There are no nearby hospitals associated with Pomona.</p>

3

<p>FYI… we have the world’s largest medical center next door (5 min walk from campus).</p>

<p>-I plan on majoring in neuroscience (or cognitive science) and would like to attend a medical scientist training program (MSTP/MDPhD program) after I graduate if possible.</p>

<pre><code>Although Rice does not have a neuroscience major, we do have a cog sci major. Plus, Rice has good ties with Baylor Med School, which has a lot of neuroscience research going on.
</code></pre>

<p>-LA is my favorite place in the world!</p>

<pre><code> Houston is awesome too, in its own special way. Rice is actually in the heart of Houston, right next to the city’s museum/park district and the medical center complex. Pomona is on the outskirts of LA, far from the heart of LA (at least 45 min drive).
</code></pre>

<p>-A school where it is easy to become involved in research as an undergraduate is a must.</p>

<p>Quite easy to get involved in undergrad research, especially in biosciences. Many of my classmates, who are freshmen, are already doing research.</p>

<p>-Prestige and how well-known the school is are not major concerns.</p>

<pre><code> Good for you. Prestige should not be a concern. Although you will be surprised how prestigious Rice is in Texas. I have that people who know Rice are quite impressed that I go there.
</code></pre>

<p>-I’d prefer smaller classes as long as intellectual diversity isn’t compromised - environments where I’m put on the spot are much more challenging.</p>

<pre><code> Rice’s student to faculty ratio is 5:1. Median class size is 15. However, most intro classes (bio, chem, orgo, econ, physics) can have between 100-200 students. But I bet these classes are also large at Pomona as well.
</code></pre>

<p>-I’d also prefer professors that focus on teaching undergraduates.</p>

<pre><code>Most professors here are focused on undergrads.
</code></pre>

<p>-A nerdy student body is preferable - a place where every person is weird in his or her own way :P</p>

<pre><code>Rice is definitely nerdy and quirky.
</code></pre>

<p>-My mother wants me to go to Rice; I am leaning toward Pomona right now.
-I want to be able to learn for the sake of learning but also be free to explore many academic disciplines.</p>

<pre><code>Very easy to explore many academic disciplines at Rice… no barriers from taking classes at Rice’s other academic divisions (although its difficult to take architecture and some music classes if you are not majoring in those areas)
</code></pre>

<p>-I’d prefer a place where social activity revolves around intellectual discussion and creativity to one where drinking and partying are the primary social events. (Most schools probably have both?)</p>

<pre><code> Rice is a very intellectual place. However, there is a lot of partying and drinking that goes on the weekend. From what I heard, Pomona is the same way (intellectual but with a lot of partying).
</code></pre>

4

<p>You’ve got two great choices! These two schools are very comparable academically. I don’t know what the research opportunities are like at Pomona. If that’s important to you, you might want to do a closer comparison of those opportunities. As others have said here, Pomona isn’t that close to LA, but it’s closer than Houston is! Other than that, if you’ve visited both schools and feel you’d be comfortable at either, I’d suggest making your decision based on your gut feeling of where you’d be happier. I’m sure whichever one you choose will work out well. They’re both great schools. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>Pomona is better, easier to get a high GPA for med school, although at rice you might have better research opportunities, but few people get to go to school like pomona, so you should go there</p>

6

<p>

In the first place, this is a horrible reason to choose a university to attend, but even if we accept that reasoning, I’m not sure that this statement is true. From what I hear, Pomona is a very rigorous LAC with highly motivated students, and I’m sure getting a high GPA requires a substantial amount of effort at both schools.</p>

7

<p>Both schools are excellent, academically, but Rice is a better social scene–for the “nerdy” and the “cool.” I also can’t stand the dirty air that blankets the Claremont Consortium of Colleges.</p>

<p>I also think that Rice manages to be a synthesis of a LAC and university (with all of the resources of a university–research, library, etc.).</p>

<p>I vote Rice.</p>

8

<p>Okay, Pomona is way way better.</p>

<p>If you have to think about this, you really should not attend either college.</p>

<p>Pomona - - - - - - - - - - - Rice</p>

<p>14% acceptance rate - - - 21% acceptance rate</p>

<p>2090 - 2320 - - - - - - - - - 1970 - 2270</p>

<p>Obviously you should pick the better school…</p>

9

<p>@ ReasonableMan:</p>

<p>Your logic is very faulty. Just because a school is more selective in terms of numbers doesn’t mean it is better. 100 point difference on the SAT ranges aren’t that much different. Keep in mind Rice is D1 (Pomona is not), so some of the athletes have lower scores.</p>

<p>A school should be measured by the students it produces… how it changes students and provides opportunities. Both are excellent schools and really force students to learn a lot during their college years. However, one is not better than the other.</p>

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<p>So what did you choose, UltraMastodon?</p>

<p>For the record, Rice was my d’s first college visit and it was where she articulated she wanted small classes all taught by professors. She never wavered from that and will be going to a very small LAC in August.</p>

<p>From your wish list, I would agree that Rice would be a great fit for you. Houston’s med center is like no other in the world.</p>