<p>I just got a full tuition scholarship for engineering. i am also in at S ($36 k/year my cost), MIT ($42 k/year), and GaTech (no cost). I would like your views about what would you do and why? I'm confused. Thanks.</p>
<p>If Standford is your very top choice, you might consider contacting them with your Rice U offer in hand to see if they're open to further discussion. This has to be done very diplomatically. There are other forums on CC where you can read about how to do this.</p>
<p>You didn't mention if MIT's $42k was at your cost. If so, and IT's your very top choice, you could take your Rice U offer to them and delicately, diplomatically see what they might do. I would only do this if one of these two schools is your very top choice, by a wide margin.</p>
<p>Otherwise, if no huge sums of money are forthcoming from them, or if they're not really top choices by a wide margin compared to Rice or GaTech, I would just toss them off your list and head for Rice or GaTech! It's really a no-brainer. You have full scholarships to 2 excellent schools. You can't lose at either one! You can save your money for grad school or future living expenses.</p>
<p>In my opinion, there is absolutely no reason to pay big money for Stanford or MIT when two other top colleges will educate you for nothing. Keep Stanford or MIT in your hip pocket, with all your undergrad savings, and head THERE for grad school!</p>
<p>I got the same scholarship last year, plus another $4k/year to room and board. Other options included MIT at $14k/year and Columbia at $12k/year, both of which were really kind of unaffordable for me, though aside from that my rationale was that MIT was cold and I could keep my car if I went to Rice (I've since heard more negative student life things about MIT: all the stores around close early so there aren't any good late-night restaurants, everything cool is around Harvard so transportation is more difficult, etc). As *****y as this may seem, I also figured that Rice would be a relatively easier school to distinguish myself in. All of those figures add up to a LOT of money, and if you plan on going to grad school you need to take that into consideration...but if MIT or Stanford is your is your "dream school" and your parents can afford it, you're not going to get this chance again.</p>
<p>I dunno, Stanford rejected me and I might've gone there, but it's a bigger school. I don't really consider GAtech on the same scale now that you've got a full ride to Rice.</p>
<p>If money stays the same, go to Rice for undergrad, and then to MIT or Stanford for grad. Rice is an awesome school. Plus the engineering school and university are smaller than the others, which means a better college experience.</p>
<p>Rice has the best undergraduate experience in the nation, IMNSHO. If you have full tuition, it's a no-brainer.</p>
<p>My sister goes to Georgia Tech and loves it, for what it's worth, but Rice is better.</p>
<p>Silentsailor is right, Rice is an easier school in which to distinguish yourself. There are so many ways to step up and lead, especially with the college system. I'm actually afraid to talk on this board about a lot of the stuff that I've done at Rice because I'm afraid that I'm too well-known through those positions, but suffice it to say that I'm a pretty distinguished figure both in my college and campus-wide. (I sound like a pompous ass. Maybe I am.)</p>
<p>There also aren't grad students sucking up the resources, so a lot of research opportunities go straight to undergrads.</p>
<p>You are, NYSkins.</p>
<p>You are too, Dorian.</p>
<p>EDIT: Just in case anyone thinks this is a flame war, Dorian and I know each other in real life. Real life! As in not on the internet! (That's how small Rice is; everyone knows everyone.)</p>
<p>Le sigh.</p>
<p>Anyway, itsme123, you should choose Rice because it is the coolest and best place ever.</p>
<p>^thanks. my question is R too small for its own good. also, how can i pass up S - so many want to get in and yet so few have the opportunity. Eng is S is just about the best and there are so many other programs that are top-rated.
another way to look at it is would you pick R over S if $ is not a question (even though it is!)</p>
<p>Well, I would, but that's just me. I really don't think Rice's size causes any problems, and I'm actually rather upset by the coming increase in student body size. I think you need to ignore the "so many people would kill to go there" aspect here and really focus on which school appeals to you more.</p>