<p>i didnt think to apply to the business honors program at UT because i wanted to do engineering at the time; now i'm not really sure. if i go to UT, i would start off as an aerospace engineering major, if i got into Rice, i would be a mech e major. if engineering doesnt work out (as I predict it wont), i would easily be able to transfer to Mccombs at UT, but the BHP is a little shady. i'm fairly confident i would have gotten into BHP had i applied to it, but all bets are off for a sophomore transfer, since they dont consider high school stuff, and i'm not sure if i could have a 3.9 engineering GPA (3.9 is average GPA for the BHP soph transfers). if i was at rice, i would change majors without any application process to economics or mathematical economic analysis. which would be better for my future as far as job opportunities in the financial and business world- ut mccombs/mccombs honors or rice econ/math econ analysis?</p>
<p>In my opinion, Rice > UT. But then again it's all about what you put into your education... I'm going to let someone with more experience answer this one definitively, but I think you should consider what school you'll be happier in. Both are great schools (Rice > UT, but UT is still not a bad school), and I would not have minded going to UT except I think student life at Rice is a lot better. And if you're happier at a school, your productivity should theoretically increase, and therefore your success in the business world... theoretically anyway.</p>
<p>UT Austin is much stronger than Rice overall, but Rice is better than UT at the undergrad level. However, it really will make little difference which place you go. If you do well, you will many opportunities available.</p>
<p>Rice undergrad > UT undergrad. period.</p>
<p>yeah thats what i've kinda been thinkin. since i dont live near houston (but still in tx), a lot of kids just go to UT or OOS privates.</p>
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Rice undergrad > UT undergrad. period.
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<p>Not sure it's that clear cut at the undergrad level. For starters, UT's USNWR undergrad peer reputation score of 4.1 > Rice's 4.0. Then the fact that UT is a larger research university also means a much greater depth and diversity of academic offerings. Also, since UT's academic depts are ranked higher than Rice, some of that prestige is bound to trickle down to the undergrad level. There's also ancillary factors like most people love Austin, while Houston doesn't get the same kind of love (although, in fairness, Houston is vastly underrated and has a lot to offer in terms of diversity snd culture and even has some of its own quirkiness ala Austin.)</p>
<p>First, please don't let a .1 difference in the USNWR undergrad peer reputation have any effect on your college decision. Second, I'm not qualified to speak about UT, but here's my view on the Rice half of the equation:
If you aren't entirely sure of what you want to study, Rice is a great choice. As long as we aren't talking about architecture or music, you can transfer very freely between majors (though after freshman year it would be difficult to take up an engineering track due to the fairly rigid course progression and high number of required classes). The fact that you're already predicting that you won't like your major doesn't sound that great, but I'd advise you to come in with an open mind and sample around for a little while until you find something that you like (if you just mean that you put down mechE on your application but have since changed your mind, don't worry, you wouldn't even have to take a single engineering class your first semester if you didn't want to.).<br>
Something that Rice offers that UT may not quite offer:
Amazing access to faculty. I was doing a math problem set in our commons last night and ran into a tough problem, but fortunately the professor was sitting at the next table, so I was able to get a few pointers from him.</p>
<p>Thelonius, are you a Lovetteer taking Rolf's DiffE?</p>
<p>yep. sure am.</p>
<p>Hey, I hate to hijack this thread, but if anyone can help me out via PM that would be great!</p>
<p>I go to UT as a freshman right now, but last year (around this time), Rice was my top school. I had a luck of getting into both, but I eventually chose UT. Has anyone here (or anyone they know) attended both schools (preferably for undergrad), so I can get a better idea of what Rice offers over UT and vice versa?</p>
<p>yeah i'd like to know an answer to myrmidon73's question as well.</p>
<p>Is this a joke?</p>
<p>UT is barely a first rate public school. It is not at par with Mich, UVA, or Berk. Rice is one of the finest schools in the world for undergraduate education just like Dartmouth is.</p>
<p>Well the most important lessons you learn in college come from your fellow students anyway and have little to do with academics at all, and in that case, fellow Rice students are smart, interesting, and pretty much all around amazing. So I guess I just don't see why academic reputation is such a big deal.</p>