<p>These are the only two places I got into. For financial reasons, I'm probably going to have to go to Rice. In many ways, Berkeley seems preferable to me: it has better bioengineering and biochemistry programs (I plan to major in one or both of these), is in California near San Francisco (I'm rather liberal, and , so I think I would fit in better in that respect), etc. Rice, on the other hand, is in Texas, 2 hours away from my home.
So can anyone tell me some reasons why I should want to go to Rice instead? Basically to make me feel better.</p>
<p>Berkeley is huge. Monstrously huge. You won’t get the same kind of attention that you would at a small school like Rice. Also, Rice allows you much more freedom in choosing a major. For example: you say you want bioengineering or biochemistry. Well, at Berkeley, in order to do bioengineering you would have to be in the college of engineering. If you were accepted into Letters and Sciences, it is almost impossible to switch into the engineering school. At Rice, you can switch schools easily therefore freeing you up to do whatever major you want. I was accepted to Rice and Berkeley as well, but I’m choosing to attend Wash U. I’m a California resident and from what I’ve seen, private is the way to go at this point in time. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>i hope this doesn’t sound too harsh but i don’t think you realize how lucky you are to have been accepted by rice. have you seen how devastated and utterly confused those students who weren’t accepted were? they want this school more than any other school in the country, over ivies even, and they certainly had the stats to get in. it bothers me that you need to be made to “feel better” about going to rice. so if at this point you must be convinced, after learning enough about it to apply in the first place, perhaps you should just try to attend berkeley and help someone get off the waiting list for rice who really wants to be there. rice is top 20, just opened a new bio sciences research collaborative, and creates a balanced political environment for both liberals and conservatives.
i apologize if this comes off as rude. i just love rice and i hate to have other applicants whose dreams have just been crushed see this thread.</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools. Undergraduate research is easy to do at Rice. I cannot speak for Berkeley. I was co-author on two papers published in Journal of Biological Chemistry and one in Journal of Molecular Biology from research I did as a junior at Rice. Two of them I had the prestigious “last author” slot usually reserved for the head of the lab. You can get into any grad school in the country with a degree from Rice. Later follow-up research was published in Nature (made the cover!) where I was first author.</p>
<p>Rice is actually ranked higher for bioengineering; just throwing that out there</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Rice is far more geared to Undergrad Study than Berkley. Berkley is known for research, but many of these famous projects and professors are only availible to grad students. Rice does have a few Grad programs, but is far more about the undergraduate experience. </p></li>
<li><p>As stated above: Smaller class, smaller classes. Residential College system.</p></li>
<li><p>Berkly and the rest of the UC system are having huge financial problems. In addition to already being expensive you could see a much larger tuition hike. By comparison Rice has an ungodly amount of money in it’s endowment that it is using to continually improve campus, like the brand new gym which looks really posh.</p></li>
<li><p>Houston is not exactly liberal but hey, they just elected an openly gay mayor, thats gotta count for something. Also Campus is its own little vibe. College students as a whole tend to be liberal and though there may be more Republicans than at Brown, you’re not going to stick out by any means. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Though I won’t say it quite so bluntly as chicgeek, I am also a rejected/waitlisted student that would love to have what you have. Congratulations but please dont whine.</p>
<p>Many Berkeley students are having trouble graduating on time (read: taking 6+ years) since the cuts in funding are decreasing the number of classes offered, making it harder for one to get into and take classes required for one’s major.</p>
<p>Smaller is better. And Rice is more diverse.</p>
<p>
That is a common myth regarding UCs. In reality, it is impossible to graduate Berkeley in 6+ years. This is because anyone requiring this length of time would be subject to dismissal.</p>
<p>However, this does not mean that I would choose Berkeley over Rice. Rice is clearly the better option between the two for undergraduate study even without financial incentive. The OP simply does not realize this.</p>
<p>Also, I’m sure you’ll find people with all types of political opinions at Rice. (e.g. I’m a huge supporter of Ralph Nader.)</p>
<p>After checking my financial aid information on Esther and seeing that I will have to pay less for Rice Freshman year than I did per year for my private hs, I’m definitely going to Rice. Also, what you guys pointed out was very helpful. @chicgeek92 You’re right, I shouldn’t be whiny. Rice was the first school I really liked, but then I got distracted by a bunch of other schools and jaded by their rejections. Also, I honestly exaggerated my disappointment to get better responses. But thanks.</p>
<p>Two questions: I assume you’ve visited Rice, since you’re 2 hours away. Have you visited UC Berkeley? They’re such different schools/towns/campuses.</p>
<p>What makes you think that Cal is better for undergraduates in biochem or bio-e? In what way is it better?</p>
<p>They’re both great schools, but they’re very different.</p>
<p>I started my post a half hour ago and by the time I clicked Submit, you had already decided to go to Rice. I’m glad to hear it!</p>
<p>I’m glad that you are choosing Rice. Berkeley is huge, plus the UC system, especially Berkeley, is losing a LOT of funding. Although Rice is making cuts as well, they probably are not as drastic as the ones at UC-Berkeley.</p>
<p>By the way, bioengineering is VERY STRONG and also the most difficult major at Rice. US News ranked our undergrad bioengineering program #9 in the country. Plus, Rice has opened a new state-of-the-art bioscience research collaborative (BRC) that is the Texas Medical Center. Rice plans on collaborating with Texas Children’s and Baylor Med School for bioscience/bioengineering research in the BRC. I do research there, and the building is quite neat. It’s easy for undergrads to get research opportunities there too.</p>
<p>i’m glad to hear you do really like rice, kaekae, and i can totally understand being distracted by the allure of other wonderful schools. guess i’ll see you there next year!</p>
<p>*** CORRECTION: The BRC is NEXT to the Texas Medical Center; I stated above that it is the Texas Medical Center, which makes no sense.</p>
<p>So, I was in this exact same situation last year. I got into Rice, Berkeley, and UT Austin (Engineering honors and Turing Scholars for Comp Sci). </p>
<p>In the end, I chose Rice and have not regretted it since. If you aren’t sure about it, just wait until O-Week and you will know for sure that you made the right decision to come to Rice, which is the best school ever.</p>
<p>HAHAHA
10char
wait 'til I show this thread to my friends :)</p>