<p>Rice or Rensselaer?</p>
<p>If I had to choose, I'd pick Rice because a) I'm used to big cities, b) it has more of a "reputation", c) no mandatory IBM laptops, and d) it's ever-so-slightly cheaper.</p>
<p>On the flip side, someone else might choose RPI because a) it's the oldest technological institute in the US, b) it's quite forward-thinking (Video Game Design undergrad major!) and c) mandatory IBM laptops.</p>
<p>Funny enough, I go to Rice and my sister is an RPI alum. I take it you're interested in engineering. I'd say look around this forum and the thread in the "hot topics" section at the top to find out why Rice is so wonderful. The RPI forum might be a bit less used, but there is one, also.</p>
<p>I chose Rice =D.
What major?</p>
<p>Mac > IBM.
Rice > RPI.</p>
<p>S2 just chose Rice. He wanted big City. He also loved the concept of the residential colleges and integrating freshman into the student body, rather than segregating them in their own enclave/dorms. He also likes the M/F ratio at Rice and the absence of fraternities.</p>
<p>For him, the downside to Rice was cost and the complete lack of winter.</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools. Decision will be pretty subjective. (As for Reputation, Rice is higher generally speaking, but in the technical fields, RPI may edge it.)</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>IBM sold its PC division to China and no longer makes laptops.</p>
<p>Rice is a beautiful campus. You'll love the winters.</p>
<p>lol, ive lived in houston for 13 years.
it has only snowed once.</p>
<p>sadly enough.</p>