<p>Hello, guys</p>
<p>Among the schools I got accepted, Rice and UVA(echols) are my top choices</p>
<p>*(echols scholar program does not give any financial aid, but it gives some academic advantages like priority registration) </p>
<p>I am interested in humanities & social sciences and I'm going to study these fields in college as well...</p>
<p>Right now, I really do not know which school is better fit for me..</p>
<p>Any insight?
Thanks.</p>
<p>My son was in your place last year deciding between Rice and UVA (although he wasn't an Echols Scholar). He is also primarily interested in humanities and social sciences. </p>
<p>Since he was undecided as to a major, he felt that UVA had the advantage over Rice. Rice's focus is on engineering and the hard sciences, and he was worried that he wouldn't find the variety of courses he wanted in humanities. He also liked the fact that UVA had a business major because he has an interest in that and thought he would like to have the choice in case he changed his mind about humanities.</p>
<p>Ultimately, though, he chose Rice for several reasons, not the least of which was size. UVA was the largest school he applied to and he always had a little bit of concern about that. The size of Rice was perfect for him. He also preferred the residential college system over the fraternity system, so that was an easy choice. He definitely felt that he was a much better fit socially at Rice, and that was the tipping point.</p>
<p>If you haven't visited both schools, you should try to do an overnight if possible before making up your mind. Go on their websites and look at the course offerings and the requirements for the majors that interest you the most. You'll have to make up your own mind about what factors are most important to you when weighing your choices, whether they are social, academic, or something else. Both schools are excellent - good luck! :)</p>
<p>
I'm not sure I agree with that. I'm a very happy English and Political Science major here at Rice, and while Rice's reputation has centered around science and engineering, there have been tremendous strides in humanities and social sciences in recent years. The Baker Institute for Public Policy is a great resource for social sciences students, particularly those interested in Middle Eastern policy.</p>
<p>Also, from an undecided student standpoint (which I don't think the OP is, but this is more directed at patsmom), Rice is a great place to be undecided. Switching between schools requires virtually no paperwork, and the lack of a core curriculum gives you a much more flexible schedule.</p>
<p>Good point, NYSkins. I completely agree.</p>
<p>My opinion about Rice's focus is simply that, an opinion. It's probably based largely on what I've observed here on CC (which I admit is hardly a good sample). The vast majority of CC posters who apply to Rice seem to be science or engineering kids. That's not to say that they don't change their major once they get there, but you don't see a whole lot of humanities kids posting here. I'm really glad to hear you say that you're happy with the opportunities in your major. :)</p>
<p>Another very happy Rice social science major here (economics and international policy studies). Yes, Rice's reputation hasn't necessarily caught up to reality - the humanities and social sciences have really done amazing things in recent years. The Baker Institute is a great resource for social sciences (at least economics/political science) in that it brings really great speakers to campus and is a great place to intern. The professors also do a great job of maintaining a great research/teaching balance - our professors are widely respected and frequently published, but most of them also love to teach and interact with students.</p>
<p>But that said - decide what you want in a school. Rice (3000 undergrads, private) and UVA (many more undergrads, public) are both great schools both academically and socially, but your experiences at each school would probably be very different.</p>
<p>to patsmom//
"The vast majority of CC posters who apply to Rice seem to be science or engineering kids."
Yeah, that's what made me worry too... All the students I know who went to Rice are science majors...
But, I, too, prefer overall atmosphere of Rice (residential college system, small size of students)
Is your son satisfied with his choice of going to Rice? Is he satisfied with humanity courses that Rice offers?</p>
<p>to Nyskins1//
Great to hear that Rice also put emphasis on humanities!
I got accepted as humanity majoir and I might change my mind in college because I am also interested in social sciences as well. Is switching btw schools easy? Say, humanity->social science</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice again!
p.s: Since I do not get financial aid from both schools, I am now wondering if there exist many scholarship opporunities in Rice. Any ideas?</p>
<p>DD will graduate with a Anth major, but did lots of spanish, linguistics, history, etc... Maybe in Florida, you guys just hear about the engineering and science strengths, but here in Texas we know that it's a great all-around school! ;) DD changed majors once, uuuuuhhh, twice....hmmmm, maybe three times? or four? Can't remember exactly but definitely more than twice! Rice is a great place if you still are deciding on what you want to do, and well as for those hyperfocused types who already have their careers planned out! Changing majors is exceedingly easy- and you don't even have to declare a major until end of your sophomore year, and changing majors just involves filling out a form and meeting with new advisor (at least that's my understanding from the times DD did it). Travel abroad is wonderful, and there are lots of scholarships for that.. (Dd just was lucky enough to receive a post-grad one from Rice! :) ) BTW: I believe numbers-wise Social sciences have the most majors of any in the University...
Re: scholarships... well, DD got a fellowship her senior year that paid $$, also a very good job on campus (didn't have workstudy; just as a regular Rice work job - made enough for personal expenses and books by working about 10 hours a week.) There are lots of good jobs on campus, plus ways to make money (tutoring is a good one; local residents appreciate Rice students tutoring their kids and the pay is very good). Rice is great!</p>
<p>And Guna - you didn't get accepted as a humanities major; you got accepted to Rice. You can change your major at any time. They just try to link you with an advisor, so they start out with giving you an advisor in the area in which you expressed interest. Not a problem to change your mind... You got accepted to RICE, not a department or academic college. (Doesn't hold true for musies or archis department, though. You can't just change majors into those areas....)</p>
<p>
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Is your son satisfied with his choice of going to Rice? Is he satisfied with humanity courses that Rice offers?
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</p>
<p>He LOVES it at Rice! He can't imagine having gone anyplace else now. And he has been very satisfied with the variety of courses offered in the areas that interest him. He's fortunate that changing majors is easy, because he has already changed his mind twice...</p>
<p>I really appreciate your advice!</p>
<p>I will probably choose Rice over UVA because I like the smaller size of students and the residential college system. (not to say that those of UVA are bad... UVA is still great school to attend!)</p>
<p>//Again Thanks! (patsmom, anxiousmom, nyskins1, thelonius)</p>