<p>Okay, I know people on this board will be a little biased, but I just got a likely letter to dart and was also accepted to rice a few weeks ago. I was pretty much bent on going to rice, but now im not so sure. my question is, what does rice have that dartmouth doesn't? the most obvious differences to me are that dart has the prestige factor, being an ivy and all, whereas rice is more renowned among texans. i suppose weather is also a big difference, but besides that, both seem to have an interesting social atmosphere and an undergrad focus, with a small student faculty ratio. i want to major in english or philosophy by the way. i know rice is more sciences oriented, but ive heard that the school just got a very large donation to their school of humanities and they're really trying strenghthen this dept...so any comments on the differences between the two would be appreciated. thanks</p>
<p>I would chose Rice over Dartmouth for the following reasons:
1) Cheaper
2) Residential College System
3) Weather
4) Location- Rice is in a big city while Dartmouth is in rural New Hampshire.</p>
<p>Academically, they are comparable and you can't go wrong either way. Personally, all the ivy nonsense aside I view them as equally prestigious, but perhaps I am biased.</p>
<p>
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I would chose Rice over Dartmouth for the following reasons:
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</p>
<p>Two of the four reasons you offered do not demonstrate that Rice is objectively "better" than Dartmouth. Some might prefer the weather of the Northeast, and others might prefer living in a rural area. I must say that after living a semester here in D.C., I am getting rather sick of the city.</p>
<p>nspeds, the key word is "I" would pick Rice for those reasons, obviously different would have different outlooks but the person was looking for opinions, so I offered mine.</p>
<p>Thanks for yr insight, dimnar...yup i visited rice a few months ago and i really liked the way the residential college system is set up, although i have heard from some that it kinda limits the social interaction because many don't feel the need to hang out with people outside their college. is there any truth to this?</p>
<p>since choice of college is not an objective decision, i agree that there is no real demand to discuss objective reasons. the only thing that everyone can agree on is cheaper is better, but rice is not necessarily cheaper for an admitted student. </p>
<p>i have a friend who chose rice over a sports scholarship at dartmouth. she visited both and she found that dartmouth was full of snobby frat guys and didn't like the atmosphere at all. </p>
<p>about rice, the residential college system rocks. i can't imagine being in college any other way. it doesnt seem that colleges would limit interaction much more than dorms, if at all. it is only natural that you will make friends easier with the people you see everyday, who are by default in your college. if your college doesn't have its own servery (unshared), then you'll see a lot more people on a day to day basis.</p>
<p>since rice is so small, you can easily become accustomed to hanging out at other colleges more than your own if you dislike your college. a friend of mine is at one college, but basically lives at another. literally.</p>
<p>when i visited a music friend this year at another college, i was astounded by the exclusiveness of her "music dorm." they completely keep to themselves, as their classes are sometimes held in the dorm itself. any set up like this, such as an engineering dorm, is bad news. the thing that the residential college does best is creating a comfortable, open community that holds throughout your years at rice, and throughout your life as well. so this community is very strong in my opinion. i think is a great system and easily the best characeristic of rice.</p>
<p>Don't even consider unless you have visted Rice. Dartmouth's campus and environment is awesome. It is somewhat secluded but oh how picturesque.Rice, on the other hand, is locate in Houston. Without mincing words, Houston is an inferior American city and always will be- a complete ugly wasteland that resembles a steam bath most of the year. It never will be Boston or New York. The only reason that Rice can compete is because of Enron and oil, i.e., new money.</p>
<p>eureka- I completely disagree. Houston is a wonderful city (except for the humidity and the traffic). The area around Rice is gorgeous and has beautiful homes with big trees. It does NOT feel like a city campus, but you have access to everything the city has to offer (major league sports, museums, opera, parks etc).<br>
My daughter actually hangs around with classmates in her major as much as she does her residential college friends. She had a boyfriend from a different residential college, and hung out a lot over there, too. The residential college system gives you a built-in "family", but you certainly make lots of friends elsewhere, too.
Don't get me wrong- I love Dart, too. You really need to decide what is right for YOU.</p>
<p>UGH! deadhead, im so jealous of your likely letter to dartmouth! likely letters are so fun! jk/lol.</p>
<p>eureka, have you EVER visited rice? From what i've read you say, it appears that you haven't even visited houston.</p>
<p>Deadhead - I was in your exact situation last year! Likely letter from Dartmouth, acceptance into Rice. I ended up visiting Rice for Owl Weekend and abolutely LOVING it, so that was what tipped the scales for me - I just loved the sense of the community there, the gorgeous campus (and yes, Dartmouth's campus is very pretty too), and the fact that Houston was easily accessible but not RIGHT smack in the middle of campus or anything.</p>
<p>One big difference between Rice and Dartmouth is that Dartmouth has Greek life - and a lot of it. I personally prefer Rice's residential college system (and no Greek life), so that was also a big factor in my choice.</p>
<p>So, I don't have too much new advice - I'd say visit both colleges (owl weekend for rice, dimensions weekend for dartmouth) and really just see what's a better fit for you. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Dartmouth is so much better than Rice</p>
<p>Just so you know, Roberto is mad at Rice.</p>
<p>Rice is better (city, community)</p>
<p>Rice isn't "better." Dartmouth has one of the strongest communities in the world, not to mention so many other things that make it special. It feels like a total LAC (warm professors, lots of attention, beautiful campus) but also has the best social life among the Ivies. You don't need the city, there is too much happening on campus. As for brand name, Dartmouth is much stronger across the country. Rice doesn't travel as well outside the southeast. But for someone who wants to stay in the southeast Rice is probably not much weaker.</p>
<p>But I agree that visiting accepted students weekend at both is a must do. You'll make your choice then surely.</p>
<p>you should make your decision on what is stronger for your interests (i.e. math, science, english, etc). either way, youll have a good time at whichever one so just go off whats best for you and you future</p>
<p>they are both strong although personally i would chose rice for the reasons some posted above</p>
<p>I would personally choose Dartmouth over Rice.. I've visted both campuses...Internship at Rice back in sophomore summer. Dartmouth Recruitment program last October.. I enjoyed Hanover so much.. and the D is definetly my first choice.</p>
<p>It all depends on the individual I suppose.. But I lived in Houston all my life.. and well.. I really want to leave the state.</p>
<p>Hopefully I'll get accepted =)</p>
<p>goodluck</p>
<p>i dont like cold weather.</p>
<p>go to dartmouth. give me a spot at rice! that would nice</p>
<p>go to rice dude. u get more for ur money</p>
<p>deadhead06, when did you receive your decision? are you RD? or ID?</p>