<p>Of course, Houston is not London or Paris. My daughter did not grow up in a small town and has traveled quite extensively. She is impressed (and surprised) at the cultural offerings in Houston. Especially when you consider what the typical student has time to do and can afford (even with student discounts), Houston is not lacking in any way. The area around Rice is beautiful and vibrant. The performances offered on the Rice campus alone are incredible, since the Shepherd School is one of the top music schools in the country.</p>
<p>There's simply no comparison between Houston and Chicago, sorry. I don't care how many wonderful opera performances Houston has, Chicago has more. </p>
<p>Go to Chicago!</p>
<p>Houston actually has the second biggest theatre district after New York, it does beat Chicago in some aspects. One major one: the weather, visit both schools in the winter and compare.</p>
<p>Anyway, Rice and UChicago have very different atmospheres and student bodies. Reading some descriptions of each school should really be able to tell you which environment you would fit into better.</p>
<p>slipper1234,
Your quote of Chicago "where fun comes to die" is so yesterday! My son who isn't "a certain type", i.e. nerdy or pompous, in fact was a state champion varsity player at HS found UChicago to be great for him with wonderful opportunities both socially and intellectually. It is true that the majority of students go on to graduate studies and many into academics but my son did not do that and is happily employed (he may go back to grad school), thanks to the Career office. I grew up in Chicago and loved the theater scene and the music scene - great music of all types - classical (CSO is fantastic), blues (great blues clubs), jazz, soul and folk. Houston has wonderful cultural opportunities too but I could not stand the hot humid weather down there. But you do need to tolerate the wet cold in Chicago. - it's not for everyone!</p>
<p>The problem is with Chicago is that many people are ultra-competitive and nerdy.</p>
<p>My older daughter graduated from Chicago and was neither 'nerdy' or ultra competitive! She is very intellectual and enjoyed the environment, classes, and friends she made there.
I have never been to Houston but was to Chicago many times. Chicago is a wonderful city but remember that the U of C is surrounded my some awful neighborhoods which require caution when navigating.</p>
<p>There are things students know that parents do not. Like my friend who goes to Chicago speaks of a roommate a few years ago who turned off her roommate's alarm clock so she would miss the exam, thus allowing there to be more of a curve. I doubt your daughter wouuld tell of such things.</p>
<p>I am just reciting my visit to Chicago. We decided to go to a party got a "ewww...drinking" look from some students. The party itself wasn't that good and some of the kids were complaining about the school. It didn't seem that all students loved the place and each other, which does happen at some other schools. It also seemed like students left campus, a great thing for some, but this did detract from the college community (this happens at all urban schools).</p>
<p>But not everyone wants to go to parties or really needs a sense of community. I think Chicago is perfect for a certain type of student - more academically and socially intense I would say. It isn't a place hubbing with activity on the weekends, but not everyone wants this. If you are independent, very focused on class, love exploring a city and don't care if it means campus is somewhat quiet on the weekends Chicago is for you. There are many people who fit this bill and they would say Chicago is great fun. Personally I find Rice more appealing.</p>
<p>I think it depends on what type of an atmosphere you want. I live in Chicago and I've been to U of C tons of times for school and I have a few friends who go there. I considered applying there too but a lot of it has to do with where you want to live. Chicago is cold, but its nice. There's lots to do. Because academically both schools seem to be pretty equal, it might just come down to where you actually want to live for four years.</p>
<p>I would say that Rice, but that is because I live in Houston and have visited the campus, although I did not apply there.</p>
<p>What's your major?</p>
<p>I live on the U. of C. campus and will be attending there in the fall. You should really go to the school that you like. Personally, growing up on the campus and being surrounded by brilliant students, has, I believe, spoiled me. The intellectual environment here is quite stimulating. I can't think of a school I would like to attend more. </p>
<p>But it really is important to visit both schools. You may read great things about both Chicago and Rice, but the visit tells what the schools are actually like. I visited other colleges which I thought would be perfect matches for me (based on what I had read). I was very dissapointed by those other schools.</p>
<p>As for academic reputation, Chicago wins, but I am biased. But you need to visit both.</p>
<p>chicago is cold.</p>
<p>lol yes its cold. it's 9 degrees out right now.</p>
<p>Well. for those of you who only think of Houston as "hot and humid" remember that weather extends from June to September (most of the months that you're not in school). We just got a cold blast of Canadian air today -- highs in the mid-40's, but the past 3+ weeks have been sunny and in the 70's.</p>
<p>Texas is hot longer than from June to September...Last year it was still in the mid-90's in late October. Rare, but it happens.</p>
<p>Do you want a green sprawling campus w/trees and lawns, and lot and lots of intermural sports and club sports, student directed theater/ musicals, jacks (pranks), a zany residential college system, college masters living in your college, tons of ethnic food off-campus, lots of themed parties, an urban environment that doesn't feel urban due to the large campus, if so, that's Rice. You really HAVE to visit. UC and Rice are so different in feel and fit. Both will get you where you want to go, and both provide ample opportunities - but you have to choose which fits you best. (Judging from my DD's stories- Rice sounds more fun!)</p>
<p>Although my daughter had a wonderful education and experience at Chicago, I did not like the academic quarter system that Chicago was on. Her fall classes did not begin till nearly Ocober and she did not finish for the academic year until mid June. I thought that put her at a disadvantage for summer employment.</p>
<p>I agree with you Shelley. Chicago was definitely one of my top three choices, but I decided against it primarily because of its academic calendar.</p>
<p>I actually like the fact that there is a quarter system at Chicago. It is hard to forget what one is studying when midterms are four weeks into the course.</p>
<p>I've lived in both Chicago and Houston, and dare I say it, I liked them both. I know little about the social life at Rice, a school I have recommended to many, but my S is having a great time at Chicago that is not well described by slipper1234's experience. He finds there is always fun things to do, parties all over the place, the city, campus activities galore, but best of all he said are events like the "The Great Latke-Hamantash Debate," and the recent "Homerathon" (where the classics faculty engage in a 14-hour marathon reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey in both English and Ancient Greek). What could be better than that?</p>