I’m Debating between Rice and UT Physics right now. I really like what rice has to offer with the distinct community, residential college system, and academic yet laid back vibe. I love Rice’s campus too. Rice is a research university with a lot of undergraduate research which will be crucial as I want to go to graduate school. While rice isn’t super well known nationwide, people who need to know it(top notch graduate programs) do know it. UT is mainly just known for football I think. Rice is a wet campus so I know they know how to have a good time and not just focus on academics which is great.
I also really like UT especially Austin. Austin is alot of fun and is probably alot better for student life than Houston. I’ve visited the campus a billion times and still love it. The physics program probably has a lot more resources than rice and I’m about to meet the head of the department wants to meet with me. I’m pretty into parties and stuff and UT has more of that and UT has the frat system which is what my Dad wants. I could probably finish school here with little to no debt. My family is all pushing for me to go here too and I could start school here as a credit sophomore(AP credits). My thing is is that I probably wont get Deans so the small intimate classrooms of rice wont happen as often at UT and research oppurtunities will probably be harder to find outside of FRI.
Sooo What should I do?
PS: Sorry for this poorly written post. I’m tired lol
UT-Austin is known for a lot more than just football. It is extremely highly regarded academically, and it has a huge alumni network of very accomplished people. UT and Rice are both members of the Association of American Universities, an organization whose 60 U.S. members are considered the top research universities in the country, getting the bulk of research money (see https://www.aau.edu/who-we-are and https://www.aau.edu/who-we-are/our-members). UT has plenty of opportunities for undergraduate research:
You really can’t go wrong with choosing UT. In addition to research opportunities on campus, you can pursue summer research internships anywhere in the U.S. and even abroad. For example, just one type of summer research internship is sponsored by NSF and called the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, but there are many other opportunities. Here is information on the NSF REU – just click through on the research topics that interest you to see details on internship opportunities:
Let’s see: UT is more affordable and will let you graduate debt-free (hugely important!), UT is a top research university with a variety of opportunities for undergraduate research, you love UT’s campus and the city of Austin, and your family is eager for you to attend UT. Congratulations! You have found your ideal match.
@mommyrocks those are great benifits but I’m still split on the small class size. I’m probably going to be taking alot of intro classes and i like to know my professor. I feel like that will be a problem at UT
@JNicEIce you do have pretty equal lists of positives/negatives…hard choice. If you haven’t meet with a prof in the physics department of Rice, see if you can. Ultimately, I would be willing to pay a few more dollars to get a smaller class size and intimate setting, so would lean towards Rice. But, if you get a good vibe from your upcoming visit to UT and you think you can manage to get that same small class, personalized feeling at UT, I’d pick UT.
Which is doing the most research in the area of Physics that most interests you?
I guess one question is, did you get in? Sometimes that’s the solution Cost is also a big factor. Rice is not a cheap school to go to. I would probably go the UT route, simply because it’s a top university that’s much more cost-effective. College decision is as much about financial and practical considerations as they are about vibe and atmosphere. Hope that helps. Good luck!
@labegg I’m going to Rice Vision in Febuary so I hope to talk to a physics professor then which should give me some insight. I think Rice is doing more Particle Astrophysics (my intresest) ) but both schools do have REU which is good.
@Faulkner1897 I am going to Vision. I hope to get a feel then
Cost is also a big factor. Rice is not a cheap school to go to. I would probably go the UT route, simply because it’s a top university that’s much more cost-effective. College decision is as much about financial and practical considerations as they are about vibe and atmosphere. Hope that helps. Good luck!