<p>These are my top two choices, and I was wondering if any of y'all could help me out. First of all a few things about me that will affect my choice are that I'm a planning on being pre-med, and majoring in either math, biology, or both. In addition to that I'm gay and would like a college with a good gay scene. IMO the academic scene are very similar so there's no point in arguing over that. The two things I am wondering about are:
1. Why Rice has such a higher pre-med acceptance rate
2. How the social scenes compare, especially for gays? Emory is bigger, and has frats, but Rice has the residential system. I'm not sure how this affects partying and social life.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Rice is next to the largest medical center in the world. Rice also offers abundant opportunities for undergraduate research. As a result, Rice pre-meds are usually admitted into the medical school of their choice.</p></li>
<li><p>I cannot comment on Emory, but Rice is extremely diverse and relaxed. We have many students who are gay and they are as well integrated into the residential colleges as anybody. Rice also has a wet campus that allows for private parties in your dorm room. The social scene is what you want it to be; as much or as little as you like.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>One thing about rice also is I worry that it’s too small. Also, how are dorm parties? are they small, or are they fun too?</p>
<p>Rice is a great place to be for students who are gay. Our Queers & Allies group is rather strong and active, and the accepting environment of the school is in itself reassuring; a person’s sexuality will not affect their treatment at all here.</p>
<p>Rice is small enough that you will see people you know everywhere you go, but large enough that you will be able to meet new people pretty easily. I really like the size because it is the best of both worlds - abundant research and other opportunities, while still avoiding that suffocatingly small feel that many liberal arts colleges have (for me, anyway; I couldn’t stand not being able to meet a lot of new people haha).</p>
<p>The dorm parties are really good, in my opinion. A lot of them may be small scale, but on weekends you can almost always find a larger party if that is what you are looking for.</p>
<p>Rice is not too small, IMO. As FallenAngel says, it is big enough to meet new people all the time. It is also small enough that you can hang out with your professors, have classes outside, work with friends etc. </p>
<p>As Rice is in Houston, you can “escape” the campus if you want a break. Go out for late night food, play boardgames at Teahouse or go to a museum/zoo. If Rice was in the middle of nowhere, it might be slightly more insular, but the city of Houston allows for more variety and exposure.</p>
<p>Right now, I’m just wondering about the size. I know it’s around 3,500 undergrad, but to me that’s just a number and, coming from a high school of 400, I have no idea what that’s like. Can anyone tell me anything to give me an idea of how many people there are? Also, is there an option at Rice to create your own major? I would really like to do something that would combine Math and Biology.</p>
<p>3500 means that you have enough people to not know everyone, but few enough that you do not have to see the same people all the time. The size of Rice is more than just a number as well. The student to faculty ratio is low, somewhere near 5:1, if I remember correctly. Once you get past intro chem/math/physics, classes are small allowing the professor to get to know you. I have been in a class where it was just me. Instead of cancelling the class, my professor and I rescheduled to a mutually convenient time based on our schedules and met. He made the class more ‘project’ based, giving me the freedom to develop something instead of just take a test.</p>
<p>Regarding majors, you need 120 total hours to graduate. I believe Math and Bio will fit within this 120, allowing you to major in both.</p>
<p>Math - 36 hours
</p>
<p>Biology -
</p>
<p>There is also a lot of overlap such as Math 101/102 that will count for both.</p>
<p>Thanks, and how much do people go into the more commercial part of Houston with clubs and all that? and how far is that?</p>
<p>@premed4 Rice is right next to a metro rail which takes you to various locations around the city including downtown. Seriously take two steps out of the Rice campus and you’re at the Metro rail.</p>
<p>The people who go off campus tend to be those over 21, drinking reasons. Of course, you can always drink at Rice before going out. Rice village, midtown and montrose areas are really close to campus. In addition, if you want the gay scene, Houston has about 10 places that I can think of off the top of my head (not all are 18+ though) It’s about 5-10 min drive from campus. I used to go clubbing a lot and even organized times where I would get a lot of people from my college to go. One time I got about 40 people to go to Rich’s, in midtown, which is just a metrorail ride away.</p>
<p>There are a lot of places all over the city, so your mileage may vary. There are some clubs down the lightrail though. Cabs are also a good way to get around (without worrying about driving).</p>
<p>I know people who go out almost every weekend and those who rarely leave campus for clubbing/bars. It really depends on you.</p>
<p>These are both wonderful schools. You can’t go wrong with either. Emory is located in very close proximity to the Va-Highlands, 4th ward, midtown areas of Atlanta which are very gay friendly and have a large gay population.</p>
<p>jym626 is correct; Emory is an outstanding school as well, so if you end up having to choose between the two in the spring then you are in an excellent position.</p>
<p>In fact, Emory was in my top five when I was deciding what school to attend. I had to count it out quickly due to financial aid complications, but it was sad to see the opportunity go.</p>
<p>I have a very good friend who goes to Emory, and I actually just got back from visiting her there two weeks ago; she’s also visited Rice. We’ve talked extensively about the differences between the two schools, and far and away the biggest difference is in undergraduate living arrangements. They have a dorm system in which rules etc are enforced by student RAs, in addition to fraternities and sororities which are more free-for-all, while Rice has the residential college system (where our RAs are younger faculty/staff members who basically just chill out and throw events for us). At Emory, the first way you’ll form friends is through your hall/clubs; at Rice, it’s through the residential colleges. She also said something about a recent problem with their frats and the gay community, but that was probably an isolated incident.</p>