<p>which is better for political science, IR, or economics?? a music program would be nice too...</p>
<p>bumppppppppp</p>
<p>Hopkins is better at all three, especially IR since it is one of the best in the country. </p>
<p>Saying that, I would still go to Rice over Hopkins.</p>
<p>While Hopkins may rank higher, it is definately not a happy place.</p>
<p>I think that they both have cooperative programs with nearby music conservatories. I would choose Rice for the better social environment and less stressful academic atmosphere.</p>
<p>To me, it depends where from and where you plan to go. Anywhere other gthan the northeast, I would say Rice. If you're from the northeast I don't know if it's worth trekking all the way down to Rice, although I get the impression that it's an overall more enjoyable experience.</p>
<p>I know Rice very well. It is nice, but a bit sparse and on the quiet side. The campus is a bit dead on weekends. Perfect for a student who is more laid back. I'm not sure how JH's campus environment is but Baltimore is a little better than Houston, it's close to DC, the beaches.</p>
<p>Overall though, I'd go with Rice.</p>
<p>thanks all...since Rice is kinda small, does it have a liberal artsy feel? bc that would be good, i think. also, since it's in tx, is it really conservative and republican?</p>
<p>Rice does have a bit of that liberal artsy feel, but not all that much because it's a small school that's very well-balanced for its size. It's more like a smaller Stanford than a typical liberal arts college. Then again, it's got more of it than JHU, which seems like a high end premed factory.</p>
<p>By Texas standards, it's definitely not overwhelmingly conservative and republican, it's close to the gay area of Houston and the more ecclectic side of town (called the Rice Village), but it's no Austin. The IR/PoliSci/econ depts however might be fairly conservative (James Baker Institute, big oil influence.)</p>
<p>Houston is not that bad a metroplis, but it's not the greatest college town there is. Even the cooler part of town is made up of strip malls and bungalows. Have you thought of other choices?</p>
<p>as of now, northwestern is my number one choice, then probably some LACs like colgate, bowdoin, midd.. i think after NU my other university choice is Rice. Princeton is a super reach.</p>
<p>Rice has tons of parties and concerts/plays every weekend. There is usually some huge party going on at one of the residential colleges. There is a lot of drinking and the campus is quite lively. The area of Houston where Rice is located is very liberal and very beautiful- large homes and large trees. There is a great arts community in Houston- opera, museums etc.- and it is all very close to Rice. The gigantic Houston Medical Center complex is right across the street from Rice and covers many, many blocks. There is a great 3 mile clay loop around the Rice campus called the "outer loop". It is for walking and running and always has people on it.</p>
<p>Memorial Park is also not too far for a jog or hike. Rice has decent food in the Village, good weather too, provided you don't stay there in the brutal summers.</p>