<p>So... I've narrowed my college choices down to these two. I have visited both, and looooooooooooooooooooved both.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what I want to do yet. Right now, I'm looking at a combination of Economics and Biology, whether double major, major/minor, who knows... Nor are either of these in cement; it's entirely possible that I'll find something else I love. I've been thinking about going to med school afterwards, but of course, that may also change.</p>
<p>The main difference, for me, between these two are their locations. Rice is in sunny and warm (and frequently humid) Houston, literally down the street from the largest medical center in the world as well as a hub for a lot of Fortune 500 companies. Middlebury has none of this, but Vermont is BEAUTIFUL, and I love the outdoorsy aspect of Midd (I hate being stuck indoors).</p>
<p>Money is not an issue.</p>
<p>Some things I'm curious about in terms of how these two schools compare:
Advising (for grad/professional school/career placement afterwards)
Strength of Alumni Network
Ease of finding job/internship opportunities (for summers, primarily)
Study Abroad
Ease of double majoring</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>How much time will you spend outdoors from mid Nov thru mid March when it is really COLD!!</p>
<p>Seriously, do you like outdoor winter sports?</p>
<p>Both school are similar in the aspects you listed. Although one is a LAC and one a University, they are both small undergraduate institutions. It comes down to whether you want warm or cold and where you want to be.</p>
<p>If you want to do research as an undergraduate, come to Rice.</p>
<p>At Middlebury, you will not be competing with grad students for professors’ time or for instruments. I encourage you to watch this video:</p>
<p>[Explore</a> Middlebury :: Academic Life](<a href=“http://sandcat.middlebury.edu/comm/sites/admissions/video_academiclife.html]Explore”>Explore Middlebury :: Academic Life)</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you will never again have the opportunity to attend a liberal arts college. If you go to Middlebury for undergrad, you can have the best of both worlds—undergrad at a small LAC, and grad school at a large university.</p>
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<p>I think it’s safe to say that you can easily do research as an undergrad at either one.</p>
<p>Rice has a GREAT outdoors club that has a bunch of trips on weekends/breaks throughout the year! And Texas has some stellar national parks if you’re willing to drive a bit…
[Rice</a> Outdoor Programs and Education](<a href=“http://recreation.rice.edu/rope/index.html]Rice”>http://recreation.rice.edu/rope/index.html)</p>
<p>As I write this, I’m sitting in an Economics lecture taught by a Baker Institute fellow who does research on US Tax Policy that is frequently seen in research journals, as well as popular publications such as USA Today.</p>
<p>[James</a> A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Rice University | Personnel | Baker Institute Fellows, Scholars and Program Managers | John W. Diamond](<a href=“http://www.bakerinstitute.org/personnel/fellows-scholars/jdiamond]James”>http://www.bakerinstitute.org/personnel/fellows-scholars/jdiamond)</p>
<p>If you’re interested in pre-med/Biology, Rice is a fantastic place to pursue your interests. We’re located directly across from one of the largest medical centers in the world, which includes the Baylor School of Medicine. It makes research a matter of walking across Main Street (or going somewhere on campus), rather than something you have to hunt down. </p>
<p>Another great thing about Rice is that if you come here and decide you hate both Economics and Biology and have no desire to be a doctor, we have tons of other fantastic programs too. It’s supremely easy to switch between majors, and you don’t have to declare until the end of your sophomore year. </p>
<p>Quite easy to double major.</p>
<p>I’d say both alumni networks are pretty tiny. We’re both small schools, so as far as numbers go we just don’t have as many. However, Rice alumni do like to help out undergrads. </p>
<p>Can’t speak to study abroad as I haven’t done it yet. </p>
<p>The weather in Houston is FANTASTIC, except for the months of August and about half of September. The humidity cuts off around the end of September/first week of October. It’s absolutely gorgeous outside right now, and it was barely cold (we got a snow day in Feb because the temp dropped below freezing–no snow ever fell). =)</p>
<p>Re: study abroad possibilities:
DD went to Nicaragua for a month with a Rice EWB program (though she is not an engineer.) She only had to pay food costs. She spend 5 months in Chile doing study abroad; since she had Financial Aid, it did not cost us any more than a semester at Rice, including air fare, etc. She spent a summer in Armenia and a summer in sunny CA through a program that paid for all her expenses - not a Rice program, but discovered through Rice. </p>
<p>And, when she graduated from Rice, she received a post-grad scholarship from Rice that paid for her to spend A YEAR abroad studying- and when she decided that she would learn more volunteering for an organization that supports civil rights, they allowed her to switch her focus and do that. That volunteer opportunity morphed into a paid job, and she is now on year three living abroad in that country and working to help refugees… (sigh 
, ready for her to come home! ;)) Study abroad opportunities at Rice are awesome. Check out their studyabroad website…[Rice</a> Abroad](<a href=“http://abroad.rice.edu/]Rice”>http://abroad.rice.edu/)</p>
<p>Re: double majors. At Rice, lots of kids do it. Also, very easy to change majors and still graduate on time. DD did that quite a few times!!! :)</p>
<p>I had the same dilemma, and I have just recently put my deposit down on Rice. I live in New England and Middlebury is very highly regarded here, the scenery is terrific, and i wouldn’t need a flight to get home. However, Rice is just something else altogether, from the impression i got, and perfect for me. Rice 2015, come join us!</p>
<p>You really can’t beat Middlebury’s study abroad opportunities. Rice has the edge many criteria, but that is not one of them.</p>