<p>I am applying Early Decision to Rice, but also applying RD to MIT and Stanford. Maybe Berkeley and Caltech as well.
I want to major in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering (maybe double if possible), be highly competitive, and make lots of moolah without having to medicine.
I love Rice because it seems like the perfect school for me and it has really strong academics (especially in engineering) but I know that even though Rice is the 'Ivy of the South' the other 4 schools may have better reputations. My question is: will an undergrad degree from one of those top 4 engineering schools be a significant advantage over a degree from Rice?</p>
<p>They have better reputations, which really only matters when job fairs come around. I'd imagine Rice has a very good job fair though, so it doesn't matter.</p>
<p>When I say "really only matters" that was an understatement. They have better reputations - but they are so marginal it likely makes no difference in any context other than a job fair. I can see all those other schools having more/better employers (especially in your prospective major). It's likely a very small effect though...</p>
<p>Of those schools, just go to the one that you like the best that you get into. Odds are, you won't get into most of those five, and even if you do, if you still like Rice the best, that's ok. You have a responsibility to yourself to go where you think you will be happiest. You shouldn't go to a school "just because" you think their more "prestigious".</p>
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Of those schools, just go to the one that you like the best that you get into. Odds are, you won't get into most of those five, and even if you do, if you still like Rice the best, that's ok. You have a responsibility to yourself to go where you think you will be happiest. You shouldn't go to a school "just because" you think their more "prestigious".
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<p>That's how I feel about it, too. I'm doing ED to Rice because I think it's the best school for me, even though MIT et al may have better reputations. I just wanted to know if it would make a difference in salary, job availability, etc... but I guess (hope) that as long as you go to a good school with a good rep (not necessarily world-renowned), what matters more is what you make of your education opportunities, not where you went.</p>
<p>I'd say the difference is where you want to work after you graduate. While MIT/Stanford/CalTech/Cal have top of the line engineering programs, Rice is certainly no slouch! If you want to stay in the south/southwest, I'd say that a Rice degree is as influential, if not moreso, than a degree from any of those top four schools. It's all about connections.</p>
<p>Also, you have to take into account where you'll be happiest. There's no point going to MIT, say, if you're gonna hate your life =P</p>
<p>That's true saxonthebeach, I have heard some bad things about MIT life, while I've never heard of an unhappy Rice student. MIT weather isn't too favorable if you are moving from Texas, either.</p>
<p>I've decided to do ED to Rice, and still try hard on my regular apps. The rest I'm leaving up to the Big Man up in the sky.</p>