<p>Austin is a lot nice than Houston and U.T. is a lot cheaper than Rice. Plan II is a pretty good education, but no one knows what it is; the prestige from a degree from Rice would probably be beneficial in the future. Any opinions?</p>
<p>i know what plannii is! i applied, but i havent heard from them yet. planii is nice though and is almost like rice in its own little way...although i think that even if i made planii, id probably drop it...premed/biochm + planii seems to be overkill...</p>
<p>and uhh...i think planii is almost, if not just as, prestigous. look at their stats of occupations immediately after graduation and so forth.</p>
<p>If you really don't know what you want to do, I think Plan II would be a more suitable plan.</p>
<p>when I say it's not prestigious, I mean that if I were to go to an employer and tell him that I majored in "Plan II", he's probably more likely to think of it as a school for people with special needs than as a program as educationaly rigorous as Rice.</p>
<p>Plan II is actually very well-esteemed. Maybe not by the general public though.</p>
<p>uhh...planii is HIGHLY esteemed in the job world...i mean..hell, look at the statistics they post on the planii site.</p>
<p>on the other hand, depending on what your major is, graduate studies may influence your future more so than your undergradute studies. in that case, it doesnt matter whether if you go to ut planii or rice or lets say...u of h. o_O</p>
<p>plan II is respected by both employers and grad schools (famous alum include Kinky Friedman), but I chose Rice for other reasons (I considered both). I decided to apply ED to Rice after sitting in on a Plan II class and talking to some students. I also didn't want to go to UT-Austin because of the size and the fact that half my high school goes there. So when I got into Rice and deferred from Plan II, it was kismet.</p>
<p>Hmmm... this is a quandary indeed. What do your parents think? Are they willing to pay for Rice?</p>
<p>yeah, we've got enough money, it just seems kind of wasteful when plan II is so cheap. And in my experience, Plan II is not respected by employers. Several Plan II graduates I know have stopped even saying they graduated from Plan II because no one knows what it is. They just say they graduated from U.T.</p>
<p>"yeah, we've got enough money, it just seems kind of wasteful when plan II is so cheap."
whoa. how much money do you have?!?! isn't saving up money a good thing for say... med school/ law school/ a nice car?!</p>
<p>anyways. I applied to plan II and Rice (accepted to both.) Plan II is definitly better if you're not sure what you want to do or want a very well-rounded education. You focus on math, english, science, social science equally. I know many people also double major with business. If you're going into business, I say Plan II + Business honors is better than Rice since Rice doesnt even have business major. Also if you want to go to a big school with soooo much school spirit and things to explore.
As for prestige, you can make both work for you. Texas employers probably know Plan II and know it's rigorous and respected. Outside of Texas, not sure.
If you dont feel like you're anything above, pick Rice =)</p>
<p>Plan II is an extremely well-respected program, but it is what you make of it. I know of students coordinating engineering honors and Plan II Honors curriculum and they will be among the most desirable candidates in the job market upon graduation. Many also attain degrees in business and natural sciences in addition to receiving their degree in Plan II Honors. It is a highly selective program and employers DO know what Plan II is...it's been around since 1935.</p>
<p>Here's a profile of the 2005 graduating class:</p>
<p>Average Plan II Honors Scores
GRE: 1400 MCAT: 33 LSAT: 165.6 </p>
<p>Average National Scores
GRE: 1068 MCAT: 24.6 LSAT: 152</p>
<p>MAJORS
16 Plan II majors earned a second major in the College of Liberal Arts
35 Plan II majors earned a second degree in a college other than Liberal Arts</p>
<p>LAW SCHOOL
(8 Plan II 2005 graduates went to law school)
Columbia University
Harvard University
Lewis and Clark School of Law
New York University
University of Houston
University of Pennsylvania
University of Texas at Austin</p>
<p>MEDICAL SCHOOL
(20 Plan II 2005 graduates went to medical school)
Baylor College of Medicine
Columbia University
Louisiana State University
Texas College
Universidad Central del Caribe
University of Houston
University of Texas Galveston
University of Texas Houston
University of Texas Southwestern
University of Texas Medical Branch</p>
<p>DISTINCTIONS
Goldman Sachs Global Leader 1
Humanity in Action Fellowship 1
Phi Beta Kappa 46
Conoco Phillips Spirit Scholar 1
Gildsmith Fellowship 1
Golden Key 7
Mortar Board 9
National Deans List 2
Phi Alpha Theta (History Society) 2
National Society of Collegiate Scholars 8
Cactus Goodfellows 2
Cactus Outstanding Students 1
Phi Kappa Phi (National Honor Society) 1
Psi Chi (National Psychology Honor Society) 2
Sigma Delta Pi (National Spanish Honor Society) 1
Sigma Pi Sigma (Minority Engineering Society) 1
Tri Beta (Beta Beta Beta: Biological Honor Society) 1
Deans Distinguished Graduates 9
Gamma Beta Phi (National Service Honor Society) 1</p>
<p>GRADUATE SCHOOL
Clinton School of Public Service
Physics, University of Maryland
Pharmacy, University of Texas
Comparative Literature, UCLA
Economics, Northwestern University
Journalism, Columbia University
Nutrition, Tufts University
Romance Linguistics, University of Texas
Social Sciences, University of Chicago
Teaching, Johns Hopkins University
University of Denver Publishing Institute
Cognitive Psychology, University of Texas
Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health
Thermal Fluids (Mech. Engineering), University of Texas
Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine</p>
<p>SELECTED CAREERS
Business Analyst, McKinsey & Co.
Law Clerk, Lock, Liddell, and Sapp
Writer, Situs Company
English Teacher, China
English Teacher, France
Financial Analyst, Microsoft
GIS Mapping Consultant
Software Engineer, Google
Teach for America (6)
Peace Corps
College Ministry Intern, First Evangelical Free Church
Commercial Banking Analyst, JP Morgan Chase
English Teacher, AEON Corporation, Japan
Engineer, Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory
Math Teacher, Chinquapin School, Houston
Multimedia Course Writer, Enspire Learning
Paralegal, Hughes, Watters, and Askanace
Project Director, Texas Fair Trade Coalition
Investment Banking Analyst, JP Morgan & Lohman Brothers
Director of Brooklyn Resource Ctr, New York Urban Debate League
Hillel Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow, Hillel of Silicon Valley
Research Coordinator, San Antonio Endovascular and Heart Institute</p>
<hr>
<p>
[quote]
Plan II is definitly better if you're not sure what you want to do or want a very well-rounded education.
[/quote]
Whoa! I'm familiar with Plan II and Rice, and have a daughter at Rice. I would take exception to that statement - I think Rice is a much better option if you want to explore different areas or want a well-rounded education. (I should know - my DD has changed majors about 4 times, and is still firming up what her double major choices will be.) Rice also has a different environment with the residential college system and gives students a chance to be involved in many different things all at once... It's like comparing apples to oranges - the college feel is so different. The ugly Houston / lovely Austin thing doesn't work either. Rice is in an absolutely lovely area of Houston, on the lightrail, by the zoo and huge park, Rice Village, museum district and Montrose district. UT is by IH35 and most students live in Jester dorm, or in the huge megaapartment complexes 25 minutes away by shuttle bus off of Riverside drive. I live in Austin - I have a graduate degree from U.T. I'd pick Rice (and did pick Rice) for/with my kid any day!</p>
<p>well, the general point is: ut has way more major options then rice. it gives more flexibility in switching to a new/different major while staying in the distinguised ut planII thing, not to mention that planII focuses on a plethora of subjects to get you interested, so it is indeed a wellrounded education</p>
<p>You are right about the breadth of coursework available at U.T. - but switching majors will set you back another year or so. With U.T. you have to lock into majors so early - any deviation, and add a year or so on your schooling. Plan II is a great program, and so is Rice. The feel is very different, though. (Have you spent an overnight on campus at both schools yet? Attend the admitted student day's events and that will help you decide which feels like the best fit for you. IMHO "prestige" should not be a factor in your decision at all.)</p>
<p>I would agree with anxiousmom in that you should spend some time at both schools and see which fits you best. Frankly, I think the undergraduate experience at Rice can't be beat, but hey, I'm biased.</p>
<p>thanks for you input</p>
<p>Ditto what anxiousmom said (I also have a daughter at Rice). The schools are totally different. Plan II is part of a mega-sized university. If that is for you, fine. Rice is a small university with a totally different atmosphere. My son had no interest in Rice. My daughter, a junior there, loves it.</p>
<p>Plan II is essentially a liberal arts education of top LACs at state school price. In addition, you have flexibility to pick major of your choice. My S was adimitted both at Rice and Plan II (he didn't go at either of the places). UT is very huge. The size has advantages. However, you have to be self motivated to take those advantages. It is essentially an island of excellence in a huge sea. You could also get lost. Rice, because is small, may offer more personal attention.</p>
<p>You may want to read the thread in Parents Forum,' Do the Students make the school or does the school make the students? '</p>
<p>I was in the same boat too not too long ago. What drew me to Plan II was the nice price tag and the merit aid that would have come with it. At the same time, Rice has a much smaller student body with faculty that are more able to build relationships with students. I've gone to public schools with thousands of students and another school with less than 500 students. My personal preference is a smaller atmosphere. While UT's Plan II tries to get part of that "small student body" feeling, I wasn't too happy about being part of a humongous student body. Other students have mentioned the Rice prestige. The UT name is as well known as Rice in some instances, but I feel that Rice is held in higher regards both in and out of Texas. Just my 2 cents!</p>
<p>I graduated from UT, and have studied PlanII and Rice for my daughter. It took me awhile to figure out the difference between the two options. PlanII is a major in itself. There is no leeway in the courses you take, and this is why many students double major. Plan II is a very vigorous curriculum, but has the advantage of having small classes within a humongous university. So Plan II students are not lost like the majority of the students at UT. Rice is advantageous, I believe, because the student has total freedom to choose all their distribution classes. (There are three groups/choose 4 per group). Add to that the low student-faculty ration, the 98% graduation rate compared to UT's pitiful graduation rate . . . I could go on and on. I'd choose Rice any day over Plan II. However, when you consider the other majors at UT, that is where UT has an advantage.</p>