Rice vs. Stanford

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>I have the best kind of problem. I'm lucky enough to be able to choose between these two, and I thought that getting some input from CC folks might prove useful.</p>

<p>Rice would be ~$32K/year with the merit scholarship I got, whereas Stanford would be full price ~$57K/yr since my parents' assets make us just barely ineligible for FA. That being said, even though they're thrilled I was accepted, I can tell it's going to be a significant financial strain on them to have to pay all that money for Stanford, and I don't want them to have to have such a large burden, so the money situation makes me lean toward Rice.</p>

<p>I did an overnight stay at Rice and really liked the small student body size, friendly students and professors, and campus.</p>

<p>That being said, Stanford is attractive because it's far away from home (Rice would be just 4 hours away from my town), the location is beautiful, and the international diversity seems to be higher than Rice's.</p>

<p>I am interested in majoring in Anthropology, and maybe adding on a second major in English or Spanish. After receiving a BA, I'd like to teach for a year or two (Teach for America, maybe?) then either get a PhD in Anthro or go to law school (unsure at this point). Studying abroad is definitely something I would like to do at least once during college.</p>

<p>Basically, I'm sure I can't go wrong with this choice, but I thought it would be useful to get some advice given the context of my situation. Any advice would be appreciated. :)</p>

2

<p>Congrats on your amazing acceptances although the decision is ultimately a hard one. For me personally, Stanford would have been the only competition to Rice when choosing a place to go and luckily (in retrospect), fate decided for me. However, your situation is indeed difficult thanks to the merit scholarship Rice has offered you. Before deciding, you have to ask yourself what you really REALLY want from a school. If you want a fantastic undergraduate experience, with amazing attention, happy students and faculty, and amazing living conditions, Rice is the place to go for sure (and you save!). Stanford beats Rice only in name I feel seeing as the undergrad education you get here is fantastic (I would contest that only Princeton beats Rice in the attention and quality of their undergraduate programs). I have also heard several bad things about life as an undergrad at Stanford (there are some posts about this on the Stanford thread and there is a person in the Rice transfer threat here on CC too trying to transfer to Rice from Stanford - try to contact them and ask why maybe!). I am not bashing Stanford in any way, but Stanford is far more grad-oriented than Rice is and for that reason, I feel that Rice is the better option for undergrad given your financial circumstances. Basically, if you want to buy prestige, Stanford is the place to go, if you want to have an amazing 4 years living and learning in what I feel is actually the happiest place on earth (while saving 100K - a small fortune) come to Rice and don’t look back. I know plenty of people who gave up big names to come here and I don’t know one who has regretted it.</p>

<p>If it were up to me, I would choose Rice having gone here for year and realizing how amazing this place is. But ultimately, it is up to you and whether you can forget about the name. I hope this helps and good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks, SchoolAdvice! I am leaning toward Rice, though Stanford would probably be amazing too, as would UMich given the scholarship I received from them, so I am lucky enough to have three nice options. The undergraduate focus at Rice is particularly appealing, though. Again, thanks for the input. :)</p>

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<p>I am also a high school senior, so I can’t give much perspective on which school would be a better fit for you. However, if you are seriously considering getting your PhD or going to law school, I would weigh scholarships in your decision a bit more heavily. It may be a smarter move to go to a school that offers a scholarship for your BA, that way financing your graduate education may be a little more doable. </p>

<p>Congratulations on your acceptances, and good luck!</p>

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<p>Honestly, I would pick Stanford over most other schools. For me, and many others, Stanford is a dream school, extremely hard to get into. However, considering the big gap in what you would have to pay, and considering your future plans, Rice may be the most practical choice. Really you have think about how much you would like your parents to pay and if Stanford is worth the extra 100k. I’m sure either school would be a great 4 years, but like someone said earlier, the extra 100k for sure will buy you the Stanford prestige, which might not be worth it.</p>

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<p>thanks k21003. subzero, Stanford definitely is a “dream school” for me too, but since it’s close to twice the price, and since Rice is really quite close to matching it both academically and socially (my visit there convinced me), I’m skeptical that Stanford is truly worth the extra $100K. but i appreciate the input. :)</p>

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<p>Indeed. Ribalto, feel free to pm me if you have any questions or need advice about anything Houston or Rice related. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Will your parents pay for Stanford? Can they pay for it? Do you have a college fund? You don’t want to go to Stanford for a year or two and then realize they really can’t afford it. By then the offer from Rice would be long gone.</p>

9

<p>thanks, SchoolAdvice.</p>

<p>Pea, they will be able to pay full price for 4 years. the problem is, if i go to Stanford, there will be zero dollars left for me for grad school, which is almost certainly something I want to do. So I feel like it might be a smarter idea to go to Rice, then (if I get in) go to Stanford or an Ivy for grad school. if that makes sense?</p>

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<p>My son’s Rice professor had taught at Stanford and said that Rice is like Stanford without the attitude.</p>

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<p>“I am interested in majoring in Anthropology, and maybe adding on a second major in English or Spanish. After receiving a BA, I’d like to teach for a year or two (Teach for America, maybe?) then either get a PhD in Anthro or go to law school (unsure at this point). Studying abroad is definitely something I would like to do at least once during college.”</p>

<p>ribalto - If you feel equally comfortable at either campus, I would certainly go to Rice if your plans for grad school are as stated above. I don’t think it will make a difference. Save your money! Check out the tuition cost of some of the grad schools or law schools that you think you will be applying to in 4-5 years. Good luck in your decision.</p>

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<p>ribalto, I’m a current Rice student and though it was my dream school, there is an emphasis on the “was”. There are bad sides to Rice(i.e. housing assignment issues, unnecessary rise of tuition, increasingly overbearing administration, retention rate of professors etc.) that no one talks about and therefore we are seen as “the happiest students” according to some sources. Rice is still an amazing school and I don’t regret going here at all, but it has lost its dreamy aspect and it has many flaws, as every university does. My point is: The idea of a dream school can die. Pick the school that is ideal for you in the LONG-run. Also, I would not suggest letting distance be a factor.</p>

<p>That being said, if you are interested for Teach for America, I have seen numerous fliers seeking interns for TfA here at Rice. Studying abroad is also rather common here as the cost to live on-campus is usually more than living in some countries.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that posting on the Rice thread may give you very biased answers. Again, I don’t regret going to Rice in the least, but there are many negatives that students and faculty alike fail to address. Best of luck with your decision!</p>

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<p>If Stanford will be a significant sacrifice for your parents, can you afford to study abroad? You usually have to pay for transportation and expenses.</p>

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<p>You might also consider the “cost” of your future academic plans -which might vary a great deal. If you go to law school, you will probably pay for it yourself. But, if you go to graduate school, you should try for full funding. Strong graduate schools fully fund strong students (although this has become more difficult in the last few years of economic challenge). But, funding for programs in anthropology and foreign languages has really dried up. Programs and budgets are being cut. Do a search in the NYTimes to find several articles about these challenges.
However, if you do want to apply for a Ph.D. program, undergraduate research will be very important for a strong application. This would include presenting at a national conference and/or publishing a paper with a professor. So, you should consider research opportunities in your chosen field. Look at the publications of the professors in your interest area and see if they have funding to hire undergraduates. You want to pick a school that can take you to the next level if you are pretty sure you want to go to graduate school. Thus, you might ask, “how many XXX majors at XXX University went on to Ph.D. programs in the last few years? Where did they go? How much funding did they get?” In some cases, you can spend all of your money for your undergraduate education IF you are willing to work very hard to build a profile that ensures full funding for graduate school. In a state school like University of Texas, this might mean an “out of state” tuition waiver and about $25,000 per year for tuition and cost of living. This is just an example.</p>

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<p>@mogrimoogle, I agree with your overall point to ribalto that he(?) should think long-term about his college decisions instead of basing them on the current dreaminess of a school. However, I take issue with some of your supporting reasons. Rice students are not happy because “no one talks about” the negatives; that is demonstrably false. One has but to sit at a meal table or pick up the latest copy of the Thresher to hear and see students voice their opinions on the issues you mentioned. But the vast majority of Rice students are not outraged to the point of rioting about these issues because most are aware that in each of these categories Rice is faring etter than most of its peers. </p>

<p>“Housing assignment issues.” Rice is currently able to support nearly 80% of its undergrad population with excellent on-campus housing. Because of the facilities and the residential college system, this is one of the few universities in which students actually WANT to live on campus; at many other places it’s the other way around. Of the students who do not live on campus, some do so voluntarily, but most are forced off. I very strongly dislike this for a number of reasons, and I think it is unfortunate that the administration did not work to resolve this issue during expansion. However, I’ve encountered Rice students who disagree with me; after living off campus for a year themselves, they think everyone should experience the OC life. </p>

<p>“Unnecessary rise of tuition.” Tuition hikes, whether they are necessary or not, burden my family even further so I oppose them. We are feeling the pinch already with this new one. Unfortunately, though, tuition has risen ridiculously all over the country for various reasons. Even with this new hike, our tuition is still markedly lower than most of our peers, maintaining Rice’s better value. Plus, there will be an accompanying increase in aid offered. </p>

<p>“Increasingly overbearing administration.” You may see it this way, but people at other schools with truly imposing administrations view Rice differently. In fact, new star hires of ours from California cited the relative lack of hawkish bureaucracy at Rice as one of the factors that lured them here. </p>

<p>“Retention rate of professors.” This is a general higher education issue. Rice is pretty good at keeping faculty it wants here. Every now and then we get raided by other schools that want a prof or two and are willing to pay an arm and a leg to get them. At the same time, Rice is actively and unabashedly raiding other schools for talent it wants to gain and keep. Take the UCSD Biophysics profs, or the acclaimed organist from Rider, or the MIT materials science dept head for examples. </p>

<p>Mogrimoogle, I am sorry you are no longer as happy at Rice. I have been here several years and will be graduating next year, but I am more pleased with this remarkable place than I have ever been. This is not because I ignore and don’t talk about things I dislike. Rather, I am quite vocal about them because I want Rice to be even better for future students. </p>

<p>@ribalto, I do encourage you to think long-term. As mogrimoogle has shown, the idea of a dream school is subject to fading. Given the info you’ve supplied so far, Rice does seem to be a practical option for you: it presents less of a financial burden, it has historically had excellent graduate school placement (72% accepted to their first-choice programs), and you appear to like the school somewhat at least. You should post in the Stanford forum to get their opinions too. Good luck with your decision!</p>

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<p>I’ve seen Rice being accused of having an “overbearing administration” a lot lately. Where does that come from? I don’t know any other school that is so heavily student-run and student-involved as Rice. The administration has become a bit more strict in recent years regarding some of our traditions and whatnot, but as a whole this campus is incredibly centered on student input, what the student wants.</p>

<p>@ribalto - I’m obviously biased, but looking at the thread I can’t help but think that maybe Stanford isn’t worth the extra $100k. Sounds to me like, as objective as I can possibly be, Rice would be the better option, but someone from Stanford would probably be able to persuade you towards their school as well. Just remember, either choice is a great one as you said. Good luck!</p>

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<p>I honestly don’t know. There are some minor problems every now and again when admin does things that they want like build the football stadium expansion, but they give us a lot of say in Rice affairs (moreso than other places I think). I don’t understand either. Amin seems fine to me.</p>

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<p>wow, thanks for the feedback everybody! :slight_smile: after talking it over with my parents, i have decided that Rice is the best option for me, since it is both more affordable than Stanford and appeals to me academically and socially at about the same level as Stanford. at this point, if I chose Stanford, i feel like the only major difference would be the name brand value, which doesn’t seem like enough to warrant an extra $100K. i do recognize that Rice must have internal problems of its own, but i’m sure Stanford does too, as no university is perfect. thanks again for all the help, CCers; i really appreciate it. ^_^</p>

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<p>The football stadium expansion came in the form of a grant written by an alum. The stipulation was that if Rice were to accept his donation, they would have to use the money on improving the football stadium. Better to take the money and improve the football stadium than not take the money at all, right? Ah well.</p>

<p>@ribalto - Glad we could help, and I’m super excited to have you on campus in the fall! Get excited for O-Week, it’s going to be AMAZING.</p>

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<p>Glad you reached a decision, ribalto! Again, I didn’t necessarily mean to discourage you from attending Rice, but I did want to note its downsides as I have noticed people on the CC Rice thread tend to ignore them. I’m actually a transfer student and I am much happier here at Rice than at my previous university. I’m sure you will enjoy your time here. :)</p>

<p>Duncaroo, you bring up some good arguments, though I still have reason to disagree with you. However, since ribalto has already made his decision, I’ll refrain. :stuck_out_tongue: I’d love to talk with you separately sometime!</p>

<p>FallenAngel, notice that I did not explicitly say “overbearing administration”, but that I included “increasingly”. Rice is more student-run than any other campus I have heard of or seen. This brings about an amazing dynamic that I think is my favorite part about Rice. Unfortunately, the increasing power of the administration is where my concern lies. I have talked to professors about this and they also share my concern. Rice is still very much student-run, but I fear that it is becoming less so.</p>