<p>I have been accepted into both schools and have visited both campuses. Despite seemingly being polar opposites (super-large vs small, city vs college town) I really found a lot to like about both schools. Everyone I talked to was very friendly and I liked the respective environments.</p>
<p>With that said, financial aid has to be a consideration for my family. I received a very good package from both schools. From Rice, between scholarships, work study and Pell, my estimated cost of attendance is $11,800. We might be able to scrounge together some money, but most of that will probably have to be covered by loans. For A&M, I received a multitude of scholarships that seemingly cover all expenses. However, the asterisk for the A&M package is that the majority of the scholarship money requires a 3.5 GPA. I realize just how hard it is to keep a GPA that high in engineering, and I am honestly worried that I might be overwhelmed by the whole college transition and what not early on and pull lower grades than I expect.</p>
<p>Is Rice worth the extra money? Is the security of a stable financial aid package worth the extra cost or should I try for A&M and the potential full ride? Both schools have fantastic engineering programs and I honestly can't decide. A little outside input would be very much appreciated! </p>