So to start out I was admitted off of both waitlists. Rice on the 26th or something and UCLA on the 4th. I filed my SIR to Rice on the 1st and am super excited about going there because it’s gorgeous and Houston is supposed to be cool and the classes are small etc… However, Rice doesn’t have mock trial and from what I’ve heard and researched their Model UN team isn’t very good and those are the two programs I’m most interested in as I want to go to law school. Conversely, UCLA is like 3rd in the country for MT and top 50 for MUN. Plus I’m a political science and econ double major. I feel like in general Rice is a better school and provides a better undergrad experience but I’m worried that the school is too engineering focused and I would struggle to get into top law schools from Rice as opposed to UCLA. I’m from California and have mixed emotions about whether or not I want to move far away. Rice will be about 7k less a year after FA. Please help I have like two days to reply to UCLA and I’m just worried about making a choice that will make me happy but could be negative for my future.
Rice, especially given the savings. Save moot court for law school. It’s overrated, IMO, grades are far more important. Join the debate team. And if size is any indicator of competition, UCLA will be more challenging than Rice, and again, your GPA will be critically important to a T14 law school, unless that’s not what you’re looking for.
It may help you to talk to the pre-law advisors at Rice. They can reassure you about the terrific law school acceptance rates for Rice graduates. This choice is made easier by the financial difference between your two options.
Thanks guys I think I’m going to Rice in the fall. The school feels right and yes I do want to go to a top law school, preferably HYS, Columbia, Duke, Chicago or Georgetown. The input from the responders on my thread has made the decision relatively straightforward. I’m going to give my UCLA acceptance letter to my grandma to frame because that’s where she wanted me to go lol.
Rice is a fine school and you will receive a solid education and be able to move on to law school.