<p>I received an invitation to apply for free to Rice today. I hadn't really thought about Rice before, but I know it's an amazing school.</p>
<p>I want to major in engineering. My list so far is:</p>
<p>MIT
Olin
Cornell
CMU
RPI
state school</p>
<p>So what can you guys tell me about Rice? Based on my other schools does it look like a good idea to apply? What's the atmosphere/engineering like?</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>It’s difficult to summarize Rice, especially without really specific questions, but please look through the Rice forum and read 101 reasons to apply to Rice (or whatever the thread title is). </p>
<p>Do you know what kind of engineering you are primarily interested in?</p>
<p>Rice really is an awesome place.</p>
<p>Definitely apply, Rice has some great engineering programs.</p>
<p>Unless you’re interested in chemical engineering, Rice has a poor chemical engineering program. The bioengineering program is a stronger engineering program though. This is speaking as someone who also got an Apply-to-Rice invitation in the mail, was admitted, and ultimately left the university due to poor academic programs and general dissatisfaction with the university. The introductory engineering physics courses at Rice are terrible, so try and place out of them with AP credit if you end up attending. They didn’t even teach optics in their intro Electricity & Magnetism course (2nd semester intro engineering physics, PHYS 102 at Rice) which is standard at most other universities. </p>
<p>Deciding to attend Rice was seriously the worst life decision I ever made. Leaving was the best.</p>
<p>^ Rice is ranked in the top 25 for chemical engineering, your experience doesn’t represent all Rice undergrads.</p>
<p>^While it is true that some transfer out of Rice, I question the situation, as the poster only has 2 posts on CC.</p>
<p>I find the complaint about no optics in Physics 102 confusing, since you’re not going to have enough time to learn much about optics in a general E&M course and Physics 201 (which is required for all physics majors) is specifically a waves and optics class.</p>
<p>In response to the rankings comments, I would like to post the following:</p>
<p>(1) U.S. News rankings of Chemical Engineering programs
[Best</a> Chemical Engineering Programs | Top Engineering Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/chemical-engineering-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/chemical-engineering-rankings)</p>
<p>(2) U.S. News rankings of World’s Best Chemical Engineering programs
[World’s</a> Best Universities in Chemical Engineering; Top Chemical Engineering Schools | US News](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/worlds-best-universities-rankings/best-universities-chemical-engineering]World’s”>http://www.usnews.com/education/worlds-best-universities-rankings/best-universities-chemical-engineering)</p>
<p>(3) QS World University Rankings – Chemical Engineering
[QS</a> World University Rankings by Subject 2013 - Engineering - Chemical | Top Universities](<a href=“http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2013/engineering-chemical]QS”>QS World University Rankings for Engineering - Chemical 2013 | Top Universities)</p>
<p>Regarding rankings, I would like to make several points. Yes, the U.S. News does rank Rice at #22 in the 2013 rankings, but you need to look at multiple rankings and the methodology they use to understand the “big picture.” Rice does not even rank in the top 50 universities in the U.S. News rankings of the World’s Best Chemical Engineering programs or the QS World University rankings. In addition to Rice chemical engineering courses, I have also taken courses in chemical engineering at two public universities that are ranked in the top 6 by the U.S. News rankings, the top 50 of the U.S. News World rankings, and top 25 for the QS World University Rankings for chemical engineering. Despite being large institutions, I found the quality and academic rigor of their courses to be superior to chemical engineering courses at Rice. So, barrk123, I’m sure my experience at Rice doesn’t represent all undergrads (it would be downright foolish to assume so), but I’m also sure that most Rice undergrads also haven’t had my experience of taking chemical engineering courses at different, also highly-ranked universities. Have you?</p>
<p>Anyone who is deciding whether to attend a public vs. elite private institution for chemical engineering, I recommend that they check out this thread:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1168583-avoid-elite-chemical-engineering-programs-advice-grad-student.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1168583-avoid-elite-chemical-engineering-programs-advice-grad-student.html</a></p>
<p>Also, Dorian_Mode, your comment regarding Physics 102 and 201 is likewise confusing. Physics 201 is an optics course required for PHYSICS majors, but NOT engineering majors. Why should an introduction to optics be included in electricity and magnetism? Knowledge in optics is actually a relevant skill for chemical engineers as I’ve learned from talking to practicing chemical engineers and employers. If you look at the degree plans for chemical engineering at Rice ([Suggested</a> Schedule : Rice University Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering](<a href=“http://chbe.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=107]Suggested”>http://chbe.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=107)), an upper-level optics course is not included in the curriculum. Also, an introduction to optics is necessary to do well in upper-level optics courses which is why most other universities make it a part of their second-semester introductory physics (electricity & magnetism) courses. </p>
<p>And for you, crazymomster, I’m sorry I don’t have the time to post 1500 times on College Confidential. I am a busy engineering student, so I don’t usually have time to post on these forums. I have a younger sibling applying to universities this year and was looking up something on a forum when I came across this thread. I thought I would share my experience at Rice with others. Perhaps we should hear more from individuals who aren’t “heavy-posters” on these forums to get a more balanced picture of the universities. Besides the fact, I ask: what is your qualification as a poster? What authority do you have to “question the situation”? Have you attended Rice or have an engineering degree?</p>
<p>Sorry, ruixue, but your complaint about optics still strikes me as off-base and also irrelevant to most students. That said, I don’t think it will do much good to argue about it in this thread. I’m sorry you did not enjoy your time at Rice, but I think you’re probably an outlier in that regard.</p>
<p>You may consider me an outlier, but I am certainly not alone. Even the Rice University student newspaper has recently brought attention to the issue of unhappy students. </p>
<p>[Rice</a> maintains ?happiest students? status by ousting unhappy students - The Rice Thresher - Rice University](<a href=“http://www.ricethresher.org/rice-maintains-happiest-students-status-by-ousting-unhappy-students-1.2961393?pagereq=1#.UjVSD8aTisY]Rice”>http://www.ricethresher.org/rice-maintains-happiest-students-status-by-ousting-unhappy-students-1.2961393?pagereq=1#.UjVSD8aTisY)</p>
<p>While this is an Op-Ed about the experience of a single student, I know from my recent experience as a Rice student and having received counseling from the Rice Counseling Center that many students struggling with depression and unhappiness have a hard time speaking out about it because Rice has a reputation of having the “happiest students.” Certainly, a good number of students are happy. Even so, just in my personal experience, I have also known a good number of people that have been unhappy at Rice, transferred or seriously considered transferring (more than 10). </p>
<p>This is just to say, like all other universities, Rice has unhappy students and is not always a good fit for everyone.</p>
<p>I’ve read that article, and I think it brings up some things that are important for the Rice community to address, but it’s not really at all related to your initial point about academics. Also, while I certainly won’t try to deny your experience or question your motivations, I worry about posting an article with such an intentionally provocative title in a forum for prospective students.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>But you have time to go out of your way to bash a school?</p>
<p>And I also question why you are even visiting the Rice forums to post this when you seem to be so happy at your current institution?</p>
<p>And if Rice’s CHBE program was as poor as you claim (despite being ranked in the top 25 national, international is irrelevant hence why no one brings it up), the graduates wouldn’t be pulling down the careers and salaries that they are.</p>
<p>Can you explain why you are NOT happy in these courses & Chem ENg. program & school of Rice? I’m a parent of interested son. I had BS in Chemistry & Chem Eng. but it’s not in the US. I’d like to hear more about Chem Eng @ Rice or 2 other highly ranked schools you’ve mentioned.
Thanks.</p>
<p>^ do not feed the ■■■■■ :-)</p>
<p>How did you get the free apply? RICE mail you without your requesting?
So wonderful.</p>
<p>They are sent to students with high AP scores.</p>
<p>My case with high SAT subject test scores.</p>
<p>My son is an engineering major who got into Cornell, RPI, CMU, Johns Hopkins, TAMU and others and chose Rice. (from your list, rejected at MIT and didn’t apply to Olin). He’s always been glad he did. The residential college system is amazing, and the students do so much self-government and self-determination that their residential lives are great. Seniors are eager to come back on campus if bumped off as a junior for lack of dorm space. Where else can you find all the seniors moving back on campus because it’s so fun. The academics are tremendous, as well.</p>
<p>To add to this, I chose Rice over a similar list (majored in ChemE). My experience was very different than a certain poster above. I found my professors knowledgeable and extremely willing to teach and learn.</p>
<p>An example to illustrate how great the faculty are: I signed up for a grad level ChemE class my Junior year. Turns out I was the only person in the class. Instead of canceling it, the professor (Dr. Ramon Gonzalez) taught the class just for me. He modified the syllabus to make it do-able for a single student, scheduled the class at times that were convenient for both of us and emphasized/elaborated on areas that were of particular interest to him and me.</p>