<p>I've been accepted into both schools. I've already visited Rice and will visit UChicago soon.</p>
<p>I applied to rice for engineering, and to UChicago as a physics major, but I'm hardly committed to either of these. I've narrowed down my career possibilities a little bit (something involving math and science), but I'm undecided beyond that. I'm not even sure if I want to go into academia or the professional world.</p>
<p>All that indecision would probably make it seem like UChicago would be a good place to go, but I'm concerned that, should I eventually discover that engineering is truly my thing, I'll be stuck. From what I've heard, it is much easier to go from engineering to another field than to go from another field to engineering. </p>
<p>But I'm similarly worried that, if I attend Rice, I'll lose the chance to be exposed to a variety of fields and inevitably end up at least doing something very close to engineering - something that UChicago might have been better for.</p>
<p>Also, I don't drink (I'm not religious about it or anything, but I'm generally wild about people getting drunk/parties). This would seem to tip things in UChicago's favor. Also, when I visited Rice, it seemed like the students were a little nerdy, but didn't really like "learning for learning's sake", and I'm someone who finds something to love in most every discipline, and wants to be around similar (but not identical) people.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Rice is about $20k cheaper a year; although my parents are willing and able to pay for either school...that number's difficult to ignore. And as far as I can tell, Rice is almost as good/as good as Chicago for most of the sciences.</p>
<p>So I have a father who now works at Rice (I basically grew up there) and who also attended Chicago for grad school, if that makes any difference in putting value on what I say.
Rice is indeed pretty big on drinking. I think it’s a lot more avoidable at Chicago - Rice has Beer Bike, as well as just a lot of raucous drinking in general. My HS is a pretty big feeder for Rice and I’ve heard this from a lot of people who now go there.
In terms of the sciences, Rice is fairly good in everything, so I don’t think you’ll lose the chance to be exposed to other things. IMO, Chicago is probably BETTER for a lot of those things - but if the possibility of going into engineering is important to you, it’s probably the better option.
You should also consider the less academic aspects of the two schools. Although in Houston, Rice is an extremely self-contained campus; it doesn’t mingle with the city and feels very insular. Chicago is obviously not like this at all. Rice obviously has better weather, although if you dislike heat, it may not be good for you. Chicago has the beautiful gothic architecture and feels more like the ivies. Chicago is on the quarter system, whereas Rice is on semesters.
Honestly, I would pick Chicago. During my visit, I found that the students there are generally more impressive. Rice is a great school, and if you’re a great student you will have amazing opportunities at both - but if you’re like me and want to be surrounded by the best peers possible, Chicago is the place to go.
Of course, the 20k a year is important too. Just know that there’s really no wrong decision here.
Best of luck - if you have any more questions about Rice, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Both are great schools. Friend’s D turned down Dartmouth for Rice and never regretted it. One reason I mention this is she did so because while visiting she thought there was much more of a drinking culture at Dartmouth. I guess it’s all relative…</p>
<p>With this and the Rice forum thread, it seems that alcohol may not be quite as big a deal as I imagined. Could we focus more on the academic side of things now? I have a feeling that’s what will end up being more important.</p>
<p>UChicago gets my vote. Since you’re from Texas, I dont think the school’s reputation matters. But once you go global, UChicago’s reputation beats Rice’s. You can check it on Wikipedia and see the rankings, they have not only the USNEWS rankings, but others too. UChicago’s campus is really gothic and it gave me the kinda feel like going to a european school. But you cant go wrong by going to Rice. You MIGHT be a lot happier there. =)</p>
<p>Rice has very good academics, and one will get a great education there, but I would argue that there is no better academic environment than Chicago. It is so much a part of the school’s DNA that it permeates everything one does. This, however, may not be what everyone seeks.</p>
<p>I think I’m going to end up liking UChicago’s campus more since I really don’t like humidity and am not fond of the southwestern architecture Rice employs. And although people general say not to, I also find UChicago’s general prestige hard to ignore. UChicago does seem to have a much better worldwide reputation.</p>
<p>However, my main obstacle to really committing to Chicago is the sense I get that, if I choose Chicago, engineering will basically be closed to me. That kind of worries me.</p>
<p>Does anyone want to comment on UChicago’s (undergrad strength) in Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Math, and Physics? I get the feeling that UChicago is stronger in everything but Comp Sci.</p>
<p>heinochus, not being able to study engineering shouldn’t be a worry if you are planning to do graduate studies. Otherwise, you are better off going to Rice.</p>
<p>Rice is very strong in comp sci. As for biological sciences, it’s certainly strong, but probably not so much as Chicago. You’re not going to find world-famous researchers there - but there are good people doing good work, and research opportunities for undergrads abound.
And disliking humidity is a pretty good reason to stay away from Houston. :P</p>
<p>For the sake of truth in advertising, summer in Chicago can be humid as well. The heat and humidity in Houston, however, begins in May and runs through October (I lived there for 3 years).</p>
<p>People enter engineering at the graduate level all the time. Engineering schools do very well providing engineering training at the MSE or PhD levels. There’s a cost issue – you are paying for more years of school with less financial aid available – but there’s no “viability” issue whatsoever. This is from the Stanford School of Engineering Bulletin:</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, Chicago’s Comp Sci. department is actually quite prestigious… and difficult. Like most things Chicago, the Comp Sci. department is strongest in theory-based work (much like the Mathematics/Physics departments). I’m not sure how Chicago’s Comp Sci. fares against Rice’s, but it IS a very viable option.</p>
