<p>I got into Richmond on full tuition and Rice on a Trustee Distinguished scholarship worth 21500/year. I don't know about need based aid but they might not be a lot. the two are so different. any suggestions?</p>
<p>Just saying, Houston is an awesome city. Huge, bustling, full of culture and unclaimed internships. And their name holds a ton of weight in the south. The campus is gorgeous, too. I’ve sat in their old buildings, and the architecture is breathtaking. If you’re into museums, it’s in the middle of Houston’s museum district which is phenomenal. I’m highly biased, seeing as how I know nothing about Richmond, but Houston is a great place to live and study. </p>
<p>I personally really like Richmond, but what are you going into?</p>
<p>Can you afford rice?</p>
<p>I’m going into chemistry for how things are going, but i’m considering other science majors and if i go to rice, engineering. Rice hasn’t sent the FA package, and i happen to not qualify for a lot of need-based aid AND have parents who aren’t paying a penny. Richmond would make things a lot easier, but Rice does have stronger research as I’ve heard.</p>
<p>I am a University of Richmond student (full merit scholarship) and my best friend goes to Rice. We are both very happy with our school decisions.</p>
<p>As a Scholar at Richmond (which I’m assuming you are if you have a full ride), you get countless opportunities that I don’t think you could get at any other school.</p>
<p>Benefits of Richmond:
-Early class registration-since freshman year I got into every class I wanted to take without issue and most students cannot say this. As a scholar, you have the opportunity to register before the rest of your class.</p>
<p>-Scholars stipend-you will get funding that you can use in any way that you want as long as you can justify it as contributing to your education in some way.</p>
<p>-Paid summer experiences-you will get at least one summer where you are paid $4000 to do an unpaid internship or do research. Sometimes, it is possible to get two. This means that with the scholar’s stipend, you could have a paid summer experience from the school every summer.</p>
<p>Science-specific:</p>
<p>-Many students are able to start paid undergraduate research their first year and to get research fellowships over the summers. I am not sure what this looks like at Rice but I would guess that the smaller science program at Richmond gives students more opportunities to stand out and to form individual relationships with professors that can help on the future career track.</p>
<p>-The science professors are amazing! </p>
<p>I hope this helps. </p>
<p>If aid packages are equal, Rice in the sciences/engineering is head & shoulders above Richmond. Let us know when you get the Rice FA offer. If your parents are not contributing and you don’t qualify for need-based aid, then you need to decide based on the lowest cost to you.</p>