<p>All three are good. If Rice gave great financial aid, I'd choose Rice. But, UT-Austin would be tough to beat, especially in terms of cost. I'd definitely choose UT-Austin over A&M.</p>
<p>I heard that Rice is near impossible to get into for Texas (especially Houston) residents.</p>
<p>UCBChemEGrad - If Rice were in California, would you have picked it over Berkeley? If not, I don't understand how the comparison isn't the same in Texas, where UT is the stronger research university than Rice. Berkeley is one of only 3 universities with more NAE members on faculty than UT, so if you picked Berkeley, I don't see how you can pick Rice in this case. Unlike California, Texas does not have a private research university of the caliber of Stanford. UT-Austin is the state's strongest research university, public or private.</p>
<p>^ Good point. But, Rice has a great reputation and smaller classes. If financial aid made going to Rice a similar cost to UT, I'd choose Rice. If not, I'd choose UT because it would be the best return on investment.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm not too familiar with EE programs to compare Rice with UT-Austin.<br>
For a California/Texas EE comparison:</p>
<p>IF, UT-Austin = Berkeley, I'd choose UT.
IF, Rice = USC, I'd choose UT. But, I think Rice>>USC in this comparison.</p>
<p>Hope I didn't confuse the issue too much...LOL.</p>
<p>The point is, the environment provided by two schools are vastly different. I don't think you can compare both schools purely on academics or school faculty quality. If one likes smaller and more attentative environment, Rice definately has an edge over UT Austin. If one likes large environments with top notch faculty, UT Austin definately has an edge. I really think it depends on the person, and should not try to split hairs between them.</p>
<p>yeah i agree with sang54.... because there are really indeed so many INCREDIBLE schools out there so if it comes down to UT or Rice... there are definitely some BIG differences between the schools such as 37,000 people vs. 3,000.... etc.</p>
<p>Cost is also an important factor. If costs are similar, then I look at environment. It comes down to what premium you want to pay for the more intimate environment.</p>
<p>(to UCBchem) I am not sure where you "heard" that, but it is not true. Almost half of Rice's class comes from Texas (329 of 716 in class of 2010 for example); it is not at all harder to get into from Texas or Houston than elsewhere, although presumably some preference given to those geographically distant or from under-represented states. Second is California with only 38.</p>
<p>Further on that point. About half of those who apply from my daughters' Dallas high school are admitted to Rice. About one in four of those admitted opts to attend Rice.</p>
<p>Seriously, though, getting at what livelovelearn said, any difference between Rice and UT in "prestige" (which is all that this website seems to care about) is negligible compared to the difference in overall atmosphere. If, let's say, a Rice degree is worth more or whatever and your personality is that of a UT student and you pick Rice, then you are completely F****d, and vice versa. Just don't pick A&M ;)</p>
<p>**The overall acceptance rate to Rice is, as of now, a little less than 25% (applicants are on the rise, but there's also a push to increase enrollment by a little bit over the next decade, so it will probably be about the same for the class of 2012). It is, if anything, a few percentage points lower for Texas students.</p>
<p>alex -- I think it's a little premature to ask this question; why don't you apply to all the schools you're interested in and after you see where you're admitted and what financial aid/scholarships you get from which school, then you can compare. My son was admitted to UT Engineering Honors with some scholarship money, and to Rice with 3/4 tuition scholarship (as well as 6 other schools, some with merit money, some with none). At that point he compared the strength of the programs, as well as the atmosphere of each school, and the cost. He chose Rice because of the undergraduate focus, collaborative learning environment, flexibility in double majoring, wonderful research opportunities, residential colleges and the strength of the program. The cost ended up being about the same. By the way -- he's REALLY happy at Rice!</p>
<p>kool thanx all!!!!</p>