I think @aquapt post about where you want to live after graduation is valid, although if you have plans for grad school, this makes that point less of a concern.
I visited Tufts with my oldest when she was looking at colleges. Its vibe is very different than that of Rice. I also think that the NE is culturally so different than Texas, which has a big impact on the cultures of these two schools.
My oldest ended up at a school in the NE (not Tufts). She loves the school, but occasionally she comments that she probably would have been happier at Rice. Maybe it’s Texas, maybe it is the kind of student that Rice looks for, but there is no disputing that Rice has a very kind, caring, accepting, inclusive, and happy student body. Personally, I think the multiple essays on the Rice app really help the admissions officers find the students who are the best fit for Rice. If you were offered one of the merit scholarships, it is clear that Rice really wants you to be part of the class.
One other point that comes to mind. I attended Owl Days with my Rice ‘22 kid and went to a forum where the president of Rice spoke. He talked about the many opportunities for leadership and governance at Rice. Each residential college has its own cabinet - that’s 11 residential college presidents. Rice also has the Doerr Institute for New Leaders: https://doerr.rice.edu. Not sure if this has any appeal to you, but it is quite interesting and not often mentioned here on cc.
Good luck to you - truly there is no wrong answer here. You seem like the kind of student who will do very well wherever you go!
I appreciate all the kind thoughts.
Honestly, I don’t know too much about the difference between Texan/southern culture and Northeastern culture - almost everyone I know is from the west coast, which is a very different vibe!
I actually didn’t get a merit scholarship from Rice (I wish). It’s just based on the amount my family is willing to contribute/has saved up that I calculated how much I’d have in loans, which at Rice would be ~$30,000 total and at Tufts ~$70,000 total. If money wasn’t a factor at all, would you guys consider Tufts the clear choice? Because honestly, I’m not so sure that that’s the case (although maybe it is).
I personally wouldn’t necessarily choose tufts over rice, as your question asks. Not at all. It’s all generalities when comparing cultures. Different sub cultures exist at each school. And you will find your tribe. You don’t hang around with a school, you make individual friends of course. One at a time.
Tufts and Rice students sound remarkably similar. Rice in general perhaps a bit more serious and the tufts students perhaps a bit more politically/socially active.
Good luck.
I wouldn’t say the Rice campus has a strong southern culture because the students are from all over. You will find Texans are generally more conservative than west coasters, but that is painting with a very broad brush.
I think Tufts sounds like a great school, but I’ve never visited. Your debt level to go there worries me, though.
To me (not a Texan, but lived there 7 years), Texas has its own unique culture. It combines aspects of the south, the Midwest, and the west. It’s a friendly and welcoming culture, I would say. Houston is an incredibly diverse city, and fairly liberal overall. Rice is very diverse; it is one of the most diverse mid-sized universities in the country.
Boston is one of the best cities in the country. It’s a great college town, and there’s a lot going on. I lived there for two years while my husband was in graduate school. There’s just a different energy to Boston. It’s a faster pace.
The weather is certainly quite different. Rice has much more of an indoor/outdoor culture. Lots of nice outdoor gatherings, cafe tables all over campus, people hang out and study in the college courtyards, there are many outdoor parties. I am not sure how the weather translates to Tufts’ culture specifically, but in the many schools I visited in the NE, it seems like there is more of an indoor oriented culture. The weather can be pretty harsh in the winter. But some people love that -the four seasons, the snow.
It’s a 1-mile walk or bus ride from Tufts to the nearest subway station (Davis Square on the Red Line). From there, it’s very easy to get into Cambridge or Boston.
I’m not familiar with public transit in Houston, but it looks like there is a Metro stop at Rice University.
@AroundHere When you say Rice seems more serious, in what sense do you mean that? As in the no fun allowed kinda serious, or in a more intellectual way? Because, as much as I love getting super intellectual with others, I also do enjoy the occasional non-serious fun convo lol.
I loooove Boston but I was only there during late summer/early fall, not sure how I’d handle the snow tbh because I honestly have no experience with it. It sounds like lots of fun in theory, but I’ve heard in practice kids from the west coast have a lot of difficulty dealing with it.
Honestly, I think I’m leaning Rice at this point, and I should just go with it and enroll considering I only have 50 minutes to do so. I’m just sad to turn down WashU and Tufts, because I really can envision my future at those schools as well and really like both of them (WashU was my top school for quite a while). Maybe (hopefully?) I’ll get into one of my waitlisted schools and this will all be for nothing lol.
OWeek, Beer Bike, Baker 13, Night of Decadence—- Rice has LOTS of fun events!
I wish there were a Tufts person posting to balance out my pro-Rice posts!
I honestly can’t comment on Tufts students. Neither of my kids applied, and I only toured once.
I would not say Rice students are overly serious! I would say that they are very smart, and during the week focus more on academics than parties. Thursday night through Saturday night, there are many social things going on, and events that suit every personality and temperament.
Here is a video from Owl Days - did you attend? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1OQQb671xA&feature=youtu.be
Here is a video from Beer Bike, one of the highlights of the year and filled with traditions (Rice is a school with many traditions): https://youtu.be/VtCRozkwcd4
@jym626 mentioned O-Week - Orientation Week - Rice does an amazing job welcoming the freshmen to life at Rice.
OK, signing off - 36 minutes to go!
Tufts cool fact. The first night the entire freshman class lights candles and convene on the hill with the president of the school on top, speaking from there to welcome them. Senior year they recreate the this but reverse the positions. Signifying the chsnge and their readiness for the world. Very cool in my opinion
The Rice counterpart to the candlelight ceremony is the fireworks at Matriculation and again at Convocation the evening before graduation. A friend who is also a Rice parent says she enjoys thinking of the fireworks as her money, exploding in the sky. :))
Rice cool fact: the first night, the entire freshman class (grouped by residential college) processes through the Sallyport into the quad, to a display of fireworks. At graduation, the senior class (grouped by residential college) processes out of the Sallyport. By tradition, this is the only time during your Rice years that you walk through the Sallyport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8_VinGAZvA - go to 2:47
OK, really I am done now! Truly two wonderful choices. Good luck!
Ahhhh just as I was about to commit to Rice a flood of emotions hit me and I remembered how much I love WashU - it’s the first school I fell in love with. So many of my friends are going too. This is soooo hard it’s such a bad time to have second thoughts.
Well, the topic of this thread is WashU or Rice. WashU is an amazing school too. You still have 12 minutes to decide!
One of DS’s friends was in the Rice improv comedy group, and another Rice buddy is now a professional (successful) stand up comedian!
For Rice and WashU, I have an hour to decide! Tufts is what leaves me with 12 minutes. (Hopefully, at least, otherwise I won’t be going to college!)
WashU students get a free transit pass, not that it makes any difference.
I would flip a coin between WashU and Tufts. My son (WashU freshman) would have gone to Tufts had WashU rejected him ED. He had the application for Tufts all done and ready to submit.
Rice students get the light rail pass
My DS had his Tufts app half done and in a waiting/holding pattern when he got into Rice ED. Ga Tech was his safety school back then then.
And it’s hard to decide. My son would have submitted an app for Rice RD since the fee was waived. Either way OP has the choice that most kids would want to have.
Tempurpedic mattresses-in all WashU dorms.