<p>I am a high school senior, and Rice is one of my top two choices for college. I haven't visited Rice yet, because it is too far (I'm from Indiana). I'm waiting until I get in. Anyway, I would love it if any current students or other knowlegeable people could tell me some of the pros and cons of attending Rice. I would love to know what makes Rice stand out among seemingly similar schools. I will be pre-med, by the way. Thanks for any information!</p>
<p>I know of no similar schools. Rice is a major research university but has only 2800 undergrads. It is the smallest of the Division 1 athletic schools (although the stadium seats 70,000; go figure.) It has the 4th highest per capita endowment of US universities and uses endowment income to reduce tuition. Students are members of one of nine randomly-assigned residential colleges, similar to the living arrangements at Yale and Cambridge--no fraternities or sororities. In addition to its well-known engineering and natural science departments, Rice has one of the top architecture programs as well as a top ten conservatory of music. It is surrounded by an upscale shopping and residential area, a museum district, a large metro park and zoo, and the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical complex. The faculty student ratio is 5/1, and nearly all faculty teach undergraduates. The reported med school admission rate for Rice grads is 92-96%.</p>