Rice University

Date: Feb 10 2008
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
First of all, anyone who has the chance to attend this unique university should drop to the ground and thank the higher power for this blessing. Rice really is a phenomenal undergrad experience, so classic in appearance yet unusual in the dynamics of the student body. The malcontents just don't know how the other half lives.

First of all, social life at Rice is engaging and fun. The residential colleges are a great help in getting to know people, and there are always parties (not lame parties, either) where you can go and feel welcome. There are some nasty people hanging around, but they're not numerous enough to worry over. Being a native Houstonian, I have mostly good things to say about the surrounding city. There are TONS of off-campus activities to do. I was bemused at the out-of-staters who would come from the East Coast and marvel at the size and vibrancy of Houston. Regional prejudice is alive and well, as I think some of the out-of-staters expected to see a tumbleweed roll through campus at any moment. The native Texans were usually more positive about things, while the foreign students often griped that Houston wasn't more like (Pakistan, India, Norway…). There is no reason to ever be bored in H-town.

Academics were mostly good but a mixed bag, just like at any college. Professors are the dominant force there, a bad one ruining your life and a good one making a class a life-altering experience. Most profs are benevolent… MOST profs. My post-grad experience was very good, and I was accepted to four different medical schools. People everywhere I go know about Rice and have a positive view of it. It doesn't have the street cred of Harvard, but neither does Princeton. I'd take Rice over either any day. Classes were challenging, and profs made you earn your grade. The U wants you to imbibe in a broad education, so they will make you take a wide range of courses. Just realize that even though you may be a biology major, it's a good thing to learn about humanities for general life enrichment. Gives you something to talk about at parties when you become a doctor, too:)