Texas Top 15 Universities (Houston, Austin, Atlanta: chapel, good schools, club)

[westhou]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

John Stewart mentioned Rice University in an episode of the Daily Show last week and ribbed on the school a bit, I believe by saying something like what a strange name for a school or something. Point is, I grew up thinking Rice was the be all, end all. I, like a lot of other Texans grew up believing it was an Ivy League school or just as good as Harvard. The hype around Rice is HUGE in Texas. To some extent, I can see why. It's a small school shrouded in mystery, fenced in by large gates and a hedge. It's not an open campus to just go walking around on like Harvard where tourists and townsfolk go all the time.

But after leaving Texas do you realize how little people know of Rice unless you're really in the know. The most I've ever gotten from people was, "yeah, good school".

Of course Rice still is a top school, no doubt, and you can land a sweet gig after graduating but I don't see quite like I used to after leaving Texas, or Houston for that matter. I see like I see Harvey Mudd College here in Los Angeles, a great, small nerdy school that will get you a prime job in the state.

Any thoughts from people that thought the same? (or am I gonna get a sarcastic quip about how wrong I really am).

Your post got me to do a little digging online to look into what makes Rice so special and they actually have a pretty incredible history. It also looks like their research is pretty important around the world. It's easy to dump on Rice for being just another small private university but from someone who went to a different small private university also in Houston for my master's degree I can tell you that the university I went to doesn't even come close to what Rice has to offer their students. All universities are not created equally and Rice rises above the rest of the schools in Texas for a reason. Not just because some list says so.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by westhou

Your post got me to do a little digging online to look into what makes Rice so special and they actually have a pretty incredible history. It also looks like their research is pretty important around the world. It's easy to dump on Rice for being just another small private university but from someone who went to a different small private university also in Houston for my master's degree I can tell you that the university I went to doesn't even come close to what Rice has to offer their students. All universities are not created equally and Rice rises above the rest of the schools in Texas for a reason. Not just because some list says so.

Rice doesn't factor into the general public because its super elite in that way. Ever go into the Baker Institute? Its a top notch public policy think tank. To go to Rice is to write your ticket into the Texas elite, no doubt.

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Not too many Rice students though go on to do really big things like the grads of other top schools. I am surprised there are hardly any Presidents, Governors, big tycoons, tech giants, or even Hollywood stars. Astronauts, yes. Alberto Gonzalez, check.

UT Austin seems to have more adventurous grads.

Oh yeah, that does seem weird being that they are the same size and graduate the same numbers....oh wait nevermind. I guess it is expected and not surprising at all.

[texex1]

The Top 10 Colleges in Texas – Best Ranked Schools in the Lone Star State | USA TODAY College

Rice and Trinity come out on top

[Campeador]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

John Stewart mentioned Rice University in an episode of the Daily Show last week and ribbed on the school a bit, I believe by saying something like what a strange name for a school or something. Point is, I grew up thinking Rice was the be all, end all. I, like a lot of other Texans grew up believing it was an Ivy League school or just as good as Harvard. The hype around Rice is HUGE in Texas. To some extent, I can see why. It's a small school shrouded in mystery, fenced in by large gates and a hedge. It's not an open campus to just go walking around on like Harvard where tourists and townsfolk go all the time.

But after leaving Texas do you realize how little people know of Rice unless you're really in the know. The most I've ever gotten from people was, "yeah, good school".

Of course Rice still is a top school, no doubt, and you can land a sweet gig after graduating but I don't see quite like I used to after leaving Texas, or Houston for that matter. I see like I see Harvey Mudd College here in Los Angeles, a great, small nerdy school that will get you a prime job in the state.

Any thoughts from people that thought the same? (or am I gonna get a sarcastic quip about how wrong I really am).

Rice is better than you think it is; the masses are simply not equipped to perceive the differences that matter in academia.

[JL]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

John Stewart mentioned Rice University in an episode of the Daily Show last week and ribbed on the school a bit, I believe by saying something like what a strange name for a school or something. Point is, I grew up thinking Rice was the be all, end all. I, like a lot of other Texans grew up believing it was an Ivy League school or just as good as Harvard. The hype around Rice is HUGE in Texas. To some extent, I can see why. It's a small school shrouded in mystery, fenced in by large gates and a hedge. It's not an open campus to just go walking around on like Harvard where tourists and townsfolk go all the time.

But after leaving Texas do you realize how little people know of Rice unless you're really in the know. The most I've ever gotten from people was, "yeah, good school".

Of course Rice still is a top school, no doubt, and you can land a sweet gig after graduating but I don't see quite like I used to after leaving Texas, or Houston for that matter. I see like I see Harvey Mudd College here in Los Angeles, a great, small nerdy school that will get you a prime job in the state.

Any thoughts from people that thought the same? (or am I gonna get a sarcastic quip about how wrong I really am).

Personally, if i had a son/daughter, i would recommend Texas A&M despite being a UT grad myself. The alumni are a very close knit group and i've seen many managers(A&M grads) at the big oil/gas companies hire alot of A&M grads. UT and A&M grads probably have a better chance of getting a job out of state than a Rice grad. Outsiders know more about those schools than Rice...then again it will come down to your qualifications, interviews, personality, etc.

[TexasTallest]

Originally Posted by texex1

The Top 10 Colleges in Texas – Best Ranked Schools in the Lone Star State | USA TODAY College

Rice and Trinity come out on top

Lmao, where did they get those rankings?

I didn't realize this was up for debate.. I thought it was pretty much always

Rice
UT
Baylor/smu/a&m
Tcu
Ect..

[philopower]

Originally Posted by TexasTallest

Lmao, where did they get those rankings?

I didn't realize this was up for debate.. I thought it was pretty much always

Rice
UT
Baylor/smu/a&m
Tcu
Ect..

Lol yup no way SMU is better than UT although I hear they have a beautiful campus.

[dallasboi]

SMU is better than TCU also. Its more like

Rice
UT Austin
TAMU
Texas Tech
SMU
UH
UTD
TCU
UTSA
UTPB
Texas State University
Ect.

[TexasTallest]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

SMU is better than TCU also. Its more like

Rice
UT Austin
TAMU
Texas Tech
SMU
UH
UTD
TCU
UTSA
UTPB
Texas State University
Ect.

Err, what? Texas tech ranked above smu? Where's Baylor?