| Commentary, because I don't want to write my HUMA paper:
1. Best-looking Spanish architecture of any college campus - I would argue that Stanford is prettier, but yes, Rice is very beautiful.
2. 5th highest endowment per student - True.
3. #1 quality of life - I don't put much stake in rankings, but I'd say that quality of life here is pretty solid.
4. #1 class/racial interaction - same as above. There's been a fair amount of controversy over that distinction, but I'd say that social divisions here are less severe than they are elsewhere.
5. One of the two smallest research universities in the country - what about Olin? Let's just leave it at "small research university."
6. Shepherd School of Music - Is awesome.
7. Residential college system - Everything good about Rice indirectly stems from the Res. Colleges.
8. Very close access to the Texas Medical Center - Doesn't really influence your daily life unless you're a Pre-Med or severely injured, but it does mean cheap restaurants within walking distance.
9. Champion Baseball team - Can't argue with that.
10. Amazing profs - True.
11. Nanosci! - I'll grant you that.
12. The people there - People are awesome. But as is true anywhere, some suck.
13. Classes offered - For the most part, pretty good.
14. In Houston - Houston's okay, I guess. There's good Tex-Mex.
15. Rice-Baylor - Again, doesn't really influence you unless you're a Pre-Med. But it reflect's Rice's commitment to undergrads.
16. "Southern Ivy" - I really don't like that term. But to each his own.
17. next to the Lightrail - The Lightrail's only good for a few select occasions, such as going to the Angelika downtown (which is awesome), but I guess being next to the Lightrail does more good than harm.
18. 300 acre downtown campus - And a great campus at that.
19. Rice Village - Rice Village really caters more to the West U. yuppies than Rice students. That said, there are a few good Thai restaurants within student budgets in the Village.
20. Brilliant and nicce and helpful students - True.
21. Small number of people - True.
22. Accesible Adminiostration - Depends on the administrator. I've found that most of the undergraduate administration (Forman, Munoz, etc.) are very accessible, but the overall University administrators are sometimes hard to reach.
23. School of Engineering and Architecture - Okay.
24. The Marching Owl Band (MOB) - I tend to like the MOB, but sometimes they're too off-beat and self-referential for their own good.
25. Still the best value in higher education - That really depends on whether you get scholarships. Tuition is rising each year, and it will soon be on par with the Ivies. However, Rice actually gives merit aid, unlike the Ivies.
26. Produced the only PhD to quarterback an NFL champion. - That's pretty awesome.
27. Loads of fun - I'm certainly having fun.
28. Yummy ethnic food in restaurants in the area - Tex Mex, Thai, Indian...yup.
29. Warm weather (usually) - I generally like cold weather, but I guess whatever suits you...
30. Only university to host both the superbowl and the G7 summit - I'll have to look that up, but I'm pretty sure that's true.
31. Baker Institute speakers - Baker Institute speakers are great, but I'm bitter because I didn't get a ticket to Clinton.
32. Chris the hamburger guy at South Servery - Chris is freaking amazing.
33. Passport to Houston perks (free light rail and bus, discounted museum/theater/symphony tickets) - The perks are great.
34. $5 tickets to the Astros - I suppose this matters to you more if you're a 'Stros fan.
35. the honor code - The honor code really does contribute positively to the academic atmosphere.
36. Jake Poteet - I personally don't know Jake Poteet.
37. Screw Yer Roommate (It is exactly how it sounds) - I didn't participate (my roommate didn't want a date, and he didn't set me up), but my friends who did had fun and awkwardness.
38. The Outer Loop - Having a running trail is nice, but it would be better if it weren't next to Houston traffic.
39. Jarett Dillard - He got snubbed for the Biletnikoff.
40. Azalaes - Why not?
41. Being in Texas for Blue Bell Ice Cream - We get Blue Bell at lunch, and it's good, so I'll grant you that.
42. Having school colors be the same as the Ravenclaw house colors in Harry Potter - They are the same, but it could be argued that Harvard has the same colors as Gryffindor. And LSU has the same colors as Hufflepuff.
43. The current attorney general and the good-looking Bush nephew went there - I would argue that that's not a positive.
44. 40,000 single males more than single females in Houston. :d - Well, I don't swing that way, but okay...
45. So many study breaks! - Study breaks rock.
46. O-week. - O-Week is a whole lot of fun, but I pity the people who view it as the best part of their freshman year.
47. Competitive Powderpuff - This one's mine, so I'll abstain.
48. Beer-Bike - ditto
49. House of Pies - I will tell you that House of Pies is like if God made a restaurant...and filled it with good food.
50. RUPD - Again, mine, so I won't comment. |