<p>I’m from Ohio so I had the same concerns. I have found that most people have not heard of Rice in my hometown. However, I have been pleasantly surprised with the reactions of those who know Rice. I would say 80-90% of the people I talked to who know Rice are very impressed with it. Here’s an anecdote: I went to Bed Bath and Beyond in the outskirts of Cincinnati (it was in a more rural area) to order stuff for my dorm. When the cashier or store manager (not sure what position she had) asked where I was going, I said Rice and then she asked, “What are you going to such an elite university?” Other people have said it’s a good with a “high reputation” and that “you must be smart.” So the people who have heard of Rice usually hold it highly. But at the same time, it is not going to draw as many ooh’s and aah’s as the Ivies, Duke, Stanford, MIT, Northwestern, etc. But I like to argue that Duke would be in the same position as Rice if it wasn’t for their nationally renowned basketball team. Rice’s situation is much similar to that of WashU’s, Emory’s, Vanderbilt’s, Brown’s, LAC’s, etc.</p>
<p>By the way, people from Houston that I meet at the airport and such are always impressed with Rice… the locals hold this school highly.</p>