I love so many things about both USC and Rice U. and...

jojoismojo
Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:28:42 +0000

I’m having trouble deciding. I’ve narrowed it down to either Rice U. or USC, and I want to know from current students where they think I would have the BEST TIME. I am aware of the academic programs at both Rice and USC, I’ve visited both campuses, I am aware that Rice is slightly higher in ranking and higher in traditional prestige-- that is not what I am basing my decision on. This is a life changing decision and it breaks my heart that I have to turn one of these schools down… so I want to make sure I am as informed as possible. Here’s the deal:

+USC+
Pros:

USC is in LA (big, vibrant amazing city… but also expensive)

USC is only a couple hours away from the beach, the desert, AND the mountains

California’s amazing climate

Highest percentage of international students of any school in the US

World class football team & marching band

Good Neuroscience program

Grading policies are easier (which results in more free time, and better grades for graduate school I presume)

Very good pre-med internship opportunities

Amazing alumni job network

Movies are often filmed at USC

Students make & show movie-grade films

Good mix of attractive boys

Wonderful artists give concerts free for students (Andrew Bird!!! AHHHH)

Students can swim in the fountains

Kids were nice and friendly in general

Cons:

USC would cost $36,000 a year for me since I didn’t receive alot of financial aid… so we would have to take out loans on our home equity and my parents have jobs in computer science, so they’re not stable if the economy dies or something

Travel costs would be high since I live in Virginia

LA is very expensive and so is parking at USC, so I wouldn’t have a car or be able to do THAT much in LA

The food isn’t all that great in the cafeterias

The USC campus itself only has pockets of prettiness

The USC architecture and dorms look like they’re just made for function, not form

USC students in general seem to be less like me: I am quirky and unique, I have frequent impulses to jump over things, I smell all my food before I eat it, I can baa really well and make good dolphin noises, I go crazy in a beat

I wouldn’t be able to get my Student Pilot Instrument Rating because that money would go to paying for USC (I already am very close to getting my VFR Private Pilot’s License)

+RICE+
Pros:

BEAUTIFUL campus-- I LOVE ALL THE TREES AND SQUIRRELS!!

Interesting, quirky, down-to-earth people

Kids very active in class

Diverse student body

Houston has great restaurants

Baylor medical program in conjunction with Rice Pre-med = great internships, opportunities

Admins give Rice students so much freedom

Pranks are plentiful

Residential college system

Cafeteria food is amazing

Hispanic influenced architecture is sooo prettyyy

Great traditions, especially streaking ones (heh)

Voted in the top 5 Best Quality of Life consistently by US. World News

Houston is less expensive than where I live (40 minutes from Washington DC… Sterling, VA)

Everyone at Rice was really friendly and reached out to me and told me repeatedly to come to Rice

RA’s at Rice plan really cool stuff for their colleges (ex.: Bollywood nights, yoga)

I could continue to take flight lessons at a small airport nearby, with the extra money

People would probably really embrace my quirky-crazy personality

Cons:

I have high standards so probably would not date at Rice

I don’t know how good the social life would be

The curriculum & grading is EXCEPTIONALLY hard (does this mean alot less free time?)

The Neuroscience program is not as good

Questions: Are there any pros and cons I haven’t thought of that I should consider? Are any of my ideas about either school wrong? And which do you think I would have the BEST FOUR YEARS at??? Thanks so much for your input.