<p>I got my PhD from Penn in Engineering. I got to know the Ivies fairly well during those years. I am DELIGHTED that my son went to Rice. Even though the dean of Eng. at Penn encouraged me to have my son apply at Penn, we did not do so. I assure you and your parents that Rice is an excellent choice and every bit as good or better than the Ivies. </p>
<p>For what it is worth, I am white. Many of my best friends at Penn were Asian. The two most unhappy friends I had at Penn were Asian women whose families had pushed them at the ivies. One succeeded and is a prof. of eng. today, but broke from her father (did not speak to him the last years of his life). The other had an unhappy time and I have lost track of her.</p>
<p>I wish you and yours the best. I urge you and your family to come together and find a solution you can all be happy with. DO NOT let this tear apart the family. GOOD LUCK</p>