<p>Modulation–I feel for you! Parents like to be able to brag about their kids, and your parents may feel more comfortable about those northern schools. Your parents are going to be paying for the next four years of school, but you’re the one who is going to be living them. You say that they’ve said they would stand by your decision. What have you told them about your reasons for preferring Rice? I’ve seen lots of posts by you here over the last month or two, and I can tell how you feel about Rice. Do you think they understand why you feel the way you do? If you don’t agree with their hesitations about Rice, can’t you counter those with facts? Aside from the great stuff you hear on CC about what Rice is like, there are lots of straightforward facts about the opportunities Rice students and graduates have at places like this: [Rice</a> University | Faculty | Researchers](<a href=“http://www.professor.rice.edu/professor/Rice_University.asp?SnID=1816018236]Rice”>http://www.professor.rice.edu/professor/Rice_University.asp?SnID=1816018236)</p>
<p>Good luck, and don’t give up on them. They’ll come around.</p>