<p>Also, comparing SAT scores is pointless in this case, because of the difference in the sorts of institutions Rice and Harvey Mudd are. Rice has a division one athletics program as well as schools of architecture and music that require admitting students with less than perfect SAT scores. Harvey Mudd does not have any of the three. Naturally, Harvey Mudd’s average SAT score is going to be higher, but that does not necessarily reflect a substantial difference in the brilliance of Rice kids focused on science and Harvey Mudd kids focused on science. Rice has brilliant young scientists PLUS brilliant humanities/social sciences students PLUS top rated music and architecture schools PLUS division one athletics. My main argument is that Rice is a much better place for students with a wide range of interests, and I’d be surprised if you took issue with that.</p>