<p>As I write this, I’m sitting in an Economics lecture taught by a Baker Institute fellow who does research on US Tax Policy that is frequently seen in research journals, as well as popular publications such as USA Today.</p>
<p>[James</a> A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Rice University | Personnel | Baker Institute Fellows, Scholars and Program Managers | John W. Diamond](<a href=“http://www.bakerinstitute.org/personnel/fellows-scholars/jdiamond]James”>http://www.bakerinstitute.org/personnel/fellows-scholars/jdiamond)</p>
<p>If you’re interested in pre-med/Biology, Rice is a fantastic place to pursue your interests. We’re located directly across from one of the largest medical centers in the world, which includes the Baylor School of Medicine. It makes research a matter of walking across Main Street (or going somewhere on campus), rather than something you have to hunt down. </p>
<p>Another great thing about Rice is that if you come here and decide you hate both Economics and Biology and have no desire to be a doctor, we have tons of other fantastic programs too. It’s supremely easy to switch between majors, and you don’t have to declare until the end of your sophomore year. </p>
<p>Quite easy to double major.</p>
<p>I’d say both alumni networks are pretty tiny. We’re both small schools, so as far as numbers go we just don’t have as many. However, Rice alumni do like to help out undergrads. </p>
<p>Can’t speak to study abroad as I haven’t done it yet. </p>
<p>The weather in Houston is FANTASTIC, except for the months of August and about half of September. The humidity cuts off around the end of September/first week of October. It’s absolutely gorgeous outside right now, and it was barely cold (we got a snow day in Feb because the temp dropped below freezing–no snow ever fell). =)</p>