Rice is an unusual school in many respects. You say it intrigues you, so maybe some of those things are attractive to you. We looked at Rice for our S19, although in the end he decided he wanted a smaller school and did not apply. It is a very impressive school academically, with an interesting history and a strong financial position that enables it to keep tuition down and attract an economically diverse student body. It has the feel of an LAC although it is a university, and it is in Texas rather than in the Northeast. It has a residential house system. It is located on a beautiful campus but it is right in the city of Houston in a great neighborhood. I thought it was amazing.