<p>Well, technically Cornell does have some public schools, but calling it a public university is a bit disingenuous. I’m not sure why Rice being a “wanna-be upstart , Houston money, Ivy” should be considered important, but it’s important to keep in mind that you can’t do a direct comparison of resources between a 6,000-student private university and a 50,000-student state flagship school.</p>
<p>Anyway, they are both great schools. I faced a similar decision a number of years back, and chose Rice with no regrets. If you can afford the extra cost, I believe Rice offers an unbeatable undergraduate experience, and I wouldn’t trade my four years there for anything.</p>