<p>p.s. If you are not transferring to Rice because you really want to go to Rice, or there is a professor (or two) that you really want to work with - then I think you should stay put. Don’t transfer because you think it will make grad school application results better!!! Have you discussed grad school with your profs at UM? If you stay put and are a top student you should have some good grad school opportunities. I am a huge Rice fan, but your reasons for wanting to transfer seem thin… JMHO!</p>