One Big Thing that Dallas Is Missing (Austin, Arlington: lawyers, employment)

[WillysB]

Rice has been one of the top universities in the U.S. for decades. It's small, expensive and challenging.

Undergraduate admission is highly selective [1] with offers of admission made to only 22% [2]of its applicants for the Class of 2011. Of the 727 who enrolled, 76% were among top 5% in their high school classes. 19% of the freshman class were valedictorians.

The following from the Rice University home page:

Rice University has once again been named one of America's best colleges. The school is listed among the nation's top 20 universities in the U.S. News & World Report's prestigious annual rankings. The report also rated Rice in a handful of other categories, including a top 10 ranking for one of the best values among U.S. universities.

New theory offers insight into superconductivity

Since being discovered over two decades ago, high-temperature superconductivity remains one of the great mysteries of condensed matter physics. Rice physicist Qimiao Si is hoping to change that. With a physicist from Rutgers, Si has released a new theory explaining and predicting properties of iron compounds following a series of recent discoveries.

A quick google will reveal enough information about Rice, such as....

U.S. News & World Report ranks Rice's undergraduate program seventeenth among national universities (immediately preceded by Brown University and followed by Emory University.

The really amazing part is that its baseball program frequently winds up in the college world series, which it won a few ago.

[padcrasher]

I graduated from SMU. It's not on par with Rice. US News and World report ranks Rice as #7 in the Nation. I'd argue UT is not at the same level either, but better than SMU way down at # 64.

SMU doesn't know what it wants. It had aspirations to become a Duke or Emory at one time. It was on par with Vanderbilt long ago and it's done well with their business school but their liberal arts colleges don't get much support. The Board of Directors are monied old school Republican elites and that just doesn't mix well Academia types.

[unexpected]

SMU is definitely not as prestigious as Rice or even UT.

In terms of prestige of Texas Universities, I'd say:

Rice > UT > SMU = A & M = UTD > Texas Tech >UNT = TCU = TWU > UTA =UTSA = UTEP

Did I leave anyone out?

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

I would give Rice the slight edge over SMU but I would not put them on the top 25 for top universities in the nation. I doubt anyone on the east or west coast no much about either of the two.

Rice is known in academic circles on both coasts.

[Spree]

<<US News and World report ranks Rice as #7 in the Nation.>>

Wow, I didn't realize that.

[lpepping]

My two cents. SMU is not on par with Rice. My experience there was good access to professors and small class sizes. I don't think you can find that at UT. That was important to me and part of the reason I chose to go there. They also have a really good business school that offers good exposure to the business world.

[Dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Spree

<<US News and World report ranks Rice as #7 in the Nation.>>

Wow, I didn't realize that.

#17 Rice, between Brown and Emory.

#66 SMU, between Purdue and UCONN.

National Universities Rankings - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report

[MaryS80]

In Dallas the name SMU will get you places. Outside Dallas, it's no different than having a degree from any other university.

[padcrasher]

Originally Posted by BBQgritz

#17 Rice, between Brown and Emory.

#66 SMU, between Purdue and UCONN.

National Universities Rankings - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report

Excuse me. I thought it was 7. I was mistaken. Thanks.

[padcrasher]

Originally Posted by MaryS80

In Dallas the name SMU will get you places. Outside Dallas, it's no different than having a degree from any other university.

I'd say that becomes less true each year. As Dallas becomes more cosmopolitan, and the economy diversifies old money becomes less of a factor. I'm sure HP is filled with New Englanders and West Coasters who have their own set of prestigious universities.