Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:42     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Emory is in Atlanta which is a giant, growing blue dot in a state that’s becoming more purple. Emory, Rice, Duke are all in their own blue bubbles
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:35     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:Maybe OP is a troll because the Rice and Duke moms/boosters are vicious and only want their way. And we can’t forget the Emory and WashU crowd that boost their schools whenever the conversation is about T20s in red states.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:34     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Maybe OP is a troll because the Rice and Duke moms/boosters are vicious and only want their way. And we can’t forget the Emory and WashU crowd that boost their schools whenever the conversation is about T30s in red states.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:29     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think Emory would be a peer for Rice here.

Rice is a tier higher than Emory but a tier lower than Duke.


Only in your mind. Rice is indeed a tier higher than Emory but equal peer to Duke, at least.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:07     Subject: Re:How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have insight on Rice vs. Hopkins? They seem similarly nerdy and STEM-focused. Both lack a big sports culture and are located in cities that are not a draw for kids. What is the East Coast version of Rice?


Hopkins and Rice are very similar

Hopkins is so much worse student culture wise. Campus doesn’t feel at all intellectual, just grindy Asian and competitive. Rice is friendly, dedicated, and collaborative.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:06     Subject: Re:How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have insight on Rice vs. Hopkins? They seem similarly nerdy and STEM-focused. Both lack a big sports culture and are located in cities that are not a draw for kids. What is the East Coast version of Rice?


Hopkins and Rice are very similar
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:04     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:Duke is much less fratty and much more nerdy than the outdated 80s/90s stereotype.

It is, however, extremely hard to get into.


++++
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:04     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think Emory would be a peer for Rice here.

Rice is a tier higher than Emory but a tier lower than Duke.


There aren’t that many tiers. Rice, Vandy, Wash U, Emory all the same.


+1
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 21:03     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:DD really likes Rice for the STEM rigor, research opportunities, nice balance of slightly nerdy student vibe mixed with a fun (not fueled by heavy partying) and collaborative campus culture, but she doesn’t want to live in Texas. A science kid, high stats top rigor from a private that sends kid to both schools. Great ECs. Would Duke be similar to Rice academically and just as supportive, collaborative and fun or if it a lot less nerdy and more fratty?

What other high reach schools are like Rice but not in Texas? Narrowing down ED options. Not applying to HYP due to unhooked.


Are they engineering? Duke Engineering will have a similar feel to Rice though the overall basketball-centric social life could be annoying for nonsports kids.
Look at Penn, Hopkins, Northwestern, WashU for other collaborative but rigorous engineering schools, or strong in other parts of the STEM community, with lots of research funding for undergraduates. Columbia if they do not mind less of a campus feel, more urban-centric. CMU if they want intense rigor and almost all STEM students around them.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 20:55     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I agree with the folks suggesting Pomona (leaning into the benefits of the Claremont affiliation), Northwestern, or William and Mary. Part of what is pretty unique about Rice is its size. And OP, if your kid likes everything about Rice but Texas, I echo the folks suggesting you visit because Houston is really, really different than any notion of Texas that most people have (or apply and then visit if she gets in).


William and Mary is nothing like Rice. Pomona is nothing like Rice. Rice is primarily known for its STEM majors, not so for the others.

Pomona’s best majors are in Math, Biology, Neuroscinece, Chem… I don’t have experience with these others but you’re gonna need to be a bit more specific by what you mean with STEM.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 20:49     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think Emory would be a peer for Rice here.

Rice is a tier higher than Emory but a tier lower than Duke.

Says who? Emory is academically better than Rice besides Engineering.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 17:51     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:They are very similar. I think Rice is an easier admit. Neither university is a bastion of diversity though. Both lean conservative and both located in MAGA dominated state legislatures.

In such states usually the most liberal place in the state is the flagship university.


North Carolina has a Democrat as governor who replaced another Democrat, it soon will have a Democrat as Senator, and its Supreme Court is increasingly controlled by liberals. Pretty far away from any of that happening in Texas, unfortunately.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 17:48     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think Emory would be a peer for Rice here.

Rice is a tier higher than Emory but a tier lower than Duke.


There aren’t that many tiers. Rice, Vandy, Wash U, Emory all the same.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 17:46     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
Anonymous wrote:I agree with the folks suggesting Pomona (leaning into the benefits of the Claremont affiliation), Northwestern, or William and Mary. Part of what is pretty unique about Rice is its size. And OP, if your kid likes everything about Rice but Texas, I echo the folks suggesting you visit because Houston is really, really different than any notion of Texas that most people have (or apply and then visit if she gets in).


William and Mary is nothing like Rice. Pomona is nothing like Rice. Rice is primarily known for its STEM majors, not so for the others.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 17:40     Subject: How similar or different is Duke compared to Rice?
I agree with the folks suggesting Pomona (leaning into the benefits of the Claremont affiliation), Northwestern, or William and Mary. Part of what is pretty unique about Rice is its size. And OP, if your kid likes everything about Rice but Texas, I echo the folks suggesting you visit because Houston is really, really different than any notion of Texas that most people have (or apply and then visit if she gets in).