Rice University is an all-around perfect school. The quality of life her is top notch; we have some of the happiest college students in the country. Of course, academic opportunity is well worth its cost.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Take those AP exams. Some of the toughest courses at Rice are the beginning level math and science courses. Take the AP exams in high school so you don't have to take the courses here. It will also help you graduate faster.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Rice is a very challenging school. However, the student to faculty ratio and culture of care certainly make up for that. Every student here is brilliant, but uniquely down to Earth and willing to help. Office hours and TA sessions are always accessible and you get to know your professors on a personal level. I have yet to meet a professor who doesn't truly care about his/her students. Rice may push you to work really hard, but it's clearly because they care about the success about each of us.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Rice dorms are broken up into 11 colleges. You stay at the college you are assigned to for all four years (kind of like houses at hogwarts). The college becomes your family and you are guaranteed housing three out of the four years you stay at Rice. Almost everyone who can stay on campus does, because living with your college family is priceless. However, quality of rooms depends on the college you get into so it can be luck of the draw.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Rice has 6 serveries that are an all-you-can eat style buffet with excellent food. The chefs are award winning and like to have fun with the menus. The nice thing is, if you don't like what one servery is serving that day, you can just go to another one. They serve really nice food from fried chicken and waffles to stuffed flounder and crab bisque.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Sometimes, it is difficult to get off campus, but Rice offers a lot of activity on campus. There are parties almost every weekend, the club and IM sports are very fun and welcoming, and the campus offers study breaks that include ziplines, pool parties, and petting zoos with kangaroos. Also, it's a small school, so a close friend is never too far away.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Rice gives financial aid to anyone who needs it (though many students here are pretty rich). They are understanding and helpful. Rice also works really hard to land you internships and jobs so that you end up successful. Rice is especially motivated to invest in their students because they are private-not-for-profit. This means that they depend a great deal on successful alumni to donate back to the school (and many do so quite generously). Many low-income students come to Rice to break out of their class status and climb up that economic ladder.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There are some pretty fun events, but the first event is O-week. This is your first experience at Rice. You show up to your assigned college, and the fun begins. As you drive in your name is shouted from upperclassmen welcoming you. Your car is unpacked and moved in by everyone but you. You then spend the entire week making friends, getting help, and learning about how to adjust to college. It's the most priceless experience and can't really be found anywhere else. Each college has their own traditions, but almost all of them eventually wind up soaked and a mess. You'll just have to wait and see why.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Rice is great for open-minded students. This university is known for their diversity. When you are surrounded by so much cultural diversity a great amount of tolerance is developed. Rice shapes new thinkers and bright minds. If you can accept new experiences, you will gain so much from your time at Rice.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Everyone has something they love to do here. From learning a brand new sport like Ultimate frisbee to volunteering every weekend, Rice has something for everybody. If you want to try something new, all Rice students are kind and helpful so nobody feels afraid of being judged. Rice students are unique and make becoming involved in the small campus life easy and exciting.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is no Greek Life at Rice, but we are proud of our Residential College System. This system is best described like houses at Hogwarts. You are assigned one of 11 colleges to become a part of for your next four years. This college becomes your family, your home, your community. Often times, you will see more students sporting their college gear (Brown, Martel, Jones, etc.) more than Rice gear. Each college has its own traditions, cheers, and pride. Unlike Greek life, it excludes nobody.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
There aren't too many issues with safety at Rice because the campus is located in a very good neighborhood of Houston. However, more could be done to prevent incidents. There is a history of homeless people managing their way into the colleges, or the occasional mugging. Because the school is small, most incidents are reported and made aware to the entire student body. They are taken care of quickly and most students feel safe living here.
Rice University is an all-around perfect school. The quality of life her is top notch; we have some of the happiest college students in the country. Of course, academic opportunity is well worth its cost.
Take those AP exams. Some of the toughest courses at Rice are the beginning level math and science courses. Take the AP exams in high school so you don't have to take the courses here. It will also help you graduate faster.
Rice is a very challenging school. However, the student to faculty ratio and culture of care certainly make up for that. Every student here is brilliant, but uniquely down to Earth and willing to help. Office hours and TA sessions are always accessible and you get to know your professors on a personal level. I have yet to meet a professor who doesn't truly care about his/her students. Rice may push you to work really hard, but it's clearly because they care about the success about each of us.
Rice dorms are broken up into 11 colleges. You stay at the college you are assigned to for all four years (kind of like houses at hogwarts). The college becomes your family and you are guaranteed housing three out of the four years you stay at Rice. Almost everyone who can stay on campus does, because living with your college family is priceless. However, quality of rooms depends on the college you get into so it can be luck of the draw.
Rice has 6 serveries that are an all-you-can eat style buffet with excellent food. The chefs are award winning and like to have fun with the menus. The nice thing is, if you don't like what one servery is serving that day, you can just go to another one. They serve really nice food from fried chicken and waffles to stuffed flounder and crab bisque.
Sometimes, it is difficult to get off campus, but Rice offers a lot of activity on campus. There are parties almost every weekend, the club and IM sports are very fun and welcoming, and the campus offers study breaks that include ziplines, pool parties, and petting zoos with kangaroos. Also, it's a small school, so a close friend is never too far away.
Rice gives financial aid to anyone who needs it (though many students here are pretty rich). They are understanding and helpful. Rice also works really hard to land you internships and jobs so that you end up successful. Rice is especially motivated to invest in their students because they are private-not-for-profit. This means that they depend a great deal on successful alumni to donate back to the school (and many do so quite generously). Many low-income students come to Rice to break out of their class status and climb up that economic ladder.
There are some pretty fun events, but the first event is O-week. This is your first experience at Rice. You show up to your assigned college, and the fun begins. As you drive in your name is shouted from upperclassmen welcoming you. Your car is unpacked and moved in by everyone but you. You then spend the entire week making friends, getting help, and learning about how to adjust to college. It's the most priceless experience and can't really be found anywhere else. Each college has their own traditions, but almost all of them eventually wind up soaked and a mess. You'll just have to wait and see why.
Rice is great for open-minded students. This university is known for their diversity. When you are surrounded by so much cultural diversity a great amount of tolerance is developed. Rice shapes new thinkers and bright minds. If you can accept new experiences, you will gain so much from your time at Rice.
Everyone has something they love to do here. From learning a brand new sport like Ultimate frisbee to volunteering every weekend, Rice has something for everybody. If you want to try something new, all Rice students are kind and helpful so nobody feels afraid of being judged. Rice students are unique and make becoming involved in the small campus life easy and exciting.
There is no Greek Life at Rice, but we are proud of our Residential College System. This system is best described like houses at Hogwarts. You are assigned one of 11 colleges to become a part of for your next four years. This college becomes your family, your home, your community. Often times, you will see more students sporting their college gear (Brown, Martel, Jones, etc.) more than Rice gear. Each college has its own traditions, cheers, and pride. Unlike Greek life, it excludes nobody.
There aren't too many issues with safety at Rice because the campus is located in a very good neighborhood of Houston. However, more could be done to prevent incidents. There is a history of homeless people managing their way into the colleges, or the occasional mugging. Because the school is small, most incidents are reported and made aware to the entire student body. They are taken care of quickly and most students feel safe living here.