The people--students, professors, staff--are kind and open, establishing a great atmosphere to make friends, have fun, and of course, learn. Academics are difficult as expected, but the help that is accessible to you really does get you through the class. The activities outside of classes are limitless, ranging from cultural clubs to athletics to tons of study breaks and parties.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Make sure to fill out the College Board CSS Profile and FAFSA to make yourself eligible for financial aid.
Try to always be on good terms with your roommate. You do not have to be best friends with them, but just make sure you keep them happy. If you they are happy, most likely, you will be too.
Time management is key to doing well in college. Although it may seem that you do not have a lot of work, it will definitely be more than expected when accounting for the time you take to eat, have fun, exercise, etc. It is a good idea to get a head start on work or reading assignments just so you have an idea of what you have to work on either for homework or in class.
A bunch of clubs seem like fun and a good way to de-stress, but make sure you are not overloading yourself, because each club requires time, and you also need time for yourself and school. Just be cautious what you get yourself involved in.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
School is definitely difficult, regardless of where you went to high school. I have heard this from several students ranging from all years. Although the classes are hard and challenging, there is plenty of help available such as teaching assistants (TAs), professors' office hours, other students, and possible study sessions hosted by the professor or TAs.
Some classes require a large amount of time just to do homework, so you have to make sure that you arrange your time accordingly. No matter how hard school gets, you have to let yourself relax a little by doing something you enjoy. It will help your academic performance as well as boost your morale.
For most students, school is hard, and sometimes, you feel like you are failing and the worst in your class. But chances are that you are about average because there are several other students learning the same material and struggling through it just like you, so keep your head up and strive on. Things could turn out good in the end (e.g. possible curves), because nothing is set in stone until the end of the class.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorm life varies from college to college. I am very happy with mine though. My dorm is a suite of four people with two bedrooms, a common room, and one bathroom. The rooms are roomy and comfortable. Our trash is regularly emptied throughout the week and any kind of cleaning or maintenance requests are quickly taken care of. Also, if you have a huge problem with your roommate, it is okay to request for a different one. It is better to make this known early on, so you do not have to struggle with incompatibility issues, because you will have bigger challenges such as academics.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
There are six different serveries at Rice, and with a meal plan, you can eat at any of them. Weekdays, there are three meals a day; weekends, there are two meals a day (Saturday - breakfast and lunch, dinner is on your own to encourage you to explore downtown Houston; Sunday - brunch and dinner). You will never get tired of the food here, because they have so much variety and the meal plan allows an all-you-can-eat style meal.
There is always a salad bar and cereal if you do not find anything appetizing, but chances are, you will want to eat one of the new entrees served. You can also eat inside college commons areas, outside, or even in your room. Food at Rice will definitely keep you satisfied.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There tons of clubs and activities on campus. Also, being in downtown Houston has its perks because nearby are numerous restaurants, museums, the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park, and other places to explore right across the street. To make it even better, Rice students usually get a discount at certain places or free admission to museums or the zoo. One of Rice's Program Councils also provides free tickets to the Houston Ballet, Symphony, Opera, and other events throughout the semester.
If you have a car, then you can go with a group of friends to the Galleria (the mall), Chinatown to try new foods, or to the movies. There is so much to do that you will never feel bored here.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Rice has money, so the financial aid is all right. If your income is below $80,000, you are fully covered, but most of the aid is based on your FAFSA and College Board CSS Profile. I think the value of the education and college life is worth it though.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Each residential college has its own government, and every semester, each one organizes a public party, open to all undergraduate students. These parties typically take place on Saturday nights and are totally optional. Normally, there are other alternatives to these parties such as movie showings in another college or something along those lines.
We also have one week in the spring semester called Willy Week where there are fun events throughout the week, including Beer Bike, which is a relay race among the colleges where there are people from their respective colleges who chug water (due to safety hazards) and bike.
Each college has its own culture, so whichever college you are put in, you will learn the unique traditions and gain pride for your college.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Rice is for pretty much anyone who is willing to work in a rigorous academic environment while having a social life and having fun doing things they love with other students who have similar interests. The students here are so diverse, so you are bound to find a friend or friends that you can click with.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are so many extracurricular activities that students usually make the mistake of joining way too many. There are intramural sports (men's, women's, and co-ed sports), cultural clubs (Korean student association, Vietnamese student association, HACER--a Hispanic service group, etc.), Environmental Club, Campanile Orchestra (for non-music majors), Student Association (similar to student council), leadership positions within residential colleges, and much more. No matter what you join, as long as you are passionate and open, you will have fun and learn new knowledge and perspectives.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
None
However, we have a residential college system where each dorm (11 in total) is like your house or family on campus. Each college has about 400 students (freshmen to seniors), faculty residential advisors, and college master(s). These small communities pretty much serve as your extended family while at Rice.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
We are in the middle of downtown Houston, so no matter where you are, you should be wary of your surroundings. For the most part though, campus is safe. We have a police station and emergency medical service on campus that is available 24/7. During the day, campus always has people, but it is best not to travel at night, but if you must, do so with a friend.
The people--students, professors, staff--are kind and open, establishing a great atmosphere to make friends, have fun, and of course, learn. Academics are difficult as expected, but the help that is accessible to you really does get you through the class. The activities outside of classes are limitless, ranging from cultural clubs to athletics to tons of study breaks and parties.
Make sure to fill out the College Board CSS Profile and FAFSA to make yourself eligible for financial aid. Try to always be on good terms with your roommate. You do not have to be best friends with them, but just make sure you keep them happy. If you they are happy, most likely, you will be too. Time management is key to doing well in college. Although it may seem that you do not have a lot of work, it will definitely be more than expected when accounting for the time you take to eat, have fun, exercise, etc. It is a good idea to get a head start on work or reading assignments just so you have an idea of what you have to work on either for homework or in class. A bunch of clubs seem like fun and a good way to de-stress, but make sure you are not overloading yourself, because each club requires time, and you also need time for yourself and school. Just be cautious what you get yourself involved in.
School is definitely difficult, regardless of where you went to high school. I have heard this from several students ranging from all years. Although the classes are hard and challenging, there is plenty of help available such as teaching assistants (TAs), professors' office hours, other students, and possible study sessions hosted by the professor or TAs. Some classes require a large amount of time just to do homework, so you have to make sure that you arrange your time accordingly. No matter how hard school gets, you have to let yourself relax a little by doing something you enjoy. It will help your academic performance as well as boost your morale. For most students, school is hard, and sometimes, you feel like you are failing and the worst in your class. But chances are that you are about average because there are several other students learning the same material and struggling through it just like you, so keep your head up and strive on. Things could turn out good in the end (e.g. possible curves), because nothing is set in stone until the end of the class.
Dorm life varies from college to college. I am very happy with mine though. My dorm is a suite of four people with two bedrooms, a common room, and one bathroom. The rooms are roomy and comfortable. Our trash is regularly emptied throughout the week and any kind of cleaning or maintenance requests are quickly taken care of. Also, if you have a huge problem with your roommate, it is okay to request for a different one. It is better to make this known early on, so you do not have to struggle with incompatibility issues, because you will have bigger challenges such as academics.
There are six different serveries at Rice, and with a meal plan, you can eat at any of them. Weekdays, there are three meals a day; weekends, there are two meals a day (Saturday - breakfast and lunch, dinner is on your own to encourage you to explore downtown Houston; Sunday - brunch and dinner). You will never get tired of the food here, because they have so much variety and the meal plan allows an all-you-can-eat style meal. There is always a salad bar and cereal if you do not find anything appetizing, but chances are, you will want to eat one of the new entrees served. You can also eat inside college commons areas, outside, or even in your room. Food at Rice will definitely keep you satisfied.
There tons of clubs and activities on campus. Also, being in downtown Houston has its perks because nearby are numerous restaurants, museums, the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park, and other places to explore right across the street. To make it even better, Rice students usually get a discount at certain places or free admission to museums or the zoo. One of Rice's Program Councils also provides free tickets to the Houston Ballet, Symphony, Opera, and other events throughout the semester. If you have a car, then you can go with a group of friends to the Galleria (the mall), Chinatown to try new foods, or to the movies. There is so much to do that you will never feel bored here.
Rice has money, so the financial aid is all right. If your income is below $80,000, you are fully covered, but most of the aid is based on your FAFSA and College Board CSS Profile. I think the value of the education and college life is worth it though.
Each residential college has its own government, and every semester, each one organizes a public party, open to all undergraduate students. These parties typically take place on Saturday nights and are totally optional. Normally, there are other alternatives to these parties such as movie showings in another college or something along those lines. We also have one week in the spring semester called Willy Week where there are fun events throughout the week, including Beer Bike, which is a relay race among the colleges where there are people from their respective colleges who chug water (due to safety hazards) and bike. Each college has its own culture, so whichever college you are put in, you will learn the unique traditions and gain pride for your college.
Rice is for pretty much anyone who is willing to work in a rigorous academic environment while having a social life and having fun doing things they love with other students who have similar interests. The students here are so diverse, so you are bound to find a friend or friends that you can click with.
There are so many extracurricular activities that students usually make the mistake of joining way too many. There are intramural sports (men's, women's, and co-ed sports), cultural clubs (Korean student association, Vietnamese student association, HACER--a Hispanic service group, etc.), Environmental Club, Campanile Orchestra (for non-music majors), Student Association (similar to student council), leadership positions within residential colleges, and much more. No matter what you join, as long as you are passionate and open, you will have fun and learn new knowledge and perspectives.
None However, we have a residential college system where each dorm (11 in total) is like your house or family on campus. Each college has about 400 students (freshmen to seniors), faculty residential advisors, and college master(s). These small communities pretty much serve as your extended family while at Rice.
We are in the middle of downtown Houston, so no matter where you are, you should be wary of your surroundings. For the most part though, campus is safe. We have a police station and emergency medical service on campus that is available 24/7. During the day, campus always has people, but it is best not to travel at night, but if you must, do so with a friend.