(Rice) Rice is definitely a hidden gem

How this student rated the school

Educational Quality	A+	Faculty Accessibility	A
Useful Schoolwork	A	Excess Competition	A
Academic Success	A+	Creativity/ Innovation	A-
Individual Value	A+	University Resource Use	A-
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	A	Friendliness	A
Campus Maintenance	A	Social Life	A+
Surrounding City	A-	Extra Curriculars	A
Safety	A

Describes the student body as: Friendly, Approachable Describes the faculty as: Friendly, Helpful

Female

ACT:34

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Quite Bright

Lowest Rating Creativity/ Innovation	A-

Highest Rating Educational Quality	A+

She rated most things higher than other students did.

Date: Jun 11 2010
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
Rice is definitely a hidden gem. I turned down an Ivy League school for Rice, for financial reasons, and I have never looked back. Rice was one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

When I give tours to students, I emphasize two points:

1. The residential college system. Think Harry Potter, but with eleven colleges. Each college has its own identity, crest, cheers, set of Masters/RAs, government, etc. This removes basically all the exclusivity and materialism of a Greek system. It also forces you to interact with people you normally wouldn't (instead of separating you based on your interests/cultural background/major, etc.) You pretty much have to actively try to not make friends. People will go out of their way to be friendly to you, especially upperclassmen who are always looking out for freshmen. Basically the only way you'll be lonely is if you affirmatively decide to sit in your room all day or not get involved in the college at all. No matter who you were in high school, you will find people you can get along with. Also, upperclassmen take on a sort of mentoring relationship with a lot of the underclassmen, which really helps with the transition. The residential college system provides a great springboard for making friends around the whole university, which is pretty small, so you see the same people around campus.

2. People are happy here. Please please please, no matter where you go to school, never take this for granted! There's not really a lot of burnout. I would say premeds and engineers work the hardest but there are endless opportunities for a life outside of academics, so even the scientists/engineers can be super-involved in college life to the extent they want to. The residential colleges provide a ton of emotional support if you need it. Clubs and organization on campus are plentiful and pretty legit—they're not just resume builders. It's easy to meet people with the same obscure interests as you. The Houston weather is beautiful (except for August, but who cares about two weeks) and the city of Houston itself offers a TON of internship, research, and cultural activities. You will never be bored.

I wish more people knew about Rice and got over the Ivy League thing…I'm happier here than I would ever be at the Ivy I turned down.

Responses

Hogwarts?

I have two questions about Rice Universities 11 residential colleges. Lets say, that I was admitted into Baker college. I was wondering if I would have the opportunity to interact with the students of the other 10 colleges? And would I have a good amount of interaction with the student body if I was living in an apartment away from school?

What were your academics? When you got in, what was your GPA and stuff? I'm a hopeful future Rice student wanting to know. :D

There are definite interactions between members of the colleges. Other students in your major, school wide activity groups, intramurals, etc. all provide for ways to meet other students. Although the college system is critical to the way Rice works - it is not an exclusive grouping at all.

Living off campus is less definite. IF you have already lived on campus and made friends, etc, then living off-campus is not a problem. You can stay as involved as you want with on-campus life. HOWEVER, those students who never lived on campus had a much harder time becoming part of any group.

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