<p>Hi everyone,
so i'm from the northeast (specifically, nj), and i would describe myself as fairly liberal-minded. with that said, i'm wondering about the political atmosphere at rice. texas is a conservative state, and so i wonder will i be able to fit in with my liberal ways of thought? i do respect a broad variety of opinions, but at the same time i dont want to be the odd person out, so to speak. Also, how is the diversity at rice, b/c thats another important factor for me.</p>
<p>you will fit in fine. one of my friends is quite liberal and he has already been accepted and is going to attend. texas is conservative overall but rice is alot more open minded.</p>
<p>Search back posts and you'll find a lot of answers to this one. Rice has all types, but is quite liberal. Houston is a huge city and very diverse, and Rice is very diverse - not conservative.</p>
<p>and the number of people from NJ is a fairly good number... so ull be fine!</p>
<p>I know Houston seems like a conservative city, but it all depends on the people you surround yourself with.</p>
<p>I still remember the 2003 election when Bush was re-elected. My friends and I were of course at school at the time, and we were seriously crying because we were so upset.</p>
<p>And like the rest of Houston, it all depends on who you choose to surround yourself with at Rice. There are plenty of liberals, plenty of conservatives, plenty of apathetics everywhere.</p>
<p>Rice is fairly apathetic politically, but you can find people with any viewpoint. There is Rice for Life and Rice for Choice; Rice Republicans and Rice Dems; Secular Students of Rice and each college's bible studies. I am very liberal and haven't found it to be too big a problem.</p>
<p>I know a few rather liberal people who will be attending next year. I'm fairly liberal as well and am not worried about the "conservativeness" of Rice...mostly because it doesn't really exist..</p>
<p>ok thats good to know b/c i really like rice!</p>
<p>cool... good to hear that...</p>
<p>"If you categorize me, you negate me." (Sartre)</p>
<p>Don't worry about it. Rice has plenty of liberal students, and college students tend toward the liberal side. I do think that many Rice kids are socially and politically conservative, but it's not in the ugly Republican sense that so many people often (unfairly) use to stigmatize the GOP. These students act more in quiet, reserved or awkward manifestations of conservative thought.</p>
<p>But really, just as people often ask why students hold War Rallies on college campuses, you might consider that while Rice University (excluding the Baker Institute) hosts great food for thought, you have to leave the classroom and the dormitory (we call them colleges) to get well-rounded political experience. On the other hand, the Baker Institute is a prestigious political group and they present many opportunities though I'm not sure about their political leanings (I think they're accommodatingly conservative).</p>
<p>If you're trying to avoid the typical college experience--apathy--you need to apply someplace that bleeds political activism (Brown, Berkley, and many more).</p>
<p>BTW, Rice is hardcore awesome.</p>
<p>Sartre is a sellout, jakpot. You totally lose indie cred.</p>
<p>I second the part about Rice being hardcore awesome, though.</p>
<p>There really isn't a demonstrated bias in the part of the Baker Institute to which the students are exposed. I really enjoyed the forum on torture earlier this year, and I'm looking forward to other Baker Institute events. As far as the Baker Institute as a political think-tank, I don't really know much about them, but I think they're pretty bi-partisan with a conservative leaning. If I'm not mistaken, a good deal of the Iraq Study Group meetings were held there (the Baker Institute's namesake is James Baker III).</p>
<p>As for your original question, I can answer it in one word: absolutely.</p>
<p>Quick question, I got in Rice ED and I'm jewish. Im not too worried about this since when i think about it I really cant call myself Jewish, even though I do. But are there many Jews at Rice?</p>
<p>yeah therea re jews..</p>
<p>Of course there are Jews. I've got a couple of Jewish friends.</p>
<p>Hillel exists, and there's a synagogue across the street.</p>
<p>And the Thresher holds up to the Jewish domination of the media.</p>
<p>I swear that Martel as a proliferation of Jews, and I truly don't mean that in a bad way.</p>
<p>nicely written, jakapot! thanks.
so last question: how many asians attend rice?</p>
<p>According to the Collegeboard profile for Rice 18% of first year students report as Asian. This is about 130 out of 722 freshman.</p>