<p>My D is interested in Rice; it's a great place but we're somewhat concerned that after the first year a fair number of students can't get on-campus housing. Does anyone know what the chances are of sophomore, junior, and senior-year housing at the various Rice residential colleges?</p>
<p>Each residential college has a different manner in "kicking" students off. At my college, the sophmores get kicked off first. This year there will probably only be 3 beds for sophmores, so I've decided to just start looking for places off campus. From what I understand, no matter what college you are, there is an extremely likely chance that you will be able to be on campus for 3 out of 4 years.</p>
<p>Talking to the sophmores that are now off campus, they seem to think that there are a lot of benefits to living both off campus and on campus. One person told me that it is in a student's best interest to do both during their 4 years. At my college, they just built an "off-campus" lounge for students that need to use a computer or TV between classes and activities. I'll probably just use it next year as a place to crash after on campus parties.</p>
<p>In general the benefits of living off campus are: usually cheaper even if you get a large apartment or house, more responsibilities and after a year of off-campus living you are more acclimated to life in Houston.</p>
<p>The cons: you might need a car if you are not near the light rail (Rice students now have free access to the rail, by the way), separation from students (you really won't get to know the new freshmen and you might lose touch with some of the sophmores).</p>
<p>You should still be able to participate in most on-campus activities, though. A lot of off-campus students study in the library and hang out in their college commons, and just sleep back at their apartment.</p>
<p>And if you are able to stay on during your sophmore year, at my college those people are at risk of getting "kicked off" their junior year. I'm pretty sure other colleges have similar policies. Your daughter should probably expect to be off-campus one year and should look forward to it as a change of pace. My college, as I'm sure other colleges, will make the transition easy. My college offered a tour of several apartments that sophmores were staying at.</p>
<p>If you have other questions at Rice, you should probably post them in the Rice forum, (its in top universities) there are other current undergrads there too.</p>
<p>Thanks F@R - How's your experience at Rice been so far? Do you find a close sens of community at the university?</p>