<p>Seems like all the attention focuses on the natural sciences departments and so forth. How are the humanities and the social sciences departments? I'm thinking about majoring in English or economics, possibly political science. Also, is there a pre-law program? If so, how does that work with your major? What if I'm interested in international relations, international business...? How is Rice's advising for students who want to go on to law school or business school?</p>
<p>The social science school has the most students as majors, and i think it's pretty good. I liked the english class i took as well. I don't have any clue what it's like in comparison to other schools though because i never went anywhere else...
I think poli sci is pretty strong especially because the baker institute brings some great speakers. You might enjoy being part of the baker institute student forum. They do a lot of stuff with international relations too.
For business, you should know that there is no undergrad program in business; the closest you'll get is econ. Which may be fine if you plan on getting an MBA after graduation.
Pre-law is very different from pre-med, as there aren't really required classes as far an i know. I'd definitely recommend philosophy classes, especially those taught by prof. margolis if you want to learn how to write and think. Which are of course, very important for law school.
Have you looked at this website yet? You might get some insights from it: <a href="http://www.ruf.rice.edu/%7Eacadadv/prelawdocuments.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~acadadv/prelawdocuments.html</a></p>
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I'd definitely recommend philosophy classes, especially those taught by prof. margolis if you want to learn how to write and think. Which are of course, very important for law school.
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<p>I agree. Rice also offers a "Philosophy of Law" course, which - I think - is essential for any student planning on heading into Law School. Mathematical Logic also provides students with excellent preparation, not only for LSATs, but for understanding the framework upon which law is taught.</p>
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baker institute brings some great speakers.
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<p>Indeed, I attended a lecture last week and was enthralled:)</p>
<p>nspeds - who did you see?</p>
<p>Allen Buchanan, Professor of Philosophy at Duke University, was speaking on the "Dangers of Nation-Building: Iraq as a Case Study."</p>
<p>Oh cool, i heard about that lecture but couldn't make it...it sounded good though. Glad you enjoyed it!</p>
<p>I'm really really excited because Dr. DeBakey is speaking in April, actually on the Friday of Owl Weekend. I'm going to that whether my Owl (prospective freshman) wants to come or not!</p>
<p>What is Dr. DeBakey known for? What is he coming to speak on? I'm really looking forward to Owl Weekend - I hope my host will want to take me to see him.</p>
<p>lauren, check out this link. I'm sure your host will bring you if you ask. Otherwise, go yourself, no big deal.</p>
<p>Thanks! That looks REALLY interesting.</p>
<p>thanks jenskate & nspeds;
what departments did you guys apply to? do you know what you want to major in yet? or are you guys already juniors or seniors? (you decide sophomore year right?)
just wondering, how often do most students go off campus?
do you think having a car at school is necessary? - i understand that traveling by car is the way to get around in houston
also, what factors led to yall's decisions to choose rice over other schools?</p>
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what departments did you guys apply to? do you know what you want to major in yet?
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<p>I want to major in philosophy.</p>
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or are you guys already juniors or seniors? (you decide sophomore year right?)
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<p>Unfortunately, I am not a student at Rice, though I am trying to transfer.</p>
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do you think having a car at school is necessary? - i understand that traveling by car is the way to get around in houston
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<p>As far as I know, freshman pay the most for keeping a car on campus - jenskate can clarify much more on this. Yes, Houston is much more of a driving city, but nearly everything you need can be found on campus or reached by the light-rail, or tram, as I like to refer to it:)</p>
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also, what factors led to yall's decisions to choose rice over other schools?
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1) Undergraduate Philosophy Department is superb with high caliber professors, numerous resources, attracts famous philosophers for lectures ie. the late Jacques Derrida, and the graduate students often take the same classes as undergrads, so there is not as much privileging of such graduates like at other universities.
2) Diverse and intellectual student body
3) College Residential System
4) Beautiful Campus
5) Cost</p>
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what departments did you guys apply to? do you know what you want to major in yet?
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<p>I applied to the school of natural sciences, and planned to be pre-med and do cognitive science. Now, I still want to be premed, but I think I want to sociology, and maybe policy studies instead of cog sci.</p>
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or are you guys already juniors or seniors? (you decide sophomore year right?)
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I'm just a freshman, so I haven't declared a major yet. You are right - you must declare a major by about this time in your sophomore year.</p>
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just wondering, how often do most students go off campus?
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Depends a lot on the student. There's no dinner on campus on Saturday nights, so a lot of people go off campus for dinner. I go off campus every sunday to go volunteering at Texas Children's Hospital. Many people go to off-campus religious services on weekends, and some people have off campus jobs. Some clubs have activities off campus, like tutoring at elementary schools and such. People probably do not take advantage of the city as much as they should though. If you come here, make an effort to see what Houston has to offer.</p>
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do you think having a car at school is necessary? - i understand that traveling by car is the way to get around in houston
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<p>Houstonians are ridiculously reliant on their cars. However, it is not necessary to have a car (I don't and it's ok). Parking is plentiful, but expensive and far away. Enough people have cars that you can often find people to take you places if you must be driven. Getting to the airport w/o a car involves taking metrobus (free, but not often on schedule; a shuttle from the medical center, about $18; or a cab, about $25). Rice runs shuttles to Target (which has a grocery store) on saturdays, and Rice village is in walking distance for most things you will need to buy except groceries (although you can buy a limited selection of groceries in CVS and Walgreens). Finally, the light rail will take you to reliant stadium, downtown, museums, theaters, clubs, etc. That's free for students too. So, the conclusion is that having a car makes life a bit more convenient, but it definitely not necessary. Most freshmen don't have cars, but some do.</p>
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also, what factors led to yall's decisions to choose rice over other schools?
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<p>I applied ED, so I knew I wanted to be here. Here are some of the reasons:</p>
<p>Great research opps, with an undergrad focus.</p>
<p>I like the size - small enough that you get lots of personal attention, but big enough that you won't know everyone.</p>
<p>Texas Medical Center provides great opportunities for premeds</p>
<p>Rice/Baylor program!</p>
<p>Price tag & merit scholarships</p>
<p>Beautiful campus but within walking distance of lots of stuff to do</p>
<p>School spirit and sports (even though I don't play, i like to go cheer for the teams)</p>
<p>Something my tour guide said to me. He said "At every school, there will be students who are unhappy, but at Rice, there are very very few students who feel that way. Almost everyone here loves it."</p>
<p>Students not too nerdy.</p>
<p>Lots going on on campus.</p>
<p>"For business, you should know that there is no undergrad program in business; the closest you'll get is econ."</p>
<p>Actually the closest is Managerial Studies, which is kind of a half-major (you have to major in something else in order to major in Managerial Studies.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ruf.rice.edu/%7Emana/%5B/url%5D">http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~mana/</a></p>
<p>If you want to do something in International Affairs, then you should consider another half-major, Policy Studies. When you major in this you have to choose an area to specialize in, International Affairs is an area.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ruf.rice.edu/%7Epolstud/%5B/url%5D">http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~polstud/</a></p>
<p>If you major in PoliSci or Econ, picking up one of these mini majors shouldn't be difficult since most of the courses overlap.</p>
<p>Cool - wow, thank you everyone; you guys have been so helpful.</p>
<p>So what percentage of students would you say double-major or triple-major?
Can you not minor in something at Rice?
What percentage of students are on the pre-med track? (there are only about 20 people for each class in the rice/baylor program right?)
Thanks!</p>
<p>I remember - when strolling down a hallway in the Humanities Building - observing a sheet that was taped to a professor's door with qualitative evaluations of which school is the best for a specific category; under "Best School for Double-Majors," there was Rice University.</p>
<p>no minors at rice. Lots of people double major, and some do triple major, though you are generally discouraged from doing it.
There are about 18-20 Rice/Baylors per class, but way way more premeds than that. I've heard that a little over 100 apply to med school each year.</p>
<p>That's awesome that Rice is a school for double-majors.
So basically, you can belong to more than one school/division, right?</p>
<p>Rice is a bad school for double majors involving the music school, though. (I've talked to a professor there about it.)</p>
<p>for some reason that sounds harsher than it should</p>