<p>Ok, so I'm European and I want to go to college in the United States. For now, Rice is my top choice, but I have a few concerns about living in Texas as a European and the culture shock that might result from it. Don't mistake me, I love the States and it's my dream to live there, it's just that Texas is, how to say, very deep America and I'm not sure if going to college there is a good idea... Also, the percentage of international students in rice is only of about 10% and more than 50% of the alumni are texans!
What do you think about this? Would I fit in?
Thanks :)</p>
<p>Texas is one of the most welcoming states in the US. Houston is not a backwater city, and there is an important international presence, especially in business. </p>
<p>The first step is to be admitted! :)</p>
<p>Houston is like any other large city. The “very deep” comment would be more valid for rural areas.</p>
<p>~10% int’l is what you will expect at any university. The only culture shock you’ll feel in Houston is the hot climate. It isn’t different from any other major city. If you’re a rainbow-wearing liberal you won’t like it, but Texas welcomes everyone else.</p>
<p>Texas is probably the best state to live in IMO. My cousin and his wife and daughter live in Houston.</p>
<p>No problem there, I consider myself a staunch conservative!</p>
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<p>Houston has a democratic mayor (Rice Alum) Annise Parker, Harris County (where Houston is located) also went blue in the last presidential election I believe.</p>
<p>Xiggi and his backhanded compliments not withstanding, Houston is a fine place! You do have to get admitted to Rice though.</p>
<p>There is a reasonable presence of Brits here due to the oil industry. We even have one of them British schools in the city.</p>
<p>I think you will have some culture shock for sure. I live in CA and I know I would. However, you are going to mostly be immersed in your college and you will be in a large city.</p>
<p>^^^
I have no idea what shock you’d have “for sure”. I’m a native Californian and Houston isn’t shocking in the least. </p>
<p>To the OP…
Rice is quite liberal, and Houston isn’t a conservative area.</p>
<p>What’s the big fear? Being around Texans? lol</p>
<p>Anyway…it is in Houston where the weather is…uh…awful. Where else are you applying?</p>
<p>Major cities are always liberal. You still have to live with the strongly conservative state laws and most people not in the city are conservative.</p>
<p>That said, Rice is a beacon of intellectualism and all views are welcome.</p>
<p>"That said, Rice is a beacon of intellectualism and all views are welcome. "</p>
<p>I would not go that far. It sounds like that is a place where fun goes to die.</p>
<p>When I first moved to Houston, I used to go to their underground pub to buy 50 cent beers.</p>
<p>I don’t mind being in a liberal leaning college, just don’t want to be the only republican in a ten mile radius, but I’m sure I won’t be. I’m also applying to stanford, berkeley, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Unniversity of Michigan Ann arbor and university of Virginia. What do you think about those places compared to Houston? I’ve only been to Stanford and I loved it!!</p>
<p>“I would not go that far. It sounds like that is a place where fun goes to die.”</p>
<p>Like Chicago, fun doesn’t go to Rice to begin with :P</p>
<p>“What do you think about those places compared to Houston?”</p>
<p>Most university campuses in US are liberal (one exception I know of in Texas is Texas A&M). </p>
<p>Are you expecting to pay in full to attend?</p>
<p>"Like Chicago, fun doesn’t go to Rice to begin with "</p>
<p>Now, now… Barrk definitely seems like a fun person.</p>
<p>They all have conservative/republican clubs.</p>
<p>Berkeley is one of the most liberal cities in the nation, Ann Arbor is up there too, Nashville is also very liberal. NYC goes without saying. Charlottesville (UVA) is the only truely conservative city. </p>
<p>But it’s silly to pick a college only based off of the way the city it’s in votes.</p>
<p>The city truly has very little influence on the colleges other than for fun and internships. When on campus one barely has anytime to worry about anything in the city outside of shopping, movies, and/or sports. Politics of the city have zero impact on the campus life.</p>
<p>The colleges are always liberal irrespective of the token “we are here too clubs”. No one goes to a college for a club since one can start a club on their own if it does not exist.</p>
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Thanks :)</p>
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<p>No you wouldn’t, I know many people including my family who moved to Houston from “liberal” states and there was no “culture shock” (Unless seeing a few idiots with lame bumper stickers counts). Houston isn’t the same thing as middle of nowhere, Alabama, guys.</p>
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<p>Unlike Chicago we have the 2nd happiest students in the country!</p>
<p>Houston isn’t the same thing as middle of nowhere, Alabama, guys.</p>
<p>What the heck? there’s little “culture shock” in Tuscaloosa either.</p>
<p>I wonder if some of you folks get out of your own backyards much. Seems to be some of you are like fragile hot house flowers who’ll get bent-out-of-shape and droop if exposed to anything mildly different from your own Main Street.</p>
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<p>I wasn’t aware that the 5th largest city in the state was the middle of nowhere. Nor did I imply that I was referring to Tuscaloosa.</p>