<p>So my son has decided to attend Rice over Duke! We are pretty happy about his decision. As parents, we are planning to visit Rice in September or October. I was wondering if you recommend us parents visiting Rice during Family Week-end 9/20-9/23 or the Centennial Celebration 10/10-10/14. We can probably attend only one of the programs. I don't have any idea of what is scheduled for either programs. So, any words of advice from current Rice Students or parents would be helpful. GO OWLS!!</p>
<p>While both events are great, I think that the centennial celebration is far more special. It isn’t every year that your university celebrates its 100th birthday after all! Parents weekend is a lot of fun and a great time for parents to be on campus (I come from Baker, which puts on the annual Baker Blues party which always falls on family’s weekend), but I think I would pick the centennial this year if I were in your shoes and visit for parents weekend next year if you can’t make both! While we can only guess what kind of great festivities Rice will plan for its centennial, I am pretty sure it is going to be a amazing! But you can decide for yourself! Here are a few short articles/plans about both. Pick the one that sounds most appealing - a quiet parents’ event or a huge celebration. Cheers!</p>
<p>Last Year’s Family Weekend Schedule: [Rice</a> University | Families Weekend - Schedule](<a href=“http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~events/famweek/schedule.htm]Rice”>Schedule | Families Weekend | Rice University)</p>
<p>Last Year’s Baker Blues during Families Weekend: [Families</a> Weekend and Baker Blues | Owl Admission Blog](<a href=“Log In ‹ Future Rice Owls — WordPress”>Log In ‹ Future Rice Owls — WordPress)</p>
<p>Centennial Plan: [Rice</a> Centennial Celebration](<a href=“http://centennial.rice.edu/home/]Rice”>http://centennial.rice.edu/home/)</p>
<p>I would definitely visit during the Centennial Celebration. It’s going to be truly awesome, and it’s something that will only happen once. Parents weekend will happen three more times just while your son is at Rice.</p>
<p>Congratulations on his decision to attend Rice! I’m really glad to hear it.</p>
<p>^ Thank you both! We still have some time to make up our minds. I did see the preliminary schedule for the Centennial events and looks pretty awesome compared with the Family week-end schdule from 10/2011. You guys are absolutely correct that this Centennial celebration is far more special. </p>
<p>I think my son made the best decision for himself. We visited last November and he again visited this past February (Vision Program). This probably solidified his decision regarding Rice. He said he felt comfortable with the students and felt very much at home although we are from Ohio.</p>
<p>We’ve been to 2 family weekends with our junior son. This year he asked us to visit during November instead. I would pick the Centennial Celebration over family weekend too. Actually, I hope we’ll be able to do just that next fall.</p>
<p>Hope your son loves Rice as much as our Owl does. It is a special place to spend those four years. And, he’s had some incredible opportunities there too.</p>
<p>^ Thank you for the advice, BrooklyinOh! I suppose you’re from Brooklyn, Ohio. We’re from the east side of Cleveland! Glad there is a direct flight from Cleveland Hopkins to Houston! </p>
<p>Everyone of my colleagues/friends who had a son/dtr that went to Rice have had nothing but wonderful things to say about Rice! We’re excited for him to go to another part of the country. There is an East coast preference for colleges and universities here in the east side of Cleveland so I’m hoping my son will be a great ambassador for Rice in the future!</p>
<p>@RedYellowBlue, Yes, we’re from Brooklyn, Oh. 
My junior loves Rice, is active on campus, has made friends from all over the world (but still managed to have a room mate from South Euclid), and enjoys the Rice academics. He’ll be spending a second summer in D.C. this year. </p>
<p>When people ask about sending him 1200 miles away I reply that it is only a 3 hour direct flight and many time choices every day. He often uses Southwest, not direct, but bags travel free. And just a quick drive to the airport for me.</p>
<p>@ BrroklyninOh. Thank you very much! Sounds like your son is really taking advantage of the opportunities at Rice! It’s funny that his roommate is from South Euclid. We’re from Shaker Heights! Hope to hook up with you in the Fall. I will send you a Private Message when we get closer as I will probably need some advice regarding hotels, etc. All the best.</p>
<p>Both are great options, but Parents weekend will be specifically focused towards Parents (there’s college masters meet/greets, family tailgates for football, etc) and the Centennial appears to be more of an Alumni event. Either would be a cool time to visit, but I’d imagine you’d find more parents on campus for parents weekend in general. </p>
<p>If you compare the schedules, a decent number of the planed centennial events are “alumni only” or “invitation only”. Parents weekend is going to have stuff opened specifically for you. The Centennial will no doubt be awesome, but I told my parents to come for Parent’s weekend so they’d have more stuff specifically aimed for their needs.</p>