<p>"I think the best part of the Rice experience is that you can shape it into just about anything you want." </p>
<p>Why can't you do this at other schools? I must be forgetting that other schools make it exceedingly difficult for students to play board games. Sounds like you are giving Rice way too much credit. Also I think that drinkers and non-drinkers hang out when there is not drinking involved, but not really when there is. I'd say there is pretty large divide because its not fun to be around drunk people when you are sober. Do you really go to a room where people are playing beer pong and try to chat with them? How about when they are pounding down shots? Or when they are ****faced? It's not like college students enjoy a nice cocktail while watching Lion King. </p>
<p>I go to Rice and there is really no reason to think that it's much different socially than any other school, just fewer parties and more non-drinkers. The thing about the few parties is that it is more difficult to drink "if you want to." It's not utopia, and it's not close, either.</p>
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I must be forgetting that other schools make it exceedingly difficult for students to play board games.
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<p>If everyone else is trashed all the time, playing board games could be tricky. What makes Rice different than * some * schools, is that there are lots of people who drink, and lots of people who don't. There are some schools where if you aren't among the former, you will not fit in and will have very few friends.</p>
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Also I think that drinkers and non-drinkers hang out when there is not drinking involved, but not really when there is.
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<p>Perhaps you've never been to a college night, a pub night, or a public party? At all three of these events, drinking goes on, and not everyone there is partaking. I think college nights are pretty fun, and I don't drink - but there is cotton candy! and a moonbounce!</p>
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I go to Rice and there is really no reason to think that it's much different socially than any other school, just fewer parties and more non-drinkers. The thing about the few parties is that it is more difficult to drink "if you want to."
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<p>How strange! Have you ever been to another college? Where campus police and RAs search dorm rooms for alcohol, and if you are caught drinking underage (even in your own room) you get in major trouble? Drinking at Rice is REALLY easy. I'm not saying that this is a good thing or a bad thing. I'm just saying, for most people who want to drink, having somewhere to do so and someone to do so with are rarely problems.</p>
<p>I have friends at other schools where the student population is so large that they feel forced to drink and join frats/sororities just to find a niche. In my opinion Rice is different because of the college system...you are already in a small-group setting. From there, I think you can find whatever road you want to take, be it partying, playing board games, or a mix. You're right, it's not terribly fun to hang out with others that are completely drunk, but it's not like you're going to be the only one.</p>
<p>My experience at Rice is so different from yours I don't even know how to think about it. About the hanging out thing, I don't consider public parties or pub nights hanging out. These are pretty big crowded events. It was supposed to be a contrast between how drinkers and non-drinkers behave on a regular basis. </p>
<p>All I can say is have you been to another college? Underage drinking at Rice is easier in terms of security reasons than other colleges because there is really not a problem here. </p>
<p>Becuase there are problems at other schools, that pretty much tells you that both more drinking goes on and the college is working harder to prevent drinking. These two factors have to balance out somewhere. Does it mean it is easier or harder? Could be either. In my experience it is easier, but that's only about 5 public schools.</p>
<p>The main thing that makes Rice different from other unis is the college system. It really gives you an instant social net that in normal universities you can only find by joining clubs or frats or whatever. I am a freshman and I have tons of friends at various colleges across the country and a lot of them really had to work hard to find their own niche. At Rice, the oweek and college system really makes everything just fall into place.</p>
<p>Everything everyone else has been talking about like drinking(it is popular at most unis), people who don't party(you can find them at all unis), is true but it isn't honestly unique to Rice. The college system is what really makes a difference.</p>
<p>What really is unique about Rice, however, is the fact that there isn't any pressure to drink to fit in. At many colleges, to carve out your niche, you might end up doing things you wouldn't normally do - at Rice, the atmosphere is such that drinker or non-drinker, you can still hang out with whomever. I drink - however, I spend an equal amount of time on the weekends with friends who don't drink, and there's no pressure to drink or otherwise. It's simply a personal decision.</p>
<p>I am pleased to hear about the girls there. even though i wouldnt care if the girls there arent good looking...i kept on hearing that steretype that they werent. when i visited campus I didnt see many people so i couldnt judge by myself. now that i will be going there next fall, that thing was on my mind wether there would be any. im not a shallow guy, but still. the whole not even one...scared me. glad to hear there are beauties.</p>
<p>I have a question about the rice lifestyle. If i chose to live at home, would I be able to integrate and make lots of friends, go to all the parties and all that?</p>
<p>I really would not reccomend living off campus your freshman year. I mean you are still allowed to come to all the events and such, but you really are robbing yourself of getting to know so many new people and really immersing yourself into your college. </p>
<p>At least for first semester, try to live on campus so you can get to know people. After that living at home would be easier.</p>
<p>jenskate>sreis because she's funny and inspiring while sreis is mean..bitter..and just plain mean! WHY ARE YOU AT RICE IF YOU HATE IT SO MUCH??? :)</p>
<p>Ah, drinking always gets us into so much trouble. (pun intended) I'll have to agree with sreis on the fact that Rice is not really a party school, in the stereotypical meaning of the word (what do I know, I am an international). There have been many times when I have looked for alcohol but have not found it. There have been many weekends where I've wandered from college to college looking for a party and came back fully sober with my legs aching.</p>
<p>That said, a party is not limited to drinking. There are many more things going on at parties. In honesty, I have not really been to a private party that has been awesome. The private parties tend to get better when there is a public party at a college, because those colleges' residents get loads of alcohol and there are loads of people. But truly, I've had more fun at Rice when I've not been at parties.</p>
<p>College sports, clubs, etc. are a great way to spend your time doing something you like. I think I did 3-4 college/IM events in this last semester (my freshman year). The bottom line is, don't get worried. If you drink, you'll just have to work a little harder to find what you want (unless you have it in your own room) and if you don't, you will definitely find those people who share similar interests as you.</p>
<p>Also, watch out for the 'rave' that will be rocking (trancing?) baker in 2006.</p>