Is Rice cutthroat?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

I’ve heard some mixed things about the atmosphere at Rice. Just wanted to clear them up before I apply.

There are two types of cutthroats

  1. Student to Student

Because classes are graded on a bell curve, whoever gets the best grade gets and A and whoever gets the worst grade fails. Students don’t work with each other, and might even sabotage each other.

Is Rice like this?

  1. Teacher to Student

Some schools don’t have the atmosphere mentioned in 1. However, some schools have classes with REALLY hard grading and generally don’t curve. If they do, its an upward curve so it only benefits you. Sometimes these classes are intro classes or early core reqs. The college thus has “weed out courses” early on. In addition, the classes are just straight up hard comparative to other elite school

Is Rice like this?

Or neither of these or a mix?

Thanks!!

2

Rice is often #1 for happiest students. It is the opposite of a cutthroat environment.

3

My daughter is a freshman there and she has said the classes are hard but not the same atmosphere that some of her friends have. Students work together and teachers make time for their students. She has been very happy.

4

One of my favorite things at Rice is how collaborative and supportive the students are. I imagine some of the premed classes might be more competitive, but I’ve never heard of any sabotage.

For what it’s worth, my friends who are transfer students and exchange students have all commented that Rice students work together and help each other a lot more than at other places.

5

No, everyone works together and helps each other. No one is out to get one another

6

Rice is too chill to be cutthroat. However, beware of gen chem. Definitely use all the collaborative resources that they recommend and encourage you to use, because you are going to need it.
Some classes are intentionally difficult (weed out classes) make sure you find out which ones they are, do not underestimate them.
There are plenty of student services and resources to aid naive freshmen and facilitate study groups, going to office hours and TA sessions.