<p>Also, are there lots of TAs?</p>
<p>TA’s do not teach the classes usually. They merely assist with the class by answering questions, hosting problem sessions, hosting review sessions etc.</p>
<p>The largest class I took was freshman physics, which was 150 odd people.</p>
<p>The only time a TA taught one of my courses last semester was when the professor was traveling (usually presenting at a conference) or sick. It’s not a common occurrence.</p>
<p>As a first semester freshman, my largest class was 120. Over half of my classes were less than 30.</p>
<p>Aren’t you the one who posted about how insecure you felt in your circle of friends because you’re going to Rice and your other friends are going to Brown and Harvard? (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/1261731-so-make-me-more-excited-about-rice-because-im-starting-get-sad.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/1261731-so-make-me-more-excited-about-rice-because-im-starting-get-sad.html</a>) Obviously that feeling hasn’t dissipated… Also, if you’re already in ED, then you shouldn’t be asking questions like this at this point. These are the sort of things you should have researched before you committed to Rice. Maybe you’re just looking for people on this forum to blow smoke and get you excited about Rice, but maybe you should seriously consider why you feel this way. In any case, the people above me are right in that the vast majority of classes aren’t lectured by grad student, though grad students do take part in grading, tutorials, etc. Same as Harvard if you really care to compare the two.</p>
<p>^^ Why on earth do you care? If you find the question to be boring, unnecessary, pointless etc. then avoid the topic completely. If someone has a question to ask, they should feel welcome to post it and get an answer that does not ooze condescension. </p>
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<p>Maybe. Is the goal to make them less excited?</p>
<p>My Calc I class had 180-some people. All of my other classes have been much smaller than that.</p>
<p>Of the six courses I took this past semester, only one ever had a TA lecture. It happened a handful of times (and another professor lectured once) when the professor was away doing field work and at conferences.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, the largest classes at Rice are around 200+ students. General Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry, Introductory Biology I, and maybe Physics usually approach those numbers. All the rest are usually smaller. If you want to know about more specific classes, check out courses.rice.edu, search a class or discipline, and it will provide class size info. I hope you get more excited about Rice; Rice is such a unique university. I took a lot of things for granted there, and it wasn’t until I transferred out to another top university (for program reasons) that I realized how fortunate I was to be at Rice. Not many universities and colleges can match the friendliness and fun-loving nature of the Rice student body for one thing. I wish I enjoyed my experience more there instead of constantly comparing it to my friends’. So don’t feel envious about others or let down… you are at the school with the #1 best quality of life. Enjoy the rest of your senior year and good luck with you upcoming first year at Rice!</p>