<p>I understand that a significant portion of students attending Rice are from Texas. I was just wondering if someone, preferably a current student, could comment on life at Rice if you are coming from the east coast. Secondly, can anyone comment on in state vs out of state admission statistics. Thanks!</p>
<p>According to the Rice website, “Forty-four percent of all Rice students hail from Texas; 36 percent are from elsewhere in the United States and 20 percent are from outside the United States.” I don’t think you would feel out of place at all being from the east coast, since more people are from outside of Texas than not!</p>
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<p>i came to rice from tennessee but have lived up north as well and i haven’t felt out of place at all. a sizeable number of students are from texas (all of my roommates live in texas) but even those people are incredibly diverse. the only thing i’ve noticed is that my roommates have all gone home a several times and i haven’t been able to, but that’s not a big deal. rice as a whole is definitely not stereotypically “texas.”</p>
<p>Rice is not specific to giving a higher percentage of seats in state. They tend to get more applications and probably a higher percentage instate tend to accept their admission because it is well known in state.</p>
<p>You do stand a better chance of being admitted the further away you are from Rice. They are looking for geographic diversity.</p>
<p>@jbroadway,</p>
<p>This was actually a significant concern of my own when I was initially looking at Rice. I’m from Chicago, and Texas certainly has an interesting reputation up there. You hear that 40-45% in state number and it seems like too much. It doesn’t feel that way at all. Sure, there are lots of people from Texas here, but they’re from all over the state. It’s not like they all went to high school together and already know each other. And they don’t all wear cowboy boots and have strong accents. Rice is the top school in this area for many majors and there are a certain number of people who just want to go to school close to home. Because Texas is so big, the number is so large. Put something the size of Texas over any of the Northeast schools and you’ll get 40-45%…or probably a bigger number.</p>
<p>As far as culture goes, Houston is the 4th largest city in the country. It’s an urban city at heart. Yes, it has some unique twists (no zoning laws), but you’ll find that its got everything that any large city has. No, we don’t have the public transportation system on the level of New York…this city grew up on oil and loves its cars. But we have amazing restaurants and a great arts scene. And a school that encourages us to take advantage of the city that surrounds us by providing us with tickets to the opera, symphony, and theatre each semester. (That program is called Passport to Houston, specifically Rice Night at the Opera/Symphony/Rodeo/etc.)</p>
<p>I know I’m not from the east coast myself, but I have many friends who are and I haven’t heard a very different perspective from them. I hope this answers your question…but let me know if it doesn’t.</p>
<p>My D is a freshman from the southeast and LOVES Rice. Of her 6 best friends, 3 are from the Houston area, 2 are from California, and 1 is from the northeast. She knew no one at Rice when she arrived. None of her friends went to high school together and there is no kind of Texas clique that I can tell. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>My daughter also is a freshman from a small suburban town in Northeast Ohio. Rice is perfect for her because it is so diverse. She also knew no one, but has so many friends already. She loves it! Do not worry about fitting in, Rice will pull you in and I am sure you will love it too!!</p>