<p>^Nice!! They do that for non-flying people too, right?</p>
<p>I can't wait for Owl Days to be officially announced... and that is awesome! I'd love to have my cost reimbursed</p>
<p>The old (2008) owl days website has been updated after RD!</p>
<p>Rice</a> University Owl Days 2009
Schedule and "permission" slip are on there.
[quote]
Owl Days will be held Wednesday, April 8 – Thursday, April 9.
Regular Decision admitted students will receive Owl Days/Admit Days invitations in their admission packets. Early Decision admitted students will receive Owl Days/Admit Days invitations via email.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>why they would have owl days on the night of passover is beyond me</p>
<p>demonsword, I do agree with you but there really is no other time to put Owl Days. The semester ends on April 17 and passover ends on April 16.</p>
<p>right, but it's still the first night. that weekend even would have been much better.</p>
<p>Owl weekend used to be on a weekend - but officials were worried that it turned off some serious prospective students (since they only saw the parties and fun social events), and didn't highlight the academics enough - hence now it is held during the week. And since finals are so early this year, prospies will certainly see some kids doing some serious studying! Be sure to go, though, if you can. My daughter had been very turned off about Rice due to some difficulties scheduling interviews and some negative experiences with the Admissions Department; when she went to Owl Weekend, she came home and said, "This is where I want to go to school; these are my people!" -and she had a GREAT 4 years at Rice. :)</p>
<p>They wanted to give everyone a couple of weeks to make travel arrangements and like anxiousmom said they have eliminated the weekends to focus more on the academics and less on the parties. There were complaints from parents when under 18s came home only talking about the parties. It would have been nice, however, for them to go the next 2 days. I guess they were really stuck with the early end of term this year. Hard to get students to volunteer when they get too close to the end with papers and tests due.</p>
<p>Question--</p>
<p>Owl Days is the Wednesday and Thursday morning right before the Rice-Baylor Medical Scholars Program interview, which is Thursday afternoon. The interview will no doubt be extremely intense so I really want to be on top of my game. I'm fine with social situations but honestly I'm not sure how I'd feel about being "on" for the 24+ hours right before the interview...I was thinking of doing the interview and then designing my own "Owl Days" (visiting classes, lunch w/ students, etc.) the following Friday. Do you all think I would be seriously missing out by not doing the Owl Days program?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>Or you can travel by yourself! That's what I did/ will do for most of my schools to save money. My parents trust my judgment, so they've been cool with it :]</p>
<p>From what I understand, high school seniors who got admitted as the class of 2013 get invited to Owl days, but do transfers who may have gotten in get invited to any such on campus events at around this time????</p>
<p>on traveling alone- do you think Rice cares if we don't bring a parent to Owl Days?</p>
<p>^ No they do not care if you come alone. </p>
<p>I too will be traveling by myself having never been to Texas and having flown on only one other occasion. </p>
<p>I am considering taking the METRO bus service from Houston Hobby airport to or from the campus. It looks like it takes a bit less than an hour with one transfer and if I attend Rice $25 to save 30 minutes time for the Super Shuttle is a stretch on this college budget. </p>
<p>Anyone know how bad the bus route neighborhoods are b/t Hobby airport and the campus ?</p>
<p>^ I second that question.</p>
<p>Also, can anyone recommend a good hotel near campus? I'm going to be flying in on the 7th and will need a place to sleep that night.</p>
<p>Has anyone who was accepted ED received an e-mail from Rice about Owl Days yet?</p>
<p>xojulie, no</p>
<p>Just realized they clanged the program and transportation is not arranged ahead of time. DD always takes the Supershuttle when she cannot get a ride.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, can anyone recommend a good hotel near campus? I'm going to be flying in on the 7th and will need a place to sleep that night.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The Best Western Medical Center Best</a> Western Plaza Hotel & Suites at Medical Center, Houston Texas is close and has a special Rice University rate that's about $90 or so, I think, that includes free continental breakfast. The Houston Marriott Medical Center is also close but costs a little more and doesn't include breakfast. Be sure to ask for the Rice rate.</p>
<p>We recently got an $89 Rice rate at the Spring Hill Suites medical center. A little further away but there are shuttles that go all around the medical center. Do not reserve hotels on line. Call for the Rice rates.</p>
<p>Owl days used to arrange pickup of students at the airports - offering a shuttle service. I don't know if that will be the case this year, but I assume so!</p>