Questions/Concerns about Rice University

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>After researching a number of colleges to attend starting fall of 2014, Rice has been my favorite so far. I am planning on visiting in a couple of months and that will affect whether or not I apply ED, but I have a few (okay, more than a few) questions that need to be addressed.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Does being out of state (CA) help/hurt my chances of getting in, or does it have no effect?</p></li>
<li><p>Do all of the residential colleges have air conditioning?</p></li>
<li><p>How is the food? Average is okay; I don't need restaurant-quality food but I don't want to be stuck with disgusting food either.</p></li>
<li><p>How does the math department compare to other top schools? Also, how demanding is it to major in math (work load, etc.) compared to other majors at Rice?</p></li>
<li><p>While the residential college system is one of the things I love most about Rice, from reading forums and doing some research, I have one concern. I don't think it is valid but I just want to make sure. While the residential colleges allow for the students to become a sort of family, does this system make it more difficult for students to have smaller, tight-knit groups of friends (5 or 6 people) because everyone knows everyone in the college? Of course I do not mean I don't want to be a part of a huge group of students who are all loyal to one college and very spirited (because I do), but I still want to have that experience of a few close friends that are always hanging out together and whatever. (Answer this based not only on what you've experienced but what you've seen regarding others at Rice) Sorry if that is a stupid question because it sounds pretty ridiculous if it were true, but it is really my only hesitation about Rice.</p></li>
<li><p>I've looked at many forums about Rice on CC and there is a consensus about parties being repetitive each year. Does this make the social life at Rice boring after freshman year?</p></li>
<li><p>There is a stereotype about Rice students being awkward. What do people actually mean by awkward and is this stereotype true? This won't really affect my decision because hey, we are all awkward in some way, and I love Rice a lot, but I'm just curious.</p></li>
</ol>

2

<p>correction: fall of 2013 (I will be a hs senior this year)</p>

3

<p>I’m just going to answer a couple and leave some for other people: </p>

<p>2) Yes, you’d have a hard time finding a building in Houston that’s not air-conditioned, it’s pretty much a necessity. Every room I lived in had an individual thermostat also so you can have your room at whatever temp you want (well what you and your roommate can agree on).
3) I think the food is generally really good, but I’m not very picky so I don’t know if I’m the best to answer. You have options of where to go with menus posted online so if you don’t think you like what’s at your closest servery you can go somewhere else. Some serveries have less options but IMO higher quality food (e.g. Baker) while others have a larger variety but slightly worse quality (e.g. South).
5) I would definitely say this is not something you should worry about. I had different friends that I spent time with in specific contexts, from my own and other colleges, but I also had like a core group of like 6 people who I would say I was closest with who I spent most of my just hanging out time with. Just from observations, it seems to be this way with a lot of people.</p>

<p>Hope this helps some!</p>

4

<p>1) I’m under the impression that Rice is trying to get more geographic diversity, so not being from Texas might give you a ** little ** boost. However, you’re from CA which other than TX is the most represented state, so it probably won’t help you very much at all. In your case I would say it probably won’t effect the decision at all. The only time when it’s a big enough boost to actually matter is if you’re from North Dakota or Alaska or somewhere obscure like that.</p>

<p>6) I’m not a student there, but I don’t see how it could be that repetitive. If you go to the same party every year you’re there you’ll only go 4 times, spaced one year apart each. On top of that the student body and the theme could change each year. Most of the high school parties I go to have no theme thus they should be “repetitive”, but they really don’t feel this way. I’m sure this won’t be an issue. I can’t imagine anyone hating a school because the parties seem vaguely familiar.</p>

5

<ol>
<li><p>I doubt there’d be any impact in either direction. While Rice definitely wants geographic diversity, CA is already well-represented. I doubt the CA acceptance rate is much different than the overall rate.</p></li>
<li><p>You are far more likely to be too cold inside a building than too hot. (And that’s not because of a lack of heating. It’s because the air conditioning is sometimes jacked up WAY too high.) But rest assured that, in general, the buildings are a suitable temperature. Unless it’s “winter” and you’re used to real winter, in which case the Houston reaction to 50-degree weather may strike you as excessive.</p></li>
<li><p>The food is wonderful. There’s plenty of options, so as long as you experiment, try new things, and keep things interesting, you’ll probably enjoy it. The food isn’t exactly restaurant quality (when you’re mass-preparing food that’s nearly impossible), but it’s definitely close.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t know enough about the math department to comment.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m friends with a broad range of people, but I do have a very close group of about six people (plus a few on occasions), including my roommate. I know of plenty of other close groups within my college. In general, the balance between spending time with large groups / everyone and spending time with close-knit groups depends on the type of person. Rest assured that you’ll be able to find whatever you’re looking for. I’ve probably seen the entire range.</p></li>
<li><p>Not all of the parties have the same theme each year. However, many of the parties that have the same theme each year are generally considered Rice’s best parties–Sid '80s and NOD (which, regardless of the year’s theme, is basically the same thing) come quickly to mind for the fall semester. When a party has its own Wikipedia page and made Playboy’s top 10 list, why change the theme?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Partying becomes boring not because of the themes but because people get sick of partying in general. For most students who like to party freshman year, that doesn’t really happen until senior year.</p>

<ol>
<li>I wouldn’t consider the typical Rice student to be awkward. But who knows–maybe I’m awkward and therefore just can’t tell. I’m not sure exactly where this comes from. One source of the stereotype may be more about Rice’s dating culture than its students–Rice students stereotypically either hook up or get married. While that’s not really true, I would say that the Rice dating scene does tend to consist of hookups and serious, long-term relationships, with not much else in between. Casual dating doesn’t seem to be a popular option.</li>
</ol>

6

<p>Hey there, I’m a current student (rising junior), and I can weigh in on a couple of your questions as well.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I know someone already mentioned the food - but I just wanted to say I think the food is great, and if you get tired of your home servery, you can always go to one of the other five around campus: your mealplan works for any servery on campus. I usually eat at West Servery, and their food is kind of interesting…I think they have a tendency to make everything over-flavorful and fancy, and if you really just want some pasta or steak or fried chicken or whatever, you’re kind of out of luck. However, they do cook up some great dishes (and great cinnamon rolls), and there’s always a salad/sandwich bar and a burger line. </p></li>
<li><p>Your concern about not having close friends isn’t one I can say I’ve ever heard before, but it makes sense, given the fact that we’re ALL kind of friends at a residential college and it might seem hard to get some privacy. However, I don’t find it an issue at all. I have a few close friends that I can always go to to hang out with; some of those were people who were in the same O-Week group as me my freshman year. (For our orientation week, we’re put into groups of about eight new students and three upperclassmen advisors. We spend the whole week together and really get to know one another. It’s a great way to have “automatic” (and awesome) friends once classes start). Others are people I’ve gotten to know through my roommate or through mutual interests. Some of my closest friends aren’t actually at my residential college, and I do find it nice to go hang out with them to get away from seeing the same people every day. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>From what I’ve seen of other people, too, the same seems to be true. There are lots of people at my college for whom I could easily name their five closest friends. I think you can pretty much make friend groups as large or as small as you like.</p>

<ol>
<li>In some ways, even going to public parties in the same year gets kind of repetitive. They all are pretty similar: loud music (of mostly Top 40 variety, with some electronic and hip-hop thrown in–unless you’re at Sid 80’s), free food and drink, dancing of varying intensities, sweat. They’re not for everyone, and even if you are really into parties (like I am), they can get old. What really makes a public party fun is who you hang out with, in my opinion. I’ve had a blast at a party one year and the next year found it pretty lame, or vice versa, even though not much had really changed. </li>
</ol>

<p>That being said, there are a LOT of things in the social scene that aren’t public parties. Pub nights, Beer Bike, college nights, giant dodgeball tournaments, KTRU Outdoor Show, swing dancing clubs, salsa night, jazz concerts, plays (LOTS of plays, like multiple ones each weekend towards the end of the semester), a cappella concerts, improv shows, discussions in Burt’s Teahouse, the Welcome Back concert… and of course that’s just on campus. Seriously, there is a ton of stuff to do, so you’re really only bored if you let yourself be. </p>

<ol>
<li>From what I’ve found, that stereotype may be true, but nobody cares. There are a lot of really extroverted, friendly, sociable, interesting people, and then there are some people who are not. I guess the most “awkward” students I know are just sort of shy, or introverted, or serious, or studious. But I honestly can’t think of anybody I don’t LIKE because of those traits. I think what makes Rice so awesome is that you’ll find people here that accept you. I really am not just saying that to sell my school or anything - Rice is one of the most welcoming places I’ve ever been. Everybody’s got quirks, so everyone learns to accept them in one another.</li>
</ol>

7

<p>Thanks everyone for yours responses!!! All of your comments are very helpful and only make me love Rice more!!</p>

<p>@astronomolly: thanks for all of those descriptions about fun things to do on weekends besides parties because I was going to ask that next.</p>

8

<p>My son loved the food, and took a cooking class for Chef Roger. His neighbors in the Res college would wait for him to come back after class with his leftovers!</p>

9

<p>@jym626: That sounds awesome!! I will definitely be doing that if I (hopefully) end up at Rice!</p>

<p>Can anyone comment about the math department?</p>

10

<p>Also, does Rice give MERIT scholarships? If so, is there a separate application or are you automatically considered when applying?</p>

11

<p>They do give merit scholarships and there is no other application, everyone is automatically considered.</p>

12

<p>Okay, thanks. So I was reading through the posts about regular decision admissions to Rice for class of 2016, and it seems that a LOT of people got Trustee Scholarships (However, I know that people on CC don’t accurately represent the average students) but I was wondering if anyone knew how many people get that scholarships (or all of the scholarship combined [not financial aid]) each year, because I couldn’t find it on the website. Also, I am planning on applying ED so is Rice the kind of place that would not give as much [if any] merit money at all because it is binding and I would have to go there anyway, even if money was not offered?</p>

13

<p>I didn’t get a merit scholarship but I got a Rice Tuition Grant of about 33 grand.</p>

14

<p>^^ No school can or will try to force attendance if you can’t afford it. If you ask for financial aid with ED the school will make you an offer if you’re accepted; you have to take it or leave it without comparing offers from other schools. If it’s not enough to enable attendance you say thanks but no thanks and apply elsewhere ED.</p>

15

<p>Thanks for the responses, but I meant more about the merit money. Would they be less inclined to give you a merit scholarship because you are going there if you apply ED so they don’t need to attract you to the school?</p>

16

<p>That turned out to be true in my son’s case. He had great stats but did not receive merit money. We wonder if he would have had he applied as a regular applicant. We did not apply for financial aid - maybe that would have helped to show that finances were an issue?</p>

17

<p>I’m not sure what the statistics are regarding merit money given to ED applicants, but I know of at least a few people (including myself) who got merit aid as an ED applicant. Speaking from personal experience, the financial aid office had always been extremely helpful throughout the whole process, even after I’d already committed to Rice in December. </p>

<p>Also, I could be wrong on this, but from my understanding, they work to meet your demonstrated need however possible, be it merit aid or otherwise. So, even if you get in ED and don’t get a merit scholarship, but have a need, they will still help you out, through a tuition grant or something else.</p>

18

<p>Merit money is an attempted bribe to entice an applicant for reasons unknown (the school needs an oboist, newspaper editor, higher stats, Native American, fullback, Ukranian, whatever). If you don’t get such an offer, the school valued the features other applicants more. You can’t second-guess the reasons.</p>

19

<p>I don’t want to hijack this thread but I have a couple of questions/concerns.
I love Rice, but my biggest concern is Houston itself. I have heard that it is very sprawled out, something that I am not a big fan of. Are there self-contained areas that are walkable (i.e. downtown) and easy to get to from campus? If I were to go to Rice, or any college for that matter, I intend to explore/learn about the city that it is in.</p>

<p>I don’t know if I’m wording this correctly, but is the campus very “open” (buildings far apart, open space)?</p>

20

<p>Yes! Downtown is quite walkable, as is the area near Rice (you can walk to the Rice Village for fantastic shopping & restaurants, Hermann Park for doing moderately outdoorsy stuff). Rice is also across the street from a light rail stop. This can take you downtown in one direction and to Houston’s big stadium in the other, with stops along the way for the museum district and midtown (where restaurants clubs etc are).</p>

<p>It’s true that there are a lot of neat places only accessible by car (Memorial Park comes to mind. The Galleria, anything in River Oaks. I just graduated and now I live in Montrose, which is the artsy/gay part of the city filled with fantastic food) but if you come to Rice I can promise you that you WILL have multiple friends with cars. A few will be from Houston and will be able to show you all the things that make Houston fantastic.</p>

<p>A few links:

<p>As for your second question, campus has a lot of green space. It feels very typically collegiate: lots of quads, wonderful architecture, etc.</p>