Questions from a Transfer Applicant + Any other advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Hi all,
I’m currently a freshman at the University of Washington in Seattle, and considering transferring (or at least applying for transfer) to Rice for the '09 fall semester. I actually had some questions about certain aspects of Rice that I think people who’ve been there a while could best answer. So I’m hoping that any present or past Rice students, or anybody else who’s really familiar with the Rice atmosphere could help me out by answering some questions that I have. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!</p>

<p>Academic Questions
• I’m really interested in political science and economics, and specifically at Rice one of those two combined with a Policy Studies major sounds absolutely amazing.. But in terms of the "quality" (allocation of resources, professors, workload, name, etc,) how are the social science programs compared to the science and engineering programs? It seemed to me that Rice was geared more toward the sciences, and less toward “academs” (A friend tells me that’s what social science majors are referred to?)
• Overall, how competitive is the academic environment at Rice? The students who are there are obviously really intelligent, and I'm somewhat apprehensive that it's a little more cutthroat than I can handle.
• Similarly, a few questions about grades. Is there an established average GPA for students? Is grading pretty consistent between teachers, and is there significant grade inflation/deflation? Are classes generally graded on a curve? Does GPA vary significantly between the social sciences and other programs?
• How helpful is the school with giving opportunities of summer internships and jobs? Is there research in the social sciences available during the school year?
• Is there a career center of sorts at Rice? And if so, how helpful is the it in connecting students with alumni and providing opportunities for networking.
• Is there an undergraduate pre-law community at Rice that you’re aware of?<br>
• How easily accessible are academic resources? Are you assigned specific advisors, or do you have to search them out, and how helpful are they?
• How much weight does Rice’s name have with employers and graduate schools outside of Texas?</p>

<p>Other Questions
• How good would my odds be of getting housing next year if I was fortunate enough to transfer in?? I have a friend who transferred last year and managed to get housing at Lovett, but I’ve heard that it’s not usually offered for transfers… Does it vary from college to college?
• What really attracted me the most about Rice was the res college system. I felt a really strong sense of community when I visited, and everybody in the colleges seemed really tight knit and supportive. I’m a bit worried though, about how the transition is for transfer students, since they haven’t had the chance to bond with their other college members up. I guess the question is how friendly is the school to transfer students, especially since it’s much more difficult to get housing as a transfer?
• Is the partying culture pretty heavy at Rice? I spent a weekend with a friend, and the parties seemed kind of ridiculously intense to me … but I wasn’t sure if that was just because I happened to spend the weekend during a college-wide party.
• I’m not sure if you guys would know, but do you have any idea if they’re putting transfer students into the colleges they’re opening next year?
• How’s the public transportation in Houston? I hear it’s not that great, and if that's so, is a car necessary?
• Just really, how bad is the heat and humidity?
• Finally, I guess there is anything else a potential transfer student should know?</p>

<p>Thanks again for any help you guys can give; I really want learn as much about Rice as I can, beyond what the website says.</p>

2

<p>Why do you want to transfer from University of Washington in Seattle? What dissatisfies you about your experience there?</p>

3

<p>Three major factors.</p>

<p>First, is just based on the programs. While the professors here are great and really interesting, I want a political science program that's more quantitatively based. From what I understand the Poli-Sci program at Rice not only encourages a statistical approach combined with theory, but requires a statistics class tailored for political science majors. Also, outside of economics theory, I also want to be able to take more quantitative courses in finance and accounting, but at the University of Washington, the only way to get into those courses is if you're in the undergraduate business school pursuing a degree in business administration. But if I want to do political science AND business, it would require not only a double major but a double degree.</p>

<p>Second is a desire for a smaller school with a more intellectually stimulating environment, and really just a real community feel. I came from a small private high school with a small-ish graduating class, and the transition to a large state school (42k) where many people simply moved their high school cliques just isn't what I'm looking for. It's not particularly helpful that the majority of students live at home or go home on the weekends. And while the people are really friendly, academics just doesn't seem to be a primary focus for most people. </p>

<p>Third, I was an avid debater in high school, and I really hoped to continue it in college, but there's no debate program at the UW. I hear Rice's debate team is top notch? One of the coaches is runs the VBI tournament I think...</p>

4

<p>I’m really interested in political science and economics, and specifically at Rice one of those two combined with a Policy Studies major sounds absolutely amazing.. But in terms of the "quality" (allocation of resources, professors, workload, name, etc,) how are the social science programs compared to the science and engineering programs? It seemed to me that Rice was geared more toward the sciences, and less toward “academs” (A friend tells me that’s what social science majors are referred to?)
• Overall, how competitive is the academic environment at Rice? The students who are there are obviously really intelligent, and I'm somewhat apprehensive that it's a little more cutthroat than I can handle. It's not cutthroat.<br>
• Similarly, a few questions about grades. Is there an established average GPA for students? Is grading pretty consistent between teachers, and is there significant grade inflation/deflation? Are classes generally graded on a curve? Does GPA vary significantly between the social sciences and other programs? I dunno, I assume it's not that different from how it is at most top schools.
• How helpful is the school with giving opportunities of summer internships and jobs? Is there research in the social sciences available during the school year? very, rice is the most prestigious college in houston and texas
• Is there a career center of sorts at Rice? And if so, how helpful is the it in connecting students with alumni and providing opportunities for networking. I've heard it's really good.
• Is there an undergraduate pre-law community at Rice that you’re aware of? There are plenty of ppl there who are pre-law.
• How easily accessible are academic resources? Are you assigned specific advisors, or do you have to search them out, and how helpful are they? Advising is good, it's a small school.
• How much weight does Rice’s name have with employers and graduate schools outside of Texas?
It's a top 18 school, it's well respected. However, the degree isn't everything, if you go to a Rice but have a 2.1 GPA you won't do so well maybe.</p>

<p>Other Questions
• How good would my odds be of getting housing next year if I was fortunate enough to transfer in?? I have a friend who transferred last year and managed to get housing at Lovett, but I’ve heard that it’s not usually offered for transfers… Does it vary from college to college? housing is guaranteed for 3 out of 4 years on campus.
• What really attracted me the most about Rice was the res college system. I felt a really strong sense of community when I visited, and everybody in the colleges seemed really tight knit and supportive. I’m a bit worried though, about how the transition is for transfer students, since they haven’t had the chance to bond with their other college members up. I guess the question is how friendly is the school to transfer students, especially since it’s much more difficult to get housing as a transfer?
If you're a nice, cool person (who loves to get wasted all the time jk) , you'll be fine.
• Is the partying culture pretty heavy at Rice? I spent a weekend with a friend, and the parties seemed kind of ridiculously intense to me … but I wasn’t sure if that was just because I happened to spend the weekend during a college-wide party.
entire0College-wide parties are like that. theres still smaller parties tho where u get trahsed with friends and play beer pong.
• I’m not sure if you guys would know, but do you have any idea if they’re putting transfer students into the colleges they’re opening next year?
I dunno...
• How’s the public transportation in Houston? I hear it’s not that great, and if that's so, is a car necessary?
its not, you get free metro rail too.<br>
• Just really, how bad is the heat and humidity?
its bad during the summer but you ont be there for school, the winter is really nice tho, cool and crisp.
• Finally, I guess there is anything else a potential transfer student should know?
the food is all you can eat, so watch ur weight.
Don't do cocaine, especially after 6 shots of whiskey.</p>

5

<p>Very briefly,</p>

<p>Academic Questions
• But in terms of the "quality" (allocation of resources, professors, workload, name, etc,) how are the social science programs compared to the science and engineering programs? </p>

<p>I think most political science students are happy, economics less so. </p>

<p>• Overall, how competitive is the academic environment at Rice? </p>

<p>Very competitive for pre-med, just plain hard for engineering, self-competition for people who want to get jobs right after undergrad. I wouldn't say Rice is competitive, but I would definitely call the student body very active in advancing themselves. Almost everybody does something over the summer or during the school year that is related to what they want to do (e.g. research, internships). </p>

<p>• Similarly, a few questions about grades. Is there an established average GPA for students? Is grading pretty consistent between teachers, and is there significant grade inflation/deflation? Are classes generally graded on a curve? Does GPA vary significantly between the social sciences and other programs?</p>

<p>No established average across classes or teachers. Inflation in the humanities I would say, deflation is science and engineering. Intro Econ classes are on a curve, as well as a lot of math/sci/engineering classes, but humanities no and social science sometimes. </p>

<p>• How helpful is the school with giving opportunities of summer internships and jobs? Is there research in the social sciences available during the school year?</p>

<p>Personally I have had to do everything on my own, but there are people who do leadership internships through Rice over the summer and use the career services center to get jobs, so it depends. Rice has lots of resources of this kind if you need them, though, including how-to's on writing resume, cover letter, interviewing, etc. </p>

<p>• Is there an undergraduate pre-law community at Rice that you’re aware of?</p>

<p>Yes and a Pre-law society called Legalese. They hold meetings and there is a law school fair that they sponsor. Lots of big law schools are there. </p>

<p>• How easily accessible are academic resources? Are you assigned specific advisors, or do you have to search them out, and how helpful are they?</p>

<p>This just changed. Before you had to go to an advisor, now you don't have to, just a suggestion. They can be helpful because professors at Rice in my experience are very willing to help students make sense of their classes, major, and career path. </p>

<p>• How much weight does Rice’s name have with employers and graduate schools outside of Texas?</p>

<p>Not as much as one would hope. It really drops off outside Texas, relatively speaking. Graduate schools I would say probably respect it more since they are in academia. Rice's name certainly won't hold you back at all; there are some really good students here that do all kinds of stuff, from prestigious jobs to scholarships and grad schools. Once you know what you want to do in more specific terms, e.g. go to law school, then you will find out what you need to, such as do well on the LSAT, get the highest grades you can; these things turn out to be more important than the reputation of the school itself, imo. Don't go crazy over the school's name, Rice is good enough to ignore exactly where it stands and you can concentrate on your own personal record. Even for things that Rice is known to be good at, if you have some goal, there are generally things that you need to do regardless.</p>

6

<p>Thanks sreis and theendusputrid for all the info. The advice about mixing cocaine and whiskey is duly noted ;)</p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, would either of you guys mind disclosing what year/major you are at Rice (if you indeed are)?</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

7

<p>dml: No problem, that's a fair question. I'm a senior Cognitive Sciences major. It's interdisciplinary and cuts across social science, humanities, computer science (whatever that falls under), and depending on what you take take, applied math and biology/neuroscience as well.</p>

8

<p>Theendusputrid was accepted to Hopkins ED according to his other posts. He is not a Rice student, but a highschool senior - but I'm a little confused by some conflicting information in his posts....</p>

9

<p>There are lots of opportunities for research with professors, lots of ways to get funds to do your own research.<br>
• How much weight does Rice’s name have with employers and graduate schools outside of Texas? It has GREAT weight with grad and professional schools and great weight with companies in Texas, especially if they have a presence in Houston (and Houston has the most headquarters of multinational companies in the U.S. now.) Probably the manager of Officemax in Lyndhurst, Ohio won't know so much.....
• Overall, how competitive is the academic environment at Rice? My kids have both found the work challenging but the atmosphere collaborative. DS is an engineering soph and doing well. He works hard, but has plenty of time to play his club sport and hang out with his girlfriend and travel with his team and do his workstudy hours. DD had lots of fun taking part in musicals, participating in club sport, work, etc. She was in the social sciences and had lots of opportunities. Rice was kind enough to award her a cash prize from her department at graduation, and fund a year of post-grad travel.
Re: public transport. Neither of my kids have/had cars. DD lived off campus for 4 semesters and was able to find places close enough to walk or bicycle. The rice shuttle took her to the supertarget to get groceries, etc and rice village is nearby for restaurants, drug store, etc.</p>

10

<p>Sreis, thanks a bunch, best of luck with the rest of your senior year. Cognitive sciences sounds really interesting and really intense.</p>

<p>Anxiousmom, thanks for the help, best of luck to your kids. I'm glad to hear that it's a fairly collaborative atmosphere.
Another question I had is actually about scholarships and grants from individual departments. Would you happen to know if individual departments at Rice commonly give scholarships and or grants to undergraduates? Or is it more like your daughter's situation, where it was awarded after graduation for a specific reason?
Nice to know that I wont need a car; does the Rice shuttle just take students to places around Rice?</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

11

<p>I'm guessing this was addressed to anxiousman, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyway. I'm not sure, but I don't think scholarships from specific departments are too common. There are university-wide research scholarships/grants, such as Center for Civic Engagement and Rice Undergraduate Scholars Program, and there is probably support within departments for research, but these are just for research and would probably be $1500 or less. There are also a number of university wide scholarships for summer, abroad, and post-undergrad study. I haven't really seen anything here that would lessen the cost of Rice itself significantly. </p>

<p>There are a couple shuttles. The main one just goes within Rice. There are shuttles that go to another parking lot on campus, the Texas Med Center, graduate student apartments, and an IBC Bank building where Rice apparently has some offices. Fri and Sat night there is a shuttle that goes to Rice Village which has restaurants and all that, and I believe Saturday and Sunday(?) there is a shuttle that goes to Super Target. You definitely do NOT need a car on campus. </p>

<p>HONS</a> 470/471</p>

<p>Center</a> for Civic Engagement</p>