<p>What kinds of implications does this have for the student body? Are students generally more friendly towards each other after four years of the residential college system? Do alumnae have more affinity towards their alma mater because of them? Do they facilitate intellectual creativity and partying the same amount?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Only if you are in Hanszen. The others are worthless! (only kidding)</p>
<p>I think the res college system really does breed strong ties to the university and to fellow alums. The first question asked is always, "What college were you in?" as opposed to "What was your major?" </p>
<p>It seemed to me (D is a 2007 grad) that it provided a lot of the benefits of a Greek system without the negatives.</p>
<p>Can't speak highly enough about the the residential college system. Junior Wiess D has NO desire to live off campus - that's how much she loves it. </p>
<p>From O-Week on, all the planned and unplanned activities <em>do</em> create strong ties among students. There are intellectual conversations, nights of endless Rock Band, and mostly recently, Hurricane Ike bonding - something for everyone.</p>
<p>I agree with MOWC, when a Rice grad finds out my D goes to Rice the 1st question is always "which college?"</p>
<p>My D did move off campus junior year, and as a music performance major more of her activities took place with fellow "musis" than with residential college friends, but the allegiance was still there. BeerBike brings them all together, no matter whether you live off-campus or are still in the college.</p>
<p>DD moved off campus this year (sophomore) but is still connected to her residential college. She is living there now on an air mattress in a suite (with both apartment mates) until her power and water return in the apartment. They are feeding the OC students at their residential colleges at no charge through Friday. She sheltered with her college during Ike. There is absolutely nothing that can compare with this type of community in situations like Ike. </p>
<p>Her friends are still from the residential college O-week even though some live off campus and some still on campus. They get together on weekends. This is holding even though she is a "musi" and spends so much time in the music department.</p>
<p>Both my kids really loved the res college system. They have plenty friends outside of it, but it serves as a home. :)</p>
<p>I love the residential college system and I've only been in it one month. I do have to say, I have a lot of friends in Sid because I eat there and live with the people but I have friends in other colleges. I'm starting to see my college as a home away from home. You just don't see that at other schools.</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks for all the great replies! This makes Rice so much more attractive now!</p>
<p>One more note for parents, having the masters is like having a relative available to students. They oversee but do not run the college and are a fabulous resource for both students and parents. They were invaluable for coordination and OC student assistance during Ike.</p>
<p>Off campus students were encouraged to stay on campus in their residential colleges during Ike. They were sheltered with all the students in their residential colleges. S is off-campus, and we never worried, as we knew he was in his college. We also appreciated the updates from President Leebron and the updates on the Rice website. Think of the residential college as a "school within a school."</p>
<p>I love my college. It makes it so comfortable to meet people, especially upperclassmen. But it doesn't limit you unless you let it. I would say it makes people more friendly, it gives everyone in the college a common ground. It's great for im sports because it creates rivalries between colleges. It helps with academics because it is so easy to find someone in your college doing the same work and there are always people working together in the commons and outside in the quad. It's also good for partying because at least where I am there are certain rooms that are specifically filled with people who like to do that sort of thing so that there will generally be a private party at each college most weekends. I think it is a pretty awesome system.</p>
<p>A couple, both Rice alumni, used to hold a send-off party in August so incoming area freshman could meet each other, meet some upperclassmen, and alumni. EVERY ONE of the alumni had their name, year, and residential college on their nametag. People wrote out their own nametags and nobody told them to do this. The alumni were very proud of their colleges.</p>
<p>That's how significant the residential college system is.</p>
<p>There are a few upperclassmen that are planning on getting tattoos of our college crest. </p>
<p>I honestly can't imagine college without the college system. It just seems so much like the ideal residential setup for any university. </p>
<p>MoWC is right, though. Only if you are fortunate enough to be in Hanszen!! :P j/k of course.</p>
<p>BSWB ;)</p>
<p>I freaking love the college system!</p>
<p>Can't say enough about the college residential system. Even before O-week, my son received a private mail from his Orientation week advisor highlighting many of the things they have in common and would be doing together and in groups in their assigned college. My son, usually a bit shy at first, feels now like he hit the jackpot. Not only with the college system in general, but his college in particular. (Hanszen). No matter which one, to every student who is Rice, theirs is by far the best.</p>
<p>The residential college system seems so amazing and unique! It's definitely one of the biggest, if not the biggest, factors pulling me towards Rice. I love that story, mesenfants :) I'm pretty shy myself so it seems like the great way to bond with other students and enjoy the college experience.</p>
<p>MBYM MBYM MBYM...;)
(Hotasice, I had a ton of fun making for commons into a UFO fyi.)</p>
<p>I watched part of that while it occurred, silentsailor. Now I have to be creepy and figure out who you are.</p>
<p>Well, we all know that Martel is not a college...</p>
<p>But McMurtry is a college!</p>