<p>The "Texas Christian Thingy" is in Forth Worth, where it's much less humid than Houston is most of the time. </p>
<p>Houston, on the other hand, is right there by the Gulf of Mexico and it's always very humid and sticky. Thank God they invented air conditioner.</p>
<p>Icer, you're OOS. I think if you've spent more than one calendar year out of Texas, you're considered OOS.</p>
<p>I've lived in Houston. Humid as a sauna.</p>
<p>"I'm a bahamian citizen and would only be there on a student visa."</p>
<p>You will be an International Applicant.</p>
<p>Plus don't forget EVERYONE in Texas wants to go to Rice. I went to Bellaire HS, almost literally right down the street from Rice in the subrubs of Houston. Probably 1/3 of my class applied to Rice. I'm not even exaggerating. At the private schools like Episcopal, Kinkaid, and St. John's, the number who apply to Rice is probably close to 80%. If nearly every qualified student in the state is applying, they can obviously afford to be a lot more selective towards Texas applicants.</p>
<p>Rice is becoming increasingly popular for OOS students. A friend's daughter from the NW just chose Rice over a top Ivy and some other tops schools, and money was not an issue.</p>