rice: the place for int'ls?

<p>rice really seems like a splendid place to go for college. but, coming from halfway across the globe, i def wouldn't get a chance to do a visit or get a feel of what the place is like... just wondering, since rice has quite a small int'l population among the ugrads, are the int'ls able to "fit in" well?
do you think going all the way to rice is a good idea?</p>

<p>Well I know of two people from my school (Internationals) who are at Rice and speak very highly of the undergraduate education and experience over there.</p>

<p>I can't speak from first hand experience, but the princeton review ranked it first for the most race and class interaction. that might give some indication of how integrated the student body is.</p>

<p>Although we visited several universities that my D applied to, Rice was not one that we managed to see. It worked out that everything was right about her attending Rice and we saw it for the first time the day before she moved in. She was not disappointed in any way and loves it there. Every time she makes the long trip back home, she is also very glad that she chose a university with an major airport nearby.</p>

<p>Yes (10 characters) ;)
My Dd likes to practice her foreign language (or not so foreign language) with sudents from other countries. The res colleges make you part of a community right from the start. It's very friendly!</p>

<p>:) thanks a lot for your replies! they give me that bit more confidence to "take the plunge"! my friends and family aren't too sure about the idea of me going there all by myself (since there are hardly any prosp. or current Rice students in my country)..but i guess it's something i'm more and more inclined to do as the days go by.</p>

<p>
[quote]
my friends and family aren't too sure about the idea of me going there all by myself (since there are hardly any prosp. or current Rice students in my country)

[/quote]

Keep in mind that everyone will be new, and almost everyone will be going there not knowing anyone. Everyone will basically be starting over... meeting new people, living in a new place, with new classes, a new lifestyle, etc, etc. </p>

<p>From what I've heard, Rice really helps their new students to feel at home ASAP. It might seem daunting now, but just remember everyone else will be going through the same thing.</p>

<p>DD was greeted with Whoops and joy at O-week by the student advisors, who helped the kids unpack, ferried the kids to Target and all the places they needed to go to get settled. They also helped them bond together as an 0-week group, and DD remembers it as a really warm and social time that helped prepare for the semesters ahead. Don't worry - you will be well taken care of at Rice. DD's college masters have also been wonderful.</p>

<p>O-week does an amazing job of making Rice feel like home. I can't think of a better way to start the college experience.</p>

<p>:) you guys are making me so excited!! anw. this sounds dumb but.. when does term start and end.. and when are the long holidays?</p>

<p>There are academic calendars available on the Rice website from 2001 to 2009 so you can get an idea of their terms' start, holiday and end dates year by year. The only long holiday other than summer is at Christmas. And yes, o-week was wonderfully organized to make everyone feel instantly at home. Most people also feel that Rice does a really good job of matching people up with roommates as well. We found that the website information painted a pretty accurate picture of the school. The campus newspaper can also give you a feeling for the place.</p>

<p>Just be sure to take the Thresher editorials with a grain of salt. The Editorials are a place where the kids can take a stand on an issue, and they tend to overstate their case in order to make their points. One editorial this week says that not enough Rice kids listen to the Rice radio station, which has a terrific selection of materials and high-powered transmitter. Another doesn't like the quality of the Theater reviews. Another student who is running for Student Association President says that there are not enough SA activities going on during the weekend and wants to plan more. ( Many activities and events are college sponsored, not SA sponsored.) Take the gripes with a grain of salt! Dd is very happy, very busy, and finds campus a positive and friendly place to be.</p>

<p>International students arrive for O-Week a day or 2 earlier than everyone else to get acquainted with the campus, go to Target for missing items, etc. Rice also has internationsal student organizations that host different activities throughout the year. My D's closest friend at Rice is international and she has attended a few (such as an Astros baseball game). D has met people from MANY different countries and cultures.</p>