<p>This is my 1000th post, so I thought I'd write something that was meaningful and helpful for people interested in Rice.</p>
<p>I've now attended Rice for a year, and can honestly say it's been the best year of my life. Now, having gone through the college applying process and the first year of college, I thought I'd share some things, in hopes that you will find the information helpful in applying and deciding on a college, and in adjusting to life at college (all with the intent of promoting Rice, of course!).</p>
<p>My first 900, 950 posts on this site can be found on the Princeton forum. It was my dream school: I applied there ED, got deferred and rejected, and ended up eventually getting accepted to 5 out of my 7 college choices (3 reaches, 2 matches, and 2 safeties--a good assortment). I ended up going to what had been my 5th choice. I honestly don't know why I even applied to Rice, except that it was the right place for me to go all along (though I didn't know it at the time!).</p>
<p>I say that not because I think you should apply to Rice as a last resort, but because the college application process is so terribly unpredictable. Be open-minded towards schools, even schools you don't think you want to go to. You never know where that path may eventually lead. </p>
<p>My first year at Rice began with a bit of culture shock. It was far different from anything I was used to, but I didn't not enjoy it by any stretch. A couple things I was thankful I did. First off, I really focused on making sure my studies were in check (which, given the environment I was in, surrounded by brilliant, hard-working peers, was not hard). Second, I didn't bow to peer pressure, and lived as the person I really was. I found that at Rice, that was relatively easy to do. If you want to party hard on the weekends, you can. If you want to take a relaxed weekend, going to movies or concerts, don't let anyone let you know otherwise.</p>
<p>For those of you who will enter as freshmen, know that a lot of things are going to hit very hard, very fast. Your first test grade might be 3 or 4 letter grades lower than you had hoped for. Your "pumpkin" (midterm) grades might have grades that would get you grounded in high school. You may wake up the first Sunday you're there with a very bad headache. You're going to be inundated with a deluge of opportunities for clubs, organizations, opportunities, etc. You may walk onto campus without knowing a soul anywhere close. You'll instantly make new friends, but perhaps you'll find that they're not quite the type of people you're looking for as friends. </p>
<p>In those senses and more, first semester may and will be very difficult. But it can also be a lot of fun. There are plenty of opportunities to do wonderful things, and the good will most definitely outweigh the not-so-good. Make sure you have your priorities in order, and mentally set yourself guidelines so that when you get to school, you play it smart. You're going to be at a world class institution, with opportunities that you'll only get once. Take advantage of them, but don't stretch yourself too thin--you'll burn yourself out. </p>
<p>Anyway, Rice University is an incredible place. If you're an incoming freshman, prepare to have some of the most amazing four years of your life, full of wonderful opportunities and achievements. You'll be challenged in more ways than just academics. I love Rice, not just because of it's high academic standards, its great library, its outstanding residential college system, prime location, or any one of a hundred other things about Rice. It's my home, and the perfect fit.</p>