Hi, I just got accepted to Rice. But the thing is, I wasn’t too excited about it for some reason. I live on the east coast now where there was just 4 snowstorms in 3 weeks, and I love this type of chilly weather. Also I don’t have family or friends in the south. I want to know from Rice students, or just people from the area: is the weather there so badly humid, or is it acceptable? I’m still waiting for ivy day and several other schools so Rice won’t be a definite choice for now, but I’d like to know some opinion regarding the weather at Rice and if there are roaches and pests or not lol.
Congratulations on your acceptance to Rice. Come for Owl Days or one of the Admit Days to check out Rice firsthand. It is 71 in Houston right now going up to a high of 80 today. Humidity is definitely a thing in Houston, but you learn to deal with it. Here is a link to a good site about Houston weather. https://spacecityweather.com
I grew up in the Northeast, and went to Rice. Yes, it is warm and humid in Houston. Every college (dorm), every single room, and every indoor space is air conditioned. The worst months are during the summer, when students are not there, but it can start to get hot in April and it is definitely still hot when students return in August. It can also be quite rainy during certain months. The fall/winter months are pleasant - there are many days from December - February when students are wearing shorts and flip flops.
I have a kid who goes to college in the Northeast, and one thing that always strikes me is how different the social patterns can be based on the climate. At Rice, throughout the entire school year, students are able to hang out and congregate in outdoor spaces as well as indoor spaces. All of the colleges have their own outdoor spaces, each with their own variations (volleyball, grills, trampolines, hammocks, picnic tables, and more). It is very common for the colleges to have Friday afternoon traditions that are often outdoor focused. There are outdoor parties all throughout the school year. I was at Rice last November and it was a beautiful night, and students were gathering in the quad for a celebration before Esperanza, the homecoming dance.
There are little cafe tables all over campus, and there is even an area with hammocks. There are many outdoor courtyards throughout campus. It is very common to see students studying outside.
Maybe a current student can chime in, but this is something that I have realized is quite special about Rice compared to schools that are in colder climates.
My son has come from Maine. He loves to be able to be outdoors all the time. Though he does not miss the snow. It does get sweaty at times maybe September and April, but he says mom that is what the air conditioning is for. He also does ultimate frisbee at night so that helps to keep down the heat a little. He has not talked about any pests on the campus he said they do what it takes to keep them away. He has never seen anything, but maybe a gecko on campus with a few squirrels. Congratulations on your acceptance! I know it is getting harder and harder to get in there. You should be proud! Obviously it is sweaty in the summer months if you ended up staying there after you graduated.