<p>I'm looking for a medium sized college. I want somewhere where you know people, but still constantly meet new ones. Is this Rice? Does Rice ever seem too small to anyone who goes there?</p>
<p>I'd say Rice matches your description. I don't think Rice is by any means too small in the sense that you won't have people that you haven't met yet (i.e. you will always have the opportunity to meet new people), but for certain people, you could argue that the small size is a little limiting for certain aspects. For example, small size means fewer club venues, so if you really wanted to join an all-gay male left-handed violin ensemble, you'd be out of luck, whereas you may find that at a larger school. But for the most part, everyone here seems to find the size to be just fine.</p>
<p>I know a few people who find the relatively smaller size to be constraining, but I like it. It really fosters a community-type atmosphere.</p>
<p>The college will be expanding significantly over the next few years, so Rice will have a larger class next year, and more so the following year. My D is a senior, and she doesn't find it too small - and there are many people she has never met. She spent one semester abroad, as many Rice student do, and that also "broadens" the experience.</p>
<p>2800 students and a 300 acre campus. So you can be alone whenever you want, see people when you want.</p>
<p>Its all about where you are.!</p>
<p>Population will grow to 3800 over the next decade. The President's plan for the University is also to find affiliated housing near campus for those students who choose or get jacked off-campus. The new colleges, and the migration of other students from their colleges to the new ones should mean that none of the students applying this year will be jacked off-campus. New colleges are slated to open in fall of 2009, when the current applicants are sophomores. Enrollment at Rice is going to rise slowly (not all 1000 new students in one year!!!!), so all should be able to be housed on campus from fall of 2009 through...???</p>
<p>There are rumors that they may actually temporarily move Baker and Will Rice into the new colleges when they are built to remodel those colleges, so that there wouldn't actually be a Duncan and McMurtry until more like 2011 or so, but I have no idea whether these rumors are true or not. I've only heard them from one or two people.</p>
<p>Well, that would make sense, so could be so. :)</p>
<p>The rumors that I've been hearing are that McMurtry will open initially and Baker will be moved to Duncan for one year, followed by Will Rice moving there for a year ... though it's still tentative.</p>
<p>the population will only increase by 650 ish</p>
<p>Rice will have 3400 students</p>
<p>Hmmmm... maybe they changed their minds??
[quote]
As the trustees have decided, we must grow the size of the university to realize more fully our ambition as an institution of national and international distinction, one that is able to attract students and researchers from around the globe. Rice’s undergraduate enrollment will be expanded to approximately 3,800 students within the next seven to 10 years.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>To my knowledge, expansion is continuing as planned, but the upperclass population of McMurtry and Duncan will not necessarily be volunteers. There's a student committee trying to plan all this, since the all-volunteer system at Martel led to a college of people who didn't care for the first few years.</p>