<p>Hiii all. So I recently visited Rice and the only aspect of the school that was a bit disconcerting was that it seemed as though most of the students were extremely intense academically, and a little too focused on studies in my opinion. Not to say that the point of college is to party, but I do believe that enjoying yourself is important as well. For instance, I was told that the library closes at some time during the night to force students to stop studying because if not there would be some who would stay in there all hours of the night to do work (exams are an exception). Also, I know that dinner is not served on Saturday nights to encourage students to go off campus so that they can explore Houston because if there were dinner on campus, then some would stay on campus and just do work all Saturday night. I am just hoping that there is a work-hard/play-hard idea, and that the students are not just completely absorbed in their work and live in their own world... What's the truth!?</p>
<p>Aren't Beer Bike, Baker 13, and the various parties in the Residential Colleges not "intense academically" events?</p>
<p>When did you visit Rice? Right now people are packing the library because of finals, and understandably so. Rice IS a work hard play hard school, but just because there are people who are always studying in the library does not mean EVERYONE is like that - you will find the same scenario at other academically intense schools that have lots of students studying all the time, like Duke or Penn. Rice is no cake walk, and for some people, they perceive their time better spent in the library studying - Rice has a large number of pre-med students and engineers, and we all know it's not easy being either and that most people need to study a lot in order to make good grades.</p>
<p>My point is, you're going to find that scene at every top school, not just Rice. People do have fun (in fact, people on my floor have partied every night this week, to my annoyance) but people also work very hard. That's just the nature of Rice. You will have those who study all the time, those who rarely study (yet make good grades, or don't), and those who have a good balance of social life and academics. I believe it's generally the same for most other top schools (though Dartmouth and Vanderbilt especially have a sort of "party school" reputation).</p>
<p>Rice was ranked #1 in Best Quality of Life and #2 in Best Overall Undergraduate Experience, yet also placed in top 20 for schools where Students Never Stop Studying by Princeton Review in 2007. PR's most recent rankings have Rice at #2 in Best Quality of Life and #15 in Happiest Students.</p>
<p>In comparison to other top 20 schools, Rice definitely has one of the best social life experiences, and its unique and very integral residential college system is at the heart of it.</p>
<p>My DD found Rice to be less stressful and more balanced than high school. She worked HARD, but she had plenty of time to do fun things and take part in club sports and musical theater and work part-time. DS is doing engineering, and he makes the time to play his club-sport, (which includes traveling with the team to tournaments), and work-study and hanging out. But right now is probably not the best time to judge that; I think he just wrote a long paper and is studying for finals and has another paper due. Not the best time to judge the intensity! :)</p>
<p>1) Oh, man, you got paired with the wrong hosts when you visited, lol. Our last ones were lucky enough to come on Martel smore night and then went to pub
2) The library doesn't close on weekdays + Sunday. I've definitely pulled all-nighters in Hotel Fondren before...mainly on Sunday night.
3) If you matriculate you will be sorted into an area of your dorm with people who are, socially speaking, similar to you.
4) It's finals break...I have every intention of partying every night and studying all day. So far, so good.</p>
<p>So yeah. Don't worry about it.</p>
<p>Silentsailor -- please tell me more about #3 above. What do you mean by this, and how does it work? Can a student request to live in a quieter area, or non-partying floor? I know that Rice does not offer substance-free living as such, and I'm wondering if there is a choice on the "activity" level of the floors.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>They go through an extensive questionnaire to arrange the dorm mates, i believe?</p>
<p>I can sort of answer for silentsailor. There are designated party floors at the different residential colleges. There will usually be private parties on those floors every weekend. On the survey you get in the summer, it asks you if you smoke or drink. I live on a floor that's pretty quiet for the most part. It's a studious but we hang out together.
Rice is definitely a work hard, play hard school. As for activities, I'm involved in ones that won't boost my GPA. I play IM sports for my college and participate in the MOB. I'm not sure you got the right impression about Rice. Everyone wants to do well but it's not a cutthroat environment you find at other prestigious schools. As everyone else has mentioned, it is the end of the semester so we're moving into the library.</p>
<p>I was unable to do an overnight because that option was not available for the day I visited, so I just did an information session, tour, and hung out on campus for the day, so I did not get the full scope of what goes on at night at Rice. I just sort of got that impression from what students told me and my observations about the academic intensity of the students, but that is why I posted on here to sort of figure out the truth. But, what you all are saying makes me feel MUCH better about my obviously premature concerns. I really loved Rice (I'm even wearing a Rice sweatshirt right now :D), so maybe I'll be seeing you all on campus next year! (If I get in of course!)</p>