Some reflections

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Four years ago today, I received a phone call from Amy Atcheson in the Rice University admissions office. She called to tell me I had been accepted off of the waitlist. It was a Thursday. On Wednesday, I had sent in my enrollment deposit to the University of Georgia. The next day, I withdrew my enrollment from UGA and sent in my deposit to Rice. It was the best decision I ever made.</p>

<p>This university has given me so many opportunities to make my own path. From the first day of O-Week I knew I was in the right place, and every day since I have felt that this is where I belong. I had never before felt this content with my place in the world, and I doubt that I will ever feel it again. But that is not a bad thing. I have spent four of the most formative years of my life in a place that has given me the opportunities that have allowed me to become the person I am now. And I am really, really happy with that person.</p>

<p>I came into Rice thinking that I wanted to major in physics, and maybe pick up a second major in political science. I wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to be editor-in-chief of the Thresher my senior year. I wanted to work for The New York Times or The Economist after I graduated. My freshman year changed all of that.</p>

<p>Physics 111 with Dr. Hannon was where I realized two things: 1) I do not like 9 a.m. classes and 2) I do not love physics. I like physics — a lot, actually, but it was in that class that I realized that I did not love physics. My 10 a.m. class, however, which was in the same classroom, was POLI 212 — Intro to Comparative Politics with John Ambler, which was where I realized it was okay if I had nothing to do with natural sciences ever again. I am now an English/Poli Sci double major, and a champion of the liberal arts education (you can read my op-ed in the Thresher elaborating upon that: Dean</a> misrepresents mission of humanities - Opinion).</p>

<p>The hardest decision I have had to make at Rice was during December of my freshman year. I was going to quit the Thresher. I walked into the Thresher office as an eager young freshman who wanted to be a journalist. I had planned out my path — I was going to be a news writer my freshman year, then I would be promoted to assistant news editor at the end of the year, and I would be news editor my junior year, then editor-in-chief my senior year. But the Thresher threw an opportunity at me early. By the end of October I had been made features editor — I was the first person to occupy that position in four years. During the next few months, however, I realized that I wasn't ready to commit myself so fully to one thing so early in my college career. I had been handed what I wanted, only to realize that I didn't want it. I sent in my formal resignation before Christmas, using my first semester grades as an excuse.</p>

<p>If anything has defined my Rice career, however, it has been Lovett College. In no other university on this earth would I have been able to do what I have done at Lovett. I have revitalized a dead theater program, coordinated orientation for 92 new students, kept the official records for my college, and made over $10,000 worth of capital improvements. I have made friends who I will keep for the rest of my life, and I have been able to be a leader not only in position, but in character. The college system at Rice is like none anywhere else; you truly do get to define your own experience here. You get to transcend social circles because of this shared experience that you have with the other members of your college. I have a handful of upperclassmen who helped define my early experiences at Rice, and I hope that many of the current underclassmen will consider me similarly.</p>

<p>If there is any single most important thing that I have gained from Rice, it is confidence. Confidence that I can achieve what I want without conforming to any sort of expectation of who I have to be to do so. Confidence that I can make my own path. Confidence that I can stand out in any setting. Confidence that I can make a difference. Isn't that what we should all expect out of our universities? Your four years at a university are not and should not be an intermittent phase between childhood and employment; it should not even be a place to gain only an academic education. It is a place to discover who you really are and what you can be — to gain an education of self. Rice is by all accounts a tremendous place to do that.</p>

<p>In less than three weeks I will walk out of the Sallyport, diploma in hand. And although I will miss this place that has been my home for the past four years, I am eternally grateful for all of the opportunities for self-discovery that Rice has given me. In the acknowledgements section of the O-Week book we sent new students, my co-coordinators and I wrote, "Rice University — We thank the stars every day that we are fortunate enough to go to a school that lets us do this." At the time, "this" meant organizing O-Week, but now "this" holds so much more meaning. "This" is to be the people we are meant to be, not the people anyone else expects us to be. "This" is to have an opportunity to influence not only our own lives but the lives of many others. "This" is to be Rice students.</p>

2

<p>What a joyous and inspiring post you wrote, NYSkins1. May i remind you how very much your words have meant over the years right here on this forum. Before my son even started Rice, I looked to your posts to better understand the life of Owls – more from the perspective of a social scientist than an ornithologist. It’s always been exciting to see what your point of view is … I have little doubt that you will continue to fly high in years to come!</p>

<p>Congrats, NYSkins, on your upcoming graduation – and many thanks for all you’ve shared and explained here. Never stop adding your thoughts.</p>

<p>P.S. From what I’ve seen, Rice is indeed a place where possibilities can be realized – for sure.</p>

3

<p>Inspiring post 'Skins. I hop many prospies read it and see the passion Rice inspires in her students.</p>

4

<p>Awwwman - almost made me weepy. Very inspiring post, NySkins! With changes in certain details, that would have been my DD’s experience, too. (fellow Loveteer that she is/was…) And DS is bemoaning the fact that he only has one more year at Rice… I know he has become a leader through his experiences at Rice, both with O-week advising and Club sport organizing… I will be sad not to be the parent of a Rice student after May '11!
Best wishes for your future plans, NYskins, and thank you for all the help you have offered prospective students and parents here on CC. :)</p>

5

<p>Do you remember the post you wrote about roommates – about not setting out to be best friends, but just striving to get along and be friendly to each other. Would you mind
sharing or updating your thoughts about this. It might be helpful for Class of '14.
Thanks.</p>

6

<p>NYSkins1-can you please explain what you meant by “I have revitalized a dead theater program.”</p>

<p>Also, you speak so highly of Lovett and the college house system. Were you ever “kicked off” or whatever the proper term is? If so, why do you still think that Rice has the best residential house system?</p>

7

<p>@Ottoline:
I don’t quite remember that post, though I’m flattered that you regard my opinions so highly that you recall them better than I do. If I remember, I advised against approaching your freshman roommate with the expectation that your roommate will be your best friend — if so, you will almost certainly be disappointed. Best friends rarely make the best roommates — though there are many exceptions. You will make friends, and your roommate will make friends, and if those friends overlap, then great. If not, then that’s okay, as long as you and your roommate get along fine. After all, your room is where you sleep, not where you live.</p>

<p>@momof3sons:
re: revitalizing theater — Each college at Rice has its own budget set aside for theater productions. When I became Lovett’s theater chair Lovett hadn’t had a production in two years. Over the next two years, we put on the musicals I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Cabaret, respectively, as well as a student-written show and a night of two one-act plays. Coordinating Lovett’s student-run theater program is just one of the many opportunities for leadership I’ve had at Rice.</p>

<p>re: the college system — No, I actually was never kicked off, but even if I had been I wouldn’t think any less of the college system. You have to remember that your residential college is more than where you live — it’s your home. It’s more than just a building — it’s a community. I hope I made clear in my post everything that I have gotten out of the college system, but I can be a bit more direct. The two things that distinguish Rice’s residential college system from any other in the country (including Yale’s and Harvard’s) is that 1) we don’t have freshman dorms and 2) the colleges are completely student-run. The first one is very important because it means that you are a member of your residential college — and a relevant, contributing member of your residential college — from day one. It also means that you have a support network of upperclassmen who are your friends and mentors, and that you similarly get to be a mentor to the underclassmen when you’re a junior or senior. The second one is especially important because it means that at Rice, more than at any other school, you are able to directly shape your own experience. Each college gets a budget of $40K+ with which to do whatever they want. This budget is spent on theater productions, social events, capital improvements, fun activities, philanthropic endeavors — whatever we want. At Rice, you are more than just a student — you are a member of this community.</p>

8

<p>What a fantastic post. As a junior, I’ve always been a fan of Rice and I’ve been holding off on falling in love with any one school, but you’re making it hard for me.
“It is a place to discover who you really are and what you can be — to gain an education of self.”
That’s exactly what I want out of college. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!</p>

9

<p>NYSkins1 I want to thank you once again for your participation on this forum. As a father who had never been on the Rice campus, it’s been very helpful to have a consistent positive voice here to reassure us that Rice is a great choice.</p>

<p>Our interest in Rice started last spring when, like many others, we found out that Rice is not just for science majors. You contributed to a thread I started asking about writing courses at Rice. As the year went by I stopped by this forum frequently and continued to read positive stories, and so we were overjoyed when my son was accepted last month. </p>

<p>Best of luck to you in the future. I hope that my son’s four years as an owl can be as positive as yours have been.</p>

10

<p>Thank You for everything you’ve contributed to Rice, to Lovett, and to this forum over the years. You are incredible, you embody the Lovett spirit, and you will be amazing in everything and anything you choose to do. Just make sure what you’re doing makes you happy, just as Rice has.</p>

11

<p>Beautifully written, NYskins! Looking forward to seeing you around the neighborhood ;)</p>

12

<p>Wow NYSkins, my son is trying to decide between Rice and IU for voice. He loves theater too, and so your comments about revitalizing the theater program at your college were of particular interest. I think he would get a great music education at either school, but your experience at Rice is worth sharing with him. </p>

<p>I would ask, though, do you think your experience is widely shared? You seem like a unique person, full of enthusiasm and a natural leader. And actually, that would describe my son as well. It sounds as if Rice is a place where you can really be known and know others. That is very appealing.</p>

13

<p>tenormadre, I think you will find a large number of Rice students and alumni who feel extremely strongly about the positive experiences they had there. In fact, my time at Rice echoes NYSkins’ to a surprisingly large extent. I, too, was accepted off the waitlist in 2006, after which I had a few days to choose between attending Rice or sticking with Notre Dame. I chose Rice, and I haven’t looked back since.</p>

<p>I also found that O-Week only confirmed that I had made the right decision. From the day I arrived for move-in, I felt that I had found a new family, and I went on to become very involved in my residential college, serving as a representative in our college government and eventually coordinating O-Week. I think I would go so far to say that the college system provided the most valuable aspects of my education at Rice; this is not to dismiss the academics, which are nothing if not rigorous, but I’m confident that I could have pursued a strong education at any number of schools. What Rice gave me through the college system was an opportunity to really grow into a leadership role in a way I had never done before. By my senior year, I was far more confident in my own abilities than I ever had been in high school, and I think the nurturing environment of the colleges definitely played a large part in that.</p>

<p>In fact, probably the only place where NYSkins’ and my experiences truly diverge would be in our reaction to Physics 111. I still consider that one of the best classes I have ever taken, and it helped me to realize that, while physics was definitely the area of study I wanted to pursue, it was going to be far from easy.</p>

<p>I can’t really speak much to the college music programs, but if your son is considering studying voice at Shepherd, he will be in very good hands. More importantly, though, anyone who has the enthusiasm and drive to get involved, be it in the college system, the overall student government, or any of the many other clubs and organizations on campus, will be warmly received at Rice, and will definitely come out stronger from the experience.</p>

14

<p>dorian – thanks. Rice definitely has a uniqueness about it. Loved to hear your thoughts.</p>

15

<p>To clarify about college theatre - it is a bunch of students in a college putting on a show. For the most part, the set is fairly basic, lighting is limited to some 20 fixtures and rehearsal is held nights after class.</p>

<p>I technical directed three shows at Wiess (Urinetown, Hello Hamlet and West Side Story) and had a great time working with the cast and crew. That being said, it is a chance to gain experiences and try something new as well as a chance to do something you really enjoy. It is not structured theatre for the most part. Therefore, if you want to go into musical performing arts as a career, it is not going to help you that much.</p>

16

<p>Thanks Antarius. I did get that. He wants to study Classical Voice, but has simply enjoyed some theater on the side in HS. What NYskins described sounds like a fun extracurricular, social activity at Rice.</p>

17

<p>tenormadre, most of the voice professors do not let their students participate in the campus musical theatre productions without their permission. Sounds draconian, but there is a reason for it. They are usually too busy anyhow. DD was allowed to do one her sophmore year that was written by one of the composition students. But that was it. There are a lot of fun activities they can do, though. DD chose Rice because it was a conservatory in a university that was not too big so there were a lot of things that she could do not music related.</p>

18

<p>I literally teared up reading this!</p>

19

<p>Singersmom is right. There are many in house music school performances that are time consuming and require every bit of effort, not leaving much for college theatre.</p>

<p>Then again, you can be involved in college theatre from a directing, technical or artistic standpoint without always being/singing on stage.</p>

20

<p>OP: Great writing, great content. I’m so glad to hear about someone’s positive college experiences, especially as I am going in as a science major (bio) but considering other options. Thanks for sharing that with us.</p>