Things I heard about Rice...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
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<p>Hey, this may sound TOTALLY STUPID, but I'm a high school senior trying to find out as much as I can about school's and stuff because I don't know where I want to go. Anyways, I was looking at Rice, but I heard some rumors that Rice was full of "World of Warcraft" gamers and such who spent most of their time playing video games, and then they always started their homework at midnight.</p>

<p>From what I've read on these forums, this isn't the case, but I just want your view.</p>

<p>And also, should I pursue a chance at Rice or a full ride scholarship at a different university? Is the Rice experience really worth the hundreds of thousands (over four years), and what makes it distinct from other schools? (say, any state flagship)</p>

<p>Sorry if I sound confused, because I am haha. Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>

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<p>…What?</p>

<p>I don’t know where that thought came from. People at Rice don’t like video games any more than people at another school. I’ve only met a couple people who even play World of Warcraft. And yeah, a lot of people here start homework at midnight - that’s because they are busy with extracurriculars, socializing with friends, etc during the day. A lot more people can be found getting their homework done during the day or evening as well, though.</p>

<p>I must note, though, that midnight Super Smash Brothers games with friends when I should be studying for Psych are incredibly satisfying. I’ve had a couple of those hahaha. It’s not exactly commonplace though, so disregard what you read.</p>

<p>Regarding the second half of your post, definitely apply to Rice! Rice is really good about giving out merit-based scholarships that can help reduce the cost of a student’s education here, and their need-based aid is also really strong; I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that. If you get in, the worst that can happen is you don’t feel like the school is worth the money you have to pay and you can go to another university for better money if you’d like. But I would definitely apply and if you can afford it, I would definitely visit. Rice is truly a unique place.</p>

<p>It’s hard to explain why Rice is so unique without writing an essay. I suggest doing some searching through other posts on this forum, particularly those from me, Antarius, Tilgaham, adamb529, and other current/former students. They can give you a good idea about various aspects of the school.</p>

<p>In a nutshell, I would argue that the residential college system combined with the culture of Rice as a whole makes it truly stand out, even from those other schools that have residential college systems. The culture here is particularly remarkable. The students are nice and caring, and the administration truly trusts us, as you can tell from policies such as the Honor Code and the fact that students run a vast majority of organizations and governments. Rice is definitely built on trust and students uphold that, which just continues to astound me.</p>

<p>An anecdote that testifies to the cohesiveness of our student body: in social psych, we did an activity in which groups were supposed to compete for resources to complete a project, which was supposed to create outgroup prejudice and discrimination. However, our class remained completely collaborative; the materials became communal and we all worked together to complete our projects, which was completely the opposite of what was expected.</p>

<p>To touch on other aspects, the academics are simply top-notch. The faculty are very friendly and very accessible. I have had many lunches with professors already, I have talked to Dean Hutch a couple times, and President Leebron is my faculty advisor. At how many other universities do students get that much interaction with faculty and staff? The sports are fairly good as well; even though we have a few mediocre teams, we ARE still D1. We have an incredible rec center, and the IM sports are intense because of the dynamic of the residential college system. There are always fun activities around campus, the dorm rooms are incredibly nice, and the food is really good (it can get a little monotonous but with a little effort you can avoid getting bored of your meals, and the food is still really good quality). I absolutely love the quality of life here. Our rankings for #1 quality of life, #1 happiest students are definitely deserved, in my opinion.</p>

<p>I can’t talk down about other schools, because there are outstanding ones out there and Rice isn’t for everyone. I also haven’t ever attended another university. However, I can definitely say that Rice is unique, and that there is no other school quite like it.</p>

<p>Hopefully this helps you out a little bit. Finally, keep in mind that I am just one student here. Just another opinion to take into consideration.</p>

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<p>You should definitely apply to Rice. There is no reason not to. Once you get responses, weigh the pros and cons, cost etc. and decide.</p>

<p>Fallen Angel has answered your question very well. Rice seems to have the same number of gamers as anywhere else. Some people start their HW at midnight but that could be for a variety of reasons including but not limited to, IM sports, clubs activities, work, hanging out and research.</p>

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<p>What exactly makes Rice so unique? Why isn’t Rice for everyone? Who might not be a good fit for Rice?</p>

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<p>Rice is unique because of the size and the residential college system. Rice is smaller than most (if not all) peer institutions. The residential college system is a defining characteristic as well, allowing upperclassmen and freshmen to interact and live together. </p>

<p>Rice isn’t for everyone just like any other university as well. If you dislike the heat, you probably will not want to live in Texas. If you prefer being in a large school, then Rice is not for you.</p>

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<p>What’s more, I feel as though the atmosphere really makes Rice unique. The quality of the student body (the cohesiveness and culture of care I talked about in my last post), the trust the administration puts in it’s students, etc are like nothing I’ve ever really seen before. Students run or are involved with a vast majority of campus activities. It is insane. This is evidenced by the Honor Code, social policies, student run college governments, etc. I don’t see the same qualities in most peer institutions, although once again Rice is the only school I have attended so I might just be missing out.</p>

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<p>Rice is what you make of it. I know many social people who go out to parties or spend a lot of time just hanging out with other people. It’s unfair to judge it negatively if you never make an effort to leave your room and be active</p>

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<p>After an interview with an alumni who paralleled with what FallenAngel said, I changed my mind from not applying to Rice to applying ED. To me it seemed tedious to take the SAT Subject Tests along with the supplement (most schools I’m applying to don’t require that much writing) but I think its worth it. I’m from Houston and I’ve been to Rice several times, and now that I think about it, I’ve visited that university more than any other. If you can, visit!</p>