If you or your child attended one, can you share your reviews?
My daughter did not attend, but she knows some students that did. It is a great way to learn about Houston, do volunteer work, and make friends before the school year starts.
It should be helpful to get to know the college, town and other students before you even start college. Of course first step is to get accepted to the college, second to the UI program and third to pay for it so we may be counting our chickens too soon. Thank you @Houston1021
My good friend is there. If you have a car, urban life is super accessible.
Urban Immersion is some sort of exclusive preview of Houston’s philanthropic initiatives. Internet search says its all expense paid, including housing, transport and meals.
As far as urban life goes, being in the middle of a big city and eligibility for free public transport and free tickets to most urban attractions as a student perk, it should be easily accessible to them, more so with a car.
Urban Immersion is a summer program in which incoming Rice students come to town and participate in a multi day service project at some of Houston’s nonprofit agencies. It is a good way to meet other incoming students and to get a feel for Houston ahead of the start of the school year. A student has to apply and pay his/her own transportation costs to Houston. Some financial aid may be available I f a student qualifies for it. Not every student that applies is chosen. https://ccl.rice.edu/students/learn/urban-immersion/
There is a similar program for enrolled students called Alternative Spring Break. It is very competitive to be chosen for one of the trips. The students go to various locations in Houston and elsewhere in the country to do a service/learning project over spring break. My daughter is attending an ASB program this year. The school underwrites most of the cost, but the students also pay a fee. Financial aid is available for students that qualify for it. The students also do fundraising as a group and individually so they have some skin in the game.
Both programs are run by Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership.
My son is a freshman at Rice and attended Urban Immersion. He really enjoyed the experience. He still gets together with his UI friends. It was a great way to meet other freshman prior to school starting and also learn and volunteer with a few Houston organizations.