Hi all,
Rice has been one of my top schools for a while. I’ve visited once when I was in houston but it was super rushed because I didn’t have much time, so I did not really gain much from that experience. I’ve decided to sign up for the overnight visit and will be at RIce on Nov 21st. If anyone here has done this or is a host and can give me more information on how helpful it is/what happens I would appreciate it.
I think overnight visits are incredibly helpful.
You get to feel what it is like to be a student at the school, see if Rice feels like a good fit for you. You will hang out with your host and their friends, eat at the servery with them, sleep in their college with them, go to classes with him. It’s a taste of what it means to be a Rice student.
The best advice I can give is don’t be nervous, don’t try to “impress” anyone, just relax and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions no matter how dumb. Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone, just say you are a prospie and everyone will be friendly with you. Rice students like Rice and they will be happy to talk to you and will want you to like your experience.
I’m a current senior. I hosted my freshman year and was a prospie twice before matriculating.
I’m not looking at a calendar right now but if you’re going as part of a larger program you’ll do that programs events mainly. You’ll see your host who will take you meals and have you meet their friends if you want that but some people just act as room and board. Some people will bring their prospie with them everywhere. It depends on you and them.
There’s usually a prospie party. Don’t drink. It typically gets shut down before midnight and there’ll be another one. Still don’t drink. You’ll be offered beer probably and some prospies will drink it and not get caught. No big deal in that case. But if you do you won’t have to worry about Rice admittance anymore. It’s just not worth it.
If you’re coming as one of those standalone prospies that’s not with a program like SOAR, you’ll probably be with your host the whole time unless you decide you’re good to go it alone.
My daughter just completed her overnight. She enjoyed it. They matched her with a freshman with similar academic interests. She stayed in Lovett College. They provided an air mattress for her to sleep on. She went to the dining hall, a Lovett College meeting, and her host took her out for ice cream. She and her host hung out, watched tv and studied some in the Lovett College common area. She got to meet lots of students. She went the Wednesday after the election. The students gathered at midnight in a show of unity held hands and sang the Rice fight song.
D did SOAR, it was surprisingly unchaperoned. After hearing about it, I decided to limit participation in these types of things. College freedom can wait until next year.
But, it did help with assessing fit.
Well, of course. This is college, they don’t have “adults” chaperoning their students. College visits are about letting the student get a feel of what it is like to be a student at the college to see if they fit in.
But obviously as the parent these decisions are up to you, but I would question whether it is wise to not let them go on college visits because the independence of it scares you.