Rice University Top Questions

Best thing about Rice: Everyone here is really into learning! I know that sounds lame, but there are few slackers at Rice. The campus is beautiful (sans construction), and we've got some great professors. Personally, I think Rice is a bit small, but that's getting fixed right now (two new dorms are being built). Most people are sort of surprised when I tell them I go to Rice. Those that are familiar with it immediately says something like, "it's pretty wierd there, right?" or they just don't know what to think. I thinkn very few people have an accurate understanding of the environment at Rice. I lilve off-campus now so I'm either in the library, at the student center, or outside on a bench somewhere if the weather's nice. It's definitely not a college town. Houston is too big and spread out to be referenced as such. Biggest recent controversy on campus was something that happened over MLK weekend. a couple students got drunk and "vandalized" the copy machine and some walls, i think. They supposedly crumbled oreos every where. A couple black students took offense, I think any insults were smoothed over pretty quickly. I think it might have been blown out of proportion, but the Rice administration dealt with it in a very diplomatic manner. There is some Rice pride, but definitely nothing at all compared to University of Texas in Austin are some other University like that. To be honest, in terms of sport support as a measure of pride, Rice has little to none. some students attend football games, but not too many. and other sports teams have difficulty mobilizing the general student class to get out and get excited. they just don't seem to be too interested for the most part. My freshmen and sophomore year, there was some GREAT support for the women's soccer team, but we had to work to promote ourselves. Rice has some great traditions that add to its uniqueness and flare. Beer bike is an annual celebration that I absolutely LOVE!!! you won't find it anywhere else and EVERYONE is completely dedicated to it. Beer Bike is this: wake up at dawn, multiple kegs are at every dorm, music is blasting, everyone's happy and running around, then every college (dorm) gathers together and the huge university-wide water balloon fight begins. It's a lot of fun and everyone gets really into it. Trucks filled with trash cans full of balloons make there way down one side of the campus until they reach the bike track. there, selected members of every college race bikes and chug times while everyone cheers them on. there's free food and free beer everywhere. its a great experience. also, Rice has Baker 13, which is when a group of students run through college at night completely naked except for certain parts covered with whip cream... its pretty awesome. also, Rice's O-week (orientation week for all freshmen and transfers) is very unique. It's just a bunch of fun activities dedicated to you getting to know you're college and your class. most frequent student complaints I hear are that a lot of rice students don't know how to have fun or that there are a lot who are difficult to talk to because they aren't completely socailly comfortable (which is totally ok, it's just different). also, there's a good amount of work, but people seem to handle it pretty well without too many complaints. a lot of people gripe about the survery food but I didn't have a problem with it. Currently, my main irritation is all the construction on campus, but that's just something we all have to deal with.

best thing: community change: more people, more people supporting athletics too small either wow you're a nerd or oh you must be smart or you go where? where is that? not on campus hardly ever...the gym? big city administration: no opinion...they seem fine...parking regulations suck controversy: no clue...parking? school pride: eh, kinda unusual: college system always remember: beer bike frequent complaints: parking, social aspect, weather

The brilliant people who have come out of their shells since high school and are comfortable with being their fun-selves. I would increase the number of undergraduates to make it have a little more college-size feel. Too small. People are usually very impressed and react by saying something along the lines of "Wow! You must be really smart" Most of my time is spent at the athletic facilites for soccer because it pretty much consumes my days especially in season. Definitely "what college town" There isn't too much school pride especially when it comes to athletics - except for baseball maybe One experience I'll always remember was beating the number 8 ranked University of Texas Women's Soccer Team my freshman year. Played defense and we held them to no goals. Parking and the shuttles.

The best thing about Rice is the integrity of the degree. If I could change one thing it would be the lack of money given to the athletic department. When I tell people I go to Rice they automatically assume I am smart. I spend most of my time on campus in class. This is not a college town. I've lived here my whole life and the city does not revolve around the campus of Rice. I think the rice administration could care less about athletics. The biggest recent controversy on campus was the issue with the kids getting held up at gunpoint on the way back from campus. There is not a lot of school pride. There are somethings that are unusual about Rice, like the college system and beer bike. One experience I will always remember is playing on Friday nights under the lights at the stadium. The most frequent complaints that I hear are how the administration couldn't give two shits about athletics.

Rice is perfect. Its small student population provides for small classes and interactivity with professors (professors even invite students over for dinner). The campus is simply gorgeous and spaceful, and its location near downtown Houston provides accessibility to a variety of attractions. Its academic programs are very strong, and Rice has the status of "The Ivy League of Texas", meaning it is famous for its academic excellence, especially in the South (but elsewhere as well). Rice is also very socially attractive. The college system makes it very easy for even the most reserved person to make lots of friends, and most people here are very friendly. There is a lot of collaboration, as opposed to the cutthroat atmosphere you might experience at other top schools. Houston is an amazing city, a lot different from stereotypical Texas, and Rice is also very unique. You almost forget what state you're in. Rice is also considerably cheaper than its rivals, making it an all around bargain.

The best thing about Rice is the residential college system. Everything is unusual about Rice. Take, for example, the context of Rice. Rice is located in the city of Houston. Houston is a privatized society in a market-driven economy. Rice is generally free, open, embracing, and somewhat... socialist. Nevertheless, Rice and Houston have similar positive attributes. Houston has great sports teams (Rockets, Astros, etc). Rice has been consistently strong in baseball, tennis and track/field. Both Houston and Rice embrace progressive action. Houston is rapidly growing, as it has always been, and with support from community development corporations, many grassroots movements have emerged to tackle issues such as poverty, environmental degradation, and social housing. With ongoing construction activities and President Leebron's Vision for the Second Century, the Rice administration visibly promotes growth and wants to expand Rice internally and expand its influence externally through support for campus organizations and social and environmental justice clubs that work with the broader Houston community.

The best thing about Rice is that I know when I graduate I will have something waiting for me, and anyone who hears that I go to Rice knows the same thing. The most common response I get from people is: "That's a great school" or "Wow, you must be really smart." I spend most of my time on campus (besides the gym) at my college. The college systems are really great. You will find a lot of your friends at your college but that still doesn't exclude friends from other colleges. The system is a great way to get to know people quickly.

Best thing about Rice- the college system is great when you are an underclassman. One thing to change- The social circle is very small. If you are in a fight with someone, it gets awkward because you see them at every social event. I would say the school could use an increase in size. When I was a freshman, however, I loved the fact that it was so small. The size kind of wears on you after a while, though. When I tell people I go to Rice, they usually are impressed and automatically assume I am smart, which is nice. Since I live off campus, most of my time on campus is spent in either going to classes or studying in the library. I really like Rice's location in Houston because there is so much to do. The campus itself, however, maintains a "college town" feel, which is nice. It is a perfect mix of the citylife and a nature-y feel. I am not a fan of our president. He is trying to change too many things at once. The school pride could use a boost. Everyone is proud to go to Rice for the academics, but it is very difficult to get any support for the athletic department. This might be due, in part, to the administration claiming that academics should always come first. I will never forget Beer Bike. It is one of Rice's greatest traditions.

The College system is the best thing about Rice. I'd like to change the parking situation on campus and make it easier and more accessible for on-campus and off-campus students to park without forking over a large amount of money. It's a little too small of a school just because everyone knows everything about everyone. I spend most of my time at the varsity athletic facilities. What college town? The Rice administration cares about its students, but implement a lot of ideas that do not reflect this (such as when our breaks are, or how they spend tuition money). The lacrosse hazing incident a few years ago. There is a lot more college pride than school pride in your first couple of years, but then it turns into school pride based on the quality of education as you near graduation. Rice is a wet campus with a lax alcohol policy while most schools are completely dry. I'll always remember my first Beer Bike because it was the craziest, most unique experience I could have. Most complaints involve the food in our serveries, even though the food is just fine, and also the wide-spread apathy across campus.

The best thing about Rice is the networking that the college system infrastructure provides. I would change the traffic flow, improve the bus system by making it faster, and if it was possible, I would make the loop a two-way street. Rice is just the right size for a private school. If theyve heard of Rice, they usually gasp and there eyes get real big because they are impressed. If they havent heard of it, they just say, "Oh, where the hell is that?" Most of my time is spent in class or in the servery, other than that, Im OC. Definitely, "What college town?" The admin can be frustrating and sometimes its hard to get ahold of people. The missing student and the racial slur. YES! Unusual? hah, I think unusual is a trait marked by brilliance so, of course, Rice is unusual in many aspects. I will always remember walking through the Sally Port for my very first time. Most frequent complaints are about the food.