Rice University Top Questions

If you're able to do so, visit the campuses that interest you. Rice University wasn't one of my top choices until I took a campus tour and met some of its students; after that it became my top choice. Meet students! Ask them questions about things you might not be able/want to ask professors and admissions. For example, ask them about social life, the party scene, how students interact, etc. Gather as much information as you can! You'll be spending the next four years of your life there. Sit in on classes. If you can, sit in on an upper-level class in a subject that interests you, because after the first year, this is where you'll be spending your time.

Go where your heart leads you to go, no matter the distance and be prepared for a lot of work mixed with a ton of fun. Don't take hard classes your first semester, just get used to college life, because you have plenty of time for the hard stuff. Enjoy yourself, but not too much that your work starts to suffer. Go out with friends, try new things and when you look back on your college years, you'll know you made the right decision and picked the perfect school.

Finding a college that is a fit is incredibly difficult. Just because its Harvard doesn't mean its the best school for YOU. I highly recommend visiting all the colleges and universities you're interested in applying to during the week and on the weekend to truly get a sense of campus life. Ask to attend a class, to which most colleges will be more than accomodating. Talk to students on campus of different backgrounds, don't take the advice of a single tour guide to reflect the entire school, remember its their job to impress you. Once you've found you're dream school and you're there, know that you'll get as much out of it as you put in. Freshman year can be make or break for a social life, academic career, notariety in campus clubs, internship opportunities, and professor relations. Remember that if you're at a competitive school, the game isn't over after you're accepted. If you choose a top 20 school, expect to be studying, applying for scholarships, and making academic and career connections from the very beginning because thats what who you're going to be competing against later.

The most important thing to make the most of your college experience is to not limit yourself. There is so much to do on any college campus that just because you may not have any experience doing something doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. Try everything! These are the things you end up wanting to do for the rest of your life, or even if you don't, they are great opportunities to meet new people. College is about new experiences. Try everything! For real! Don't limit yourself by what other people say or what your parents tell you. And you don't always have to worry about your future career. I was worried about my career for half of my time in college when I should have been just doing things I was interested in. Try new things! That is the best advice I can give anyone.

Findint the right college is really important for students and it is a long process. If it is possible, visit as many colleges as you (the student) are interested in, preferably while school is in session. This will allow you to get a good sense of classes, and the social life on campus (whether people are friendly, what goes on on a daily basis, extracurriculars available). It is very important to do a lot of research on each university to which you are applying. Everything you are interested in, anything you are involved in at your high school that you want to continue, anything new that you would like to try, academics, athletics. should be researched because this may help you as you narrow down your college choices. Do not take financial ability into account until the end, for you don't want to narrow down too soon. Don't get too stressed with work or you may not enjoy the years that go by fast. While in college, feel free to try as many new activtities because college comes only once and these experiences can turn out to be fantastic!

Your academic interests may change while in college. Therefore, it would be wise to select a college with a well-rounded academic reputation if you are unsure of your interests. Visit a college before you decide to attend it--make sure that your lifestyle is compatible with the school and keep location in mind. While in college, focus primarily on academics and your future career. At the same time, do not lose sight of other other (non-academic) opportunities that exist in college. Now ignore my advice--you must make your college experience your own and live for yourself.

Make sure that the students choose a college that is the best fit for them, whether this is the programs associated with the college, extra curricular activities, surrounding environment, school size, etc. Parents, though it is tempting to want the best for your child and to provide "guidance" for his/her decision, parents must realize that utlimately the student will be spending 4 years of his/her life incollege. 4 years at a college that the student loves is a life changing experience.

Focus more on the atmosphere of the university rather than its prestige when making a college decision. If you work hard, you can find opportunities regardless of wherever you choose to attend. However, if you make a decision solely based on the prestige of an university, you may miss out on a truly worthwhile experience.

First look through college books to get an idea for what is out there and then try to go the the campus for as many as possible. You can read all day but until you actually experience it first hand you don't really know what it is like. TRUST YOUR GUT. If you step onto a campus and it doesn't feel right, then it may not be right for you, but if you walk on the campus and suddenly feel at home then it is probobly a good fit.

It's always a good idea to choose a school with a strong department in the area you think you'll want to study. But plans and majors change, and in the end, you'll be happiest with your experience if you were able to fit in well with the other students and community surrounding your school. If you're Texan, be careful about choosing schools in the north (they have 'real' snow!), or if you've been close to your family all growing up, don't move so far away that you can only fly home once a semester. Pick a school that offers more than just the academics that interest you. Even if you want to study engineering, if you play an instrument and want to keep it up, think about a college with a good music school, where you can join an orchestra with non-music majors. Think about the city you choose - after freshman year, you may want to venture outside of campus, where a larger city could offer pro-sports teams and big concerts or a wider variety of interesting restaurants. Maybe you'd be comfortable in a smaller town, something to consider as well.