Rice University Top Questions

Don't base it on athletics

College is a time to stretch yourself; it is a time to find a new definition of comfort. It is a whirlwind of challenges made worthwhile by triumphs. It is a time to answer questions, but also a time to ask more. Allow yourself to be confident in uncertainty. I remember those hectic days as a senior in high school, scrambling to write the perfect college essay then trying to ace my admission tests the next weekend. I remember sitting around the dining room table surrounded by glossy college catalogs, armed with my mental checklist and my desire for a beautiful library and a comfortable campus. I saw the perfect college experience as an image of myself studying under a tree with a blue sky above, my trusty textbook below, pausing long enough to greet a professor--who knew me by name, of course! Although my time at college wasn?t exactly like I imagined, I did study under a tree once or twice (while studying abroad in Peru) and I certainly had plenty of friendly, supportive contact with my professors. Things may change, but that?s okay. Set the pressure and competition aside and just let yourself BE.

Investigate. Talk to students that have the major yor are involved in extracirriculars you're interested in. Consider expenses. Are you willing to go into debt? Can you pay off debt when you graduate? What do you want from college? Just an education? An experience?

The most important factors in finding the right college are the college's strength in the major(s) you're interested in, the college's social fit, and whether it's actually practical to go there. Telling whether you'll be happy somewhere socially is the hardest, but possibly the most important. Even if you don't go somewhere that's best for your major, if you can stay energized because of the people around you, you can make up for it; contrariwise, you could go to Harvard or MIT, but if you end up unhappy with the place or the people, you probably won't succeed. To tell where is the best fit for you, you probably need to actually go there, talk to people, and take in the atmosphere. And get lucky. Once you get to college, you've gotten past the easy step. To really enjoy college, you'll need to do as much as possible in a place where you can make hundreds of new friends and learn more than you've ever learned in your life. The best, if impractical, advice I received was, "go to sleep late, wake up early; do everything."

The most important thing that students and parents can do to make the best choice they can possibly do when trying to find their best fit collge is too keep in mind all the things that they expect and want the college to provide. It's important to choose a college for it's fit to the student rather than purely based on academic prestige. A good way to decide on a college's fit is by visiting a college before or after being accepted as a prospective student and trying out classes at the college as well as social life and other college-student activities that exist. The College experience should be about finding ones passion and their purpose in life, whether the college is a good fit to the student greatly affects whether the students' ability to grow and learn.

You need to make sure and visit all of the schools you are deciding between. Schools look great on paper, and until you actually get there and walk around the campus it will be impossible to determine which one is right for you. Also, make sure you find a school that allows for an open learning environment. Too many colleges have become competitive to the point where students no longer feel comfortable working on assignments together. College should be a time when individuals not only learn academica subjects and grow intellectually, but also where they mature and develop on a personal and social level.

The most important thing to consider is a good fit for your individual needs.

Take your time and start thinking about what you want early! Also, don't set your heart on some specific place or type of experience. It's important to be flexible and positive. No college experience is ideal, but you will have a much better time if you are making the best of things rather than looking for problems!

Finding the right college is all about visiting. You can't know if a place will fit you until you go there and see it first-hand. It is possible for a place to look great on paper, but to rub you the wrong way when you visit, just as it is possible for a place to sound terrible on paper but fit like a glove when you go there. To make the most of your college experience, GET INVOLVED! Don't wait to start volunteering for organizations, running for positions, attending events, and doing all of the things that college offers. You'll meet people, make friends, and find out alot about yourself by getting involved in happenings around campus.

The college one chooses will shape the rest of their life, I urge students looking at colleges to take an active role in evaluating both their potential colleges and their own future goals. It is important for parents to advice their children, not to make the decision for them. Students should do all the research they can as well as take opportunities such as overnight stays when they are available. Choosing a college is an exciting yet important time in ones life, and the decision should be made only after adequate research.

Choose schools with great consideration. Be honest about who you are and what you want out of your university experience. Make friends wisely. Relax; odds are, you'll turn out just fine.

Put as much time and effort into the application process as possible, because your competition will always be working as hard or harder than you. Once admitted, select the college that "just feels right" over the more prestigious school if you want to have a happy four years there. Make friends, get involved IN THINGS THAT INTEREST YOU, but don't lose track of your schoolwork--it is the primary reason you're here, and everything else should take backseat. Have fun, stay sane, but always remember that the best times of your life are still ahead.

Grades are not the most important things in college, even if you are a pre-medical student. The most important thing is to find yourself and discover what you love and want to do. Studying is important, but do not neglect your social life and meeting new friends in the attempt to get into the best med school or grad school. Getting into the best medical school, but not having the network to back you up is miserable, remember to find the right balance for yourself.

A potential college student should choose a school that they best feel comfortable at and not a school that necesarily gives them the most money or has the highest academic ranking. Also, don't go to a school just because your friends from high school go there or nearby because chances are you won't even talk to them much after the first year and you'll meet bettter, life-long friends during freshmen orinetation or shortly afterwards.

Applying to college should be one of the most exciting experiences in a young persons life, not a period of unending stress. Finding the right college can be very difficult, but remember that there is a university out there that will fit all of your needs. In addition to universities own websites, there are hundreds of websites and other resources that you can use to get a feel for campuses across the country. Do not skimp on research! Pick a range of schools that you find attractive and spend more time getting to know those school. Ideally visit each school so your can get a chance to interact with students. Spend plenty of time working or your applications and make sure that your essays express genuine sentiments. Once you get to college the most important thing you can do is approach everything with an open mind. In order to get the most out of college spend your first semester exploring everything your university has to offer, from clubs to classes. Try new things and do not commit to a specific major just yet. Being undecided might be one of the best choices you ever make.

Always be open-minded when considering a college. Never be afraid to ask questions of current students and faculty. Their willingness to respond will say a lot about a university. Always try to visit a campus if its possible; visits give you an outlook you can't get from reading pamphlets. Don't get too caught up with statistics. They really don't mean all that much. But most importantly, try to visualize yourself as a student at each college you're considering. If you're having a hard time doing it or can't do it at all, chances are that college isn't a good fit for you. Remember that you're merely choosing where and how to spend the next four years of your life, not the entire thing. Good luck!

I would highly suggest choosing a college based on realistic expectations (must meet SAT and GPA ranges, etc). If anything, the singlemost factor that swayed me towards one college over another was the campus visit. I cannot emphasize the college campus visit enough. I picked Rice because I visited during Owl Days and had a blast! I met so many cool people there and overall had an incredible vibe at the college after being introduced to the college life there, including academic offerings, research opportunities, and clubs and activities. Also, the second I stepped onto Rice's campus, I knew it was the college for me. As cliche as it sounds, I had an epiphany and knew right away that Rice was perfect for me. In regard to making the most of the college experience, I think you need to get out of your comfort zone and get out there and make friends. Everyone's new, everyone's nervous, and everyone's in the same boat as you--so don't be afraid of putting yourself out there! Join clubs and activities and expand your social circles. And go to class too! Have a good balance between academics and fun.

For finding the right school: Focus on your dreams. What is it that you, the student, are really passionate about? Focus on that, and find some place where the challenges will make you stronger, and you can learn to the best of your ability, not just about the subjects in your course of study, but how also to become the best person you can be. For making the most of the experience: Stand upon your own two feet, revel in the quest for knowledge, and do not be discouraged when you don't always come out on top. Find friends who are just as avid as yourself and who represent the full spectrum of interests, majors, and joys in life. Don't be afraid of a little adversity, don't be afraid to work, as this builds character, and that is what the real world is looking for. Obey your principles and leave no regrets. HAVE FUN! Make sure you can look back on these short years fondly. Remember that the light at the end of the tunnel leads to more, bigger, better tunnels, and that good luck is preparation meeting opportunity.

Know why you're going to college: to prepare you for a career, to prepare you for grad school, to prepare you for professional school, for the "experience"......that at least narrows down the options.

These four years are the most important years of your life. They will define your career, your relationships, your future, and most of all, you. You must find the best college that will tailor to specifically you. Your school must provide for your needs: your chosen major, your favorite activities, your beliefs and mantras, your personality, and your freedom. The number one school may not be the best school for you. The most famous school may not be the best for you. The fastest, farthest, or most metropolitan college may not be the best for you. Only you know the best college for you. You must choose the college for you by outlining what you want for your future life. Next, you must research colleges that fit into the categories that you outlined ? do not focus on names and numbers, just focus on you. Narrow down your list to the schools that fill most of your needs and visit them if you can. The visit might change your mind about the school you placed on the back burner. When you do find the school that is for you, take it. You will not regret it if it is your choice.