1.) “Can I live without Greek life?”
For some high school students, Greek life defines their perception of college life. They can’t imagine a weekend without a fraternity party on the calendar. If you are that type of student, consider the Greek life question seriously on your visit to Rice University. Rice has no fraternities or sororities, as our social life is defined by our residential college system. If you fear that you’ll be missing out on prime years of your social life by coming to Rice, don’t. The residential college system offers a lot of the perks of Greek life, like parties and friends, but without the downsides, like the stresses of rush.
Most students at Rice appreciate that we don’t need to “rush” or interview to feel like we belong at our colleges. When visiting Rice, stop by one of the colleges and get a sense of the living environment: you’ll see beach volleyball courts, hammocks, swing sets, and manicured lawns. There are plenty of fun things to do even without Greek life.
2.) “How much do I want to be known in college?”
At just under 4,000 students, Rice is such a small school, and it’s made even smaller by our residential college system. You will spend most of your time in a very tightknit environment where your residential college masters (faculty members who live alongside you) and college resident associates (staff or faculty members living alongside you) will become your friends and advocates. Masters and RAs intervene on your behalf should you have any problems in school or at home. They are there for you as a backup, and can provide as much or as little support as you need. But keep in mind that if you’re looking for a huge school that offers a lot of anonymity, Rice is not the place.
3.) “What about the urban vs. suburban vibe?”
While it’s true that Rice is in the city of Houston, Houston is not like most cities. Yes, we show up on College Board’s profile as a school in an “urban setting” in a “very large city,” but these descriptors aren’t entirely accurate. We’re minutes away from downtown Houston and the Museum District, but Houston is not exactly New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles. We do have our own eclectic mix of arts, culture, restaurants, and other mainstays of “city life,” but ultimately Houston is more like a large suburb.
If you’re coming from a small town, Houston is the perfect place to transition into urban life. And if you’re coming from the Big Apple, this tree-studded campus might just be the change of pace you’re looking for. During your visit, take a swing around Rice Village or check out the Museum of Fine Arts, just a fifteen-minute walk away.
4.) “How much do sports matter to me?”
Rice competes as an NCAA Division I school. This has definite advantages, as Rice students and alumni commonly have more pride for athletics than many Division 3 schools. Attending and supporting fellow Rice Owls on the field or at the track can really solidify school spirit. But let’s be clear that for most students, athletics aren’t their main focus. This means that the student section at games can be sparse at times, particularly so for weeknight games. Though the school is making strides to change this image, you should definitely think about whether you’re the type of person who needs the stadium packed and the parking lot full of tailgaters.
5.) “What activities do I envision myself getting involved with during college?”
Your visit to Rice is the perfect time to check out all of the clubs, organizations, and departments available. Think about where your strengths lie and what types of activities you’re interested in down the road. If it’s community service, definitely schedule a visit with the Community Involvement Center and check out the cool service opportunities available through the Rice Student Volunteer Program or the Alternative Spring Break program. If it’s research, consider dropping by the Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research to learn more about both on-campus and off-campus research initiatives in all departments and subject areas.
If it’s athletics, stop by the Rice Recreation Center and find out more about both the club and college sports Rice offers, everything from ultimate Frisbee to Powder Puff to soccer. No matter where your interests lie, Rice will have something just for you. Your campus visit is the perfect time to discover what that “something” is!
Miranda Roberts received a degree in sociology at Rice University in 2014. She considers the double Macchiato and Danish from Rice Coffeehouse the perfect way to start the day.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Rice University have fraternities or sororities?
- No. Rice has no fraternities or sororities; its social life is defined by the residential college system, which offers many perks of Greek life (parties, friends) without downsides like the stress of rush.
- How big is Rice University?
- Just under 4,000 students, made even smaller by the residential college system. Faculty masters and resident associates live alongside students and intervene on their behalf with school or home problems; if you want a huge school with anonymity, Rice is not the place.
- Is Rice University urban or suburban?
- College Board lists it as an urban setting in a very large city, but the author says Houston is more like a large suburb. The campus is minutes from downtown Houston and the Museum District, and the Museum of Fine Arts is a fifteen-minute walk away.
- Do Rice students care about athletics?
- Rice competes as an NCAA Division I school, and students and alumni commonly show more athletic pride than at many Division III schools. But for most students athletics aren't the main focus, so student sections can be sparse, especially for weeknight games.
- What service or research options can you explore on a Rice visit?
- For community service, visit the Community Involvement Center to learn about the Rice Student Volunteer Program and Alternative Spring Break. For research, stop by the Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research to hear about on-campus and off-campus initiatives in all departments.