Out-of-staters often have a lot of reservations about Rice University, whether because of stereotypes, myths, or flat out lies. As an applicant from the East Coast, I understand many of them and over the last four years, I’ve debunked most. Let’s take a look and review some of the most common concerns.
1.) “It’ll be so crazy hot in Houston!”
As an East Coaster, I was used to having all four seasons, including snowy Christmases. And I wasn’t used to being killed by heat waves. Let’s be real, here, Houston weather is infamous for its summertime heat. But to be honest, you’ll escape the worst parts of the summer because you most likely won’t be on campus when school lets out in early May. And Rice makes sure everyone freezes indoors in the buildings. Herzstein Hall is notorious among students for its almost subzero temperatures, to the point where a lot of environmental clubs on campus have campaigned to turn down the air conditioning. Houston also has fairly awesome weather throughout the rest of the year and remember, that’s the part of the year you’re actually in Houston for. In both fall and spring, and even some parts of the winter, you’ll find students lounging in hammocks or playing beach volleyball on the courts outside of their residential colleges.
2.) “Texas is full of cowboys/rednecks/hillbillies”
I get it, Texas can be a foreign world for out of staters. And it’s true that Texas doesn’t exactly have the best stereotypes. While I can assure you that I had the same worries coming from out of state, I can also assure you that Houston is a fairly metropolitan place. The students and faculty at Rice don’t match up at all to any of the Texas stereotypes you’ve heard about. The one place you will see cowboy boots and belt buckles is the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a huge month-long event in February and March that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. But trust me, the rodeo is a Houston staple that you absolutely don’t want to miss. Rice students always get discounted tickets (about $15) to see some of the best performers and concert artists. But beyond the rodeo and all its fried, sugary glory; you don’t have to worry about living in a sea of cowboy hats.
3.) “I won’t belong if I don’t have conservative political beliefs.”
This is a real concern for a lot of high school students. Texas gets a reputation for being a conservative state well, maybe because it is one, by an overwhelming margin. But Houston is fairly cosmopolitan maybe even surprisingly so. In fact, a study released in 2014 most major cities in Texas lean liberal. Rice’s James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy is an incredible nonpartisan resource for the campus and the surrounding Houston community whether you’re interested in politics or not. You’ll find that the Baker Institute hosts a great mix of speakers and events that draw crowds from all sides of the political spectrum.
4.) “Rice? What’s that?”
One concern that you may have as an out-of-state applicant is Rice’s reputation. As an East Coast applicant, I definitely sensed that a lot of my friends and teachers didn’t know much about Rice and didn’t really know why I chose it. I chose Rice because of its stellar commitment to the undergraduate experience and its top-notch academics. I also chose Rice because it seemed different to me after all, I’d never left the East Coast before going to college. At the end of the day, Rice is a strong school. There are other strong schools in the country that may have more star power among certain circles, but don’t let this deter you from attending Rice. The circles that need to know Rice for example, employers and graduate schools know that Rice is a school with a huge reputation. And these are the circles that are important for your future.
5.) “Where’s the diversity?”
If you look at the official published statistics outlining Rice’s undergraduate population, you’ll see that about half of our students come from the great state of Texas. I know what you’re thinking: that’s way too many Texans. But trust me, Texas is a huge state you have to fly from one side of the state to the other, unless you plan on doing some serious road tripping and we’ve been named one of the best schools for diversity. Rice students are an eclectic mix of students from around the world, and the residential college system really fosters strong ties among people you’d never think would be friends. And if you’re still worried that Rice is going to be “too Texan,” see point number two for reassurance.
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.