Rice University TX 2007 (Off the Record)

Introduction from the Author

My sister, a fellow Rice alum, tells the story of the time she was grocery shopping in our small hometown of Festus, Missouri, wearing a sweatshirt that read, “RICE.” The teller looked up at the sweatshirt several times before saying, “Wheat.”

My sister raised her eyebrows, “Excuse me?”

“What about barley or corn?” replied the girl, sarcastically. “How random is your shirt? What if I had a shirt that just said, ‘OATS’ in bold print?” My sister then explained that it was the name of a university. The girl looked skeptical, but finished ringing up the groceries.

Outside of Texas and the world of academia, many people have never heard of Rice University (or at least, they had never heard of Rice before the school baseball team won the College World Series in the Spring of 2003). People that are knowledgeable about prestigious universities, however, will be impressed, and the average response from a Texas native is, “Wow, you go to Rice? You must be smart!” This slogan has actually been made into bumper stickers that read, “I go to Rice. I must be smart,” and are traditionally hung upside down on students’ car bumpers.

Rice has more to offer than a quirky sense of humor, high academic rankings, and a stellar baseball team. Rice also offers an exciting social scene, unique traditions, amazing research opportunities, a scenic campus located in an urban setting, and a vibrant, diverse student population.

Rice legend states that the University charter forbids any campus sidewalks or marked paths. William Marsh Rice, our founder, wanted Rice students to forge their own paths, rather than following the roads set neatly before them. While the University sidesteps this mandate by using the term “service roads,” the underlying intention remains. The Rice atmosphere is one that encourages self-exploration and self-government, where students are not afraid to try new things and step out of their comfort zones.

Make no mistake: as you make your college decision, you are choosing a home, a lifestyle, and a future. Where will you spend the next four years, and how will this decision shape the person you will become? Is Rice University the right place for you? This guidebook is a unique overview of Rice U—its strengths and weaknesses, through the words and opinions of actual students and alumni. I hope that, by reading this book, you will gain helpful insight into the reality of the Rice experience.

Julia Schwent, Author
Rice University