Visit Report by Father of the Boarder (Member since July 20 2005 with 284 posts) Visit Date - July 2006
Visit to Rice University in July 2006 by Father of the Boarder (Student, HS Class of 2005)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
No - We did it by telephone at a later date. Do not ask me why. Information Session:
Yes - Really more of a combination with the tour. There was a room for the same at the end, but we had a plane to catch. Campus Tour:
Yes - I liked it a lot. The campus of 2900 students is as big as a campus for 3 times as many. It has some sprawl, but not so much that you think it is another Duke. Classroom Visit:
No - My bad
Rice University Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent -
Kids are nice, bit nerdy, but very friendly.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
Could not ask for more.
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent -
We arrived on one of those classic cloudless days in the spring when the weather is 75 degrees and the humidity has not yet arrived for the summer. Oh, everything was so pristeen.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
Buildings are sharp.
Dormitories: 5 - Excellent -
GOOD ones are the new ones.
BAD ones are just normal older dorm rooms which o not have the amenities of today. Never will be comparable to the Harvard Yard or Yale dorms for freshmaen, but then again who is.
Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good -
Pretty good for a school in the middle of a major metroplitan area. In fact, really good under those circumstances.
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
Great place to go.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 5 - Excellent -
Like a Palo Alto or Coral Gables, this is a university surrounded by an A+ bedroom community. And, you just a hop away fromt he football stadium and old Astrodome.
City/Town/Community: 5 - Excellent -
Hard to answer as Rice is situated in one part of Houston, and there definately is another part of town not nearly as lush or pleasant.
Campus Visit Notes for Rice University:
Visit Description:
What is there to really not like?
Weather is great.
Campus is beautiful.
Academics are top notch.
Small school with big school feel. And, even athletics is competitive in baseball and basketball.
Multiethnic school gives it a unique air.
Easiest way to answer this question is with one of two questions: (1) name another school of equal academic stature which is located in the warm weather of the USA? (Not many, very few); and (2) name another top notch school which has more than 2000 students but less than 3000 students in the USA? Go to your lists and you will see that there are almost none!
Oh yeah, parents look at the bill and realize that your kid's acceptance is the equivalent of a $4k scholarship IF HE OR SHE pays FULL TUITION.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
Almost on the campus. Great hotel next to hospital and by the art galleries. Parents, splurge and stay at the old Warwick. I checked the web and have this news: Hotel ZaZa Houston (formerly Wyndham Warwick Hotel) 5701 South Main (.38 mi.) 800-298-6199 ph
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
The art area is full of good food -- about .5 miles from the campus. And, by the football field's parking lot and stadium, there is Rice Village. Like a large outdoor mall with chain quality restaurants and some mom and pops. Popular place for the k
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
Parking was not a problem.
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Kids are nice, bit nerdy, but very friendly.
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Pretty good for a school in the middle of a major metroplitan area. In fact, really good under those circumstances.