Rice University Visit Report by Charmelody

Visit Activities:

Information Session: Yes - The information session covered mainly the university's history and the different aspect of campus life. A lot of time was given to explaining and promoting their house system.

Campus Tour: Yes - The tour guide took us around the main quad, the student center, the engineering and architecture departments, and a dorm. Everything looked incredibly well cared for.

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Campus:

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Everyone we saw was really nice. Our tour guide was very friendly and outgoing.

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Everyone answered my questions very nicely. The admissions officer was especially helpful with financial aid questions.

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It's absolutely beautiful. Shaded lanes, Mediterranean architecture, and wonderful landscaping really make Rice stand out. The campus gives off a feeling of total isolation from the city of Houst

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Everything was incredibly clean and well-kept.

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They're very spacious. Standard two bed, two desk, shared bathroom with one other double. Adequate space, and not "box" like.

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It's pretty much isolated from the city. I felt safe the entire time. Also, the surrounding area looked relatively well-off.

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Off-Campus:

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Looks very nice generally. Near the medical district. Rice village is nearby(lots of shopping and such)

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The area immediately around it was good. We didn't go all around Houston, but the parts we saw were not bad-looking.

Campus Visit Notes for Rice University

Visit Description:

The Shepard School of Music-A newer building. Lots of offices and practice rooms. The lighting is amazing; sunlight floods in everywhere. Two courtyards are placed in the building. Some practice rooms look out onto the yard. The auditorium was in good state, didn't see the practice one.

Engineering School-Looks like some psychedelic Small-world take off. Quite fun. =)

Architecture school-Each student gets their own studio. 6 year program. Incredibly high ceilings, light was a big part of the architecture of the building. Only accepts about 25 students a year.

The parking wasn't particularly well situated to the bulk of the academic buildings, but shuttles run out to the free parking lots every couple of minutes.

The Information Session basically just reiterated everything you can find on the Rice website.

All in all, it was a very successful trip, and Rice is now my number one choice in schools.

Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:

We stayed at the nearest Best Western to the university. I wouldn't recommend it. The service wasn't particularly helpful.