<p>I just finished my first semester at Rice. Here’s my experience with professors and class sizes:</p>
<p>I took a 100-level philosophy course, and there were 20-ish students in a very nice room that was big enough to house quite a few more. Even though there were only 20 students or so, the class had a TA who actually helped out a lot. He delivered two complete lectures (and they were very good), he graded a number of assignments (with really extensive, kind, and helpful feedback), and he was always there in addition to the professor to answer questions about the course.</p>
<p>On the other end of the spectrum I participated in a VIGRE seminar. We met once a week in a classroom, and there were three of us plus the professor. I spent one evening one-on-one in the professor’s office for probably five or more hours putting together a poster for a poster conference. In other words–extreme amounts of individual attention.</p>
<p>I had a 300-level math course (analysis II) in which there were again around 20-ish students (but it seems to me there were fewer here than in the philosophy course). There was a grader for this class, but he never surfaced–he just existed in the background somewhere. Nevertheless the professor was extremely kind and always willing to help any student out.</p>
<p>My other two courses were both 400-level math courses, and they both had just around 10 students. Despite being math courses, there was a lot of discussion and interaction with the professors. One of the professors after the final lecture took me, a graduate student from the class, a visiting student and a visiting professor out to eat lunch at the faculty dining club.</p>
<p>I say hi to every one of my teachers whenever I pass them and frequently even have short conversations with them.</p>