Sorry to be a bit late on this, but what is the “self guided tour” being discussed here? That sounds exactly like what we are looking for as we plan a visit to campus this summer, but I don’t see anything that sounds like that on the website. There’s a virtual map experience that I guess you could pull up on your phone and use as a guide - is that what we are talking about? Thanks for any input.
I could be wrong but I think there were a few tour days set up for admitted students which is likely what people are referring to.
But, I’d call admissions and see what your options are and/or what they expect them to be this summer.
Before Covid, Rice students conducted walking campus tours for prospective students. That stopped over a year ago. As @PrdMomto1 says, Rice knew lots of admitted students would be visiting campus between the time admission decisions went out and May 1. Rice did not have its traditional Owl Days or admitted student events. Instead Rice set up tents at various points on campus with maps, swag, and masked students available to answer questions. Rice has recently relaxed the masking requirement outside on campus. The Covid cases in Houston are rapidly declining and the CDC is issuing new guidelines for gatherings. Perhaps admissions will relaunch in person tours sometime this summer. Contact the admissions office to find out what the options are.
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Did not realize how old this was.
Question: Re: TB Testing- Can DS get the test done here in Canada prior to going to Rice in the fall? Does it have to be done in US? Thanks.
Not sure if you saw the pm I sent you but Rice has a department that assists international students with their unique needs/questions. You might want to reach out to them:
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Congratulations to all parents of incoming Rice Owls for the fall of 2022. Your owl will soar at Rice. We have some veteran Rice parents on this board who are happy to answer any questions. You should have now received an invitation to the Rice Parent to Parent Facebook group. It is also a great resource for incoming (and veteran) parents. It is a closed group. If your child is enrolled at Rice they will admit you if you send them a request.
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Hello, just wanted to greet everyone. Proud Owl parent here, went to Owl Together at the end of October and it was so much fun. I didn’t see my owl as much as I wanted as they were very busy. My owl is in Hanszen, in Old Sid. I guess they will be moving into New Hanszen sometime in the new semester. Anyone else’s owl in Hanszen? If not, where? My owl is enjoying the experience so far, is loving the food, intramurals, social life and events! 7 days until the owl flies home for Christmas.
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Does Rice like to provide interviews to most of their applicants? Did you request it or they contacted you?
My student scheduled an interview on the website I think.
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I believe you have to request an interview, and there’s a fairly short window to do so. I would check on it asap. My daughter requested an interview last year, and it was conducted over zoom a few weeks later. She was admitted RD; who knows whether it mattered, but I would guess it is a good way to show demonstrated interest.
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You can request an interview with an alumnus on the application portal after you submit your application. Whether or not you get one will depend on whether there is an alum in your area available. When my D applied several years ago she requested an interview immediately after submitting her application and was not able to get one. I think it’s because she submitted her application pretty close to the due date and there are not a lot of alums where we live. But…she was still admitted so it didn’t hurt her. I think asking it good though as it shows interest.
They also have an online portal for requesting virtual interviews with admissions. They are currently full but sometimes random times open.
I would recommend requesting an alum interview and keeping an eye on the virtual interview calendar to see if something opens up.
https://riceadmission.rice.edu/portal/virtual-interview
Rice definitely does not try to interview everyone. They will interview who they can that requests an interview but they are a relatively small school with not a huge alum network…and not all alums volunteer to interview.
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Hello all, welcome to the new Owl Parents! I have to say that our experience has been great! I didn’t get to Owltogether this year as it was earlier (Sept) but still went for a visit in Oct. My Owl decided to live off campus this year and then will be back on campus next year, hoping uppperclassmen housing will be better. He is so happy at Rice (MechE student) and Kudos to the residential college. Even though he’s not on campus, he is very connected to his res college’s doings and leadership. He was on hand helping with O-Week this year and loved it so much! Just stopping in to encourage those new parents, you’ll never be sorry your child went to Rice!
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Hello! I have an incoming freshman. We are ordering spring semester AP exams now. Can someone explain how the distribution courses work for Rice. My D is taking AP psych and AP macroeconomics this semester and I saw Rice does give credit for these exams. If my D is majoring in CS would these credits be needed for her degree? Do they count toward distribution course credits or are those distribution courses ones you have to take at Rice? Thank you for any help.
Rice’s distribution requirements are described here - it’s essentially three classes in each of three distribution groups (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences/engineering). Classes taken towards majors count towards those distribution requirements - e.g. your CS student will fulfill their Group III requirements naturally.
Rice awards credits for AP scores of 4 or 5 on many exams, and some of those credits count for distribution requirements (but not many). You can see the current list (subject to change each year), and some more context on the AP Page. Right now, a 4 or 5 on the AP Psychology exam will fulfill one of the three requirements for Group II; Macroeconomics will not fulfill a distribution requirement, but still count as credit towards graduation.
Good luck to your daughter!
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D22 had two of her three Natural Sciences distribution requirements filled by making a 5 on AP Bio. She is thrilled that she will only have to take one science class in her whole Rice career - and no math at all!
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Waving hi to all the owl parents! My DS (mechE) graduated a long time ago but it was a wonderful experience and he still gets together with his mechE buddies annually!
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Thank you! Also I just now noticed on the AP credit list on the very right it tells you if it counts for the distribution requirement..totally missed that before 
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My daughter also knocked out most of her math and science requirements with AP credits. The credits made it easier for her to double major.
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