<p>tenormadre, I think you will find a large number of Rice students and alumni who feel extremely strongly about the positive experiences they had there. In fact, my time at Rice echoes NYSkins’ to a surprisingly large extent. I, too, was accepted off the waitlist in 2006, after which I had a few days to choose between attending Rice or sticking with Notre Dame. I chose Rice, and I haven’t looked back since.</p>
<p>I also found that O-Week only confirmed that I had made the right decision. From the day I arrived for move-in, I felt that I had found a new family, and I went on to become very involved in my residential college, serving as a representative in our college government and eventually coordinating O-Week. I think I would go so far to say that the college system provided the most valuable aspects of my education at Rice; this is not to dismiss the academics, which are nothing if not rigorous, but I’m confident that I could have pursued a strong education at any number of schools. What Rice gave me through the college system was an opportunity to really grow into a leadership role in a way I had never done before. By my senior year, I was far more confident in my own abilities than I ever had been in high school, and I think the nurturing environment of the colleges definitely played a large part in that.</p>
<p>In fact, probably the only place where NYSkins’ and my experiences truly diverge would be in our reaction to Physics 111. I still consider that one of the best classes I have ever taken, and it helped me to realize that, while physics was definitely the area of study I wanted to pursue, it was going to be far from easy.</p>
<p>I can’t really speak much to the college music programs, but if your son is considering studying voice at Shepherd, he will be in very good hands. More importantly, though, anyone who has the enthusiasm and drive to get involved, be it in the college system, the overall student government, or any of the many other clubs and organizations on campus, will be warmly received at Rice, and will definitely come out stronger from the experience.</p>