Here’s my one caveat about Rice and just about any other university located in a big city: they’re expensive. I was a FGLI student and other than regular “C.A.R.E. packages” from home (Boomers will know what I’m talking about), I didn’t have a lot of walking around money. If it wasn’t for the meal plan, I probably would have starved. OTOH, the occasional slice of pizza? A coffee and donut? Middletown may be dull, but it’s relatively cheap.