Rice University (Rice)

According to students, Rice University's greatest strengths "are its academic integrity and quality." That's borne out in the way that science labs "are generally taught with a genuinely unknown problem being presented at the beginning of the semester and students being trained in the methods to explore that problem." Or it's shown by how the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen "really supports projects and prototyping...as an undergraduate I've learned to design through hands-on, project-based classes." The collaborative spirit is alive and well in offerings like the Academic Fellows Program, which offers free tutoring sessions for and by students. There's also an outside-the-box thinking when it comes to assessments, like "the option to make a 30 minute scientific podcast instead of taking the final," explains one sophomore. This isn't unusual for first-years either; one notes that "instead of doing a bunch of writing and essays, I was tasked with creating...a TED Talk, which really lit a creative flame in me." Outside the classroom, "immersive internships" at places like NASA, State Farm, and Exxon are made possible by Rice's prime location in Houston, Texas.

One of the major drivers of that success, according to students, is the accessibility of the faculty on campus. "Professors will host talks outside of class" and "can also be found eating among students." One student enjoys going to German Table, "a meal held on Mondays by the German department for German speakers. It's a place for people to have natural conversations in German." Another, studying Jewish Immigration, is excited that they will be "traveling to New York City over spring break to interact directly with historical sites." Overall, professors are well-respected for "offering extra office hours, giving extensions on assignments, or just being someone to talk to."

Rice students are a multifaceted bunch: "Everyone has their interest in their major, of course, but there's no person not involved in something else too. I know a guy majoring in math who wants to write poetry. My roommate studies civil engineering but does South Asian dance." Another third-year student agrees, saying, "People are highly motivated in different ways, some in arts, others in engineering, and others in athletics; however, all of them interact with each other and share their passions."Many students appreciate that the "student body is very diverse," and the campus maintains "a large sense of community on all levels, whether it is in the residential colleges, the classroom or on campus in general." Students enjoy that the "typical Rice student is academically focused, but is willing to have a good time." Perhaps most importantly, "We all take pride in our 'Culture of Care,' in which we all take care of each other mentally, academically, and socially."

Undergrads praise Rice for doing "an amazing job of assimilating students," noting that a convivial vibe is generated by the way in which students are sorted into one of 11 colleges, in short, creating "a new home, a new family, and a brand-new experience that everyone should enjoy." One sophomore feels "so grateful to have a community of people that unconditionally support my academic and personal success." The school's "emphasis on community" is further developed through the active club scene, with figure skating, crochet, K-pop dance, and even a rocket-building group listed as favorite activities. Additionally, residential advisors and college magisters "act as a support system. Students can reach out to them for academic advice, career advice, life advice, or even recommendations for fun things to do around Houston." Not that it's particularly difficult to find things on-campus: students so often "picnic in the Central Quad" or hang out in residential areas that they happily self-describe themselves as "within the hedges." Rice also hosts campus-wide parties, as well as Beer Bike, a "combination intramural bicycle race and drinking competition." As one third-year student puts it, "People work on the weekdays and during the day on weekends, and then on Friday and Saturday everyone does something fun, whether partying or spending time with friends."