Rice University in Houston, Texas is a great example of a pebble in a very large pond. The state of Texas is large in both area and population. Sitting in midst of one of its largest cities, Houston , is Rice University a small, private, co-educational college of only approximately 3,000 undergraduates. Indeed the undergraduate population of Rice University is clearly dwarfed by other mega state operated facilities in Texas. Still Rice University in Houston, Texas continues to be well known throughout the nation as a quality institution. A review of Rice University in Houston, Texas can perhaps help to explain the reasons why this is so.
A Few Quality Students Since its inception in the early 1900’s Rice University has worked to develop a tradition of excellence in its undergraduate programs. To that end the school is deliberate about its acceptance policies and direct in its provisions for academic facilities. One reason for the solid reputation of Rice University today certainly settles around the fact that this is a small school that is highly competitive. There are many colleges in the United States where more than half of the applicants are accepted.
At Rice University today only one out of every four applicants will receive a letter of acceptance. Those chosen to attend Rice are top quality students. In fact, should you be fortunate enough to go to Rice University you will find yourself taking class at a school where, according to school statistics, 88% of your classmates will have graduated in the top 10% of their high school class. You will be hard pressed to find a brighter group of undergraduates in more than a very few universities.
Not only does Rice accept top quality students, it limits the overall number of students in the student body. By holding the number to approximately 3,000 every effort can be made to provide those who do attend Rice with a quality education. This kind of educational product does not go unnoticed for long. As a result Rice consistently makes its way onto lists of top colleges and universities in many different categories of performance.
Lots of Diversity. Rice University did not start out as highly diverse institution. To the contrary it had in place policies that were clearly there to protect the school from what might be considered unwanted elements. But Rice University today shows itself to be a leader in maintaining a policy of diversity in its student body. Statistics show that Rice University includes among its undergraduates 16% Asian Americans, 12% Hispanics and 7% African Americans.
In its effort to provide a quality undergraduate education Rice University has also been successful in reaching out beyond state boundaries. Rice University , sitting as it does in the midst of one of the nations largest states, might have been content to simply recruit chiefly within state. While plenty of Texans do graduate from Rice University an almost equal number of graduates come to Rice University from across the nation.
The willingness of Rice University to open its highly competitive academic programs to students without prejudice is the hallmark of an institution that is likely to gain both national and international notice and acclaim as Rice University has in fact done.
A Unique “College System”. If you review Rice University, Houston, Texas, you will not be able to miss its unique college system that flavors undergraduate life at Rice from day one. When students come to Rice University they are randomly assigned to one of nine “residential colleges” This colleges become the basis for the social life of students at Rice. Students stay within the same “college” throughout their years at Rice.
Students select their academic majors from among many available choices arranged in undergraduate schools such as Humanities, Sciences, Engineering or Music . Each college is made up of students drawn from every available academic major so that residential life is a blend of all academic elements on campus. This unique system creates a real feeling camaraderie among those who are living in the same college together that lasts throughout the undergraduate experience and often well beyond. It is a living arrangement that seems to work for the administration and the student body.
And Besides That… There really are a lot of very powerful motivating factors provided for those who might be interested in reviewing Rice University besides its academic excellence, diversity and college system. The question is what will move you to take a further look. If you are an athlete or someone who enjoys sports maybe knowing that the school teams at Rice who go by the name “The Owls” play at the Division I level in NCAA intercollegiate play which means you have the opportunity to get involved as an athlete or a spectator in the top level of colleges sports. Rice University is recognized internationally as a research institution. The school houses a variety of institutes and think tanks and is known for its work in medical and scientific research .
Finally, you will be pleased and surprised to discover that Rice University is not the most expensive undergraduate school in the nation. In fact tuition here is set at $23,000 which places Rice University well below many of the top notch Eastern schools. If you are looking for a quality of education without a back breaking bottom line perhaps it is time for you to initiate your own review of Rice University.
