Rice University

Date: Dec 21 2011
Major: Sociology (This Major's Salary over time)
Rice is pretty much like heaven. I love this school and everything about it. I came from a high school where people looked down on you if you were smart or cared about anything beyond our little town. Rice is the greatest experience I could've ever asked for, and every day I'm glad I chose it.

Everyone here is incredibly friendly and engaged. People are smart, inspired, and passionate about the world around them. Everyone is pretty much friends with everyone - people hang out with certain people more than others, but you can always sit at a new table or reach out to a new friend group. There's not really "popularity" - everyone is equally well-liked. People don't place any emphasis on material things (cars, clothes, etc.) which is such a relief. I only wish I could stay here for more than four years, because I know the real world will be much more superficial and cliquey.

Rice inspires students to be leaders and take control of their own governance. The residential colleges are like little families, completely student-run. I've grown so much as a leader and as a person since I've been here. Rice offers you exposure to amazing role models (upperclassmen, professors, mentors) and the tools to push yourself far beyond what you thought you were previously capable of. There are resources and opportunities EVERYWHERE and I have never felt so inspired anywhere else in my life.

The coursework itself is rigorous but doable. Everyone is smart and working hard, so campus life naturally follows the rhythm of exam schedules and such. People work hard but also relax - there are always parties, events, etc. going on throughout the weekend. I've never felt bored here. I play a lot of intramural sports, plus I'm involved in several campuswide community service organizations. I fell in love with my major during the fall of my freshman year, and now plan to go to grad school and get a PhD in it. The department is amazing and the professors are way more focused on teaching than on their own research. They've gone out of their way to talk to me about everything from academic plans to life goals/hopes/dreams.

Rice is an amazing place. It's hard to put it into words, exactly, but I'll try my best…Rice is a place where you will be loved and accepted unconditionally, for exactly who you are when you arrive. Your friends, RAs, Masters, and professors will help you in your tough times and share your joy throughout the good times. They will inspire you to be a better person and you will grow tremendously throughout your time here. I cannot imagine being anywhere else and when I have children, I will certainly encourage them to be Owls as well!