When Ian, McMurtry ‘26, first arrived at Rice, he knew he was interested in policy and law school, yet he wasn’t quite sure what that pathway would look like in practice. What he didn’t expect was how Rice would allow him to bridge these two fields in so many ways — both inside the hedges and beyond.

From unlucky dice rolls to a $400 startup grant, Jonathan, Will Rice ‘26, shares how a passion for board games transformed his journey at Will Rice College — proving that at Rice, quirky hobbies can lead to BIG impacts.

Laylee, Sid Rich ‘29, shares how she used Rice’s flexible distribution system to move beyond the "typical" pre-med experience. Discover how she bridged the gap between rigorous STEM coursework and the human side of healthcare through medical humanities and language studies.

Maha, a PhD student in the Human Factors and Human-Computer Interaction program, came to Rice looking for a way to bridge different fields of study and found a community along the way. Here’s how becoming president of the student chapter of the Rice Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) turned an educational journey into a shared mission.

Finding the perfect place to "lock in" is a rite of passage for every Rice Owl. After a year of exploring inside the hedges, Nina, Brown ‘29, shares her definitive guide to the best study spots at Brown and on campus.

Exploring Houston's restaurant scene doesn’t have to be complicated. Using her student METRO card and the RideMETRO app, Emily, Sid Rich ‘28, has navigated the city’s best food halls, farmer’s markets and eateries! See how she turned a transit perk into a gateway for discovering the city.

Whether you’ve collected rocks since childhood or stumbled upon the field during college, Ainsley, Baker '26, shares how the Weiss School of Natural Sciences provides the flexibility, community and field-based experiences to help map out a path in EEPS.

Being a student at the Shepherd School of Music isn't just practicing your musical craft to perfection. It's exploring your passions across Rice with our world-class faculty and resources. Follow Cirdan, Will Rice '28, through a week in his life as a Cello Performance major and Business minor. Check out the video below!

For Isabella, Hanszen ‘26, working at an archaeological site transformed classroom theory into a tool for sharing stories from the past. Excavating the Varner-Hogg Plantation in Brazoria County provided the chance to see how raw data can bring lost narratives to life, while also sharpening the analytical skills she needs in her future legal career.

At Rice, if you can’t find a community, you build your own! Katie, Jones ‘26, took this to heart by founding the JiBroAdway theater committee and serving as an RHA. Discover how O-Week traditions led her to lead research roles and musical showcases.

Trading small-town Mississippi vibes for the energy of the nation’s fourth-largest city, Abigail, Sid Richardson '26, spent her four years at Rice diving into Houston’s endless opportunities. See how she used her free student METRO Pass to explore beyond the hedges!

Once a self-described "stiff and awkward" dancer, Nikita, Baker '27, used the freedom of the Rice experience to trade her gym routine for the rhythms of Indian dance, Latin dance and step. See how exploring new campus traditions transformed Niki from a hesitant beginner into a confident performer!