Applying to college can be tricky, and applying as a high school senior without an idea of what you want to study is often even more challenging. The biggest reason I chose to apply to Rice was because it was clear from the beginning that I was applying to the entire university (I did name a school of study on my application). Going into O-Week, I actually had seven potential majors in mind, but through a process of elimination, I narrowed it down to either computer science, political science or civil engineering. All of these majors require completely different classes and have relatively high credit demands. This made me feel a bit of trepidation about what to register for my very first semester at Rice because I didn’t want to fall behind. But all of the stress I felt surrounding the uncertainty of my future dissolved by the end of O-Week. 

I went to multiple department presentations that detailed all of the opportunities that Rice has to offer for a specific major or program and learned what classes to take in the first semester. And during our academic planning sessions, O-Week advisors gave us insider information on how to create a balanced but effective schedule. I also met with a divisional advisor from both of the schools of study that I was interested in and showed them my planned schedule. This combination of both faculty and student mentors allowed me to gain a new perspective and make more informed decisions. 

I ended up registering for three intro classes, one for each of my three potential majors. I never fell behind, and I’m so grateful to share that my first Rice semester was challenging, but also “doable” and fascinating. Eventually, I decided to become a Civil Engineering major because the smaller but still highly specialized department felt like home to me and I can absolutely see myself enjoying this career in the future. I hope it is a comfort for prospective students to know that Rice will support you in pursuing whatever interests you!

-Brian, McMurtry ‘27 (Published on 09/16/2025)