Rice is full of amazing students who come from a diverse set of backgrounds and interests, and we are so excited for you to meet some of them! Our owl guides are passionate about sharing their Rice experience and eager to show you a glimpse of what it’s like to be a Rice Owl.
Milton '26
Sacramento, California
Residential College: Wiess
Why did you choose Rice?
When I visited Rice as a prospective student, I immediately felt a sense of community on the campus. Everyone seemed very genuine and always happy to help whether they were helping another student or just a random stranger. Even though Rice is far from my original home, I felt that I could establish a new home for myself on campus.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, ENVIRONMENTAL, RESEARCH, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Miroslav '27
Houston, Texas
Residential College: Sid Richardson
What is your favorite Rice experience?
One of my favorite Rice experiences was the De Lange conference I attended in my second semester. One of the guests lecturers was Dr. Frances Arnold, who is the 2018 Nobel laureate in Chemistry and one of the people whose work inspired me to start doing Chemistry on the very first place. She also participated in two episodes of The Big Bang Theory, which is my favorite show. Thankfully to Rice, that day I took a picture with one of my greatest idols.Interests: ENVIRONMENTAL, RESEARCH, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Nikhil '27
Singapore, Singapore
Residential College: Hanszen
What is your favorite question to be asked on tour and why?
My favorite question to be asked on tour is, "What makes Rice different from other universities?" because it allows me to showcase the unique aspects of Rice that truly set it apart from other top universities. I enjoy discussing how Rice's collaborative spirit, supportive community, and commitment to inclusivity create an environment where students not only excel academically but also grow personally and form lifelong connections. This question presents an opportunity to convey why Rice isn't just a university but a transformative experience that nurtures both intellectual curiosity and individual well-being.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, MUSIC
Princess '27
Atlanta, Georgia
Residential College: Brown
Why did you choose Rice?
I chose Rice because of the extensive resources available to students, and the welcoming atmosphere which allows students to be more collaborative than competitive.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, RESEARCH, SOCIAL JUSTICE, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Priya '26
Dayton, Ohio
Residential College: Sid Richardson
Why did you choose Rice?
I chose Rice because of the amazing Pre-Med opportunities and for the close knit student body.Interests: ATHLETICS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, RESEARCH
Radhani '26
Katy, Texas
Residential College: Sid Richardson
What is your favorite Rice experience?
My favorite rice experience is not necessarily just one moment but the many late nights I’ve spent with friends cooking or doing Karaoke. I have found that I have the most fun on these random unplanned nights where we just get to relax and take a break from schoolwork.Interests: ARTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, MUSIC
Rahul '27
Cupertino, California
Residential College: Martel
Why did you choose Rice?
I chose Rice because of its unique Sport Analytics major, the vast network of connections that the sport management department has, and its reputation of having the “happiest” student body (which I find to be very true).Interests: ATHLETICS, MUSIC, RESEARCH
Ramon '27
Chicago, Illinois
Residential College: Duncan
What is your favorite question to be asked on tour and why?
My favorite question to be asked on tour is which residential college I am part of. This gives me the opportunity to show incoming applicants the strong ties associated to the residential colleges. The meaning it holds to be part of Duncan and how it's now part of my identity.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Rima '26
Accra, Ghana
Residential College: Brown
Why did you choose Rice?
It has a small tight-knit community and a lot of options for STEM majors.Interests: ARTS, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL
Rita '25
Herndon, Virginia
Residential College: Lovett
Why did you choose Rice?
I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to study, but I felt reassured that Rice had top-caliber academics in virtually all departments that were accessible to anyone. I wanted to go to a school in a big city that still maintained a safe and homey campus. I hoped to discover the sense of tight-knit community that I could always lean on that sounded too good to be true. Now I'm here, and I have found just that.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, MUSIC, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Rocio '27
Houston, Texas
Residential College: Wiess
What is your favorite Rice experience?
My favorite Rice experience is so far has definitely been O-week. Being placed into my home college, Wiess, and getting to know everyone was such a fun time. We all bonded and although it was a very intense few days, they were definitely memorable. Since everyone was new, we all branched out of our comfort zone and learned about ourselves and people around us. The friendships and memories created during that week are ones that I hold onto dearly.Interests: ATHLETICS, CULTURE, MUSIC, RESEARCH
Ryan '26
Ocala, Florida
Residential College: Jones
What is your favorite question to be asked on tour and why?
What is your favorite class that you have ever taken because the classes I give are one unrelated to my major and it is super fun to see everyone's reactions.Interests: RESEARCH, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Salvador '27
Florence, South Carolina
Residential College: Duncan
Why did you choose Rice?
Plain and simple, I chose Rice for the amazing community. Any college has the opportunity to provide you an education that can take you far in life, but not a single other college provides an amazing education in a way that changes you for the better. Everything at Rice is about the students! Even housing is designed to bring people together through the residential college system! Very blatantly put, Rice gives you a stellar education while also giving you a community that will build you up.Interests: ATHLETICS, ENVIRONMENTAL, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Sara '26
Wrocław, Poland
Residential College: Hanszen
What is your favorite question to be asked on tour and why?
I am often asked where I am from, and then how I ended up studying in the USA and at Rice. I like being asked this question as my background demonstrates that students at Rice are very unique and come from all over the world. I also like this question because my journey of coming to the States is interesting and special.Interests: ATHLETICS, CULTURE, RELIGION
Swetha '26
Odessa, Texas
Residential College: Wiess
Why did you choose Rice?
Rice has been the best school in Texas and I wanted a fresh start. Here at Rice, the diversity, community, and academics are the main reason why I wanted to come to Rice and considered Rice as my dream school. The diverse community has let me meet so many people whether it be through clubs or my residential college. The academics are rigorous, but is rewarding to be a part of once you study and meet other like minded people in your class.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, RESEARCH
Tegan '26
Pearland, Texas
Residential College: Sid Richardson
What is your favorite question to be asked on tour and why?
I like being asked why I chose Rice because I can talk about the supportive and hard-working community of Rice students.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, RESEARCH, SOCIAL JUSTICE
Tinde '26
Houston, Texas
Residential College: Brown
What is your favorite Rice experience?
Being on the RASA (Rice African Student Association) dance team. I've gotten to perform at so many different places and with people from different parts of Africa. That experience has really shaped the type of student that I am today.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, MUSIC, RELIGION
Virginia '27
New York City, New York
Residential College: Wiess
Why did you choose Rice?
The Culture of Care. I see it in both my academic and social lives here. My teachers and peers offer me constant support and opportunities in my scholarly and career goals without overwhelming pressure or competition. Additionally, every person I've met at Rice is genuine, unique, and caring. I've never witnessed so many remarkable individuals in one place and I admire Rice's ability to bring all these special people together to cultivate COC. Even from just visiting campus before I matriculated, I could feel Rice's incredible culture emanating from the campus and students, and I knew that I wanted to enroll in Rice to contribute to that community myself.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, MUSIC, RELIGION
Wenshi '27
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Residential College: Hanszen
Why did you choose Rice?
Unlike others who pledged to be lawyers or doctors, I never set myself on a particular path. However, I found myself constantly seeking connections among interdisciplinary subjects. From my interests in music, humanities, and technology, I enjoy discovering the common ground that allows the in-depth exploration of all. Only at Rice that the diverse offering of courses lies where I may expand my horizons. With the freedom to take classes across seven divisions of study, I won’t be limited to just one field as a musi; in fact, I may take advantage of the comprehensive curriculum and distribution courses by investing in hands-on learning driven by genuine curiosity. Whether it is taking a cross-disciplinary course in AI History, fiddling music technology with Lilie Lab entrepreneurship, or hopping on a summer trip to France with CLIC, I can see myself thriving in an environment where even the craziest of my dream can turn into reality.Interests: ARTS, CULTURE, MUSIC, RELIGION
Zabrina '26
Houston, Texas
Residential College: McMurtry
What is your favorite Rice experience?
Joining Rice Bhangra has been integral to my amazing Rice experience. I love weekly practices with our mini community of people from all backgrounds and residential colleges. I especially enjoy the opportunity to connect with my Punjabi culture and share such a fun dance at showcases.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, RESEARCH, SOCIAL JUSTICE
Zhibo (Michael) '26
Shanghai, China
Residential College: Lovett
What is your favorite question to be asked on tour and why?
I like being asked about the curriculum and academic planning at Rice because I was amazed by the flexibility and variability of our courses, as well as the endless possibilities to explore your genuine interests and combine majors. Also, there are just so many resources and programs specifically for supporting your academic planning.Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, MUSIC, STUDENT LEADERSHIP
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