VISIT

Meet Our Owl Guides

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.

Tamara '29

Honolulu, Hawaii

Residential College: Martel

What is your favorite Rice experience?
My favorite experience at Rice so far has been Orientation Week or O-Week. Prior to applying, I had no idea about O-week and was terrified to start college. Yet instantly, once I stepped foot into Martel, I felt at home. Although it was a little overwhelming at first, the fun energy that all the advisors brought made me feel welcome and I quickly got to know and love my O-week family. I loved going on late night adventures and competing with the other new Martelians. Finally, by the end of the week, I felt ready to take on the new experiences of college and was comforted that I already had a group of friends I could talk to.

Interests: ARTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, RESEARCH
Valeria '29

San Salvador, El Salvador

Residential College: Baker

Why did you choose Rice?
Moving to a new country alone is not an easy decision, but Rice offered exactly what I was looking for. I was initially attracted to apply to Rice for its green campus, warm location, and outstanding academic reputation. Nonetheless, in the end I decided to choose Rice because of the financial aid available to meet my needs. The amount of support I was offered was very unique to Rice. It was very important for me to attend a university with that type of personal care which I hoped to find in other areas as well. I liked the 6:1 faculty ratio as it helps to have a closer relationship with professors. Moreover, the residential college system felt like a good place to build community in an environment where meeting new people can feel intimidating.

Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, RESEARCH, SOCIAL JUSTICE
Victoria '27

Glenview, Illinois

Residential College: Baker

Why did you choose Rice?
I chose Rice because of the community. Rice's campus is a true embodiment of the Culture of Care, filled with people who genuinely want to lift you up and see you succeed. The opportunities, support services, and members of our community come together to form an environment that nourishes learning and prepares students for success in whatever future lies ahead of them.

Interests: ARTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, RESEARCH
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
Zach '28

Missouri City, Texas

Residential College: Hanszen

Why did you choose Rice?
As a native Houstonian, Rice was always in the back of my mind as a good school. It wasn't until my senior year of high school when I really started to research what Rice was all about. The medical Spanish programs, abundant clinical opportunities for pre-med students as well as research opportunities for the humanities, the Culture of Care, and the sense of collaboration and community—all of it tied into what I wanted to get out of my college experience. I'm so lucky to have chosen Rice!

Interests: COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURE, MUSIC, RELIGION
Zuri '29

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Residential College: Sid Richardson

What is your favorite Rice experience?
My favorite Rice experience was during O-Week. Sid has a tradition called “Sid-Skates” and my O-Week group spent the entire trip giggling and struggling to get across the ice. In that moment, I knew that I had built relationships that would continue throughout my Rice career. The magic of getting so close with people I met a week ago is something so specific to Rice culture.

Interests: ARTS, CULTURE, SOCIAL JUSTICE