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.

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
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
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