craswell
Junior Member
Posts: 79 
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Post by craswell on Apr 12, 2021 1:54:10 GMT
My son was accepted into Rice University in Houston and he is deciding between Rice and one other school. He's never been to Houston or Texas (we live in the Chicago area). He and my husband are making a quick visit this week to look at the university and the surrounding areas, but I know there are a number of Houston-area peas.
What advice or concerns would you have for a college student in Houston? We are not particularly concerned about safety; my son is very city-savvy. My biggest concern is the hurricanes - we've never experienced a hurricane or anything close. My son's biggest concern is the hot and humid weather. Anything else we should be concerned about? Thank you!
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Post by katiekaty on Apr 12, 2021 1:58:49 GMT
The Rice campus is beautiful, lots of shade trees, spread out, need a bicycle to get around, lots of running paths, etc. if he got accepted to Rice, he’s damn lucky, one of the finest academic schools in the US and definitely nothing I would encourage my child to consider turning down. An education there in likened to an Ivy League college here in the south! You should be very proud and happy for him!
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Post by supersoda on Apr 12, 2021 2:06:58 GMT
Congrats! Rice is a great school! One of my kids toured Rice, and I recall that it is in a nice part of town.
I'm a Dallas pea, not a Houston pea, but I've spent a fair amount of time in Houston. I wouldn't worry too much about hurricanes (unless I'm buying property there) because you can see them coming and get out of the way. They're much less surprising than other weather events, like earthquakes and tornados.
It is miserably hot and humid--there's no getting around that.
I've never used public transportation in Houston (I have in Chicago), but generally, in Texas, the public transportation system isn't great and things are spread far apart. It may be tough getting around without a car. I did get stuck at the courthouse once in pre-Uber days because the taxi service could not figure out where it was and finally had to find a nearby hotel to catch a cab back to the airport. I don't believe there is any train service to either airport. I think Hobby is the closer airport to Rice, and I'd imagine it's a hefty Uber fare from IAH.
If he doesn't have a car, I'd want to know if the school offers any shuttles for nearby shopping or airport service around the holidays.
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Post by myshelly on Apr 12, 2021 2:13:24 GMT
Will he have a car? Houston is big and public transportation in Texas runs from non-existent to not nice. The traffic is insane and be prepared to pay lots of tolls.
It will definitely be hot and humid. No way around that.
Hurricanes aren’t that big of a deal. Make a plan with him. If the city tells you to leave, leave. Make sure he knows of somewhere to go so that the feeling of not having a place to go doesn’t cause him to hesitate and not get out when he should.
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Post by mikewozowski on Apr 12, 2021 3:12:35 GMT
where is he coming from and what is the other school he is considering? what is he going to study?
i wouldn't worry about hurricanes at all. not a consideration. it is hot, but lots of people live in houston and manage just fine.
great school and people who go there love it.
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craswell
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by craswell on Apr 12, 2021 3:27:27 GMT
The Rice campus is beautiful, lots of shade trees, spread out, need a bicycle to get around, lots of running paths, etc. if he got accepted to Rice, he’s damn lucky, one of the finest academic schools in the US and definitely nothing I would encourage my child to consider turning down. An education there in likened to an Ivy League college here in the south! You should be very proud and happy for him! Thank you Katiekaty! We are very proud of him. The more I learn about Rice, the more I like it. It sounds like a wonderful school. I've never used public transportation in Houston (I have in Chicago), but generally, in Texas, the public transportation system isn't great and things are spread far apart. It may be tough getting around without a car. I did get stuck at the courthouse once in pre-Uber days because the taxi service could not figure out where it was and finally had to find a nearby hotel to catch a cab back to the airport. I don't believe there is any train service to either airport. I think Hobby is the closer airport to Rice, and I'd imagine it's a hefty Uber fare from IAH. If he doesn't have a car, I'd want to know if the school offers any shuttles for nearby shopping or airport service around the holidays. Thank you supersoda. He is used to public transportation in Chicago so that's a good point to consider. Will he have a car? Houston is big and public transportation in Texas runs from non-existent to not nice. The traffic is insane and be prepared to pay lots of tolls. It will definitely be hot and humid. No way around that. Hurricanes aren’t that big of a deal. Make a plan with him. If the city tells you to leave, leave. Make sure he knows of somewhere to go so that the feeling of not having a place to go doesn’t cause him to hesitate and not get out when he should. We haven't decided about a car yet, probably not for his freshman year but maybe after that. That's a great tip about having a plan for a place to go if they are told to evacuate. We'll have to do some thinking about that, because we don't know anyone in Texas or the south generally. where is he coming from and what is the other school he is considering? what is he going to study? i wouldn't worry about hurricanes at all. not a consideration. it is hot, but lots of people live in houston and manage just fine. great school and people who go there love it. We live near Chicago and the other school he's considering is University of Michigan. Very different in many ways from Rice! He will be studying math. |
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Post by librarylady on Apr 12, 2021 3:33:15 GMT
What a coincidence. My great nephew toured Rice last Tuesday. He plans on studying computer science. He wants a university in a large city where he could walk to shop, eat or ? He thought Rice met his needs. He has not been accepted yet.
Only 9% of applicants are accepted, so be proud of your son.
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Post by busy on Apr 12, 2021 4:04:04 GMT
I don’t live in the area but at a previous job, I had a client with offices right downtown and also attended a lot of functions at employees’ homes in Montrose and University Place. There seemed to be ample entertainment, dining, and cultural options in those areas and i thought they’d be good places to live. (Those are the areas we looked at when we considered moving there.) I got around exclusively with Lyft/Uber and never wished I’d rented a car. It was usually about a $55 ride from IAH to downtown, so I’d expect a little more to get to Rice.
I was not there for hurricanes. I’d live on campus and listen to the school’s guidance.
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Post by mikewozowski on Apr 12, 2021 4:13:27 GMT
the area where rice is located is next to a world class medical center and one of the most desirable close-in neighborhoods. there is also a large park with the zoo, a golf course and outdoor theater close by (walking distance). there are lots of places within walking distance for shopping and eating. the closest grocery store is not super close, but not too far. you could get there easily by bus if that was tour only option.
will he have a scholarship at either school? idk how much either school is these days, but that may make a difference to you.
kids come to rice from all over!
those are two very different types of schools. good luck to him with his choice.
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Post by beebee on Apr 12, 2021 4:50:40 GMT
Rice is a wonderful school and a gorgeous campus! Congratulations to him for getting accepted!
Is he getting a tour? I would ask about their hurricane plan. I'm sure they have something in place. Tell him to check out the chirping wall while he is there. Also, the chunk of the Berlin Wall is pretty neat.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 12, 2021 5:11:38 GMT
Congratulations to your son for being accepted to Rice! That’s quite the accomplishment! The Rice University area is an excellent area. It’s a very walkable/bikeable area with plenty of restaurants, entertainment, shopping. Public transportation is extremely lacking, but getting around with Uber/Lyft is very easy. While having a car is nice, it is not a necessity in that area of town. Yes it will be hot and humid in the summer, but the air conditioning here is next level. Most of us carry cardigans or shawls to wear because they keep the buildings so cold. The upside is that he won’t have to trudge to class in snow and wind and cold. Well, okay maybe a couple of days of cold, but it’ll be back in the 70’s in no time!  . Winters are the big upside for many of us who live here. Hurricanes are easy to deal with. You know they are coming and plenty of notice is given on if/when to evacuate. We’ve been here for 30 years. I’ve evacuated exactly once - for a hurricane that didn’t even come to Houston after all. If he chooses Rice, just make sure he reviews the hurricane preparedness information and stocks up on a few basics. Good luck to him as he makes his choice and moves on to his college years! |
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Sept 28, 2024 16:49:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 5:20:59 GMT
I've lived in both Ann Arbor and Houston.
Houston: as others have said, hurricanes aren't an issue that far inland. I'd worry about flooding, though. Lots to do in the city, although for being such a small town, Ann Arbor isn't lacking *because* of the school. The Fice campus is lovely.
The humidity is DISGUSTING, but the winters are beautiful. When we first moved there, my Michigan friends/family couldn't comprehend it, but I explained that in MI we have to be careful going outside in the winter. We need coats and hats because we can't spend too much time outside without proper protection. In Houston you have to be careful in the summer: wear sunscreen and stay hydrated. So both the Midwest and the South have times of the year when the weather isn't fun...they're just opposite times of year lol.
Rice Village is a fun shopping area that's less than a mile from the university. Lots of good food and shopping.
Ann Arbor is a College Town. Houston is a Big City. I wonder what he'll think of the two cities once he visits Houston. (I assume he's either visited or will visit Ann Arbor.) They are quite different but both offer lots for young adults/college kids. .
Good luck to him with his decision!
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Post by ~summer~ on Apr 12, 2021 5:39:47 GMT
Both these schools are amazing - I feel like once he visits the two campuses and towns his mind will be made up - they are very different.
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Post by nlwilkins on Apr 12, 2021 5:52:45 GMT
This is old info and may not be true anymore, but I heard that most students who are accepted to Rice get pretty good scholarships from the school and that cost should not be an issue when deciding. That really stuck home with me when deciding if I wanted to get a grad degree from there.
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Post by Merge on Apr 12, 2021 11:02:58 GMT
Congrats! My kids are not Rice material, lol. They’re at the big public university down the road.
But I work at an elementary school very close to Rice. The area is lovely and very walkable. The light rail train does go up and down Main Street on the east side of campus, and I can’t see why students wouldn’t use that to go further downtown to restaurants and bars. I also see Rice students getting on and off of busses in the area - I think for shorter trips these are fine. The bus system here is poorly designed for commuters and longer trips, but can be quite workable for shorter jaunts inside the loop.
As others have mentioned, hurricanes are not really an issue. Just have an evacuation plan if needed. The humidity is terrible, but you don’t have to shovel it or scrape it off your windshield like the snow/ice up north. Everything is air conditioned, and in the hot part of the year, you just get used to doing your outdoor stuff early or late.
Good luck with your decision!
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Post by Darcy Collins on Apr 12, 2021 13:40:32 GMT
My daughter really liked Rice - it was a top contender if she hadn't gotten into her ED school. One thing she really liked was their residential college system. We had the chance to visit pre-Covid and it's a really lovely campus. Michigan is a also a wonderful option - it's a much larger school, so he'll need to be interested in that type of environment. Best of luck in his decision making!
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Apr 12, 2021 15:56:15 GMT
My daughter goes to UH but lives very close to Rice. If he will be on campus and/or close by, no need for a car. He can Uber to places if needed (very close to Rice Village for various shopping). The university should have a hurricane evac plan for anyone who lives on campus but most of us in Houston just shelter in place. Flooding is usually more of a concern than wind this far inland. If he will be off campus, there are plenty of places near Rice that are walkable to the university. But he will need to create his own hurricane plan. A lot of kids just go shelter with friends
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
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Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Apr 12, 2021 16:01:43 GMT
Rice definitely offers shuttle service. I've seen the shuttle many times at Target and HEB. I think they also do a Rice Village shuttle on the weekends. Uber is ridiculously expensive right now, but hopefully the costs will start to normalize soon. I'm personally a big fan of public transportation here and find it very easy to get around. The area is very bicycle-friendly. If you don't have a bike, there are a couple of BCycle stations nearby to rent. Yes, the humidity is a lot to take, but it's good for the skin LOL!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Apr 12, 2021 16:13:22 GMT
You've gotten lots of feedback about what a great university Rice is, lovely area, etc. Two more things to consider: if you don't know anyone in Texas, is he going to feel isolated or will he be going home for holidays? Maybe he is very outgoing and will make close friends quickly so this isn't an issue. Is he a big sport's fan? If so, Michigan would be a better fit!  Rice does usually have a good baseball team but football is definitely lacking. Kind of like Vanderbilt in the SEC. |
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Post by houstonsandy on Apr 12, 2021 18:15:43 GMT
...but the Marching Owl Band makes up for the football team...the MOB is the best part of the games for me!
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craswell
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by craswell on Apr 13, 2021 1:41:22 GMT
Thank you for all the advice/info. It sounds like I don't really need to be losing sleep over hurricanes, especially if he is living on campus (which he would be, for at least a few years). He will have a bike with him and is pretty comfortable biking in a city, and would probably use the bus and rail system in Houston. He's visiting today and it sounds like it is a perfect weather day and the tacos he had for lunch in Rice Village were incredible.  I've lived in both Ann Arbor and Houston. Houston: as others have said, hurricanes aren't an issue that far inland. I'd worry about flooding, though. Lots to do in the city, although for being such a small town, Ann Arbor isn't lacking *because* of the school. The Fice campus is lovely. The humidity is DISGUSTING, but the winters are beautiful. When we first moved there, my Michigan friends/family couldn't comprehend it, but I explained that in MI we have to be careful going outside in the winter. We need coats and hats because we can't spend too much time outside without proper protection. In Houston you have to be careful in the summer: wear sunscreen and stay hydrated. So both the Midwest and the South have times of the year when the weather isn't fun...they're just opposite times of year lol. Rice Village is a fun shopping area that's less than a mile from the university. Lots of good food and shopping. Ann Arbor is a College Town. Houston is a Big City. I wonder what he'll think of the two cities once he visits Houston. (I assume he's either visited or will visit Ann Arbor.) They are quite different but both offer lots for young adults/college kids. . Good luck to him with his decision! Good point about adjusting to summer weather the way we've adjusted to winter weather in the midwest. We plan on visiting Ann Arbor next week so hopefully seeing both campuses/towns will make the decision more clear for him. This is old info and may not be true anymore, but I heard that most students who are accepted to Rice get pretty good scholarships from the school and that cost should not be an issue when deciding. That really stuck home with me when deciding if I wanted to get a grad degree from there. Rice seems very committed to making their college affordable to everyone they admit, which I really appreciate. You've gotten lots of feedback about what a great university Rice is, lovely area, etc. Two more things to consider: if you don't know anyone in Texas, is he going to feel isolated or will he be going home for holidays? Maybe he is very outgoing and will make close friends quickly so this isn't an issue. Is he a big sport's fan? If so, Michigan would be a better fit! Rice does usually have a good baseball team but football is definitely lacking. Kind of like Vanderbilt in the SEC. Yes, the distance is definitely a factor, at least for me. And he does like the idea of Michigan sports, especially since he is a marching band kid. On the other hand, he loves the idea of a smaller school and the residential college system at Rice is so appealing. And he would also like to get out of the midwest. |
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Post by Merge on Apr 13, 2021 1:53:58 GMT
Thank you for all the advice/info. It sounds like I don't really need to be losing sleep over hurricanes, especially if he is living on campus (which he would be, for at least a few years). He will have a bike with him and is pretty comfortable biking in a city, and would probably use the bus and rail system in Houston. He's visiting today and it sounds like it is a perfect weather day and the tacos he had for lunch in Rice Village were incredible. ..... Yes, the distance is definitely a factor, at least for me. And he does like the idea of Michigan sports, especially since he is a marching band kid. On the other hand, he loves the idea of a smaller school and the residential college system at Rice is so appealing. And he would also like to get out of the midwest. Where did he go for tacos in the Village? Torchy's? Speaking as someone who left the midwest for Houston, it's a culture shock for sure. Coming from Chicago, it won't be as much of a shock for him as it was for me coming from Omaha, but still. It's a very different world down here. One thing is that Houston and Chicago are both United hubs, so he won't have any trouble getting easy nonstop flights back and forth. And if you want to visit here during the worst of the Chicago winter, you can get a nice 75-degree respite in February (usually - that whole freeze thing this year was very atypical). But Ann Arbor is also lovely. I don't think he can go wrong. |
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Post by mikewozowski on Apr 13, 2021 2:06:10 GMT
lots of kids go to far away places for college. you will get through it. don't let your misgivings about him being far away factor in. you will be fine.
mine went a 10 hour car ride away. it was the best thing for her.
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Post by ~summer~ on Apr 13, 2021 2:39:17 GMT
As a person who grew up in CA and went to school in NY I think there are some huuuuge positives to going to school far from home - you learn and experience so much. For me really the only negative is that most of my friends stayed on east coast and I came back to CA so it’s hard to stay in touch,
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craswell
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by craswell on Apr 13, 2021 2:56:00 GMT
Merge, he did go to Torchy's! They sent me a photo and the tacos looked awesome.
He applied to several schools in California, a state that I am much more familiar with than Texas, and I was fine with the idea of a move to the west coast. I knew he was applying to Rice but I guess I never gave much thought to him actually attending. I've spent very little time in the south in my life, and Texas just feels like a big big change! He told me that unless Michigan/Ann Arbor really blow him away next week, he's pretty sure he'll be going to Rice next year. It's all very exciting and I look forward to learning more about Houston and Texas and exploring more of the state during our visits.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Apr 13, 2021 3:45:53 GMT
but the Marching Owl Band makes up for the football team...the MOB is the best part of the games for me! Yeah about that. When I attended an LSU vs Rice game in Houston in the 70's, the band took the field then had an Idi Amin type character mow down the entire band with a *machine gun*. The next time we played them in Houston, they formed a big middle finger addressed to the visitor's side. Don't know if they still do these antics but we weren't impressed. |
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Post by yivit on Apr 13, 2021 4:16:53 GMT
but the Marching Owl Band makes up for the football team...the MOB is the best part of the games for me! Yeah about that. When I attended an LSU vs Rice game in Houston in the 70's, the band took the field then had an Idi Amin type character mow down the entire band with a *machine gun*. The next time we played them in Houston, they formed a big middle finger addressed to the visitor's side. Don't know if they still do these antics but we weren't impressed. The MOB is more performance art than marching band. I have my own MOB story (being an Aggie) - they formed a fire hydrant one year. This would have been typical of the MOB, but Reveille (our mascot, a collie) had just died. They actually had to have an armed escort afterwards. That said, I do enjoy the MOB most of the time (even when my DD was marching for UH). |
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Rice does usually have a good baseball team but football is definitely lacking. Kind of like Vanderbilt in the SEC.
