Rice offered me full financial aid that covered all expenses and tuition. Also, the residential college system is what really makes for a welcoming, family-like social scene.
Course Curriculum
The courses that are offered are all really interesting and well-done. However, there is simply a lack of variety and options every semester due to the fact that the school is quite small and has limited faculty members.
Placement
Really great school if you are focused on STEM / on the pre-med track. Not a lot of options for job opportunities of placements for non-STEM majors. Many of the opportunities and placements the school advertises are for investment banking, consulting, or in oil and gas.
Internship
I opted for a course that matched every student in the course with a legal internship- it was titled the Legal Practicum. I was matched with a criminal justice organization and there was no pay as it counted for academic credit.
Fees
Undergraduate tuition is $46,600 a year with additional costs for housing and dining on campus. There are also charges that are added to the bill for student activity, recreational center usage, and health and wellness fees.
Examination Structure
Exams depend largely on the course. I've had anything from seated 3-hour exams to take-home exams to long papers. The Rice Honor Code allows for many of the professors to give exams to be taken home and completed under specific instructions and without outside aid.
Faculty
The faculty tends to be older, white males as is the popular trend for tenured professors in elite colleges. They are trying to bring in younger, more diverse faculty currently but there is still much to be done.
