Academics

Rice is a very challenging school. However, the student to faculty ratio and culture of care certainly make up for that. Every student here is brilliant, but uniquely down to Earth and willing to help. Office hours and TA sessions are always accessible and you get to know your professors on a personal level. I have yet to meet a professor who doesn't truly care about his/her students. Rice may push you to work really hard, but it's clearly because they care about the success about each of us.

Get ready to work hard. I'm a health science and psychology double major (arguably some of the easiest majors offered at Rice) and although I don't find myself completely overwhelmed with work, it is important to manage your time wisely and study effectively to do well here. My friends who are engineers or pre-med have it the hardest, and are usually the one's overwhelmed with work to do.

School is definitely difficult, regardless of where you went to high school. I have heard this from several students ranging from all years. Although the classes are hard and challenging, there is plenty of help available such as teaching assistants (TAs), professors' office hours, other students, and possible study sessions hosted by the professor or TAs.
Some classes require a large amount of time just to do homework, so you have to make sure that you arrange your time accordingly. No matter how hard school gets, you have to let yourself relax a little by doing something you enjoy. It will help your academic performance as well as boost your morale.
For most students, school is hard, and sometimes, you feel like you are failing and the worst in your class. But chances are that you are about average because there are several other students learning the same material and struggling through it just like you, so keep your head up and strive on. Things could turn out good in the end (e.g. possible curves), because nothing is set in stone until the end of the class.

Rice is ranked number 17 in the nation for universities, so naturally it will be academically rigorous. It is nearly impossible to succeed at this university without studying the course materials everyday. So if you are not an individual who is not ready and willing to cut out a huge portion of your time towards books, then this school may not be for you.

Very tough school, but definitely worth it. Forces you to learn the material well and everyone knows Rice as a tough school so your efforts will not be unrecognized.

I sat in at a class here. The pace of the classes is fast, but very insightful and understandable. From what I heard, it seems like the academics are on par with Ivy league schools, but it's easy to balance your times so you can enjoy college life to the max. Either way, easily one of the most rigorous schools in the South.