Transfers

As a transfer to Rice, you will likely be living off-campus. You will certainly not be alone.  Approximately one-fourth of Rice undergraduates live off-campus each year. These FAQs were put together by Rice students to answer questions about finding a place to live and to highlight the benefits of OC living. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Peter Steffensen, the Student Director of Orientation at oweek@rice.edu.

What is Orientation Week and do I need to attend?
Orientation Week is a six-day orientation program for ALL new students that begins Sunday, August 16.  During this time you will meet many members of your residential college, receive academic advising, learn a generous amount of information about campus life, and register for classes.  There will also be sessions specifically for transfers.  And there’s a lot of fun also!  Yes, you need to be here-it’s crucial to your Rice education and experience.

What is a residential college?
A residential college is a unique cross between a dorm and a fraternity, sorority, or co-op. All new students, including transfers, are randomly assigned to one of nine residential colleges. Whether you live on- or off-campus, you are a member of your college for as long as you are a student at Rice, and because the assignments are random, there is significant difference between memberships to any one college. Your college is where you’ll receive mail, eat most of your on-campus meals, and live if you choose to live on-campus in coming years. More importantly, it is a community of which you’re automatically a member. The colleges each have their own government, traditions, activities, and projects that serve to make them unique. You will be hearing from your college during the summer.

When should I arrive?
Since it would help to be settled before O-Week, think about arriving a day or two beforehand to set up your off-campus place. You will have a room on campus at your college for O-Week, though you may have an apartment off-campus, and it is very important for you to spend this time getting acquainted with your college and the university.

Off-Campus Living
I put down a deposit for on-campus housing. What are my chances of getting a room?
To be honest, it is hard to predict. Unlike transfer students, freshmen are guaranteed housing, and returning students wrestled for available spots in the spring. My advice is to make other living arrangements before you arrive in August. If you put your name on the housing waitlist, we will let you know as soon as we can if you have a bed. Also, some apartments will allow you to break a lease in the event you receive a room on campus — be sure to ask about this option.

Where should I start my apartment search?
The first step is to read the materials sent to you. You need to figure out what some of the general limitations of your housing search will be. Take a close look at the Off-Campus Housing Guide which will be mailed to you in May to start evaluating your options. The online version may also be helpful. Also you can review the Living Off-Campus brochure which includes details about off-campus living.  It includes apartment listings as well as listings by current renters of houses, duplexes, apartments, etc. who are looking for roommates: http://offcampus.rice.edu/.

I want a roommate. Is there a way to get in touch with the other transfer students?
Hang tight until mid-July. You will be asked to fill out a Transfer Roomate Information Form in June.  As soon as I receive a majority of the transfer questionnaires, I will compile and mail them to you. It is up to you to contact potential roommates and to start looking for a place.

What should I look for in an apartment?
The Off-Campus Housing Guide will give you an idea of price ranges and locations. When you start calling apartments, ask about parking and safety. Ask how new the complex is and what kind of appliances and/or utilities are included. In addition, double-check any information in the guide on which you are basing your decision.

Should I visit Houston over the summer to find a place?
This isn’t a bad idea, but the information on this page, your own research, and an apartment locator should be enough to prevent you from having to visit if you don't want to. If you do plan to visit, feel free to give me a call. I’ll be happy to meet with you to talk about housing or any other questions that you may have.

Can I wait until O-Week to find a place to live?
No! This is NOT advisable. The problem with this option is that O-Week has a very full schedule and you will miss important events.

What should I expect to pay?
One-bedroom apartments near campus usually start around $650/month and go down in price the further from campus you get. Two-bedroom apartments start around $700/month. Of course, utilities are also less when split between two people. Living on campus, on the other hand, costs just under $700/month (not including food), and you aren't paying for utilities. Most people find that living off campus can end up saving them money if they watch their budgets.

Furniture
Can I send my stuff early?
There is nowhere to store things on campus before O-Week, but you can receive boxes  at your college during O-Week. You may want to wait and have them mailed to your apartment after you move in.

How do I find furniture once I get there?
If you’re not interested in a furnished apartment, there are always garage sales, thrift stores and the local Target/Ikea/etc. Your advisors and other members of your college will know the best places to go depending on what you need. Also, some students rent furniture. This is easy because the companies deliver the furniture, but it can be costly.

Transportation
What if I don’t have a car?
Many people think that living in Houston without a car is impossible, but the Rice area is actually quite friendly to students without four wheels. Many students (on campus and off) own bikes, and there are bike racks all over campus. Additionally, it is possible to live within walking distance of campus, though many apartments within walking distance tend to be older and more expensive. You might consider looking for an apartment off the Metro light rail line or living with someone who has a car and is willing to work out transportation issues.

Food
How does food service work?
Each residential college has a kitchen and a dining hall for students, and all students are welcome to eat at any of the colleges. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered on weekdays; brunch on weekends; and dinner on Sundays. In addition there is Sammy’s, a cafeteria in the Student Center. The Student Center also has the Coffeehouse, Smoothie King, Willy’s Pub, 13th Street Deli, and a Convenience Store.

Meal plans are electronically connected to your student ID, and every student who lives on campus is required to buy the university’s on-campus meal plan. As an off-campus student you will not have to buy a meal plan, but it is recommended that you do so for convenience and the chance to spend time at your college. Because meals tend to be some of the most social times at the colleges, it is easy for off-campus members to stay in touch simply by spending lunch hour at the college.

The off-campus plans start at $510 per semester (includes 5 meals per week) with the ability to add money in $50 increments at any time. This money can be used at any of the colleges as well as at Sammy’s and the Convenience Store. Any money that you do not spend during a semester will rollover to the next semester.

Other Necessities
What is available in terms of banks?
There is a high density of retail shops, banks, and grocery stores in the Rice area, and there are many restaurants as well. Four of the larger banks in Houston are Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Compass Bank, and Chase Bank. Each bank offers different benefits for Rice students.  Bank of America has a lot of ATM locations near Rice and has served many Rice students. Chase has the only ATMs located on campus: in the library and the Student Center. Wells Fargo has locations in grocery stores with extended banking hours, and Compass Bank has a branch in the Village. These banks usually have special student accounts with no minimum balance. Many students wait until O-Week to set up an account; while it would be wise to set up an account ahead of time, your advisors will likely take you to a few banks during or after Orientation if necessary.

Should I be concerned with safety off-campus?
In short, yes, you should think about safety in the sense that you are living in one of America’s largest cities. Depending on where you live, you may feel comfortable walking off-campus home during the day or to the Rice Village, a shopping area with restaurants and boutiques. However, with Hermann Park and the Medical Center on the east, there are a lot of open spaces and nearly a quarter of a million people passing through each day. That being said, no matter where you live, it is not safe to walk off-campus alone at night and you should not plan on walking home at night, period- even if you just live across the street from Rice. You should not plan to stay on campus late unless you have an option other than walking home. You don’t need to panic about living in Houston, but always be aware of your surroundings. Take a look at the Neighborhood Guide in the OC Housing Guide as it describes each of the different areas surrounding Rice.