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UDID is a unique disability ID card. It is a disability identification card. Now the persons with disabilities need to register at swavlambancard website and then they will get disability certificate.UDID Card has many benefits.What benefits can be made by the lively individuals with UDID card? The most important benefit that you will see is that a lively person can apply for a home-based Divinity certificate for UDID card. Therefore, there is no need for the devotees to fill any form in any office. Different states have different formats for disabled certificate. So there was no similarity with Divya in different states. Therefore, brothers and sisters have to face many other problems.For example, those who have a Divine Certificate in Maharashtra. They were not able to run in other states and other states were not able to run the state of Maharashtra, there were problems in getting benefits of government facilities for the Divyan brothers, such as railway pass bus passes for different government schemes, but for polygamists, Come here for a similarity Ya just have to continue to distribute the card to a card UDID apply to all types of the entire country.UDID card will be valid throughout the country to address all these problems. Central UDID computer system will not be found to be anonymous and false. There will be a single format for UDID card in whole of India, and every Divya's complete information remains secure in the central computer system. It will therefore help all the Divine Personnel in India in a simple way, and information about their physical, mental, social and financial status will be easily available, so that according to the available database information, it will help the experts in deciding the laws, policies for the person of Divya, There will be less time for planning and the benefits of those facilities This information can also be updated from time to time according to the requirements of the person. UDID card system can be predicted by the governor of the same system, that the facts of whether the beneficiaries are getting benefitted from the government's schemes, and also the UDID card, for UDID card, So there will be different forms No certificate will be required. The UDID card has a complete know-how about the person who is the ATM card. The size is small. So it can be easily put in the pocket. And easy to take anywhere. And it will not be bad too soon. UDID Card will be a boon for all Divya people due to all these benefits. That would not be worth it to say.

Eight Simple Tips to Improve Health :-I) How To eatII) How Much To eatIII) What To EatIV) What Not To EatV) When To EatVI) The 6 components of a Healthy Regime - Physical Activity , Strength Training , Cardio Exercises , Flexibility Exercises , Breathing Exercises & MeditationVII) The 3 Foundations of Life - Knowlegde , Devotion & ServiceVIII) 40 Additional Small But Important PointsI) How To Eat : - Mindfully & Chewing Every Bite of Food till it becomes liquidThis is the single most important point for our overall wellbeing, weight loss is just one of the several positive changes that one would experience in just one month’s time by incorporating this simple exercise of chewing the food well. One should spend 20-30 minutes for every meal i.e. breakfast , lunch and dinner. The chewing process predigests our food into small pieces and partially liquefies it, making it easier to digest. Remember that our intestine is not a grinder , it simply can’t grind food. It is the job the teeth to do it.Digestion is a demanding activity for our body, requiring a great deal of energy, especially if forced to digest improperly chewed food. Chewing properly allows our stomach to work more efficiently and break down our food faster. Saliva contains digestive enzymes, so the longer we chew, the more time these enzymes have to start breaking down our food, making digestion easier on our stomach and small intestine. One of these enzymes is lingual lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fats, for example. Saliva also helps to lubricate our food so it’s easier on our esophagus.Hence the first question How we eat should be addressed by the below checklist :-A) Eat in a relaxed state of mind, we should never eat in hurry or worry! If time is really less it’s better to skip the meal rather to simply engulf/swallow the food. We can start by a small half minute prayer by thanking the divine for this wonderful food, the sun for its energy that is being photosynthesized ,the earth, the farmer and the one who cooked the food.B) Let our eating become a meditation, be extremely thankful and mindful for the food that’s in our plate .Literally enjoy every bite in bliss and great fullness.C) Count the number of chews and set a target of 100 chews/bite, this may vary depending upon the type of food/size of the bite but still the target should be 100 chews. Even after the food is liquid or has gone down in say 70 counts , just keep counting till 100 , this will allow us to eat slowly and mindfully and would result in more saliva production.This practice also takes care of how much we eat. The longer we chew, the more time it will take us to finish a meal, and research shows that eating slowly can help us to eat less and, ultimately, to avoid weight gain or even lose weight. For example, chewing our food twice as long as we normally do ,will instantly help us control our portion sizes, which naturally decreases calorie consumption. It takes time (generally about 20 minutes) for our brain to signal to our stomach that we ’re full, and this may explain why one study found people reported feeling fuller when they ate slowly. They also ended up consuming about 10 percent fewer calories when they ate at a slow pace, and presumably chewed slower, as opposed to when they were rushing. We work , we take stress , we run around for earning bread and surprisingly enough , how less time we spend on eating it. We never enjoy our food. We just eat it http://unconsciously.So make it a pleasurable activity. Indulge all your senses in food and enjoy!II) How Much To Eat:-Only Upto 80% Full (Japanese Proverb - Hara Hachi Bun Me)It is a fact that in today’s world more people die of overeating than under eating. We live in a culture where comparison and over accumulation has become a trend and we carry that in our eating habits as well. How often we eat in parties and buffets out of greed as if we won’t get food again. By overeating we can never experience the contentment that food would otherwise have provided us. We just feel full till our throat and then repent that we ate too much. This is disastrous for our health. The Japanese people had known the secret to long life from ages and the secret is to eat only till we feel around 80% full. In simple terms it means eating slightly less than what we usually eat i.e. when we leave the dining table we should not be feeling choked to the throat rather slight hint of hunger should still be there. It is a fact that in societies where this practice is followed , people live the longest like in Okinawa Japan. Lot of scientific research has been done on this topic and infact the so called CR (calorie restriction) diet that is proven as the best anti-aging strategy can be simply achieved by following the Japanese rule “hara bachi bun me” i.e eat upto 80%.III) What To Eat:- Ideally 80% Alkaline & 20% Acidic (but Practically 50% Alkaline & 50% Acidic to start off with)All consumable foods can be divided into two categories depending on the effect they have on our bodies – Acidic & Alkaline. Our normal pH level is slightly alkaline, slightly above neutral at around 7.2 – 7.3. A healthy alkaline body feels – good levels of energy, has a clear mind to make decisions and focus on tasks at hand, has a good healthy appetite, does not feel bloated or too gassy, has regular easy bowel movements, sleeps well and wakes up feeling rejuvenated. An acidic body leads to inflammation, potential heart disease, arthritis and a list of other life-threatening ailments due to the imbalance of acid and alkaline in our body’s fluids and tissues. It is simple chemistry. Our body cannot sustain a healthy equilibrium in an acidic state .For optimum cell function, we require more alkaline foods which are also high in nutrition. A balance of 80-20 alkaline-acid is the ideal ratio to boost our immunity, rejuvenate our hard-working body, cleanse toxins and organs and recharge our energy. However our modern day eating habits or availability of more processed, higher fat, higher salt and higher sugar types of foods have caused our normal healthy pH to become more acidic as our dietary intake is actually reverse i.e. 80 % acidic and 20 % alkaline. This is extremely unhealthy. As a simple rule of thumb all fruits and vegetables are alkaline and everything else is acidic. Although 80-20 is the ideal ratio of alkaline-acid foods we should consume we can aim at 50-50 ratio which would yield fantastic results to start off with.I know that this alkaline-acidic topic is considered to be pseudoscience by many well known experts , and in fact it may well be true that this acid-alkaline philosophy may not be scientifically proven , but every single expert agrees on eating more fruits and vegetables . So you should embrace this point anyhow since it focuses on eating food that is undoubtedly recommended by one and all.To achieve a 50-50 ratio the below chart can be referred , the basis is that 50% of our total food intake should be fruits and vegetables :-IV) What Not To Eat :- Processed FoodA very big leap towards weight balance is achieved simply by understanding what we should never eat and what is harmful and dangerous for our body, mind and the soul. As a simple rule we shouldn’t eat any processed or packet food , not even once in a month.The following items should be completely omitted from our food dictionary :-A) All Sugar Products- Sweets, Cold Drinks ,Chocolates ,Biscuits, Ice-creams, Pastries, Cakes, Tea, Coffee etc.B) All Fried Products-Samosa, Vada, Pakoda, Papad etc.C) All Maida products-Bread , Paw , Naan , Tandoori Roti made of Maida , Bakery Products , Maggi , Noodles etc.D) All Packet Food- Farsana , Mixtures , Chips , Kurkure, Kellogs corn flakes , Ready to eat products , Soups ,etc.E) All Fast Food- Pizza , Burger ,sauces, Junk Food , Hotel Food ,KFC, Mc Donald’s, Chinese Food etc.F) All Fatty Food-Butter , Cream , Peanut Butter, Nutrilite , Mayonnaise etc.G) All Ready To Eat Meals :- In today’s world paneer a sabji like butter masala can be preserved for one year , one simply needs to open the pack , heat it and eat it. Ridiculous!H) All Chemicals - Check label of anything that we eat and treat these as more dangerous than rat Poison - Preservatives , Colors , Emulsifiers ,Anti oxidants, Artificial flavors , artificial sweeteners , Partially Hydrogenated etc . These are all chemicals that our body simply can’t understand and digest. In my opinion these are all poisonous to the body. Just check the label of any biscuit , any ice cream , any chocolate it is a horror show for the body. Simply refuse to put chemical poisons in the body.Check for the term “Partially Hydrogenated Oil” in any food label , you can treat this as equivalent to eating rat poison.Needless to mention in the above list that Alcoholic Products, Cigarettes, Tobacco etc. are a Big NO! Remember that our body is the temple where Divine resides in the form of our soul/consciousness/energy whatever we may like to call it. We are all divine beings and this body is a precious miraculous gift from divinity to us, we should never disrespect it by the intake of such products. “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey , we are spiritual beings on a human journey” hence the best way to show gratitude to divinity is by taking care of our body!V) When To Eat :- When Slightly HungryIt’s the most fascinating thing to watch a child eat. They eat when they are hungry and stop when they are satisfied. They do not count calories, fat grams, or amount of carbohydrates. They do not deliberately starve themselves, nor do they overeat. They listen to both their hunger and satiety cues and eat accordingly.Even one grain of food taken when we are not actually hungry is poison to the body. We should not eat for time pass , social obligation , it’s time to eat so let’s eat etc.When we follow a particular routine for some days, the body gets adjusted to it and gives hunger signals more or less at the same time so initially following a routine is essential for some days.Usually we would feel some hunger every 2-3 hours with varying degree of intensity. Ideal is to have 3 big meals(breakfast + luch+ dinner) + 3/4/5 small meals(fruits/sprouts/nuts/seeds/etc.).We should also not starve ourselves that is we are hungry and still not eating to lose weight. This too is very unhealthy. So there could be 2 extremes :-Extreme 1- Eating when not hungryExtreme 2 – Not eating when hungry (starving ourselves to lose weight)A balanced approach is very important to get the metabolism going throughout the day and prevention fat accumulation in the body. For finer details read the book titled “loose your weight don’t lose your mind” by Rujuta Devekar.Below is a sample diet plan that I follow :-6:30 am-1 Banana8:30 am-Breakfast -Bowl full of Raw Vegetables salad sprinkled with small quantity of Flax Seed Powder (carrot+ beetroot + capsicum + cabbage/cauliflower + cucumber + 1 fruit (pomegranate/guava/pineapple) + 6 Walnuts + 1 Omega 3 enriched Whole Egg + 1 Normal Egg White) + if required one can have small quantity of /Poha/Upma/Idli/Dosa/Sooji Utappam/ along with raw vegetables10:30 am- 6 Almonds+ Seeds + 2 Apricots + 2 dates12:30 pm-Lunch- 2 Rotis (or 1 bowl rice) + Dal+ Sabji+ Curd Sprinkled with small quantity of Flax Seed Powder + 1 Cod Liver Oil Capsule (300 mg)3:30 pm- Unsalted Roasted Peanuts + dates / Bengal Grams i.e. Roasted Chana + Black Kishmish5:30 pm-One seasonal fruit / Coconut water7:30 pm -Dinner - 2 Rotis + SabjiAdditional notes :- Eating first thing in the morning is very critical to maintain weight ; the first diet is very important and should not be delayed, eat the first diet as soon as possible after getting up after drinking water. Fruits that can be taken are-Pomegranate/ Guava/Papaya/Pineapple/Oranges/Awla etc. A meal a handful of sprouts can also be taken ;Anjeer can also be taken in the morning empty stomach. Don’t eat huge quantity of food during night,dinner should be easy on our stomach as during night our digestive power is the minimum and hence we should eat lightVI) The Six components of a healthy regime :-Below are the essential non-negotiable components of any fitness regime .Any fitness schedule that misses out any one of these six components would be incomplete. Overemphasizing one over the other is also wrong as a balanced approach has to be taken. “Moderation” and “Consistency” are the keys.All one needs is max 1 hour/day which we should definitely be able to find. Based on my own experience and some literature and books I read I have tried to sum up the basics of these components below.1) Physical ActivityWhat is it and Why it matters :- Our bodies are designed to move. “Exercise is Optional, Movement is Essential". There is a huge difference between the two. Exercise is a modern invention designed to give us a way out, a get out of jail free card that lets us believe three weekly trips to the gym lets us off the hook with our bodies. It is pain, rather than pleasure driven. It is generally focused on specificity and lacking in real skill development. Most exercise regimes use machines and isolated exercises that make us experts in movements that are not practical and are limited. Movement is something entirely different. Movement is ancient. Movement was here first. Hunting and gathering, dancing round the fire, walking, climbing, running, jumping, crawling, lifting, swimming, fighting etc. These are all movements the human body is designed for. A lot of public health research now points towards needing more movement in our lives, as opposed to exercise to remain healthy. For example, no amount of exercise will undo the pathology that is sitting and remaining sedentary. And conversely, one could go their whole life without ever doing exercise but instead move as part of our everyday life and remain healthy.So we can say that the below mentioned remaining five components are luxury items whereas physical activity is a must. Sitting whole day is more dangerous than even smoking. In spite of havingsedentary jobs we can smartly incorporate physical activity into our daily lives. Use it or lose it-if we let muscles and joints stop moving, over time the overall body loses the ability to move. If we want to move well when we are old, we must keep our body moving well as we age. Life is motion. When we stop moving, we stop living, which is why staying active is the number one desire of people as they age. Motion is vital for health and aging well. Watch a normal child move. Youth is moving freely and with control. Watch someone who‘s sick move: they are stiff and consequently may be described as “looking old.”How one can do It :- We have to adopt certain strategies to be physically active throughout the day. Below tips are recommended :-a) Walk at least 10,000 steps in one day :-Buy a pedometer that counts steps. It costs around 500/- but helps us to stay motivated to walk. As we all are target driven and crazy for numbers and figures , the target to reach 10,000 steps keeps us motivated to achieve it. We can keep reviewing every 3-4 hours how many steps have we moved and adjust accordingly.b) Stand Up every 15 Minutes :- If we have a desk job make sure to at least stand-up every 15 minutes.c) Take a small stroll to water cooler / washroom every 45 Minutesd) Take 2 flight of stairs every 90 Minutese) Park the vehicle as far as possible from the officef) Walk for going to nearby shops instead of using a vehicleg) Take more nature walks Go to a nearby mountain every weekendh) Play like a child with small kids2) Strength TrainingWhat is it and Why it matters :- First let us understand what it is not. It is often misunderstood as bulking up and building 6-packs ab and Salman like biceps for show-off. So most people feel that they don’t really need it. WRONG!It is actually defined as a type of anaerobic physical exercise that by the use of resistance specializes in>Increasing Muscular Fitness (Increases muscle strength, muscle mass and size)>Increasing Bone Strength and bone density>Increasing Tendon and Ligament Strength>Improving Joint FunctionApart from these benefits in aids in health improvement ,increases metabolism, aids in fat loss, overall fitness levels ,improved lipid profile (improves the good cholesterol) etc.Hence it is absolutely critical component.How we can do It :- One has following options to do it.a) At Gym using various equipments :- We can perform it at GYM. All we need is to make sure is that we need to have a good sensible trainer.We may do it 2-3 times/week for an hour each.b) At Home using Resistance band :- This is another option that we may perform at our home. We may order the band online (Cosco is a good brand),some good videos (10 min-30 min) are available online to learn and do the exercises along with the video. Convenience is better in this option but the drawback is that we won’t have good control on the exact amount of resistance. But it can be done on days when we look for some light strength sessions.c) At Home using Body weight :- The 5 basic strength exercises – Push Up ,Pull Up, Dips, Sit-ups and Squats are key to overall strength. Rather than working on isolated muscles they work on large muscle groups. We may do these in conjunction with band/dumbbells or standalone also. We can also do exercises like Lunges, Mountain Climbers, bridges etc.d) At Home using dumbbells :- If you know the basics right you may perform the entire exercises that you do on equipments in a Gym at your home only. You can do good variations with just a set of 2 and 5 kgs of dumbbells using proper form and by doing the moves slowly. This can be started at any age by using a set of 2 Kg dumbbells and is often a most neglected part.Don’t forget to warm up before starting the strength training sessions. You may like to wind up with a 5 min stretching session.3) Cardio ExercisesWhat is it and Why it matters :- Cardio is any form of exercise/activity that is designed to work the cardiovascular system that raises your heart rate and breathing and consequently an increase in the circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body for an extended period of time. Getting your body to sweat also helps you to release toxins that would otherwise build up in your tissues. The benefits range from weight loss, improved Heart health, improved Lung health, improved stamina, improved immunity, stabilized blood pressure,increased energy levels,more active and dynamic lifestyle, reduced mood swings etc.How we can do it :- You may enjoy any of the below/club them/etc. to get the benefits. Go for a variety rather than repeating the same all the time.a) Fast Walking/Light Jogging :- Just go to a park nearby and enjoy fresh unpolluted morning air, get some sunlight and do fast walk/light jog to start the day.b) Treadmill /Elliptical machine/stationary cycling :- Good for those rainy seasonsc) Cycling :- We may incorporate use of a bicycle to go to nearby places etc. or do it as a part of exercise weekly.d) Swimming :- One of the best cardio exercises. Just use googles and caps to avid the chlorine side effects.e) Aerobic Dance Workouts :- In Youtube you have some good videos that we may see and do along.f) P-T exercises :- Remember the school days. Those exercises can still be incorporated.g) Stair climbing :- Avoid lifts and take stairs.h) Rope Jumping :- Good if one enjoys it.But remember that when we are overweight we should not be engaging much in strenuous exercises. Eg. Jogging would put huge stress on the knee if we are overweight etc. We need to always remember that health is served on a plate and fitness is achieved by exercise. We first need to be healthy to do exercise so diet is the most critical aspect for health. Fitness is like a cherry on the cake.4) Flexibility ExercisesWhat is it and Why it matters :- Flexibility may be defined as the ability of our joints and body parts to execute their full range of motion. Flexibility deteriorates rapidly with a sedentary lifestyle and without adequate flexibility you are more prone to injuries and with tight muscles daily activities become difficult to perform. We create body movement and posture habits which tend to reduce joint mobility. The benefits of flexibility exercises are less back pain, increased range of motion, injury prevention ,improved circulation, less stress, better posture and confidence. A flexible body a flexible spine ultimately leads to a flexible mind which is more adaptive . Practicing Yogaasanas daily is the most perfect and easiest way to obtain a flexible body and a clear mind It would help one to tone the muscles, skeletal system, nourish the body tissues and burn fat. It is excellent for all internal organs and various yoga asanas target specific parts and organs of the body like vertebra, Joints, neck, shoulder, heart, lungs, kidney etc. It will also improve your balance both physical and emotional.How we can do it :- As I have already written above that YOGAASANAS are the most perfect way to flexibility. We don’t have to do complicated postures at all , just simple basic stretching asanas have to be done with awareness of breath. We really have to be at ease during each posture and we shouldn’t feel any pain. One very good 22 minute video is that of a sequence called “Padmasadhna” which consists of 12 yogaasanas, it is taught in Art of living advance course but can be easily practiced by anyone. We may also learn asanas from any yoga instructor near our place, but we can learn simple asanas ourselves with videos. One video called Shilpa Yoga is also very well designed. Below are some common asanas which we can simply google :-a) Lying Asanas:-Ardha Halasana,Sethu Bandhasana,Naukasana,Makarasana,Shalabhasana,Bhujangasana,Dhanurasana,Kativakraasana and shavasanab) Sitting Asanas :- Vrajrasana,Parvatasana,Shashankasana,Marjariasana,Vyaghrasana,Janu Shirshasana,Gomukhasana,Padmasana,Budhkonasana and Adho Mukh Shvanasanac) Standing Asanas:-Tadasana,Prishtasana,Padhastasana,Vriksasana,Natrajasana,Utkatasana,Trikonasana,Veer Bhradraasana,Konasana and Kati chakrasana.5) Breathing ExercisesWhat is it and Why it matters :- Breathing exercises are basically an activity that would involve taking breaths consciously. Every emotion has an impact on our breath eg when we are happy and relaxed we breathe deeply, when we are in anger we automatically take short breaths etc. Now our motive is to control these emotions/feelings but we often find ourselves not able to keep them under control. The best way to achieve this is through control of breath ,when we do breathing exercises and learn conscious breathing we are able to control our emotions as well, it’s like a remote control to our emotions. If we observe ourselves there are two type of actions a) Voluntary b) Involuntary. Voluntary actions are the ones that we do consciously like talking, walking, moving our hands, eating drinking etc. .Involuntary actions are the actions that are taken care of by the conscious energy that resides within us like conversion of oxygen to carbon dioxide by our cells, digestion of food, pumping of blood by our heart ,all cellular actions etc. The thing with breath is that when we are not aware of it, it is involuntary but when we become aware of it and start breathing with awareness it becomes voluntary and we can control it. Hence it is a transit between Voluntary to Involuntary, Known to Unknowable, manifested to Unmanifested it is a jump into the divine. Hence breathing exercises or pranayama have found an unique place in our Vedas, yoga pradipikas, yoga sutras and more recently in Medical Science as well .Our lung function is obviously improved and more quantity of oxygen reaches and nourishes every single cell that restores health, youthfulness and cheerfulness.How we can do it :- They may be classified as the nature of breaths we takea) slow/deep/long breaths eg Anulom Vilom & Nadi Shodhan (Alternate Nostril Breathing), Deep Ujvai Breaths,3- Stage Pranayama, Simple Deep Breathing, Abdominal Breathingb) short/rapid/quick blasts of breaths eg. Kappal Bhatti,c) cyclic rhythm including a blend of both eg. Sudarshan Kriya as taught in the Art of Living6) MeditationWhat is it and Why it matters :- Meditation is actually “Doing Nothing”. We just sit with eyes closed and just as a witness observe our own thoughts without judging without comparing without imagining, without labeling. It gives us deep rest, far deeper than what sleep offers us. Meditation makes us more Dynamic, more lively, more focused, improves our concentration, improves our happiness quotient, highly raises our healing power. Other benefits are>Keeps us stress free>Reduces aging>Helps us to appreciate life more>Helps us feel more connected>Improves Brain Function>Helps us give good sleep>Increases Immunity>Increases our awareness and attention>We gain control over our mindIn this 10 minutes we would realize that how our mind exaggerates and magnifies small problems in life and that we have immense potential to face all challenges of life. The most important realization that occurs is that actually no incidence or no person or no situation is joyous or sorrowful, it is actually the “SELF-TALK” that we do with ourselves is the source of joy/misery. After that even when situations come which tend to make us tensed/stressed by positive self-talk we increase the power of the self and don’t let the negative talks of mind over power us.We develop love and compassion with others and let go of our habit of Criticizing, complaining and comparing.How we can do it :- Meditation should be practiced daily for around 10 minutes. Some guided meditations are available online. We just need to listen to it and let go. We don’t have to do anything, just listen and relax. Initially guided meditations are beneficial, slowly once we get the basics we may not actually need them. We can simple sit and meditate. Just remember that it is not concentration, it is de-concentration.We just have to make a schedule for ourself and then stick to it remembering that “ Self Discipline” is the only thing that makes someone miserable/blissfull,healthy/unhealthy,strong/week.VII) The Three Foundations of Life - Gyaan ,Bhakti & Seva :-A) Gyaan (Knowledge):-Right Knowledge is the only path that can lead us to the ultimate. Without right knowledge it is impossible to get rid of our ridiculous desires, expectations, cravings, aversions, likings, dislikings, prejudices, ideas ,concepts, fear, over excitements, worry, lust, dreams, over occupation, attachments, past memories, useless opinions, judgments, complaints, criticisms, meaningless sadness and depressions etc. Knowledge takes us from ignorance to bliss.Below are just some books, links of articles & Audio Discourses :-· http://www.mindwell.be/ebooks/thepowerofnow.pdf(Eckhart Tolle)· v http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/upanishad/Lessons_on_the_Upanishads.pdf(Divine Life Society, Swami Krishnanada)· http://www.peterrussell.com/wordpress/index.php?p=197(Peter Russel)· http://www.7freedom.com/beingnatural.htm(Timothy Schoorel)· http://www.oshoworld.com/discourses/audio_hindi.asp?album_id=153(Osho)B) Bhakti (Devotion):-Devotion doesn’t mean rites and rituals going to holy places etc. It simply means knowing and acknowledging that what we see in this world as physical reality is not even a drop in the ocean of galaxies and universes and that a force is driving everything, experiencing the connectedness in all beings the oneness that prevails everywhere and thanking the divinity for our being. Thankfulness for being is devotion. Becoming empty from within is devotion. A belief that there is a higher purpose in life over and above the materialistic aims and desires that we seek to fulfill is devotion. Understanding that life cannot simply exist without divine intervention, that the universe was designed for life for us is devotion. Who Created matter, how was it created ,from what was it created? What created Energy? What created stars and planets? Who drives the galaxies, how the universe came into being what was there before the universe came into being, what would remain after the universe disintegrates? Recognizing that a supreme being is within all of us and that we are just an extension an expression of the divine consciousness that pervades everything that is Omni present beyond space and time is devotion. Knowing the infinite and the zeroness within us is devotion. Just like billions and trillions of our cells in the body {each having its own consciousness} function together in sync to make me, to give a feeling of I ness to make me conscious. Likewise we humans and all life forms, the planets the galaxies all of us together collectively form the Ultimate Divine That is the truth. It is present in all of us everywhere every second, diving deep into that which exists everywhere is devotion. No life can be complete without devotion.C) Seva (Service):-Greed & self-centeredness is the root cause of all misery and suffering. By Being selfless we open ourselves to a whole new world of fulfillment and contentment. Our relation to others is very critical. The fundamental mistake we commit is that we always try to Please Others, Satisfy Others, Impress Others & Prove our worth to Others whereas the illuminated way of living should be that we should always try to Help Others, Serve Others Love Others & Be Compassionate with Others. Service to Humanity is Service to the Divine as all is one and the same. We can start doing service anytime anywhere , any selfless action is service. Any form of help to any one in need is service. We should not let go of any such opportunity that comes to us and presents us the golden chance to serve and allow us to become pure, useful and contribute to the society.VIII) 40 Additional Small But Important Points:-Some additional points should also be taken care of as they are very critical for not only for weight management but also for overall health:-1) Water :- Keep drinking water throughout the day and stay hydrated.Water after food:- Don’t Drink Water at least half an hour after eating food (Extremely Important) as the digestive bile juices get diluted which leads to improper digestion.2) Last Meal of the day :- Eat dinner at least two hours before going to bed for sleeping. Never eat late i.e. just before sleeping.3) Cooking Oil :- Select multiple varieties of cooking oil like Olive/Coconut/Mustard/Canola/Desi Ghee/Rice Bran etc. Make sure that the Saturated Fat is minimum(20 maximum) and in one variety Mono Unsaturated fat is more and in the other variety poly unsaturated fat is more. If we cook lunch with Oil A which is more in Mono Unsaturates then use Oil B which is more in poly Unsaturates for dinner. We can vary oils like this to get maximum benefit. never use a single cooking oil all the time..Just see the labels of the cooking oil. Use olive oil, canola oil,Coconut oil, mustard oil ,groundnut oil, rice bran oil. and keep shuffling between them. The daily intake should be restricted. Ghee could also beused wisely in some quantity. The important thing to remember is that never eat FRIED foods and cook vegetables in less quantity of oil .4) Spicy Food :- Avoid too much Spice (Red Chili should be totally discarded ,Green Chilly can be taken in moderation),Eating Pickles should be avoided.5) Salt :- Avoid excessive salt , as a rule never eat uncooked salt i.e. never sprinkle salt on fruits , salads , dal etc.6) Wrong Food Combination :-Avoid Following wrong combinations of food:- Milk + Fruit , Fruit + Food , Milk + Food , Eat salads just before eating food, not along with food7) Aim for Variety:- Go for variety in your food choices, eg. don’t restrict to just one type of grain. Ideally try to have one grain only once per day .Have wheat,brown rice,white rice, wheat, ragi, jowar , bajra (form of millets) , oats, Makai etc. Similarly for legumes,select from wide variety of Moong,masoor,arhar dals etc and beans like kidney beans soya beans,chick peas etc.8) Don’t Smoke and Don’t consume Alcohol :- By this strategy alone you can prevent at least 30–40 % of cancers and other life threatening diseases.9) Omega 3 Fatty Acids :- Extremely critical to be included in the diet on daily basis. Flax-seeds, Walnuts , Fish and cod liver oil are good sources. In our diet Omega 6 is in excess and this puts the Omega3 : Omega6 ratio out of balance.Make sure to ground the flaxseed before eating. Eating seeds directly won’t provide you the Omega 3 as they will pass through without being cracked open.10) Soak Nuts & Seeds :- Un-soaked nuts have very high amount of phylates that interfere in Iron absorption.11) Ayurvedic Herbs :- Use herbs in medicinal form occasionally to boost immunity. Eg Tulsi, Neem, Triphala, Ashwagandha, Guduchhi etc.12) Connect to earth :- Walk barefoot on grass / garden area13) Beware of Radiation :- Use mobile with caution , keep phone couple of centimeters away from the ear while talking on phone , while sleeping keep the phone in switched off mode.Use speaker phone as far as possible. I ordered one phone whose microphone was not working and I had to use speaker for all calls. Initially I was frustrated but now I am continuing with it happily as it saves me from the radiations.14) Be Expectation Free /Stress Free :- Just be like a child , full of enthusiasm and free of all insecurities , fears , judgements etc. Live to the fullest.Our expectations from others is the root cause of our stress.15) Be humorous :- Laugh as much a possible , always keep a smile on the face and make others non-serious as well. Glow from inside as well as from outside.16) Don’t use refrigerator :- Don’t use it for cooling water , storing fruits and vegetables etc. Use it only for preserving milk/curd. Purchase fresh vegetables and fruits daily.17) Don’t eat left over food on the next day :- Don’t store cooked food in fridge for consuming it the next day18) Microwave :- Best to throw it out of the house.19) Dental hygiene :- Brushing before sleeping is critical , floss once every week.20) Vitamin D :- Expose the body to morning sun whenever you get a chance.21) Bed Matress :- Don’t use a very soft mattress22) Probiotics :- Curd / Fermented food like idli/dosa contain probiotics , supplement can be taken occasionally23) Multivitamin Supplement :- Take one-two multivitamin supplement tablet every week.24) Self-Massage :- Massage the whole body with mustard oil / seasame oil / almond oil once every week.25) Plastic Bottles / Containers :- Throw away all plastic water bottles and containers26) Cosmetics :- Don’t use any creams , powders , perfumes , deodrants. Apply on your body only that thing which you can eat as through transdermal absorption a substantial portion goes in the body. If you follow above principles , anyways you are going to glow and smell good.27) Sleep – Sleep for atleast 7 hours daily28) Alarm Clock – Don’t use alarm clock to wake up , sleep on time and automatically you will wake up on time. Abrupt alarm clock disturbs smooth cardiac rhythm.29) Anger – Biggest enemy of health , be light hearted and fun loving. Take a chill pill dude! Nothing in life is permanent and serious. Its our attitude that makes insignificant things appear to be so significant and permanent. You are anyways going to die in 20–30–40–50–60 years , so why waste this small time in getting angry on pity things. Relax and let go! Let people go by there own pace.30) Fruit Juice – Prefer whole fruit over juice as they contain fiber. Preserved juice like real juice etc are full of sugar and preservatives and are disastrous.31) Awla Juice - Just check the label , sodium benzoate is hazardous to the body just like phenyl. Sodium Benzonate + Vitamin C is the worst thing to your body.Stay away from ridiculous claims. Eat fresh awla , it is the best source of anti-oxidants and vitamin C.If someone really cares for your health they would promote fresh awla not the chemical juice , its all money making. Wake Up!32) Wash Hands Regularly :- Get a sanitizer if required , keep washing your hands every 3–4 hours. Especially before eating and after loo/toilet.33) Hangout with Friends :- Do I need to say anything here? Enjoy with your buddies , make new friends. Love , care and share.34) Read Books :- Keep learning and relearning to stay young. Remember books are your best friends.35) Hobby :- Get a hobby , listen to music , learn guitar , play , have time for yourself. Do something you love to do.36) Vacation :- Take small vacations now and then to refresh your mind.37) Sex :- Have sex at-least once a week. Enjoy the touch of your partner , gaze into his/her eyes. Love, Appreciate and Respect your partner. Remember the first time your partner touched you and you got goosebumps? relive those moments , go to a new place and have one new honeymoon/year with the same partner (preferably)38) Regular Check-ups :- Get blood tests / other health checkups regularly. Eg get your lipid prpfile , Vit D , Vit B12 tested every 2–3 years.39) 20–20–20 Rule :- Keep blinking your eyes in front of computer/ laptop/ mobile / TV. Take your eyes away from your monitor every 20 minutes and gaze at an object around 20 feet away for 20 seconds. (20–20–20 rule).40) BE GRATEFUL TO LIFE – BEING THANKFUL WITH EVERY BREATH IS THE BEST WORSHIP ONE CAN OFFER TO THE DIVINE!The above components if integrated properly would surely raise the self-healing abilities of our body. We should just have faith that there is a cosmic intelligence that has fine-tuned the entire universe eg. mass of electron, gravitational constant, electromagnetic constant, distance between earth and sun, composition of air that we breathe and millions of such parameters had to be exactly the same as they are for you and me to exist. Within our cells lies the same intelligence that is driving billions of galaxies. Each cell has the same intelligence by which it is able to perform such complicated functions with such an ease. Each cell in the body is like an universe in itself. This intelligence is working all the time within us and can definitely re fine tune the parameters of our body that have gone out of order. We just have to set our priorities right and we can surely manage our health and our weight ,let these things be an integral part of our life like we brush your teeth, we bath these also shall be included in our daily routine.Finally to get you motivated :-Before (105 Kg):-Now (72 Kg):-

Q. What are the pros and cons of Rice University?Pros and Cons of Rice, from a current junior. • r/ApplyingToCollegeby MattO2000 College Junior (one month ago)Pros:Residential college system. It's honestly the best part of Rice and has totally changed my college experience. It's unlike the ones at Princeton, etc where they're not a core focus of the campus - instead, it has a huge role on the student body and life. You are placed in one of 11 colleges your freshman year, and for 99% of students, they stay affiliated with that college all four years. You are guaranteed housing 3/4 years, and I would say at least 50-60% stay on campus 3+ years, 85% stay on campus 2+ years, and virtually everyone is on campus their freshman year. This allows for a great environment with friends, and allows strong relationships over all your years at Rice. It's basically Greek life with 0 pressure, total inclusivity, no hazing, and really awesome. (Note: we don't have any Greek life on campus).BEER BIKE! We just had Beer Bike a couple of days ago and it is our best day of the year (called "Christmas" by many students) and so there is probably a bit of recency bias, but it is honestly a great part of campus. Each of the 11 residential colleges, plus the grad student association, competes in a race where 10 bikers bike a mile, and 10 chuggers chug 24 oz of (usually) water. It may sound kind of silly but it is honestly so much fun, and we have lots of events leading up to it throughout the year.Houston: I love being in a major city with a lot to do. I've been to Rockets and Astros games, lots of great restaurants, and I was able to land an internship just outside of Houston this summer due to our nearby location. We are also right next to a really nice park with a great zoo (free admission for students) which is a great place for a date, to go for a run, etc. Also right near the Texas Medical Center which is a huge plus for pre-meds and BIOE students. I was also able to work on a project at Johnson Space Center my freshman year, which I feel like that would be pretty challenging elsewhere.Strong academics: It obviously depends on your major, but Rice overall has very solid academics. Some departments can be a bit underfunded but others are doing very well for themselves. I would say the quality of education is probably very similar to other top 20 institutions.Cool facilities: I can only really speak for engineering here, but there are some very interesting labs on campus. The best one is the OEDK (Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen), a renovated kitchen that now holds state of the art prototyping equipment, such as 3D printers, laser/plasma cutters, PCB manufacturing, powerful computers, etc. It's where all senior design and freshman design projects are. If you come for Owl Days, I would recommend checking out the design showcase. They also added an Engineering Design minor this year! check out [OEDK - Rice University - Home](OEDK - Rice University - Home) for more.O-week: It makes your transition to college so easy! One week of bonding, academic planning, fun times, advice, and not a lot of sleep. My best friend now was in my O-week group a couple of years ago when I first came in.Wet Campus: You don't need to worry about alcohol as long as you're not really stupid. Drink in you're room, drink in the halls, as long as it's not outside or in front of adults and you're ok. No one comes in to check unless they are specifically told to (which never happens). You can also walk around quite freely with alcohol if you're of age. Few people have fake IDs because they don't go to bars, which is good for your wallet.Relatively un-competitive: There will always be some competitiveness, especially among pre-meds, but we are much less cutthroat than other institutions. It's also super easy to find friends in your major at your college, which makes it easy to find people to study and do homework with.Mixed:Small class size. This is made even smaller by the residential college system. Unless you are quite aloof, you will likely have at most one connection between you and anyone else on campus. This can make things like dating fairly awkward sometimes, but overall I've found it to be pretty nice. It allows you to really have an individualized experience without being overpowered, and leadership is easy to come by with less students.Athletics: We are D1, but barely. At least, in football and basketball, the two sports people seem to care about. We made a bowl game in football a couple of years ago, and had our second most wins in basketball in school history this past year, but our coach also just left us, along with some of our best players. Baseball is very good (won the championship in 2003), as well as tennis and a couple of other sports. It won't have the same vibe as a major school like Duke or USC, and honestly probably less than a lot of other Ivies as well, but it's still there, and still fun to go to.ConsWe don't have the facilities and resources of other large schools. We also don't have the same name recognition outside of the south as some other schools (although, major employers will still be familiar with Rice). We also don't have the same alumni network that larger schools have. There's no undergraduate business major despite our very good business school, however there is a minor and you can take many classes. The workload can sometimes be quite stressful, and since we have had high rankings for happiness, many students feel the need to be happy all the time.5 Things I Wish I Had Known About Before Attending Rice University1) There are real pros and cons behind the residential college system.If you’re considering applying to Rice University or if you have done even brief research on the school, I’m sure you’ve heard of the residential college system. Think of it like the houses in Harry Potter. All incoming freshmen are randomly sorted into one of eleven residential colleges at Rice. Every college has some 200-300+ students, and while each one functions as a dorm, in reality, the colleges are so much more than a collection of bedrooms. Of course, the colleges are a place for eating, sleeping, and socializing.But they’re also a place where you can lie in a hammock for hours. Or build a bonfire for s’mores. Learn how to master that tough chemistry problem set from a tutor. Host a crawfish boil. Slide down a water tube at the fall or spring block party. Not a bad place to be, right? Just keep in mind that colleges this small and tightknit have inherent downsides. Rice students are friendly, but that friend you had a huge fight with last week? You’ll almost certainly be seeing her today at lunch. Oh, and tomorrow at dinner. Oh, and at next week’s alumni barbeque.2) Students can run their own businesses at Rice. And yes, they’re real businesses.For all of you aspiring entrepreneurial types out there, I know what you’re thinking; “How can students run their own businesses at Rice when Rice doesn’t even offer a business major?” While it’s true that Rice does not offer a business major, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the business side of things from a real-world perspective. Enter Rice Student-Run Businesses (SRBs). Collectively, the SRBs are made of six small business teams, 26 student managers, and 125 student employees including three start-up ventures. Our businesses include The Hoot (a late-night snack bar that sells everything from Papa John’s to boba tea), Coffeehouse (a favorite student hangout place with cheap, amazing drinks and desserts), the Rice Bike Shop, and of course, Willy’s Pub (perfect for Thirsty Thursdays). Still not convinced these are real businesses? Together they generate $900,000 a year in revenue. Impressive.3) Rice students know how to party.Yes, Rice students know how to work and they know how to get down and hit the books when it counts. When finals time inevitably rolls around each December and April, Fondren Library will be packed and you’ll be stuck fighting for study rooms just like anyone else. Rice students are known for their brains, but did you know we throw some pretty awesome parties? Each of the colleges hosts about one public party per semester, open to all undergraduates. You are, of course, encouraged to dress up for each of these themed parties.There’s Sensation (a whiteout party), Bacchanalia (what college experience would be complete without a toga party?), and our infamous Night of Decadence (let’s just say NOD made it to Playboy’s list of best college parties back in the day). These parties are always student-planned and organized. You can always look forward to some great themes (this past fall, a college hosted Y2K: Soulja Boys and Abercrombie Fitches).4) Christmas comes twice a year for Rice students: once in December and once in March.Every March, you’ll see Rice students posting Facebook statuses with a common theme, some variation of “CAN’T WAIT FOR THE REAL CHRISTMAS!!!” What is this springtime Christmas, you ask? Beer Bike always falls around mid-to-late March. To outsiders, Beer Bike is a morning that involves a lot of kegs and a lot of bikes. For us Rice students in the know, we know that Beer Bike is steeped in Rice tradition.This chugging/bike racing event dates back to 1957 and is referred to as “the real homecoming.” Thousands of alumni return to campus every March to partake in the festivities, which include a campus-wide water balloon fight and a whole lot of pizza. Rumor has it we’ve broken some world records with the number of water balloons we’ve thrown on Beer Bike morning. If Beer Bike makes no sense to you, perhaps you’ll have to become a Rice student to understand its true magic.5) There are amazing options for off-campus dining and entertainment here in Houston.I get it Houston doesn’t exactly conjure up images of a fun city. Think “Houston” and you might envision oil and gas and miserably hot weather. But take note, Houston is the fourth most populous city in the United States and is poised to become a major player on the U.S. urban stage. And our city is cool really cool. Check out our dining scene, for example. Houston is home to 10,000 restaurants with cuisine from over 70 countries and regions. We are also one of the few U.S. cities with our own theater, ballet, symphony, and opera companies. Even better Rice students get heavy discounts at many restaurants and similarly discounted or free tickets to the city’s entertainment offerings.Miranda Roberts received a degree in sociology at Rice University in 2014. She considers the double Macchiato and Danish from Rice Coffeehouse the perfect way to start the day.What is your overall opinion of this school? | Rice University | UnigoMax Class: FreshmanRice is known for its small, tree-filled campus, our baseball team, and its supposed "value" and generous financial aid program when compared to its Ivy League counterparts. On a side note, many students are upset at what they see as Rice's waning commitment to low tuition - something we were previously known for. The joke around campus is that Rice is the Harvard of the South (or Harvard is the Rice of the North), and to an extent that is true. Other than Vanderbilt University, Rice is the highest ranked school in the South, and students are very proud of that here. We're prestigious but not pretentious. We like it that way. And from a little more official standpoint, Princeton Review has ranked Rice as #1 in the best quality of life and #10 in the happiest students. I attribute a lot of this to our great weather - just last week (in February), our entire dorm went outside to tan or play frisbee because it was so nice out. One of the reviewers described Rice as a bubble. That is a great word to describe the University's students. Rice is a small piece of land right in the middle of Houston. Rice gives every student a free pass to everything around us (Houston's many Museums, Zoo, etc), but no one takes advantage of it. Not many people have automobiles here (parking costs are high) so true off-campus activity is rare, but Rice is surrounded by walkable (or Light Rail accessible) areas. Rice provides its students with a Metro-pass that allows us to use the Houston Metro and Houston Light Rail free (which conveniently has a stop at Rice) so we can explore the city of Houston. On Saturday night, the University closes its cafeterias to force kids to go out and try some off campus food. If you don't want to travel that far, Rice Village is a 5-minute bike ride away and has shops and tons of food options. Hermann Park which houses the Houston Zoo (free to Rice students!) is a small walk across the street. The Houston Galleria, a jumbo mall with stores ranging everywhere from Gucci and Neiman Marcus to Urban Outfitters and Abercrombie is a 15-minute bus ride (Rice has its own busing system too). If you need some snacks, Rice has a Target shuttle that runs daily. In Houston, everything is really at your fingertips. Houston is a really weird city. So many different sections make up Houston that it's kind of like a combination of 10 different cities. You've got the artsy Museum District (where Rice is at), hip Montrose area, high-end shopping in Highland Village, ritzy Bellaire, downtown, uptown, and everywhere in between. On a rare day you aren't swamped with homework, it's been really awesome to go explore the city even though I'm from here! I just wish more students would too. Facilities are top-notch but for dorms, it really depends on what college you are in. All of the serveries are the same and food quality is better than you would expect (but certainly not great). Fresh fruit and tender meats can be difficult to get (I personally cannot eat the steak), but their desserts are always impressive (I had a tiramisu cake that was just as good as Houston's best Italian restaurant's). Once in awhile interesting options pop up to complement the Chicken Nuggets, french fries, and hot dogs. Just the other day, we offered Octopus Soup and bacon-wrapped Rabbit. Rice landscapers are always working to clean up leaves/mow grass and our campus always looks great. We've also got wifi on 100% of the campus, and students take advantage of it when they want to study outside. Rice also just opened up its new student center/rec which is the best gym I've seen on a college campus. All machines have a built in TV in them, there's a heated "relaxation" pool designed to make you feel like you're at a resort (complete with palm trees), and free equipment rentals for things like tennis, squash, or racquetball. We've also got a lot of "quads" for students just to lounge around and study. Just the other day, I witnessed a Yoga class by the student center. Students stop in the student center to buy a coffee or drink (we've got a Smoothie King and our Brochstein Pavilion restaurant on campus) and sit around Rice to study. Rice has thousands of trees all over campus (students say there is a tree for every student) including tons of old, massive live oaks. There are so many trees that you often forget you are in a city. Because Rice is so small and walkable, students are not allowed to drive to class (there are no parking spots anyway). We've also got some awesome buildings that personally remind me of old Europe.Shaurya Class: SophomoreI can't imagine anybody not thoroughly enjoying their experience at Rice. The uniqueness of this university is what really appeals to me. The most significant contributing factor in this is the residential college system. The absence of greek life replaced by family culture, long-standing traditions, amicable competition, and overwhelming love for your college make it an experience like no other. The professors are incredibly easy to interact with and you know several on a personal level within your freshman year. They're always willing to spend an extra hour if you need help and the relationship that you have with the Masters and Residential Associates, who are often professors as well, are ones that you will remember long after you graduate. In terms of location, Rice is a little bubble in the middle of downtown Houston. When you're inside the hedges that surround the campus, you feel like you are isolated in a little paradise. However, as soon as you step out you're right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of one of the largest cities in the US. If you ever get bored with the countless activities and events happening on campus, there's an equally endless number of opportunities right outside. Something every Rice student remembers the entire time they're at Rice and after as well is their first week on campus: Orientation week. I can say without a shred of doubt that it is the most unique orientation week in the entire world. The amount of effort, planning, and emphasis Rice places on "O-Week" is a testament to why so many students still say that O-week was the most fun week of their entire lives. The only complaint I would have about Rice is the weather. Houston weather is unpredictable and often unpleasant. Humidity is prevalent throughout the year and sometimes exacerbates the already high temperature. However, during late spring and autumn, the weather is fantastic so it's a give an take. Many people like the weather year-round, mostly because they come from cold environments and enjoy the warm weather without condition.Bryce Class: AlumFirst of all, as a recent graduate, I can tell you that at least in my limited experience, every time I tell someone I'm a Rice graduate, they're impressed. Rice has a strong reputation as "the Ivy League of the south". Personally, I don't think that does justice to the quality of Rice's education or experience, but then again I will openly admit that I loved virtually every aspect of my time there, so I'm probably biased. The school is both big and small. In that, I mean that the undergraduate population is in the low thousands, but we have a Residential College system that makes it so that, in many ways, you are part of a well-defined and closely nit community of only a few hundred. Rice is extremely tolerant and in many ways apolitical campus. Everyone has their views -- and usually has them quite strongly, but if you got into Rice, you're probably pretty smart, and so everyone recognizes that you have a right to that opinion. There are debates and arguments, but for the most part, they're respectful, not argumentative per se. Probably my biggest praise of Rice comes from the fact that everyone on campus realizes that everyone else is smart. That is, there's very little academic competition. I can honestly say I don't know what my friend's GPAs were, and they certainly didn't know mine. I've heard horror stories about the competition at other schools over grades, and not once at Rice did I hear of any such issue coming up. I think that if someone at Rice acted as they cared about such things they'd get laughed at. Overall, it's an easy-going atmosphere, with lots of opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun. I recommend it to anyone who will listen.Elizabeth Class: SeniorOne of the best things about Rice is the Residential College system. There are currently 9 colleges (though there will soon be 11), and there is a lot of college pride. In fact, there are many more cheers (and anti-cheers) for specific residential colleges than for Rice as a whole. Most people have a lot of college pride, which comes out the most certain times of the year: O-week and Beer Bike. O-week is our orientation week that freshmen have the week before classes start. Everyone gets put in a group of about 8 people and basically learns why their college is the best. Beer Bike is the biggest social event of the year - it involves a huge, campus-wide water balloon fight, bike relay races (that used to involve chugging beer, thus the name), and pranks (college vs. college). The college system is great because it provides a community within the university that is diverse in terms of majors, ages, and everything else. Whereas at a lot of schools, upperclassmen tend to move off campus, most people at Rice try to stay on campus all four years. Many people get kicked off each year, which is one of the downsides of the housing system, but it is nice to have a strong community on campus that people fight to be a part of. Rice is in the middle of Houston, so there is always plenty to do. Every student gets a pass to use the lightrail for free, so even if you don't have a car, you can still get around. There are always performances, shows, and concerts going on, and often free tickets are given out to Rice students. However, Rice still maintains a beautiful campus in the midst of the busy city.Rox Class: SophomoreRice University is a small campus, but the size is actually quite big compared to the population; it's the perfect size for me. Everyone finds their own niche at Rice, and the fantastic residential college system helps with this. The colleges are also great because they really get the student body active and involved-- they organize so many great study breaks and fun parties for everyone to gather at. We spend the majority of our time on campus, but Houston is all around us! The city is a great resource whether you want to shop (with Rice Village a 10 minutes walk and the galleria about 15 minutes by car), eat (a plethora of restaurants EVERYWHERE), or experience the arts (Rice is a stop on the metrorail, which goes downtown in mere minutes to theaters, museums, or cinemas). The administration is very open to student input and there are many ways for you to get your voice heard here. If you make the effort, you can definitely put your ideas into work! Although you may be from the northeast where Rice University is still gaining stature, I can tell you that when I go around Houston or Texas and I tell them I go to Rice, everyone is impressed and recognizes our school with frequent sarcastic comments like "oh, so you couldn't get into a better school?"Ian Class: AlumRice is an amazing place where all types of people can fit in. The school is just the right size, although they are enlarging it significantly with the addition of two new residential colleges. Rice is great because of the diversity and quality of its academic offerings given its size. Undergraduates have great opportunities to get involved with research (I did, and I'm shy). The residential college system is really great and builds a really strong community. Some kids like to be a part of that community, while others don't. People in Texas and people in certain areas (like Computer Science) are wowed when you tell then you went to Rice. Most people have never heard of it, which is intensely frustrating. Almost all of my time on campus when I wasn't working was spent at my college, Brown (named after Margaret Root Brown, not the color). Houston is not a college town, but there are lots to do, especially if you like to try lots of different kinds of cheap ethnic food. There are tons of cheap food, and I love eating. Rice's administration is good overall. School pride is often eclipsed by residential college pride during your time there, but Rice pride starts to take over as an alumnus.Amy Class: SophomorePeople react in two different ways when I tell them I go to Rice. Some will simply stare and say "Rice what?" or ask if that's an agricultural school. Others will be sincerely impressed; the difference is due to geography. Often called the "Harvard of the South", Rice is locally very well known, but where I come from (Ohio), Rice could just as well not exist. A better school there could hardly be, however. Located in Houston's Medical Center, it's in the center of one of the largest cities, although you rarely have to leave campus anyways. It's really easy to get involved at Rice, and there's tons of school pride (although there's arguably more College Pride-think Harry Potter houses...). It's relatively small, with 3,000 undergraduates, and guys: the food is actually pretty good here! Chef Roger's cinnamon rolls are divine! The best thing about Rice is the people; there are no cliques, no expectations. You are allowed to be who you want to be, no questions asked. It's a very low-pressure school where you are not judged. I also love the plethora of events and activities; there is never a dull moment at this university! I'll always remember....BEEEER BIKE!Alex Class: SophomoreThe best thing about Rice is the residential college system. Everything is unusual about Rice. Take, for example, the context of Rice. Rice is located in the city of Houston. Houston is a privatized society in a market-driven economy. Rice is generally free, open, embracing, and somewhat... socialist. Nevertheless, Rice and Houston have similar positive attributes. Houston has great sports teams (Rockets, Astros, etc). Rice has been consistently strong in baseball, tennis and track/field. Both Houston and Rice embrace progressive action. Houston is rapidly growing, as it has always been, and with support from community development corporations, many grassroots movements have emerged to tackle issues such as poverty, environmental degradation, and social housing. With ongoing construction activities and President Leebron's Vision for the Second Century, the Rice administration visibly promotes growth and wants to expand Rice internally and expand its influence externally through support for campus organizations and social and environmental justice clubs that work with the broader Houston community.Tara Class: AlumI love Rice because you get the benefits of a large college at a small school. Rice is actually smaller than my large, public high school, but I love the intimacy. Though we miss out on some of the perks of a big school (like the support of athletics), the benefits are overwhelming. The class size is smaller (average 15-30), so professors usually know your name. They are open to questions and help and are generally really understanding of college life. If you want to do research, there is always someone to do research with and the resources to do it. Rice is full of motivated, driven, smart people, so everyone is interesting. My favorite part is the residential college system - apparently something like Harry Potter. You get placed into a residential college at random and they end up being diverse in a class year, major, specialty, ethnicity, hometown, etc. Then, each college has their own government (with $40,000 or more) and all sorts of committees and sports teams. Instead of an exclusive Greek system, we have an all-inclusive college system. It is truly my favorite part of Rice!Carson Class: FreshmanRice is perfect. Its small student population provides for small classes and interactivity with professors (professors even invite students over for dinner). The campus is simply gorgeous and peaceful, and its location near downtown Houston provides accessibility to a variety of attractions. Its academic programs are very strong, and Rice has the status of "The Ivy League of Texas", meaning it is famous for its academic excellence, especially in the South (but elsewhere as well). Rice is also very socially attractive. The college system makes it very easy for even the most reserved person to make lots of friends, and most people here are very friendly. There is a lot of collaboration, as opposed to the cutthroat atmosphere you might experience at other top schools. Houston is an amazing city, a lot different from stereotypical Texas, and Rice is also very unique. You almost forget what state you're in. Rice is also considerably cheaper than its rivals, making it an all-around bargain.BioengineeringCharlie Class: SophomoreRice's college system is one of the best things here. Each student develops their own college pride and we have intramural sports against each college. Our campus is enclosed and is quite big for the number of students we have here. People from the south or those well educated have heard of Rice and knows its prestige. I love being here at Rice, where you get the ivy league education but minus the competitiveness among students. People say we're the Harvard of the south or that Harvard is Rice of the North West. The biggest controversy we've had is how wet our campus is. The alcohol policy is definitely laxer than any other school. Students can drink during the day when it is their college night and drink openly in parties most of the time.Courtney Class: FreshmanThe best thing about Rice is the people. The people at Rice are extraordinarily smart and talented, but they've found the balance between work and play. The same people who spend weeknights slaving away in the library spend their weekends enjoying the nice weather and beautiful campus. We like to complain a lot about things like construction, but deep down we know that our school is a magnificent place. If I could change one thing, though, it would be how small the campus feels. Since there are not a lot of students, it can feel claustrophobic, but there are ways to escape it. You can always choose to take part in the Rice community or to be detached a little and explore more of the outside world "beyond the hedges."Jo Class: FreshmanIt's just the right size for a small public school. One of the best things is the campus; it's beautiful! People usually assume I am smart since I go to Rice. Houston isn't really a "college town," and sometimes, it is hard that places around here close to early on weeknights. There is not much school pride; we have more dorm (called "colleges") pride. One really unique thing is our residential college system. It makes Rice more fun, I think. However, we do not have any Greek life. Honestly, though, we don't need it. We compete with other colleges and still have rivalries, etc. Also, Rice is small enough so we can do things like have campus-wide water balloon fights, which are amazing.Alex Class: SophomoreRice is an awesome place. The college system brings together students and gives them a certain level of autonomy in their college lives. Residential colleges receive a budget from the University that they can do whatever they want with. Parties are almost always free. Rice is just the right size. Although you see a lot of the same people around, you develop a solid set of relationships. A lot of school pride is superseded by residential college pride, but Rice students still love their university. I think the administration does a good job of maintaining contact with the student body and keeps undergraduates in mind.Andy Class: JuniorWell, one thing that is unique is the Harry potter like "college system". Residential colleges are like a big co-ed frat/sor. that you get randomly placed in. It becomes your home and many of your closest friends will be from your college. Each college competes for the president's cup every year and your teammates must be from your specific college. In general, we have a small number of students on a fairly large campus (per capita) and we are in a huge city that I am still continuing to explore and learn about. I may be a gung-ho Florida girl, but Texas isn't half bad either.Dawson Class: SeniorRice is a small university with strong research programs in a very big city. Houston has a lot to offer as a city (symphony, ballet, opera, visual arts, theatre, world-famous rodeo). That said, the public transportation options are poor (but there is a light rail that runs between Rice and the cultural events downtown). Not many people care about the university athletic events (except for baseball when they're winning) - intramural sports are much more important for most people. In the city, people usually react very positively when they hear you go to Rice.BioScience Research Collaborative with Texas Medical Center InstitutionsJacob Class: SeniorI like that the school is small, but by senior year it can feel to small. Especially if you have a tough breakup in a relationship it is very hard to avoid the ex. The campus is beautiful and I think it's great that so many people live on campus and it is so easy to have and go to parties. I was happy overall with Rice administration. Overall students are pretty apathetic about a lot of issues and I wouldn't say the student body is as smart or goal-oriented as I had imagined. Not sure if that is a bad or a good thing.Natalie Class: JuniorOne thing I would change: the athletic awareness at Rice. Rice is a smart school, but it also has some unbelievable, world-class athletes. Therefor sure is some ignorance on both sides--from the student-athletes towards regular students and from regular students to the student-athletes. The situation is improving (developing respect for the strengths each group has), but this is a challenge, but in my opinion should NOT deter someone from coming to Rice. No school is perfect. Every school has its pros/cons.Alison Class: SophomoreRice is small which makes for a more intimate living environment. There is some school pride but people generally aren't that interested in attending sporting events other than baseball which doesn't take place on campus. When I tell people I go to Rice, in Texas they tell me I am smart and in Idaho they have never heard of it. People take the saying "work hard, play hard" very literally.Miri Class: SophomoreOverall, I love Rice. I love the fact that I can easily switch majors in about a minute or so; all I have to do is talk to the major adviser.Katia Class: SeniorThe best thing about Rice: Everyone here is really into learning! I know that sounds lame, but there are few slackers at Rice. The campus is beautiful (sans construction), and we've got some great professors. Personally, I think Rice is a bit small, but that's getting fixed right now (two new dorms are being built). Most people are sort of surprised when I tell them I go to Rice. Those that are familiar with it immediately say something like, "it's pretty weird there, right?" or they just don't know what to think. I think very few people have an accurate understanding of the environment at Rice. I live off-campus now so I'm either in the library, at the student center, or outside on a bench somewhere if the weather's nice. It's definitely not a college town. Houston is too big and spread out to be referenced as such. The biggest recent controversy on campus was something that happened over MLK weekend. a couple of students got drunk and "vandalized" the copy machine and some walls, I think. They supposedly crumbled Oreos everywhere. A couple of black students took offense, I think any insults were smoothed over pretty quickly. I think it might have been blown out of proportion, but the Rice administration dealt with it in a very diplomatic manner. There is some Rice pride, but definitely nothing at all compared to the University of Texas in Austin are some other universities like that. To be honest, in terms of sport support as a measure of pride, Rice has little to none. some students attend football games, but not too many. and other sports teams have difficulty mobilizing the general student class to get out and get excited. they just don't seem to be too interested in the most part. During my freshman and sophomore year, there was some GREAT support for the women's soccer team, but we had to work to promote ourselves. Rice has some great traditions that add to its uniqueness and flair. Beer bike is an annual celebration that I absolutely LOVE!!! you won't find it anywhere else and EVERYONE is completely dedicated to it. Beer Bike is this: wake up at dawn, multiple kegs are at every dorm, music is blasting, everyone's happy and running around, then every college (dorm) gathers together and the huge university-wide water balloon fight begins. It's a lot of fun and everyone gets really into it. Trucks filled with trash cans full of balloons make there way down one side of the campus until they reach the bike track. there, selected members of every college race bikes and chug times while everyone cheers them on. there are free food and free beer everywhere. it's a great experience. also, Rice has Baker 13, which is when a group of students runs through college at night completely naked except for certain parts covered with whip cream... it's pretty awesome. also, Rice's O-week (orientation week for all freshmen and transfers) is very unique. It's just a bunch of fun activities dedicated to you getting to know you're college and your class. The most frequent student complaints I hear are that a lot of rice students don't know how to have fun or that there are a lot who are difficult to talk to because they aren't completely socially comfortable (which is totally ok, it's just different). also, there's a good amount of work, but people seem to handle it pretty well without too many complaints. a lot of people gripe about the survey food but I didn't have a problem with it. Currently, my main irritation is all the construction on campus, but that's just something we all have to deal with.Moody Media CenterRyan Class: JuniorBig Picture: -What's the best thing about Rice? I'd say two main things: how friendly and supportive the community is as a whole, and how undergraduate-focused. Rice is unique in that it's a top-tier research university that offers the close-knit community of a small college at the same time. Also, everyone is just really nice. You won't get much pretentiousness or elitism here. As someone from the East Coast, I really noticed this difference. -Name one thing you'd change. Right now Rice is building two new colleges (huge dorms) and planning to gradually expand from 3,000 undergrads to 5,000. President Leebron is trying to make Rice more like an Ivy League school. I (and many others) disagree with this vision: keep it small, close-knit, and personal! Also, the new Pavilion is stupid. It's a nice space but competes unfairly with our awesome student-run independent coffeeshop. -Too large, too small, or just right? See above. It's just right at the moment (3,000 is big enough to find your niche but small enough to be personal), but will be getting too big soon. I can never walk to class without saying hi to at least 3 or 4 people I know. Lots of undergrads do research with profs and know each other by name. -How do people react when you tell them you go to Rice? Ooh, I have a good answer for this one! I am from Pennsylvania, where Rice is fairly unknown outside of academia. "Texas?" people would say. "Are you crazy?" But here in Houston, when I first moved in to start my freshman year and opened a new bank account, the bank teller's eyes grew wide when I told him I was going to Rice. He said "You must be one of three things. Either you are very rich, a very talented athlete, or very smart." I laughed and told him none of the above. Still, it was a lesson in the regional prestige of Rice. In the South everyone thinks of Rice as Harvard; back home, it's known as a great school but kinda weird because it's in Texas. -What was the recent biggest controversy on campus? A field behind our Student Center building has a new glass study space (it's a big glass box, basically) called the Pavilion with its own coffee shop. Many students are angry about it because it competes directly with our independent, student-run coffeeshop, which operates out of an old broom closet. Why couldn't the administration upgrade what we already have, support student entrepreneurship, instead of bringing in a corporate shop? Lame. Students are boycotting it, and Rice students, in general, aren't activists at all, so that tells you how big a deal it was. -What's one experience you'll always remember? Here are a few of many: the fireworks at Matriculation, the insanity that is O-week, the time a random cute guy asked me out in the library, sneaking into the Med Center at night to climb inside the new Rainbow Building skyscraper with my friends, sleeping 3 nights in a row in the library during finals. Oh, here's a good one: when I first arrived at Rice for orientation week--literally, the moment my parents left me on the curb--an older man came up to me, shook my hand, and said: "Hi, I'm David." I had no idea who he was, so I just smiled and said hi and my name. Later that night at matriculation, I watched him step onto the stage and realized that he was President Leebron! A pretty good example of how personal Rice is.Rice TennisJulia Class: SeniorGet out of the hedges and off-campus, Rice students. Houston may be polluted, sticky, and generally environmentally unpleasant, but there is more inspiration in the city than in Rice classrooms alone. You can walk to museums and take free light rail rides to clubs and professional sports games around town, and too few students do it. More and more classes are working to integrate Houston's assets into academia (Chemistry of Art, for example, is team-taught with curators from the Museum of Fine Arts), and the new president, Leebron, is big on integrating Rice into the Houston community and vice versa. But it is way too easy to live on campus all four years, never have a car, rarely leave the library or the lab, and walk away from Rice with no idea how to pay an electric bill or budget for groceries. The school's getting bigger, more rapidly than new on-campus housing is being built, so hopefully the Rice bubble will burst for more students soon, but I worry about my peers coming out of their undergraduate experience with few to no life skills whatsoever. Tuition's going up, and there's a lot of controversy about whether this will damage Rice's unique identity as a scoop for lower-to-mid-middle-class students: the ones who don't qualify for financial aid, but who can't go yachting every weekend in the Hamptons. And yeah, it probably will hurt this identity. But the expanding undergraduate population and Rice's promise to meet the financial needs of its students may help Rice to find a new identity. We're not an Ivy, and we're proud of that fact. People here worry that Leebron is trying to make us an Ivy. He's not. But he is changing the face of Rice, and he is trying to make the Rice name more recognizable both outside Texas and outside the United States at large. If anything, we're headed for a reputation like a Stanford or a Carnegie-Mellon: Elite, private, and decidedly less pretentious than a Yale or a Harvard. Plus, we actually have professors, not grad students, teaching our classes.Danielle Class: AlumRice is absolutely brilliant on an academic level. The teachers are responsive, the students are intelligent, and the classes are really fantastic (at least those that I took in my major). Unfortunately, the school is much too closed-off for me, and offers a really underwhelming social scene. The public parties are for the most part really lame and the college system invites all the awful bureaucracy of the frat system without any of the fun. Of course, most people love it, so maybe it just wasn't right for me. Basically, Rice is a great social scene for students who studied through all of the high school and didn't go through any of the social drama of 10th grade the first time. If you had a normal high school experience, live off-campus in Montrose or West U, and try to stay out of the dorms. Houston is definitely not a college town, which is perhaps why it's so great to live here. It has great museums, restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment options. It's great to take advantage of these resources, but if you plan on doing that, make sure you have a car: the public transit systems in Houston are notoriously underwhelming. There's a lot of school pride at Rice; in fact, it's a little bit like a cult. People also get really geared up about their individual college. Beer bike and O-Week are prime examples of that; I tended to steer away from those. Basically, I love Rice as a school and I got a great education, but I had to avoid the majority of the school-sanctioned student events, because they seemed sort of puerile and pointless to me. However, I reiterate that I'm definitely in the minority on that.Graphene foam invented at Rice University is reinforced with carbon nanotubes. It can hold thousands of times its own weight and still bounce back to its full height. (Credit: Tour Group/Rice University) - See more at: Graphene foam gets big and toughLiz Class: JuniorRice is a great university to go to if you want to be thoroughly educated in an environment full of very bright, very dedicated students. The university is small-sized (for the most part this is a good thing, although occasionally I've felt trapped upon realizing that I recognize the faces, if not the names, of most of the 3000 people on campus). Rice is divided into nine residential colleges where students spend the entirety of their four years here; the college system is great in that it helps you find your social niche and serves as a nexus for activities spanning from matriculation to the yearly campus-wide water balloon fight. Rice's name recognition outside of Texas (everyone in Texas knows Rice) is mixed; I'm from California, and when I tell people I go to Rice two-thirds of them have never heard of it; the other third is instantly impressed. This is improving with time, though, as we are becoming more and more competitive and getting our name out there with the help of a new administration. A few problems - students spend too much time within our relatively small campus, especially studying non-stop in Fondren Library. Houston really has a lot to offer in terms of culture and especially interesting ethnic restaurants, but with the vast majority of students staying on campus in any given year, it can be hard to get people to leave the comfort of The Hedges (the boundaries of campus).Tammy Class: JuniorThe best thing about Rice - There really is something for everyone. Also, the worst thing, because everyone tends to have fairly small groups of friends. Yeah, you get to know everyone at your college, but most people make a small group of close friends at their college and leave it at that. However, if you make an effort you can overcome that and make friends across campus. Most people make friends here and there from activities, but don't seem to actively go out and make new friends after freshman year. It's too small for my tastes, but over the next few years, they're increasing it. I wish it was that size now! About half the people I know up North have heard of it and they're impressed, the other half have no idea what it is and just ask me about being in Texas. I love that Rice is in Houston! Houston is definitely no New York, but it provides a whole new avenue of things to explore outside Rice. Whenever I get bored of Rice nightlife there's Houston nightlife to turn to. During the day there are great restaurants and shopping, and even if you don't have a car you can walk or take the shuttle to Rice Village. There are also a lot of museums within walking distance. Big-name acts often come through Houston, and there are lots of other cultural things to do. Plus, there are tons of opportunities for jobs and internships, especially at the huge medical center across the street.Chris Class: AlumRice is an extremely small school with only 3000 undergrads and about 2000 grad students. In fact, Rice is the second smallest Division 1 school in the nation. I was always used to going to a small private school since elementary school so it never really bothered me, however, if you do not like knowing almost everyone that attends your university or seeing the same faces every day then I highly recommend you not attend Rice. When you tell people you go to Rice within the state of Texas, especially in Houston, people react like you are the Chosen One. The first thing everyone tells me is "Oh my God you go to Rice you must be super smart!" Going to Rice in Texas is as prestigious as attending Harvard in the Northeast. On the other hand you may get the occasional person who was rejected from Rice and still has a grudge against them and make sure you know it. Outside of the "great state of Texas," as it is so affectionately called by Texans, not as many people know about Rice. Back home in Miami when I told people I went to Rice, most people's reactions were either "RICE? Like rice and beans?" or "Where in the hell is that?" Baseball fans and people who know more about national universities will instantly recognize Rice. Also, the reputation of Rice seems to be growing more and more every year because of increased PR attempts to make Rice a household name.Lane Class: SeniorThe best thing about Rice- the college system is great when you are an underclassman. One thing to change- The social circle is very small. If you are in a fight with someone, it gets awkward because you see them at every social event. I would say the school could use an increase in size. When I was a freshman, however, I loved the fact that it was so small. The size kind of wears on you after a while, though. When I tell people I go to Rice, they usually are impressed and automatically assume I am smart, which is nice. Since I live off-campus, most of my time on campus is spent either going to classes or studying in the library. I really like Rice's location in Houston because there is so much to do. The campus itself, however, maintains a "college town" feel, which is nice. It is a perfect mix of city life and a nature-y feel. I am not a fan of our president. He is trying to change too many things at once. The school pride could use a boost. Everyone is proud to go to Rice for the academics, but it is very difficult to get any support for the athletic department. This might be due, in part, to the administration claiming that academics should always come first. I will never forget Beer Bike. It is one of Rice's greatest traditions.Ryan Class: AlumBest things: Students who are genuinely passionate about their work, their research, their activism, their improv comedy, or whatever. Challenging, interesting classes are in high demand -- even if they're not in a popular major but "just for fun" -- and participation in class discussions is enthusiastic. Lots of people double major or dabble outside their fields out of intellectual curiosity. Everybody's busy and lots of people are busy starting something new and exciting. Not a lot of "my parents made me go to college" or "I'm looking for a class that won't interfere with my hangovers" or "my goal in life is to make a lot of money quickly." Also not a lot of grade-grubbing or competitiveness; downward curving is against the rules and study groups are the fundamental unit of social life. My only reservation about recommending Rice is that I think it is changing. The commitment to shockingly low tuition has faded completely, and so the old student population, made up of people who were accepted to elite coastal schools but couldn't afford them, is changing. The school is also looking to double in size. To what end, I don't know. Everything I know about the school might be different four years from now.McMurtry Residential CollegeParker Class: FreshmanMany parties and events at Rice are hyped up a lot, but they never quite live up to the lip service. Beer Bike, however, definitely earned every wonderful thing that's said about it. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Sure, I wasn't the happiest person in the world when a bunch of loud, obnoxious upperclassmen pounded on my door at 5:45 a.m. and handed me a warm Keystone, but I got into the festive spirit very quickly. We drank, wandered around campus, drank a little more, ate breakfast, and drank some more. One kid had Beerios for breakfast--what a champ. The parade came next, and that was unbelievably kick-ass! With our truck full of water balloons, we sought poor, unsuspecting victims from the other colleges and happily nailed them with a well-aimed throw. When we ran out of water balloons, we just started throwing people in the mud. Awesome. We made our way to the Greenbriar parking lot for the races, which were much cooler than I expected them to be. We all got really into our cheers and rallied behind our teams. A nap, barbeque, and drunken Hello Hamlet! performance later, I ended my day gladly passed out in my bed. Best. Day. Ever.Diane Class: JuniorThe College system is the best thing about Rice. I'd like to change the parking situation on campus and make it easier and more accessible for on-campus and off-campus students to park without forking over a large amount of money. It's a little too small of a school just because everyone knows everything about everyone. I spend most of my time at the varsity athletic facilities. What college town? The Rice administration cares about its students, but implement a lot of ideas that do not reflect this (such as when our breaks are, or how they spend tuition money). The lacrosse hazing incident a few years ago. There is a lot more college pride than school pride in your first couple of years, but then it turns into school pride based on the quality of education as you near graduation. Rice is a wet campus with a lax alcohol policy while most schools are completely dry. I'll always remember my first Beer Bike because it was the craziest, most unique experience I could have. Most complaints involve the food in our serveries, even though the food is just fine, and also the wide-spread apathy across campus.Sarah Class: AlumI loved Rice. I still love Rice. In fact, part of me wishes that I was in high school so that I could start at Rice all over again! Of course, that would require that I actually be in high school again. Scary. Rice has one of the best undergraduate programs in the country, and it doesn't have the ego of some of the big names (ahem...I'm talking to you Harvard, Yale, Stanford). The lack of ego makes for a great undergraduate experience. Most students aren't completely caught up in themselves and their personal greatness, and neither are the professors. This makes for a fun learning environment (remember, the competitive claws are sugar-coated at Rice). However, there is a downside to Rice's missing ego. No one has heard of Rice! This can be a problem for graduates who, like myself, relocate to another part of the country and wish that their school had the name-recognition to help them land a great job. If you yourself have a huge ego, it can be difficult to deal with people asking if Rice is a community college.Brittany Class: SophomoreRice is awesome! It's not a terribly small school, but you can still get to know a lot of people and get to know your professors well. It has good academic programs and its music school and architecture school are some of the best in the country. Houston isn't quite as lively as NYC, for example, but around campus we have a lot of restaurants and shopping areas. They are within walking distance. Also, the actual Rice campus is pretty. There are a lot of trees, and plenty of spots to just sit outside, especially because Houston can have some beautiful weather during fall and winter. Sports aren't particularly great here, and we don't win a lot of games. Because of this, there is less attendance at sports events, etc. Rice has a wet campus, and the different residential colleges have university-sponsored parties where beer is served to students of age. There is a lot of construction going on campus currently and in the process of getting started because the university is going through a growing period.Jesse Class: SophomoreThe best thing about Rice is the networking that the college system infrastructure provides. I would change the traffic flow, improve the bus system by making it faster, and if it was possible, I would make the loop a two-way street. Rice is just the right size for a private school. If they've heard of Rice, they usually gasp and their eyes get real big because they are impressed. If they haven't heard of it, they just say, "Oh, where the hell is that?" Most of my time is spent in class or in the servery, other than that, I'm OC. Definitely, "What college town?" The admin can be frustrating and sometimes it's hard to get ahold of people. The missing student and the racial slur. YES! Unusual? hah, I think unusual is a trait marked by brilliance so, of course, Rice is unusual in many aspects. I will always remember walking through the Sally Port for my very first time. Most frequent complaints are about the food.Cody Class: SeniorThe best thing about Rice is the integrity of the degree. If I could change one thing it would be the lack of money given to the athletic department. When I tell people I go to Rice they automatically assume I am smart. I spend most of my time on campus in class. This is not a college town. I've lived here my whole life and the city does not revolve around the campus of Rice. I think the rice administration could care less about athletics. The biggest recent controversy on campus was the issue with the kids getting held up at gunpoint on the way back from campus. There is not a lot of school pride. There are some things that are unusual about Rice, like the college system and beer bike. One experience I will always remember is playing on Friday nights under the lights at the stadium. The most frequent complaints that I hear are how the administration couldn't give two shits about athletics.Mike Class: SophomoreThe most important characteristic of Rice is its college system. This is generally the reason to hate or love Rice. It definitely has it's ups and downs, but in my opinion, it has more ups than downs. Being that you're living with the relatively same group of people for your 4 years means that you're able to make some really good friendships that would be hard to keep/make at other universities. And if it turns out you don't like this group of people, you're allowed to transfer colleges. Also, it allows you to make contacts and friends with upper-classmen, much more so than at other traditional universities. This allows you to have a resource when you need help that isn't a counselor, someone who has been through what you're going through. Also, it helps create a smaller "family" inside the overall Rice community that will be there for you and support you.Rick Class: FreshmanThe students at Rice are absolutely top-notch! They're the reason I chose to come to the school over places like Duke and Vanderbilt. In general they aren't too preppy, too tacky, or too geeky (though they are geeky). Most of them are either super-bright and can coast through class, or super-hard workers who power through the class. The worst part about Rice right now is the administration/construction -- the two are more or less inextricable right now. With fences going up everywhere, the beautiful campus I saw on my initial tour is now a field of cranes and temporary sidewalks. The administration's decision to erect the Pavilion in the center of the campus seems particularly ill-suited to students' needs. In general, President Leebron's Vision for the Second Century seems to be taking Rice in a direction most students disagree with.Aure Class: SophomoreRice's residential college system shapes most facets of life about the university. The campus is divided into nine (soon to be 11) residential colleges. These are a great way to build a sense of community really early on, find a stable group of friends, become close with upperclassmen, and bond with a really diverse range of people. The residential colleges are small though, which means that there's not really the critical mass to support a lot of alternative or specialized social groups. It also means that everyone knows everyone else's business, so that's just something you learn to deal with. During their sophomore year, most Rice students become more heavily involved with their extracurriculars and really start to gain friends outside their college, but that happens at whatever pace you want it to happen at.Alex Class: SophomoreThe brilliant people who have come out of their shells since high school and are comfortable with being their fun-selves. I would increase the number of undergraduates to make it have a little more college-size feel. Too small. People are usually very impressed and react by saying something along the lines of "Wow! You must be really smart" Most of my time is spent at the athletic facilities for soccer because it pretty much consumes my days especially in season. Definitely "what college town" There isn't too much school pride especially when it comes to athletics - except for baseball maybe One experience I'll always remember was beating the number 8 ranked University of Texas Women's Soccer Team my freshman year. Played defense and we held them to no goals. Parking and the shuttles.Sarah Class: FreshmanRice is amazing. The residential college system is so great. It makes the best pride and fun and family. People that go to Rice are always smart. This makes life her so interesting. Everyone has their dorky side, but hey that's what makes life so fun. Rice is small, I love this. You know most people, but never all people. Within your college, you will meet basically everyone, but there are always new people coming every year. And all the people you meet are amazing, they are the people that you never knew existed but complete you perfectly. There is always so much to do at Rice too. There are so many clubs, intramurals, activities that you can never be bored. Also the architecture and trees make Rice a beautiful campus!Caitlin Class: SeniorThe best thing about Rice- The College system. There is nothing better for meeting people, building community, and loving your school. Rice is a great size- big enough not to know everyone or feel suffocatingly small but still small enough (especially the colleges) to have a real closeness. People in Texas especially react very positively if I say I go to Rice, but sometimes people from other parts of the country do not know it well. I spend almost all of my time on campus, I love the campus and there is so much to do. Houston is fun too though- lots of good food! And lastly, the big controversy on campus currently is all of the construction- but it is for the best in the future so I guess we can all put up with it.Brian Class: SophomoreRice is amazing. The residential college system is a big plus; inter-college rivalries are an integral part of our community. I like Rice's size as it is now. When I tell people I go to Rice, they usually ask where it is since most people I talk to don't know of Rice - I think Rice is underrated as a university and should be recognized more. The campus itself is very nice, especially when all the construction is finished. School pride is very high; despite our competitiveness in intramural sports, we all band together as a university when cheering for Rice sports. I will always remember O-week, which was one of the best weeks ever.Harper Class: JuniorBest thing: a great education, prestigious, well-known by graduate schools One thing I'd change: Give more scholarship money to middle-class students School size: Just right Reactions when I tell people I go to Rice: awe, surprise Most time spent: dormitory "What college town?" Rice's administration: No opinion Biggest controversy: Can't think of it right now School pride: Yes, we have pride. Unusual: Story about Willy's statue Memorable experience: Bill Clinton's visit Frequent student complaints: Sometimes the food in the serveries isn't so great.Jordan Class: AlumOutside of the college system, my favorite part about Rice is Willy's Pub. It's a self-sustaining basement bar run by students that is just a sweet place to be. During the afternoons' kids go down there to study and snack, but at night it's just a chill place to relax and socialize. Drinkers and non-drinkers alike gather for weekly trivia competitions, live music, themed nights, dance parties, and interesting conversations. When I was abroad I didn't miss my hometown or my dorm - I missed Pub. The atmosphere is just so inviting and the people so lovely.Mark Class: FreshmanOne thing that I like about Rice is that most people seem really happy. It might be because of the mostly-sunny weather and friendly atmosphere. Another thing that I really like is the non-competitive atmosphere. I have never met anyone who studies to "beat the curve" and everyone collaborates on problem sets. The Residential College System makes it very easy to make a good number of friends easily, and you have many acquaintances. Our small size is also a big plus. I really like it that between most of my classes I see one or two of my friends.Melissa Class: FreshmanThe best thing about Rice is that I know when I graduate I will have something waiting for me, and anyone who hears that I go to Rice knows the same thing. The most common response I get from people is: "That's a great school" or "Wow, you must be really smart." I spend most of my time on campus (besides the gym) at my college. The college systems are really great. You will find a lot of your friends at your college but that still doesn't exclude friends from other colleges. The system is a great way to get to know people quickly.Phil Class: SophomoreThe best thing about Rice is the people you will meet. The residential college system and small student body creates an environment where large interconnected groups of friends are formed. There are people here from every socio-economic background and because half of the student body is from different parts of the world it is a good place to really get a feel for the opinions of many different areas of the world.Rice SoccerAnila Quayyum Agha — Rice Gallery