What to Bring

Some points to remember...

• There are several stores nearby for purchasing things in Houston
• Target
• Office Depot
• Rice Village. Note: You can find anything with Google by typing "[Anything] near 77005"
• We have a weekly FREE shuttle that runs every half-hour on Saturday's from Rice's Loop to Target and Fiesta. Use this to 'restock'

• Other considerations
• If you view coffee as the nectar of the gods, a small coffee maker might be a good idea
• TALK with your roommates prior to setting foot on campus. Coordination can make a huge difference in accommodations
• We have FAST internet - but first you need to install the Clean Access Software. Get the Free Anti-Virus Software as well. Do it before you get here so you won't have to wait!
• Rice's Webmail is cool - but in a browser it can be useless. Here's how you configure a standalone mail client to make use of the Rice email address

While packing for college can be a little overwhelming, it's important to remember that Texas is no longer the rugged west. You'll have plenty of opportunities to pick up things you forgot and special things from home can always be mailed to Wiess. It's also important to remember that you'll have a roommate and two suitemates, so you can often share things (and you don't need four TVs anyway). That said, here's a little bit of a guide to help you pack.

Don't start school without it!

1. Bed linens. A pillow, comforter and sheet set for an extra-long twin bed. These sheets are available online at stores like Target, Walmart, most department stores, or through mail order with Rice (try to get it in a store though because the mail order is overpriced).
2. Towels and possibly a bathrobe, depending on how much of yourself you want to expose.
3. Toiletries. Yes, hygiene is present in college. Although these can always be picked up once you get to Houston.
4. An alarm clock. And get a loud one.
5. Clothes. Dress on campus is casual, but be sure to bring nicer attire for evenings out and special occasions. And a laundry basket, to put all those clothes in once they get dirty.
6. A backpack and school supplies, which can also be purchased in Houston.
7. You can always get a job when you get to Rice, but you will need some money to start off the year, even for O-Week.
8. This book. No joke. Bring it.

Nice to have

1. A lamp, as lighting in the rooms isn't the greatest.
2. Power strips and extension cords in order to maximize the possible arrangements of furniture in your room.
3. Plates and eating utensils for those late-night hunger pangs.
4. A computer plus an Ethernet (Cat 5e/6) cord and/or a printer. (See this Rice IT web site for computer recommendations, and this website to make purchases with student discounts. This Rice IT website also has useful IT information for new students.)
5. A TV and/or DVD player.
6. A small fridge.
7. A microwave.Whereas some parents might notice in the room contracts that this might fall under fire devices, this is an exception.
8. Extra furniture, including, but not limited to, couches, tables and chairs.
9. Some food. Pop Tarts, granola bars, chocolate -- whatever you like to snack on when studying or late at night.