You should apply to join Chao College
For many of you, your residential college is the heart of your Rice experience. You’ve cheered for it, led within it and maybe even helped shape its traditions. It’s where you experienced Orientation Week, shared countless meals, stayed up too late in deep conversations and formed lifelong friendships.
On Friday, my office will be inviting a group of continuing undergraduate students — including first-years, sophomores, and juniors — to apply to become founding members of Chao College. The new building will be beautiful, yes. But the heart of Chao will be its people. So, I urge you to consider something bold: if you receive an invitation, apply to join Chao.
I know applying to transfer to Chao isn’t a decision to take lightly. It will change your Rice experience. Some in your current college may question your choice to make a change. But I want to challenge you to imagine what it means to build something new. To be part of Chao’s founding cohort is to leave a legacy, to shape a culture, to create traditions and to lay the foundation for a community that will welcome generations of Rice students.
Transfers to Chao will serve as O-Week coordinators, student government leaders and community builders. They’ll welcome the first class of Chao freshmen next fall and help them understand what it means to be a part of Chao and what it means to be a part of Rice.
When McMurtry and Duncan colleges were founded, students faced similar questions — whether to stay in the comfort of their home college or take a leap into the unknown. There was skepticism, even resistance from some. But those who took the leap became the foundation of something lasting. They didn’t just join a college; they built Duncan and McMurtry into the colleges we know today, and so many of us at Rice are forever grateful that they did.
Please note: If you do not receive an invitation to join Chao, but are interested in transferring, bookmark our College 12 webpage. The FAQ section addresses how invitees are selected, and in the coming days, a waitlist link will become available to submit your name for consideration if we have openings at a future date.
If you’re someone who wants to leave a legacy, who’s excited by the idea of shaping something from the beginning, who’s ready to lead with empathy, creativity and courage, I hope you’ll apply and help build this new community together.
Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board. All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness by Thresher editors.
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