@innerchild33 I would actually expect there to be more applicants for other fly-ins like MIT’s WISE and Colombia’s CE^2 because 1) name recognition of the universities and 2) SOAR is technically an invite-only program (but anyone with the link can apply)
Hmm I still haven’t gotten a rejection but based on the fact the acceptance rate is under 9% I’m definitely expecting a rejection. I applied on like August 8th so I thought that I would have been rejected by now, but, as of 8pm, I still haven’t heard anything.
I applied on Sept. 3 and heard back at 1 PST on Sept. 9. I’ll see y’all in Houston (clearly, I’m practicing my Texan accent already.)
I’m thinking that the people that haven’t gotten anything yet are on the waiting list
I wonder what it means when they’ve sent out rejections to some but not to others? Maybe they’ve given the accepted people a deadline to respond whether they’ll be attending and if they’re are not, maybe they accept others from “the waiting list” (people who haven’t heard anything back.
What were the stats of people accepted, rejected, and those “waiting”?
Rejected
4.2 GPA (3.81 UW) (40 A’s, 4 B’s, 2 C’s)
1340 SAT
9 APs (3 5s, 6 4s)
Okay ECs
@ZBlue17 Yes, accepted students have to accept the offer by September 12th, so I’m assuming that people on the “waiting list” would be notified soon after. Because Rice really only looks at GPA, test scores, and a very small writing sample for the application, I feel like the only reason I got accepted was because I applied so early (August 3rd). There are so many qualified people with the same exact stats who applied that I can’t imagine that the process wasn’t a little bit arbitrary.
But just for some people who want specifics, here are my stats:
Accepted
Texas Resident (invited)
5.5 GPA (6.0 scale), 3.9 (UW)
35 ACT
10 APs
Demonstrated interest prior: two information session, two impersonal meetings with admissions counselor at my school, and a campus visit
Essay: Don’t worry too much about the writing because I misinterpreted the question and only wrote ~100 words and still was accepted. As long as you wrote about things that are specific to Rice then you will be fine.
They probably also want a diverse group for the program because I assume that the purpose is to attract under-represented students to Rice so that may play a role in selection.
I’m still waiting, here are my stats.
4.6 W, 3.9 UW
2340 SAT
IB Diploma candidate but I’ve taken 8 APS so far
From California, never been to Rice
Black/African American
Essay was pretty bad
So if I’m really on the waitlist, I guess there’s still a chance! Though I hope they notify me soon because of travel arrangements and such.
@DoctorB98 I think the selection was mostly stats driven (which is why the writing portion was such a small part). You have AMAZING stats!
Waiting
4.6 GPA (3.9 UW)
35 ACT
6 APs, 10 honors classes taken
Asian
Decent essay I guess?
Accepted
Texas Resident (invited)
4.45 GPA (3.9 UW)
1540 SAT
9 APs, 7 5’s and 2 4’s, and taking 5 AP classes this year
URM
In my essay, I talked about how I didn’t really know much about Rice. Maybe points for wanting to learn?
Good luck to all of those still waiting. Some very impressive stats!!
@pittsburghscribe I’m in the same boat as you! I’m expecting a rejection because I didn’t find out about the program until the day before the deadline – I even submitted a poorI’ll try not to think about it until after Friday though.
Anyone else still waiting for a decision?
I sent them an email yesterday but they didn’t respond. I guess I’ll just take this as a rejection. I wouldn’t be able to go anyways if I were to get notified because I wouldn’t have time to make travel arrangements and such. It is a bit frustrating that I didn’t get a decision though…
DD went and loved it. She didn’t realize it was an essay they were looking for either and just typed a very short response.
She has strong ECs and leadership
35 ACT
8 AP’s (her school limits how many you can take)
Everything else is Honors