<p>My number one choice, and the college that I really want to go to is Rice University, so am I allowed to just rank 1 college in the National College Match?</p>
<p>Yes you can rank any number from 0 to 8. </p>
<p>Oh cool! Thanks for the reply @honeybee63! Are there any disadvantages to that other than not having any other colleges consider you for Match? For instance, does it lower your chance at being matched?</p>
<p>Well, yes, of course it lowers your chance of being matched 8x! But not your chance of being matched with the school you really love :). I don’t know if you’ve looked at Rice’s match package but it’s the best of all the QB schools. Not only are there no loans and no parent contribution, but there’s no student contribution either. <a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/rice-financial-aid”>http://www.questbridge.org/rice-financial-aid</a>. So… no work study required and Rice will pay for your books, travel, personal expenses etc. It’s like being paid to go to college. I personally think Rice is fantastic and definitely doesn’t have the reputation in the GP to match its excellence - at last on the east coast. There really are no disadvantages to doing NCM because you cant be rejected. If you’re not matched, your application gets kicked into the next admissions stage - ED II or RD. You will have 3 chances to apply to Rice if necessary - but hopefully you’ll be successful on that first try 
Good luck to you!</p>
<p>RICE UNIVERSITY
Annual Cost of Attendance
Total $57,491
Tuition $39,880
Room & Board $13,400
Books & Supplies $800
Travel $600
Personal $1,550
Required Fees $1,261*</p>
<p>How Costs Are Covered (Annually)
Total $57,491
Grants $57,491
Federal Work-Study $0
Parental Contribution $0
Student Summer Work Contribution $0
Student Savings $0
Student Loan $0</p>
<p>That sounds incredible! I really love Rice and can’t imagine myself wanting to go anywhere else for college! </p>
<p>Do you know if the colleges are notified whether I ranked other colleges? Maybe them knowing that I ranked only Rice will help my chances, since I know Rice really looks at interest and commitment.</p>
<p>Thanks again @honeybee63! You are awesome!</p>
<p>Sorry for the delayed response - I don’t come to CC very much anymore. But the answer is no, the ranking is a blind process, so colleges will not know which other schools you chose. However, there is a way for you to indicate that Rice is your first choice. This is the Rice supplement to the QB app which you will fill out and send after finalists are announced and you rank schools: <a href=“Office of Admission | Rice University”>Office of Admission | Rice University;
There are several places in this supplement, including a 200 word “why Rice?” section so you can describe your commitment to the college there. Hope that helps! </p>