<p>Are all decisions released on the same day, or will some students (i.e. scholarship candidates) be notified earlier?</p>
<p>On a similar topic, what does you application status say on Esther? Mine says "application under review". Does that actually mean that the admissions committee is looking at my application, or is that just a general message?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Its a general message.</p>
<p>And scholarships come in the admission packet</p>
<p>Last year my son learned of his acceptance in an email letter on Monday, March 23.</p>
<p>Few likely letters are mailed out in February.</p>
<p>Rice has likely letters?</p>
<p>Yes 10char.</p>
<p>If you receive a merit scholarship (or need-based financial aid), you will learn about that when you receive a decision in the mail (I received mine on around March 25th). Last year, decisions were available online on March 23rd, and the financial aid letter was made available online I think on March 24th (this also lists merit scholarships if you end up receiving any).</p>
<p>Keep in mind that merit scholarships are very hard to get… only awarded to 30% of incoming Rice freshmen who have already been through the arduous selection process. However, I still believe it is easier to get merit money at Rice than at other top 20 schools that offer merit money such as Duke, Emory, WashU, Cal Tech, and UChicago. Good luck though!</p>
<p>What is a “likely letter?” What’s its purpose?</p>
<p>Is there any sort of early notification for merit scholarship recipients? Any invitation to interview?</p>
<p>^Decisions were released March 23rd last year? That’s so early!!!
This year the notification date is April 1.
[Rice</a> University | Prospective Students](<a href=“http://www.futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Admission_Calendar1.asp?SnID=1895652377]Rice”>http://www.futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Admission_Calendar1.asp?SnID=1895652377)</p>
<p>MilwDad – a likely letter is an early communication from a school that you will likely be admitted. It’s purpose is to build loyalty from some applicants the school considers particularly strong.</p>
<p>Well, even though the official date is April 1st, I’m sure it’s likely that decisions will be released early. I’m pretty sure April 1st was the official date last year too.</p>
<p>Rice’s likely letter is a wonderful surprise – it seemed to drop out of the sky. The letter says nothing specifically about merit aid but it does give the dates for Owl Days and is beautifully worded.</p>
<p>In the past, schools sent likely letters to court athletes, but now some top schools send them for the reason blackeyedsusan explained. </p>
<p>Nobody seems to know how many are mailed out – enough said, just let it be a surprise!</p>
<p>Is it possible to not recieve a likely letter and still get in?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure only a select few of all the admits get likely letters. So yes, you can still get in without receiving a likely letter.</p>
<p>lol @Calcium… i’m pretty sure the majority of acceptees do not receive likely letters.</p>
<p>Haha it never hurts to be sure! :)</p>
<p>today i received a letter about vision weekend at rice, which is geared towards under represented minorities! i was told that this is the equivalent to a likely letter…is this true? can anyone provide any extra or detailed information about vision weekend that i may not know?</p>
<p>I was accepted ED to Rice. And so far, I have not received any letter regarding the Merit Scholarship. Or do I receive it on the same day as all the other RD acceptees?</p>
<p>I assume you have already received a need-based analysis. If not, you may not have sent in the requested CSS and tax forms before the deadline. When D was admitted ED we received a letter detailing the need-based grants Rice was awarding and notification of the $2500 loan she was expected to take. (No loans will be expected if your family income is $80,000 or less).</p>
<p>D did not get a merit award, but I assume it would have been included in the “financial” letter if she had. Could be wrong about this - hopefully a current EDer who was awarded merit can help with that timing.</p>
<p>Here’s something to be aware of when financial planning. We had assumed that the need-based ED financial award would increase to match the (inevitable) tuition increase which will be in force for the fall. Didn’t happen last year! When we questioned Rice about this we were told “Rice already factored the increase into the original analysis” of D’s award. An interesting statement. It implies that Rice already knows what it will cost to attend next year and has chosen not to release it yet.</p>
<p>I have to add that we (the parents) are not complaining - Rice is a relative bargain and is generous with its need-based aid, but it never hurts to be forewarned of costs.</p>