<p>I have recently spent a good chunk of time watching Rice videos and looking at their virtual tour. It has really been the first time I have gotten to see many aspects of campus life (and the campus itself). There is only a slim chance I would be able to visit Houston between now and application dates, and I would really love to apply ED given that it is my top choice and they consider interest. I know it sounds stupid to apply ED without visiting the school, but I just have this gut feeling telling me that Rice is my top choice. It's not something I feel when thinking about other schools. </p>
<p>I honestly cannot find any huge faults in Rice. It has the majors I want to pursue (I would like to double major), the campus is great, it's relatively small, and I love the residential college system. The student body also sounds great, as it seems like I can be intellectually stimulated by peers that genuinely want to be there (given its consideration of interest as well as being ranked as having the happiest students and best quality of life). My one problem would be weather, but this is a minor gripe when comparing it to what Rice has to offer.</p>
<p>Again, I know it sounds stupid to apply ED without visiting, so has anyone else considered this/done this? Or has someone fell in love online and it just didn't click when they visited?</p>
<p>I’m definitely in the same boat as you, so I can’t help you yet. Over the past few months, I’ve looked more and more into Rice and I love it a lot. I’ve researched a lot and looked through the virtual tour, etc. As of now, I will most likely apply ED just as it gives me a better chance of getting in. I live in CA but I am going to visit sometime before applying so when I do, I will be sure to fill you in!</p>
<p>I’m basically the same as you and CollegeBound, I’ve done a ton of research online and really like the school, but haven’t visited yet. I’m from New England, but I do have the opportunity to visit in October, so before ED apps are due. Regardless, it seems like the perfect school for me, so I’m assuming I’ll be applying ED.</p>
<p>If you and CollegeBound are interested, maybe the two of us could both do a little write up of our thoughts after we visit to share with each other to help us get a better picture.</p>
<p>I think if you’re not really going to visit, it really depends on you for whether or not you visit. Have you visited other schools that you really did like? If you don’t apply to Rice would you still apply somewhere? From what I can tell, Rice doesn’t offer a very big admissions boost to ED applicants, so really one of the only reasons to apply early would be to find out sooner.</p>
<p>“From what I can tell, Rice doesn’t offer a very big admissions boost to ED applicants, so really one of the only reasons to apply early would be to find out sooner.”</p>
<p>@runallday4: Are you sure? The only reason I really wanted to do ED was because there is a higher chance of admissions. Otherwise, I wasn’t planning on applying ED because I would most likely have a better chance for merit aid applying RD. The stats for the admissions of class of 2016 show that this year, 24% got in ED whereas 16% were accepted who applied RD, so to me I think that’s a big difference (although maybe it isn’t compared to other top schools, but I haven’t looked it up for other universities so I wouldn’t know.)</p>
<p>And yeah, after I visit, which will most likely be October, I would be happy to share my thoughts on the experience.</p>
<p>I’d second run’s comments about how your other visits have worked out – also, have you had the experience where you thought a school was a great match and visiting made you think otherwise? That happened to me. Of course, for me almost the opposite happened with Rice – I knew I liked it, but it wasn’t “perfect” for me on paper (it doesn’t even have the exact major I want), but the experience I had on campus was like finding the place I totally belonged. So for me, it made me want to attend even more just by visiting. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>I’ve visited UCLA, Cal, UCSD, USC, Claremont McKenna, and Pomona. My favorite was Pomona, but I’m not sure if it was a perfect match for me. It is my top choice instate, but I just feel that there’s something special about Rice.</p>
<p>I want to apply early decision also, but I can only visit in November. I find myself comparing every school I look at to rice. May I ask you guys what did you do when you researched rice? They have multiple majors i’m interested in, I love the residential college system, they have clubs and study abroad programs i’m interested in, but how did you research rice?</p>
<p>Sometime in October, Rice has these visiting days called Explore Rice. You should receive an email about it pretty soon, I think. I went last year, and definitely solidified my decision to apply to Rice for ED. It was an amazing experience to be able to attend classes, explore the campus, meet current Rice students, as well as prospies like yourselves :). The campus is SO BEAUTIFUL, I can’t even describe it in words! Everyone these just seems so nice and friendly and willing to help you out. I remember last year, I was looking for a classroom, but I couldn’t figure out the correct orientation of the map (lol, fail) so I wandered around for a bit. Then this group of friends asked me if I needed help, and directed me on my way and taught me how to read the map correctly, haha. They even offered to walk me there, but I declined, since I knew that it was almost time for their class to start. </p>
<p>On the Rice supplement of the Common App, one of the short essays asks you to write about why you want to go to Rice, or why you chose it. I wrote about my wonderful experience during the Explore Rice days. If you want to read it and get a bit more personal insight to Rice, let me know, and I’ll email it to you. </p>
<p>Best of luck everyone! Rice is an AMAZING school; I hope you guys have the opportunity to at least visit, and hopefully get accepted! I’m SOO excited for school to start! :D</p>
<p>@lostricegirl thanks for your reply! Is Explore Rice costly? The main reason I am unable to visit Rice is because of expenses</p>
<p>@angelnunu I’ve spent a lot of time on this Rice subforum as well as searching a ton of things on google. I have also spent a considerable amount of time on Rice’s website exploring the different departments, clubs, residential colleges, and so on.</p>
<p>Here’s the virtual tour: [Rice</a> University - Virtual Tours](<a href=“http://www.rice.edu/virtualtours/]Rice”>Visit Rice | Rice University)
They also have a YouTube channel that has a ton of videos.</p>
<p>@Universalgrammar, are you a URM? If you are look up Vision Weekend (I think that’s what it’s called). I think this is a separate weekend similar to explore Rice where they pay for URMs to come visit. I think you have to be invited for that though. I can’t find the link to it on the university website, but there is information on it on CC if you google it and also in the Rice Thresher (school magazine).</p>
<p>In terms of research on Rice things you could look at are:
-Rice Forum on CC (you can also search things in the archives)
-Rice University Website
-Rice Thresher website
-Rice University on Youtube (there are also some random videos you can watch put up by students. Events like Beer Bike and Skrew yer Roommate)
-Rice on College ******* (I don’t know if it will even let me type that)
-Go to a book store and look at a college book and it will have a page or two on Rice (Although I’ve found these aren’t very helpful)
-Search Rice on Wikipedia
-Look up Rice on the Princeton Review Website
-Search Rice on Flickr
-Search Rice on google images</p>
<p>That’s all I can think of for now</p>
<p>edit: The world it starred out is p r o w l e r</p>
<p>@runallday4 I am Japanese and Caucasian, so no</p>
<p>Explore Rice was free I think. You just have to pay the airfare. If your family flies frequently with Continental/United and you have an account with them, they give you mileage points for all the paid plane rides you’ve had with them. If you have enough of those points, you can book a ticket to Houston without paying any extra money :).</p>
<p>@ runallday and universal grammar thanks :). I don’t want to realize I overlooked things and later on realize it was not the school for me. I have done most of those things except search this entire forum, wikipedia and watch all YouTube videos</p>
<p>I visited Rice a couple weeks ago and I was very impressed with the campus. It is a beautiful place. I just watched this virtual tour: [Rice</a> University - Virtual Tours](<a href=“http://www.rice.edu/virtualtours/]Rice”>Visit Rice | Rice University)
and I must say it looks just like the virtual tour. I would advise you to do ED if you really love it (I loved it, but I am not doing ED)</p>
<p>Hey! I’m starting this fall at Rice and I’ve visited quite a few times, so I thought I’d offer my insight. I visited quite a few colleges before visiting Rice and none of them came close to Rice. The campus is absolutely gorgeous, the faculty and students are incredibly friendly and helpful, and the academics are top notch. Another thing I love about Rice is the fact that it’s a unique college experiment. All summer, I’ve been excited to find out what residential college I’m in (HANSZEN!) and who my roommate would be. I have connected with quite a few fellow freshmen on Facebook and they all seem as excited as me to be going to Rice. Another awesome thing is this last week I got my o-week (orientation week) book in the mail and it was over 100 pages long and full of advice, important information, and funny introductions to my o-week group counselors and some of the faculty that I’ll have frequent contact with at my residential college. Three more benefits of going to Rice are the easy access to research as an undergrad, their assistance in helping you to get internships, and the Passport to Houston (which gives you discounts/free admission to places around Houston). To sum it all up, even if you don’t get the chance to visit Rice, I think you can be pretty confident that you won’t be disappointed if you get accepted and choose to come to Rice. I hope this helps (:</p>
<p>I agree with everything RiceHopeful2012 said! Rice is just SO amazing!
Except my residential college is better, and taller :P</p>
<p>Rice is a great place. Summers are a bit too hot in Houston but if you can bear the heat, you will be happy.</p>
<p>All of this has made me want to go to Rice even more!! Thanks for all the replies. The Common App comes out August 1st! Going to be a long couple of months</p>
<p>RiceHopeful2012 - Hanszen! I’m so excited to hear you are in Hanszen haha, your O-Week team is absolutely fantastic. Like, I can’t even describe how ecstatic I am to hear someone say they got put in Hanszen haha it’s almost sad.</p>
<p>Rice is an amazing and special place. It’s certainly not for everyone, but if you think it’s the right fit for you after studying it’s nuances as carefully as possible, I would be willing to bet that applying ED wouldn’t be a bad choice. It’s hard to describe, but there certainly is that feeling you can get that lets you know it’s right for you. I felt it within an hour of stepping on campus for Owl Days, just walking around. Others may feel it earlier/later.</p>