Hey! If I have in internship this summer with a professor at Rice and he is able to write me a recommendation, do you think my chances of getting into the school will increase?
I suspect it will help, assuming you also you have a strong profile for Rice (strong GPA, scores, rigor, talent). It certainly won’t hurt!
That sounds like a great opportunity! If you can, try to sign up for an alumni or on-campus interview and be prepared to speak about your research experience on campus. During and after, take some time to reflect upon your internship so you can tell a story or anecdote of your experience. For instance, maybe you could share about your greatest challenge, something you learned that was unexpected, a time you taught someone about your interest, or a time you came up with a new way to do some aspect of your internship. Being able to paint a picture of your summer (and how it has impacted your connection to Rice) helps you stand out from the crowd.