<p>I was chatting with a friend about applying to Rice when I complained (jokingly) about having to write four essays in comparison to other schools that require only one, and my friend adamantly replied that there were only three essays. We both checked Common App, and lo and behold, I have the following essay prompt which he's lacking: </p>
<p>The Committee on Admission is interested in getting to know each candidate as well as possible through the application process. The following essay question is designed to demonstrate your writing skills and facilitate our full appreciation of your unique perspective. </p>
<p>The quality of Rice's academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspective do you feel that you will contribute to life at Rice? (500 word limit)</p>
<p>I tried looking up why I had this extra essay when my friend didn't, and I found close to nothing. Does anybody know why? We're both residents of Texas. Perhaps the reason's rather obvious and I just don't know about it in my ignorance, so apologies ahead of time if that's the case.</p>
<p>This is really, really, strange. Because on Common App, I’m only seeing two 150-word essays, a 250-word essay, and the 50 word-max list of schools. I see nothing about a 500 word essay. I am applying RD, though, in contrast.</p>
<p>@silverdrop Perhaps I should’ve mentioned it in my original post. My friend and I are both applying RD as well. It’s already well past the ED deadline after all, lol.</p>
<p>Have you added what school you’re applying to and areas of interest? I’m not sure, but that might be a factor in whether the essay appears or not??</p>
<p>@silverdrop Ah, I see. I told my friend to do the same, but he hasn’t responded yet. And here I had a brief glimmer of hope that I wouldn’t have to write that 500 word essay. Oh well.</p>
<p>@Constantius @silverdrop One of my friends who applied RD last year got the exactly same essay. However, my another friend who also applied RD last year did not get it. They were both admitted.</p>
<p>I believe that this essay is only offered to certain group of people who apply to certain school. It seems like students who applied to School of Engineering usually do not get this essay, while students who applied to School of Natural Sciences usually get it. I am not sure.</p>
<p>I don’t know whether this essay will make a huge impact to the application. Certainly, Rice offers this 500-word essay for a reason, and if you write this essay very well it will definitely help. However, I personally don’t think lack of this essay will bring any disadvantage, since my friend who did not write this essay got in as well.</p>
<p>@fluxflow I looked up the QuestBridge rice supplement offline form. This prompt is not assigned to any applicant despite their areas of interest.</p>
<p>Personally I don’t think Rice just randomly assign this prompt to random people. There should be a rule in their system which determines who should get this prompt.</p>
<p>Anyway, this extra essay should be treated as an opportunity rather than a burden. It is a great chance for us to show our unique characteristics other than grades. Finishing this essay can only benefit us.</p>