<p>While USC is great school, it really is not academically equal to Rice. Of course, if you are a film major, SC is better, but if you are an engineerig, pre-med, architecture, or music major Rice is the winner. Moreover, the neighborhood is much nicer.</p>
<p>I know, and when I visited, I liked both of them 
some schools that were very similar to one or the other on paper, on the other hand, I didn’t.</p>
<p>In terms of academics, both are very well regarded. I feel that I will be challenged at either place and merit money was always something I wanted in the college process so I’m fine with a cut in prestige I know that it’s always tempting to defend Rice at the expense of other schools since we’re in the Rice forum, and I agree that it is a spectacular school where I would be thrilled to be accepted, but I simply have other priorities that will probably lead my elsewhere.</p>
<p>Whatever happens, I just want to know my results, haha.</p>
<p>Is Rice the first choice for most people here?</p>
<p>For those thinking about Pre-med, Rice might be the best school you can attend. It boasts a 90+%acceptance rate, it will have beautiful weather, and comparing to other Top 20 schools, it is definitely the least “cutthroat” among other students. I’ve heard everyone is willing to help you. Not to mention the nations largest medical center is across the street…and it really hard to turn down a residential college system that Rice has to offer.</p>
<p>To the people who are stressing the 22nd date: Keep in mind that this happened last year, too. Someone on the board posted that it would be a certain date, and decisions came out several days after that. Rumors don’t always pan out.</p>
<p>quick question regardless of the official date – do merit scholarships come out at the same time as admissions decisions (through email), or separately? Not too hopeful that I’ll get anything, but it’d be nice to know when to give up hope completely</p>
<p>This is pretty random but I just saw Newt Gingrich at McD’s</p>
<p>@karatekid666
LOL did people talk to him?</p>
<p>@13woodrm
I think I’ve heard you find out immediately on your the portal</p>
<p>@Opaline
Nooooooooo don’t say that :-/</p>
<p>Anyone accepted in Rice?? Can anyone please tell when does Rice usually release admission decisions??</p>
<p>Do we find out our decisions in the email itself or in our ESTHER?</p>
<p>Blank, no one said anything! That was the oddest part of the experience… He had a driver btw</p>
<p>Decisions will be in email. Financial aid/scholarships, etc will be available immediately (or day after?) in Esther.</p>
<p>Rice admissions have confirmed the 22nd, I believe.</p>
<p>5 days 5 hours 41 minutes left!</p>
<p>Didn’t receive an email from them though.</p>
<p>^ decisions are not available yet</p>
<p>Is anyone else completely unable to think about anything but Rice, or college in general?</p>
<p>Me. The thought of seeing my decision in email makes it worse.</p>
<p>Yes, it tells you in the email. For ED applicants, they released decisions earlier than announced (was supposed to be 5 PM on a Saturday but were released around 4 PM on Friday). My heart dropped when I checked my phone and saw the email. The subject was “Your Rice Admission Decision” and the email was basically identical to the physical acceptance letter that came in the mail a few days later.</p>
<p>I’ve been freaking out. I have good test scores (2200 SAT) but my GPA is low due to my freshman year. Ever since then I’ve gotten 3.9/4.0, but my GPA still comes out as a 3.72, which isn’t terrible but is still lower than the average. My college counselor’s letter explains everything and I’ve made up for it by taking AP courses outside of school, but I’m still nervous.</p>
<p>My family is really close to a former board of trustees member at Rice and he called them to vouch for me. I’m not sure how much that helps, especially since I’m not his kid or anything. It was a sweet gesture though, and I didn’t know that he did that until very recently. I guess I’m kind of banking on that voucher, but again, I have no idea how much of a hook that is, if at all.</p>
<p>Sorry, I guess I’m going crazy. I regret not applying ED. :(</p>
<p>@pinklam: dangit. ONLY a few days later? I was gonna wait until April 1 to check my Rice decision, but if what you said is true then I’d know my decision before that date by the vacancy of my mailbox.</p>
<p>@Aerobug: same. I guess that’s the price of indecisiveness</p>
<p>^whether or not you are accepted, you will get an email :-)</p>