My DS attends a competitive private high school on the west coast. About 15 students apply to Rice each year. In the past 5 years, the only kids accepted have applied ED (with less than stellar academic records). This year my DS’s friend (4.0 UW, NMF, max APs, meaningful ECs, etc) did not apply to Rice ED for the reasons you’ve articulated. Another student at his school (an average student with no academic rigor but above average athletic ability and the means to full pay) applied ED but was deferred. DS’s friend was accepted RD with no aid. The average student was also accepted in RD. The remaining high achieving RD students were either waitlisted or denied. DS’s friend will probably attend another top tier school where he received a generous merit scholarship. My DS did not apply as the data told us that the “Rice Investment” most likely did not apply to our middle class family.
Exactly. The NPC is going to give you an idea as to what a schools FA is going to cover. That’s going to be independent of decision type ED/RD. Just because you apply ED doesn’t mean the formula changes.
If you don’t want to apply ED at one school because you feel that you might get a better merit/aid package elsewhere - a completely valid strategy.
To clarify, your S’s private school has multiple less than stellar to average students accepted to Rice but the high acheiving kids were waitlisted or denied.
Yes, the scatter plot provided by his school shows that in the last 5 years 5 students who did not meet the typical Rice profile were admitted ED. Only 7 out 65 who had applied were accepted. Many of the denied students were accepted to an Ivy or other Tier 1. We happen to know 3 of the students who were accepted ED and they come from very wealthy families.
I agree. I have seen a similar story play out at my daughter’s highly competitive large suburban high school with other highly selective private schools such as Duke and Wash U.
so if you’re at a top high school its fair to say that those kids are still performing higher them most in the country. Just not the top of your school.
Legacy and donor history can sometimes make this not entirely true.
If you make a decent living (which is really not rich these days, like my parents make 200k per year), they’re not risking it on college tuition. Statistically, the schools with the highest yearly costs are filled with those that can afford the yearly costs (cash) and those that are poor and get financial help(which would nowadays mean, not a comfortable lifestyle and cant afford debt). The middle class are squeezed out and dont attend (you’re lower than middle class, if you qualify for the financial aid) - bc who wants that kind of debt. Eyes opened to what that does to ones future, too.
Anyone can apply and why not - it’s personal choice - just like whether to accept/commit is also valid depending on one’s aversion to debt.
For this particular student — no, I don’t think he out performs the rest of the country. That is why I jumped on this thread.
Absolutely - personal choice - I was originally taking exception to someone suggesting it’s only people that can pay full tuition that can apply ED.
Rice has one of the lowest legacy admits among elite schools.
Yes, I think Rice is trying to be more equitable although I know of a similar case just admitted. I was referring to a peer school where I am very familiar with some of the admitted students. They are NOT out-performing most students across the country, and particularly not from CA.
Did any accepted students receive their FA offer? (Ours was incomplete so we submitted the required documents and still awaiting to hear back)
To be fair, Rice has a smaller alumni base than most of its peer institutions.
Yes but it was based on percentages not total amount of legacies.
Still a factor (they cited % of class not the acceptance rate). If a similar sized school has 4x the amount of living alumni, it would stand to reason that school would get many more legacy applications which would most likely affect the % the class that are legacy admits (even if they didn’t give any preference).
yes mine came out the day the decision was released. the financial aid letter was released with my accepted decision letter
Congratulations to your DD!
Is $37,000 one year or for 4 years? Any other FA offered?
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