I’m a current Rice student who has lived on campus 3 years (will live on campus this coming Fall as well). I would say that is VERY rare for a student to have the laundry service (I personally don’t know anyone who gets theirs done). Laundry machines are available in every residential college and machines do not require any extra cash or card swipes. You only supply detergent. I love that your daughter’s grandparents would like to get involved- it takes a village!- but I would recommend they instead wait to give her the money 1 month after she moves in. I think by then she would know the best use for it, whether that be for other dorm supplies (like a mini fridge, fairy lights, etc) or a bicycle (with a U-shaped lock), snacks, etc.
There is a Facebook group for parents of Rice students called Rice Parent to Parent Network, I cannot post the link here, You can search for the group on Facebook and ask to join. The moderators will check to see if you are the parent of a current Rice student and add you. It is a very useful source of information, especially for parents of incoming freshmen.
The Rice residential college assignments for the class of 2022 are in the mail. The packets with the rest of the welcome information, roommates, O Week groups, etc. should arrive next week. The O Week coordinators are finalizing groups and roommates. My daughter said there is a packet stuffing party later this week.
For those of you wanting some tips on dorm room decor at Rice here is a recent article from the Rice Thresher (school newspaper).https://ricethresher.atavist.com/on-a-tangent-how-to-design-your-room
Those decorating recommendations make me smile. When DS and his roommate moved in, their room decor consisted of electronics and seats in few not of the electronics. Across the hall the girls all had beautifully coordinated spreads and art/posters and such.
Ack autocorrect… Seats in front of the electronics @awesomepolyglot
Rice has really improved its admissions website. Check it out. https://admission.rice.edu
Is it just me, or did they only require one teacher recommendation last year?
@awesomepolyglot - yes, you are right! It has been one teacher recommendation for a long time. Many of Rice’s peer schools require two, so my daughter’s school sent in both recs last year. I have heard that the recommendations are very important, so I can see why Rice would change to two. Also, the VP of enrollment has now been there for a full year (she started in August of last year), so this is probably something that she has decided. I was happy to see that the essays have not changed much, because although there are three essays (and one is up to 500 words), I think they really help the admissions officers determine who is a good fit for Rice’s culture.
The move in video for the Class of 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=bBOTr77oTGI and the Matriculation Ceremony video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEvmaD2b9gI&app=desktop
O Week 2018 video. https://youtu.be/5qHAZYeYIIY
So hard not to be the obnoxious kid on every college YouTube video saying, “God, I wish that were me.”
The Undergraduate admissions page now lists the standardized test score ranges for the class of 2022 as follows:
SAT: 1460 - 1550
ACT: 33 - 35
These SAT scores represent a 30 point drop in both the 25th and 75th percentiles on the SAT from the class of 2021 as reflected in the CDS. I’m speculating this change reflects the new admissions team’s strategy in dealing with 2017’s higher yield (which continued into 2018) combined with 2018’s higher number of applicants. Based on limited publicly available data, it also looks as if many higher SAT applicants were waitlisted. Does anyone have any insight into the factors that contributed to this year’s profile?
As an alum and a parent of a '22 student, I have been to several sessions where data for the class of 2022 has been discussed. I did notice the slight drop in the scores for this class, but no one called it out or noted it in the sessions.
From an article in the Rice Thresher: http://www.ricethresher.org/article/2018/08/welcome-home-rices-most-selective-class-matriculates
Based on this information, and based on what I have seen and heard at Rice (both in person and through my daughter), this year’s class is exceptional - and very happy. I think that da Silva and her team are focusing more on students who want to be at Rice, who truly understand Rice, and who fit well with the Rice culture. Not just 35+/1550+ scores.
My advice to any student applying this year or in future years is to spend a lot of time on the Rice specific essays. Really research Rice and understand what is important to Rice, and how you will contribute to Rice’s community and culture.
@“GT Dad”, @Faulkner1897 I believe this is simply an artifact of the SAT concordance table being too high for the class of 2021, during the transition of the SAT from the old test to the new one. The CDS for 2017-2018 requested that colleges convert SAT scores on the old 2400 scale to scores on the new 1600 scale using the College Board concordance table at the time, which was essentially incorrect. By June 2018, the College Board had enough information to revise its SAT concordance table downward by 30-40 points. As you can see from this comparison
https://mytutor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/sat-act-concordance-chart-2016-v-2018-rev.pdf
ACT scores of 33 to 35 were concordant to SAT 1490 to 1590 on the 2016 scale, and now on the 2018 scale they are concordant to 1450 to 1560. Similar apparent “drops” in SAT scores can be observed at many other colleges that also relied upon the old concordance tables for the class of 2021.
@Faulkner1897 and @mdphd92 Thanks to both of you. My daughter entered Rice this year as a freshman and couldn’t be happier; she knew it was the place for her after her first visit based on her sense of fit. My impression of her classmates is that they are an exceptional bunch. I am delighted.
The concordance table analysis makes great sense and accounts for some confusion I experienced last year analyzing admissions and enrollment stats at various colleges over the transition from the old to new SATs. Yours is the first discussion of this factor I’ve come across and I’m sure many students and parents would benefit from its broader publication.
@“GT Dad” There is a rather long discussion about the concordance tables here:
Many of us suspected from the outset that the 2016 SAT concordance tables didn’t make sense. Glad to hear that your daughter is enjoying Rice!
Thanks again - will be sure to read.
I find it surprising how Rice gets to sit as a peer at Ivy table every year while more well known and seemingly more desirable schools in cooler cities just can’t break into that elite circle.
I find it surprising, @Riversider, that you would choose to come to the Rice parents thread and post an inflammatory remark.