Effective immediately, Rice University is announcing a change to the standardized testing policy. SAT Subject Tests will be recommended, not required for freshman applicants. It looks like Rice has specific subject test suggestions for the different schools (Engineering, Natural Science, Humanities, Social Science, Architecture, Music). Rice notes that applicants who do not take the SAT Subject Tests will not be disadvantaged in the review process.
Previously, Rice required either the SAT and 2 subject tests, OR the ACT.
Rice still requires all test scores for ACT and SAT. It is still not 100% clear whether all subject test scores need to be submitted, or just the ones the student wants to submit.
Interesting. I wonder if this is the influence of the new Dean from Penn or an attempt to garner more applications post hurricane? I took the “any 2” subject tests advice to mean any two the applicant wants to submit and that all are not required.
It’s interesting that Rice changed things this application cycle. I am sure there are candidates who were planning on submitting the ACT and did not take subject tests since the previous policy indicated that the ACT could be submitted without subject tests. Now Rice has made subject tests recommended (although not required), even if a student is submitting the ACT. I suspect that there will be increased flexibility this year since applicants for this cycle might not be able to take additional subject tests this late in the game.
The testing policy is now very similar to Penn’s policy, although interesting to note that Penn superscores the ACT, and Rice maintained their policy of using the highest ACT composite score from a single sitting.
Are there any schools other than Georgetown which now require SAT subject tests? All seem to be joining the “recommended” or “optional” bandwagon, which will no doubt help increase the number of applicants…
Some of the highly selective tech schools (CalTech, Harvey Mudd, MIT) still require Math I or II and one other subject test (usually a science subject test).
I heard an admission counselor from an Ivy school say that they decided to change subject test policy from required to recommended in order to make the college admission process more accessible to those who can’t easily afford to take the extra exams and those who are in rural areas where the exams cannot be easily taken. Not sure if this was Rice’s reasoning.
At the “Explore Rice” event on campus last weekend (which was for Houston area students), it was implied that due to the hurricane they were relaxing the subject test requirement. Most all Houston students registered for the 8/26 subject test date had their dates cancelled due to Harvey. Most test centers have rescheduled/reopened but my take was Rice didnt want to put students that are struggling with housing and school closures to have to deal with rescheduling SAT subject tests. During the presentation they said Houston students make up 25% of their normal freshmen classes. Alot of the Houston area is in bad shape. The level of devastation to homes and businesses in Houston will take years to recover. Some business are closing for good, kids transferring to new high schools, families moving to new school districts due to housing issues, people moving out of the city, etc. Lots of change right now. Not a great time to be a senior applying to colleges for some families.
@Faulkner1897 25% of the freshmen class were from Houston and 50% of all undergrads are from Texas. They made a point of asking if everyone had been told/heard that if you live in Houston you have a harder chance of being admitted.
@Houston1021 they basically debunked the myth by quoting the stats above. With that said, this one day event had over 1700 people (usually one parent included) in attendance. Like most schools their apps seem to be going up like the rest.
Rice had its biggest class ever this year. Yield was up so the freshman class was overenrolled. The school gave incentives to upperclassmen to double up or move off campus. I wonder if Harvey will dissuade people from applying, and if the enrollment numbers will come back down next year.
At the tour they said housing was guaranteed for 3 years but tour guide (from NC) said local housing was available at reasonable rates. I found that odd as a Houstonian that anywhere around Rice Village/University would be considered inexpensive but I have not looked at rental rates. I would guess the visibility of Rice bumping to #14 on usnews, for those that watch those things will keep apps up there. Certainly Texas kids that want a warm weather school would continue to apply I would think. My student has ruled out cold weather climates…
I have a question. What happens if you already took SAT 2’s and well you didn’t do so well? Are you still required to send them or do you have the option of not sending them and sending your SAT scores only?
@nec2022 From the session we attended, and is confirmed at this link http://futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Standardized_Tests.asp the subject tests are optional but recommended. They list specific tests for each area of study if you do decide to take them. At the same time they state you will not be “disadvantaged in the review process” if you don’t take them. They appear to be talking about the SAT when they state to submit all scores. What is unique here and not specifically covered is when you take the SAT 2’s but choose not to send the scores. Alternatively if you have an equivalent ACT you could just send that and not send any SAT/SAT2s.
@ccsouth There are some decent private apartments near the Rice campus that historically are rented out to Rice students. They live several students to an apartment. The OC students often hang out in their residential colleges even if they are not living there. Most students live off campus either sophomore or junior year and return for senior year. The officers of the various colleges and some campus leaders may get to live on all 4 years. My D sent her ACT and her 2 best SAT subject tests in last year and was admitted. She applied as a humanities major. Other majors now have specific tests requested.