@FenderFan54 - don’t feel too bad about WashU! I was waitlisted at WashU, but I also got a likely letter from Columbia. Just goes to show how chancy this whole process is. 
Stay optimistic. It will work out.
My counselor told me that Rice called and asked about my math class from last year…is that good sign or?
@DL43516 I think that is definitely a good sign. It means Rice is interested in you. Good luck!
@veggylover omg I can’t get my hopes up but thank you!! You as well!
Sorry if this question was answered already, but when are decisions going to be released?
@stressed4lyfe I’m estimating they will be out on March 23rd or 24th. They were out on the 24th last year, and the corresponding day this year will be the 23rd. However, the official statement from Rice is simply the typical “by April 1st”, so take my prediction with a grain of salt haha.
Also, I just got waitlisted at UChicago, so now I’m experiencing what y’all recently felt with WUSTL and wow, it kind of wounds your ego. However, I’m just trying to keep telling myself that every school looks at every applicant differently…I still have hope!!
I was rejected at uChicago.
Also, your thought that “every school looks at every applicant differently” will only apply to students in the top 10% of their high school classes–which I’m sure most of you are, but for kids like me, it’s tough.
@dl43516 thank you!
@ctesisurn well every school looks at applicants differently. Rank matters, sure, but it matters more or less depending on the college. You’ll end up in a good place no matter what. I’m sure you’re amazing, spectacular, and special, and if UChi can’t see that it’s their loss. Your application does not define you, and neither do your decisions. You do. So don’t be so pessimistic; you’re amazing, believe me. This whole thing is a crap shoot after a certain point. I’ll be rooting for your acceptance at Rice and other schools! Don’t put yourself down; I know it’s easy, but don’t. We will all get through this together; that’s what this thread is for! So don’t worry; I know you’ll be happy after everything is said and done. 
Thanks for the support. I am not sure if I will end up in a good place no matter what though. It is possible I am rejected at all of the great schools I’ve applied to. I’ve had 3 rejections so far and one deferral. I wish I was in the top 10% of my class, because more than 90% of students accepted to many colleges like Rice, were in the top 10% of their high school classes. This is because class rank is heavily weighted by USNews, as I’ve been told.
I really want to be accepted to one of these schools because the most affordable ones are also the most selective.
I guess it really is a crap shoot–for those in the top 10%. Since I’m not, my applications are not as seriously considered as those of you guys and other applicants.
I was accepted to Tulane though, but it will probably be too expensive!
Has Rice released a date yet?
Before I applied, Rice gave me a fee waiver. Does this mean anything, or does anyone with a high SAT get this?
I had an interview and visit prior to that. Just got waitlisted to WUSTL and rejected from Caltech/MIT after deferral at both, so my Rice chances aren’t looking too bright anymore. Also, my interview was my first ever so while it went well I was very nervous the whole time.
Do any of you know how much Rice takes SAT into account? Not that my other stats are terrible, just wondering. Is it like MIT where everyone has high SAT so they don’t care past a point? Rice is my top choice at this point, so I’m just trying to figure out my shot at this before the day comes.
The fee waiver explicitly stated that anyone who did well on the AP tests (not sure what Rice’s criteria is) got a fee waiver. No real meaning, except that they want to increase the number of applications they receive while admitting the same number of people, so that they can sink their admissions rate and (hopefully) increase their yield rate.
A waitlist at WUSTL is either a good or bad sign. Thousands of folks got WL’ed at WUSTL, because WUSTL seems to place a lot of weight on demonstrated interest at their school - if you don’t show interest at WUSTL, they will WL you because they are alleged to practice yield protection, and have declined several top-tier candidates in the past because they (probably) felt that they wouldn’t matriculate to the school. All speculation, but based on evidence - I’m not looking to start a WUSTL war.
Rice takes the SAT into account just as much as any other holistic admissions board for a university takes it into account - past a certain point, it does not reflect that one student’s academic achievement and intellect are greater than any other students. Rice will look at my SAT (2380), but won’t penalize someone with a 2310 or 2320, because the difference in so negligible that I’m not at all smarter than a lower, albeit spectacular, SAT score - I may have gotten lucky and guessed whereas another student didn’t guess and got the question wrong by process of elimination. Since the SAT scores of many students are also comprised of students guessing on questions and randomly getting them right, minute differences between scores do not play a big deal in Rice admissions. A 2400 fares no better chance than a 2340, etc. The SAT is designed to measure whether a student can study at a high level for a short amount of time, and excel - small differences do not, therefore, reflect whether a student can or cannot study at a high level. The only exception to this is when you fall < 2100, comparing to a 2300+ of course. So, in essence, yes, they are just like MIT (if I’m not mistaken).
@SRB88888 Kiddo got the fee waiver. I think it’s brilliant marketing on Rice’s behalf to draw more interest from the top x percent of SAT scorers. They tend to look think of Boston, the Ivies, Stanford without considering the rather excellent Rice. As Californians when we hear Texas we honestly think of Rick Perry, guns for all and creationism in the science class. The fee waiver helps overcome these stereotypes and give a great place its due. Well played Rice marketing folks.
@SRB88888
I got a fee waver stating it was based on my AP scores, and I agree that it is a marketing tool. I had not heard of Rice before I got the waver, and now it is one of my top picks! Rice is overlooked by a lot of top students, so they have to work harder to get kids to apply (as the two previous posters have said). Good luck over these next couple of weeks, and try not to think about it so much (I suggest watching Supernatural)!
I completely agree about overlooking Rice. Heck, us in Houston take Rice for granted, myself earlier included! Rice really is an amazing school.
@patertrium ohmygod you made me spit out my coffee this morning after reading your last post lol. Lol that’s what people think of us? It’s funny because people who I meet who aren’t from Texas are actually surprised that we don’t ride horses. Y’all must think we’re crazy (see what I did there)
Lol I’m from Texas too, and it’s really not even that bad at all. It’s homey, but conservative for sure. @emenya you went to VISION right? How did it influence your view of Rice? What did you love? Lol sorry for the questions, I just haven’t had the chance to go down to Houston.
Yes homey is the right word @DL43516 , and no I’d be happy to answer your questions. VISION was really awesome. From the event it was pretty much implied that we will be accepted unless we screw up terribly so I spent the time trying to imagine myself as a student at Rice. VISION made me not want to leave.
I totally get that they were trying to make us love it during VISION but I am really starting to fall in love with Rice. It really elevated it to one of my top 3 choices. My host was a bit swamped with midterms so I was able to explore Rice more on my own as if I was an actual student outside of the VISION activities. I loved the classes and professors. I stayed for a physics class and actually learned from the professor. And I SUCK at physics. I hate it! But just those 55 min made me love it. The literature class I took was comprised of 6 sophomores and I jumped right in and felt right at home as I had been in the class all year. General Chemistry, at max, 50 students in the room, everyone participating. I kept saying to myself, I could learn here.
There was a reception on the first day and one thing that President Lebron said stuck out to me the most. Something along the lines of “Everyone talks about ‘fit’ in college admissions. You don’t have to fit to Rice; Rice fits to you.” I’m not doing his quote justice, but it sent chills through me. And that is Rice. It fits to you. Everything quirky about Rice just fits and just makes everything home.
Another big thing that I loved: the people. Is Rice the happiest campus? I’m not sure, but they sure are the friendliest. People really make a campus and I like how you honestly could genuinely get to know everyone on campus and you’d get to like them. I got lost once or twice but people there were so eager to laugh it off and help me. And the teachers and administration are amazing as well. For the dinner I sat next to what could be my future bioengineering professor and she was so AWESOME. I think I love her haha. While there, I was rushing to the main dinner because I was late (I lost track of time washing my hair okay) and while running in the dark trying to find them main ballroom and I ran headlong into someone. I apologized profusely, but the man just laughed and it turns out we were both going to the dinner. While we were walking I introduced myself and he introduced himself as none other than Dean Hutchinson! 
But he was so gracious about it and it just solidified my glowing opinion about the people of Rice.
Also, don’t get me wrong, I love Houston. Love it, love it, love it. But you cannot tell that Rice is in Houston at all. It’s like its own magical castle, an actual Hogwarts hidden away in the Scottish Highlands. It just felt like the city of Rice in the country of Rice. Just beautiful. But the medical center is literally right next door, shockingly close when I saw it up close from one of the green fields.
Yeah sorry for all that, I could probably go on and on! But to answer your question, VISION made me love Rice lol
Beautifully written, Emenya. My son attended and had the same reaction and experience. Rice is awesome! He would not have understood that as well without that visit. He was also struck by the statements that Rice isn’t looking for someone who fits Rice, Rice should fit YOU. What an attitude! pretty cool way to win someone over.
@Emenya wow, that was great. I was honestly extremely nervous before reading that; I’ve been scared that I’m going to end up with my only options being schools in Texas, and I really just want distance between where I am now and where I want to be, who I want to be. But you make Rice sound so amazing. Hopefully we’ll both end up accepted; who knows, maybe by August we’ll be able to meet each other! What a weird thought lol.