Yeah, I think Rice, like a lot of other schools, is just trying to deflate their admit rate 
Is anyone else applying earlier (by this Friday) for off campus interviews?
Applying RD from Austin, TX!
How important are the interviews?
@cappex Demonstrated interest is pretty important, and interviews may help.
Hmm, well I visited this summer, but not officially… So I don’t know if they even have a record of it. Maybe I will mention it somehow on the supplementals.
I’m applying RD from New York and sent in my supplement already and requested the interview. I applied ED elsewhere but wanted the opportunity to interview. No one from where I’m from really applies to Rice. Do you guys know how much they weigh demonstrated interest because I visited from across the country and attended an off-campus info session as well?
@futureco2020 If I remember correctly, an Adcom visiting my school told me that Demonstrated interest is usually seen within the essays, so it’s not a big deal if you haven’t. But since you actually did, I’d think they take that into account like WashU, but not entirely sure
Would someone please be able to chance me? I’m from CA, with a fee waiver too
SAT- 2290, M 760, CR 750 W 780
SAT II: MathII 780, Chem 700
UW GPA: 3.88
AP: Calc AB (5), Calc BC (5), World Hist (4), CS (5), English Lit (5)
Intended major: Kinesiology; second major: Biochem; minor in Global Health Tech
EC: varsity swimming all four years and captain for two; volunteer at local family shelter for seven years; member of district and school chapter of UNICEF; Science National Honor Society; piano for twelve years
Shadowed a doctor in India during one summer; summer program in global health; part of a team conducting a research project at Stanford LCPH
@band2017 - Area auditions are in January. Are you counting on making All-State?
@basedchem @cappex
Guys I have a question. So my Rice supplements are pretty sucky because I haven’t had a chance to polish them. Should I submit by midnight on Friday for an interview or should I polish my essays and not have an interview? How much does the interview matter? Would they view it as a lack of interest if I didn’t apply early for the interview? Any input is appreciated, thanks!
My son did not have an interview with Rice. He did get a fee waiver and had been in contact with Rice for 3 years, he attended every event they did in our area and participated in Science Bowl at Rice every year. and Mu-Alpha-Theta. He applied RD and was flew in for vision weekend. He loved Rice, he always loved Rice, they just couldn’t compete with MIT.
IMO the interview can make a difference if you think your supplemental essays were not that great. I was just accepted into ED and I honestly had a lot of regret while waiting for admissions because I thought that my essays were not the best. However, I did do an interview and it went INCREDIBLY well. It was a very casual, friendly, and insightful conversation. I really believe the interview helped me get in. Granted I was ED, but still.
But I really don’t know how are you supplements actually are, if they really are not that good maybe it’s worth polishing them, but I definitely think an interview could be beneficial.
only the common application needs to be submitted tonight for an interview right? scores and transcripts can arrive a little later right?
@sarangooL Thanks for such a detailed response! And congratulations on your acceptance! I actually got into Penn ED today so I don’t have to worry about RD apps anymore… I guess that throws my original question out of the window. Anyway, Rice is an amazing school, I wish you the best of luck! Thanks for answering my question again 
I am going to shoot myself. I collapsed in bed around 6 last night (I was going to turn it in around 7) because by then I had gone 38 hours without sleep. I missed the interview deadline. There goes my future.
i submitted the common app but not the supplement and the application portal let me request an interview
@basedchem the interview is only optional, you can most definitely still get into Rice! take the extra time to refine your essays. sorry to hear about that though 
Do you guys know how important demonstrated interest is? I decided to apply because fee waiver, why not, but I actually do like the school. I just didn’t have the chance to show it because I wasn’t that interested until the waiver.
What do you mean? I think demonstrated interest is a given for relatively selective schools? I mean if you’re not interested than they’re not going to offer admission when they could be giving it to qualified students who really want to go.