Has anyone heard any information regarding the SOAR program for 2016? Nothing on the website. I asked an AO back in May at a traveling info session and he said he expected details to be ready in mid-July. My daughter isn’t the best about monitoring her email so wondering if anyone has received anything.
@Dolemite Nope, I haven’t received anything either…
@Dolemite I just e-mailed them, they told me it should be out VERY shortly.
Thanks for the update. Good luck with the app.
The tentative schedule is posted 9/24/16 - 9/26/16:
@Dolemite i got an invite to apply yesterday! check your email closely, cause i almost missed it!
How does one get invites to apply? My DS & I toured Rice back in Feb. & he is very interested in Rice. thanks!!
@CA1543 I think Rice has some students on their radar (based on scores, location, academic achievements, etc) and those are some of the kids they invited. SOAR is an invite-only program, but I think it may also have to do with diversity. Regardless, in the email I received, I was given a special link to my personal application (which lets me know Rice knows who they invited). However, there may also be a way to apply without an invite, because in the application they ask how you found out about the program and there are other options than selecting you were invited.
Thank you @aimsop!! I did complete the online application. We’ll see what happens!!
no problem! 
@CA1543
Has anyone received a response? If so, when? I still haven’t received one
They take applications until 9/5 so you might not hear until after that.
SOAR is invitation only, but I can still access the application online. Anyone know what’s up with that?
I believe it means you apply and then they may invite you. Anyone can apply but only a few are invited to the program.
@Dolemite @nw2this I was invited to apply to the program a few weeks back but I don’t know if that means I’m automatically in the program if I just send the application (I read somewhere on the forum that only around 60 kids get invited and about 60 attend the program itself, but I’m not sure of the legitimacy of those numbers). If yes, then I would guess that people who apply without being invited still have a chance however slim it may be. If no, I have no idea what’s up with that.
So I’m a long time browser of the threads but a first-time user. I couldn’t find this info anywhere but do you guys know how often the people who are invited/get in to SOAR get accepted to Rice?
@theRealMesutOzil it is probably most of them, Assuming they try on their essays and their EC (things not asked on the SOAR app) are good. Most colleges fly-ins have a 75% acceptance rate for attendees
Did y’all write an essay for the “Tell us what interests you most about Rice” on your application? I interpreted that as a short answer question where you summarize ~3 things that you are most interested in about Rice in a paragraph. I just saw that in past years (2014), the last question asked for an essay so I just wanna make sure I didn’t screw myself over by misinterpreting it.
i wrote 160 words 
i don’t think they expected an essay. most fly-ins have a word limit of like 300 words so…
I just looked at my daughters confirmation email and it says:
You will be notified by email as selections are made for SOAR and no later than Friday, September 9.
I applied August 3rd and I just got my acceptance email!