<p>If this was my kid I wouldn’t be too concerned one way or the other if my child applied to Rice … what would be much more important to me is finding out what about Rice drew in my child and see if we could find similar schools a tier lower academically where my kid would have a reasonable chance at admission. Good luck in your hunt!</p>
<p>On another thread, I see the OP wrote that her daughter: “Kid, on her own, communicates to coach that she can’t play in all of the school day games and weekend practices because her grades are starting to suffer.”</p>
<p>While it’s admirable that the D chose academics over sports, the students who get into schools like Rice are able to handle the demands of athletics (or other time-intensive ECs) and demanding academics while doing very well in both endeavors.</p>
<p>3togo, yes, many of us are suggesting just that, I agree. If she loves Rice, this is a way to seek out other selective schools a notch or two down that have similarities. If the OP mentions what D wants in a college, perhaps suggestions could be offered. It is not like she has to forego reach schools!</p>
<p>NSM, I happen to also agree with you that at very selective colleges, there are applicants who do sports who also get very good grades and take the most demanding curriculum. My own D was an applicant to very selective colleges and took the most demanding curriculum offered and then some, had a 4.0, was val and was a three varsity sport athlete (not to mention her performing arts and other ECs which were also heavy). At our high school in her year, I recall the top 10 students in the class and a majority of them played varsity sports. This is what the OP’s D is going to be up against in the applicant pool at Rice.</p>
<p>A college like Rice is going to want students to come to their university and succeed academically while being heavily involved in EC activities on campus. They want kids who can juggle both (not just before they arrive but once on campus).</p>
<p>When a student applies, a hope builds up in them that somehow they stand a chance. Every rejection hurts, even if they knew they had a very low chance. Hence, I am all for encouraging stretch applications but I also caution between a stretch and super stretch. </p>
<p>Remember they are 18 years old and may not have had much disappointment and so every rejection hurts. I think your daughter has made a very rational decision for a 18 year old. I would leave it at that. Rice is a super stretch in her case, why force her to do something she herself is hesitating to do. You do not want to be around if she is crying over the rejection and tells you “you made me do it”. Believe me, I have been there.</p>
<p>OK Thanks all for the comments. Will not be forcing dau to do anything with the Rice app. Case closed now.</p>