<p>Hello there!</p>
<p>I'll just cut to the chase - Rice is my ultimate dream school. All I can say is that I have absolutely fallen in love with the University and so I am applying early decision.</p>
<p>To make things short, beginning from high school there has been numerous issues at home and so academics had to take the back seat. My grades unfortunately dropped to a 3.5 UW which frustrates me because (not to be cocky or all talk) I know I could have done really well. But family comes first and so that's what it is.</p>
<p>My goal is to take the premed track and I want to apply for the Weiss school of Rice. But in our school, any slight sign of slacking in class shows tremendously in our grades and unfortunately I could not devote as much time to the classes as I really wanted to.</p>
<p>Many kids from our school who have graduated applied to top schools through "easier, less competitive" majors such as theology or environmental studies and then switched into their actual desired majors. </p>
<p>Has anyone done that for Rice? Is it ethical?<br>
When Rice evaluates the applications, do they base admissions on the application as a whole or do they take into great account the information that is related to the selected school - ie. for me, would they focus greatly on my science grades or app. as a whole?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>You will want to contact the Office of Admissions and ask how they evaluate students within each school. However, from what I was told, they evaluate students based on certain standards for Rice overall and then evaluate them in the context of a given school (in your case, Wiess School of Natural Sciences). I would apply to the academic division in which you are most likely to major in… in your case, Wiess . However, if you get into Wiess and decide you would rather major in art history at the School of Humanities, you can switch. You don’t have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year.</p>
<p>I would avoid taking the back door approach. Instead, explain your circumstances on your application… describe the situation at home so they will know you were not slacking off. Also, spend most of your time on your essays… those play a big role in admissions. Out of the top 20 schools, I feel that Rice takes one of the more holistic approaches to the admissions process. Good luck!</p>
<p>FYI… if you are premed, you can major in whatever you want, even English, history, or art.</p>
<p>BTW, environmental studies and theology are not easier majors than other humanities/science majors. For environmental studies, you still have to take general chemistry, biology, and sometimes even orgo. I really want to major in environmental studies/science, and Rice’s program is quite weak in this area (limited course offerings).</p>
<p>Environmental engineering is strong. I don’t know about “environmental studies”. Limited course selection does not necessarily make a “weak” department…</p>
<p>@slik and anxiousmom: Thank you very much for your answers! I apologize - I am still a bit naive in the whole college process and so I take what people say into great consideration, including the bit about the “weak majors.” I agree…everyone has to work equally hard in everything no matter what they major in.</p>
<p>I will apply to Wiess and pray until December!</p>
<p>The school you apply to really doesn’t affect your potential admission (unless you’re applying to Shepherd or the architecture school). The admissions office knows that a large number of students are going to end up graduating in a different area of study than the one under which they applied. Having you apply to a specific academic division is just to make sure that one department doesn’t get overwhelmed. There aren’t any real “quotas,” and one academic division is not easier to get into than another.</p>
<p>If you are actually planning on studying in natural sciences, then you should apply to the school of natural sciences. It will save you some headaches with academic advising during Orientation.</p>
<p>NYSkin1 - thank you! That is exactly what I will do…
I take it that you are a current Rice student…I hope to one day see you on campus!</p>
<p>Hopefully not, since I’m planning on graduating in May…</p>
<p>NYSkins we both know you’re going to be creepily stalking the Rice campus for years to come.</p>