<p>I wasn't accepted to Rice University as a Freshman for Fall 2010. I'm planning on going to the University of Houston, but I want to apply for Rice again as a transfer. Do I have to wait until Fall 2011 to apply as a transfer or can I apply as a transfer in Spring 2011? Thanks!</p>
<p>You can apply for Spring 2011, but it might be harder to do since there will probably very few seats available at that time. I suggest that you stick it out for a full year at U. Houston and applying for Fall 2011 transfer instead of Spring 2011. That way you’ll have a better chance of transferring, and a semester of college grades for Rice to evaluate. Otherwise, they’re essentially only looking at your high school record – which obviously didn’t work out in your favor. Also, if you were to get in as a Spring transfer, then you would enter in the middle of the year, at which time it might be hard to make friends with students who are already involved in their own circles. Good luck with whatever you choose.</p>
<p>Thanks! Also, I am also considering UT Austin. I know it has a better rep than University of Houston, but it won’t give me the opportunities with NASA. I’m hoping to start getting in with NASA and other research and volunteer opportunities. I think having references like that will help me with my transfer application. Do you think Houston would be a good place for me to be, since Rice is probably familiar with a lot of the people who deal with undergrad research at places like NASA?</p>
<p>Don’t you have to seek out research opportunities with NASA yourself regardless of what school you attend? I don’t think any school, be it Rice, U. Houston, or UT Austin will automatically give you opportunities with NASA. Don’t hold me to that though, since I don’t know any specifics of existing NASA partnerships with these schools. That being said, U. Houston and Rice would definitely be more convenient, and possibly easier places from which to work with NASA as an undergrad. No matter where you go though, if you’re dedicated, you should be able to find/make the opportunities you need/desire in order to succeed in whatever research interests you have. </p>
<p>Regarding your immediate undergraduate college choices, I suggest that you visit both UT Austin and U. Houston and figure out which has a better astrophysics/astronomy department (I’m assuming that’s your major?), what specific opportunities each school offers in fields of interest to you, where you would be happier, etc., in case a transfer to Rice doesn’t work out. Keep in mind that transfers aren’t guaranteed, and that Rice is a very selective institution for both freshman AND transfer admissions.</p>