Would visiting Rice after applying be seen as demonstrated interest? Would they take that into account when review your application?
It can’t hurt. Rice probably won’t review your RD application for a while. If you are out of school over the holidays, it might be a convenient time to visit. My daughter gave an admission tour at Rice today. There are tours on 12/23 and 12/24 in the morning. There are lots of open slots starting January 2. https://riceadmission.rice.edu/portal/campusvisit
Sure, especially if you are local. I certainly wouldn’t buy plane tickets or anything, but Rice considers interest, so it’s not a waste of time. And yes, it would be noted that she visited.
Absolutely. Drop by admissions and say hello too, the student that is. Contact and see if they can do an informal interview.
What if you have already visited once. Does another visit help to demonstrate more interest?
Visiting Rice provides a very small boost to admission prospects, precisely because everyone understands it requires so little sacrifice on the part of the applicant to achieve. The boost is even less, and probably close to zero, for applicants who live in the Houston area. As @Houston1021 says it can’t hurt, but nearly any applicant’s time would be better spent improving their qualifications rather than on appearance issues such as these.
If you have already visited, another visit would not advance the ball.
@Houston1021 @Lindagaf I live in South Carolina, so I’d have to fly out there. I’m already going to Texas to visit another school and was planning to visit Rice then. I received notification for an alumni interview, so would visiting be considered another form of demonstrated interest?
The thing is, I haven’t had any other contact with the school aside from sending my app in. My school has only sent a few students over the years to Rice and Rice never comes to my high school. I thought visiting/interviewing would be a good way to show demonstrated interest.
If you are going to be in Texas I’d visit. I think it would count towards demonstrated interest AND that way you will have seen and experienced the campus if you are accepted which might help you make decisions on whether or not to attend. When are you planning to head to Texas?
@PrdMomto1 Either in mid to late January or sometime in February.
I agree with @PrdMomto1. If you have not already completed your application, you could mention in the ways that you have shown interest that you are planning to visit and the date. The alumni interview is another way to show interest. There are not as many applicants from South Carolina as from some other states. That should help a bit in the application process.
@Houston1021 I have already submitted my application and received an alumni interview match. I couldn’t put anything down in the “Contacts” section of the application, so I was wondering if the interview + a visit would help my case more.
The interview plus visit can only augment your application. if Rice doesn’t visit your area or school, then you’ve done all you can.
@Houston1021 When would be the best time to visit? Would late Feb be too late?
If you are already coming to Texas to see another school, or have a break from school, that might be an ideal time. However, in general I would say the sooner the better as the decisions will come out mid March. Late February might be pushing it.
Just for future reference, but I was accepted! I did not end up visiting Rice, but I believe I showed my knowledge of the school enough in my interview to demonstrate my interest.
Congratulations on your acceptance to Rice.