<p>question in the title :D</p>
<ol>
<li>Extreme sexiness</li>
</ol>
<p>That's really the most important factor.</p>
<p>Rice apparently has a very uncoventional view of what's sexy.</p>
<p>No comment.</p>
<p>Yeah paste some sexy pics in the box, that's what they really want to see, not that academic/extracurricular BS.</p>
<p>come on guys... get serious.
i really need someone to answer me.</p>
<p>I don't feel like I'm being very original, but here's my stab at an answer.</p>
<ol>
<li> Intellectual curiosity</li>
<li> Potential for success</li>
<li> Uniqueness</li>
</ol>
<p>1) diversity
2) uniqueness
3) grades?</p>
<p>You really need to work hard on your essays. Also I think that letting them know that you are really interested in them is important. Make sure you set up an interview.</p>
<p>is a distinguished diploma better than a recommended one?
how much will it raise my chances of being accepted?</p>
<p>Depends on other parts of your application. There's no set formula for acceptance. For example, all the applicants from my school were denied, despite the fact that we're all in the very top of the class. I applied for a rather obscure major, had incredible essays (I write well) and showed huuuuge interest, but still got rejected. The only thing anyone can say is to do your best; there are no guarantees, but it's worth a shot, so long as you don't drive yourself nuts, like I did.</p>
<p>oh dont worry, i'm already nuts.
and i havent started on the application yet.
haha.</p>
<p>only a junior.
starting this summer.</p>
<p>do you think volunteering at a hospital all during summer makes you look "dedicated"?
i plan on majoring in biology, to become a doc.</p>
<p>because i plan on volunteering at a hospital around 4 hours daily</p>
<p>Haha, well, I literally made myself sick this year over my application- couldn't sleep or eat, my hair got all thin, it was BAD. Don't do that to yourself. </p>
<p>Sure, go for it. It can't hurt you. That'd go well with your major. </p>
<p>Buuut yeah, don't obsess over it. When it comes down to it, you don't have a whole lot of control over it. They turn down tons of awesome candidates, but that doesn't mean you're any less than the ones who got accepted. Like at my school, people who got in last year wouldn't have had a chance this year. It's just weird. It's a crapshoot, admissions at Rice. Just keep that in mind! =D</p>
<p>3 of the 4 that got accepted at my S's school all did intensive medical research (during the summer and school year) with a mentor and entered all the major science competitions.</p>
<p>The key is to follow your own passion and let that come through in interviews and essays. There are no formulas for "what you can do that looks good" or any guarantees that what you do will get you in. They are trying to put together an interesting class and if you are just like everyone else they are pretty good at sorting out who has passion and who is just on paper. But if you are doing what you love, you will be happy wherever you end up.</p>
<p>lol, thanks for the advice.
i just get paranoid easily.</p>
<p>my friend was accepted into RICE with scholarships that lowered her tuition to 8k per year.</p>
<p>pretty cool i think</p>
<p>Are you guys serious? You need to remember that the decisions are made by actual people (many of whom I know), not some machine called "Rice." Asking "What are the top 3 things Rice looks for?" is pointless, because a) none of the people on this forum are qualified to answer that and b) I'm not even sure the people in the admissions office could give a clear-cut ranking.</p>
<p>There are so many intangibles that come into play, that this question is virtually impossible to answer. Don't worry about the application too much; if it's after your sophomore year, it's too late to drastically alter what you're doing to fit these THREE BIG, GRAND characteristics that Rice apparently values above everything else. And if it's before your sophomore year, it's too early for you to say with absolute certainty that you want to go to Rice, so you shouldn't be worrying about this.</p>
<p>Settle down NY - He/she is just trying to get an idea of what Rice looked for in other students that they accepted. There is no harm done.</p>
<p>I was very serious about the sexiness issue, NYSkins.</p>
<p>And Rice is serious about it, as well.</p>
<p>I'm not going for any sort of personal attacks; I'm just pointing out the inherent pointlessness of this question. Except for the sexiness thing.</p>