<p>I know this is quite general, but it seems many that go on here were accepted into rice. What is important in the application? Scores, EC, Essay, Interview, Coummunity Service, etc. Why do you think you got in (for those of you who did)?</p>
<p>Hi Matt,</p>
<p>I am just now finishing the Rice admissions process (I payed my enrollment deposit last weekend so I'll be attending next fall... GO OWLS!) and I also noticed on one of your previous posts that you are also considering UChicago (another school I applied to and was accepted too... and another one of my personal favorites). So I am going to give you my two-cents on both schools and hopefully you can take whatever you can from it.</p>
<p>First off, both Rice and Chicago take a holistic approach in their admissions process. Test scores are actually rather low on their heirarchy of things they look for. When I went and visited Chicago last fall, the admissions counselors gave this order:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Strength of high school curriculum and grades (i.e. are you taking advanced/ap classes or IB-level courses? any serious grade drops?)</p></li>
<li><p>Essays -- Essays at both Rice and UChicago are HUGE. Don't just blow off the personal essay... it really is the best way to let the admissions departments know more about you.</p></li>
<li><p>Recommendations. Make sure you choose wisely. If you can, find a teacher who has known you for several years and can attest to both your academic strengths as well as your character and social qualities (leadership, maturity, helpfullness, etc). Also if you attend a large high school, you need to start getting buddy-buddy with your counselors fast, because they will also be writing a personal recommendation and it sounds better if they actually know something about you.</p></li>
<li><p>EC's. They're important. Obviously since you're in your second semester of junior year, there isn't much you can do to change them now... so don't stress it. However, as a general rule, pick one or two EC's that you were heavily involved in to really emphasize. Any leadership roles? Any offices? Colleges like those things... so show them off. Mention the others too, especially if they show some diversity. (For example, my big EC was music but I was also an SID for my school's baseball team...)</p></li>
<li><p>Test Scores. Essentially the bottom of the list. They count, and they need to be good, but if the aren't amazing you'll be OK.</p></li>
<li><p>Optional Interview. I would recommend an interview especially if it is convenient because it shows a bit of extra interest in the school... and it can be helpful for you too. However it isn't necessary. I did an on-campus interview at Rice, but no interview at all for Chicago (although I did speak to one of the senior admin counselors a few times...) and it all worked out fine.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Alright so that is a straight from the lips of a UChicago admin counselor's lips list of things they look for... and Rice's list is similar if not identical. Notice community service is not on the list... and that's because it isn't as important. If you have it, great, and be sure to mention it! But if you don't (like me... I was too busy conducting the marching band and competing in math tournaments to volunteer) then it will be OK.</p>
<p>Anyways, that's my two-cents. Good luck! It's a stressful process but it is exciting too! And remember, no matter what happens, it is all going to work out for the best.</p>
<p>Thanks! Thats quite helpful. Congrats on getting in btw, maybe ill see you in a year. o.O</p>
<hr>
<p>That list is in order of priority, correct?</p>
<p>For the most part, I highly agree with Kathryn's list. The only thing I would change would be the part about community service being not as important as everything else. Personally, I see community service as being part of your extracurriculars, and if you excel in it, it'll be just as helpful as excelling in any other extracurricular. For example, in my Trustee's Scholarship letter from Rice, it mentioned that I was awarded the money due to my achievements in community service. :]</p>
<p>^ Very true, I agree. I guess what I was intending to say is that while community service is a great thing to have, it won't destroy you if you don't. That was my huge weak area, because while I had a little here and there, it wasn't near as much as other applicants.</p>
<p>Also, IMO, Rice places grt emphasis on diversity. so if you could portray your uniqueness and show how you would be able to contribute at Rice, that will be good. </p>
<p>(i'm not sure about others, but honestly, i guess it was the fact that i'm intl' that got me in. Though i took the toughest courses, my grades weren't good.. A couple of Cs and even a D? And as for the other aspects, i was just mediocre?)</p>
<p>hmm i'd say rice is pretty easy to get into. All you need is a decent-ish sat score (say 2200 plus) and good school grades. If you look at the decision forum, practically everyone was accepted. It isn't really based on random factors as much as other schools are. As long as you have the grades and the test scores, and you can write decently, you're in.</p>
<p>and test scores count very little at chicago, but it isnt the same case with every university. Chicago looks more at essays and stuff than anything. It has its own system (hence the 'UNcommon' app). Most unis do take them into account, though again their level of importance is different for different unis.</p>
<p>I agree with ammarsfound: if you're "qualified," meaning pretty good in all categories, then you have a very good chance of getting into Rice and Chicago (I also got in both).</p>
<p>I think test scores are more important than extracurriculars and recommendations, though less so than the essay. No school wants to say they care a lot about test scores even when they do because it instantly discourages candidates from applying. It's a way colleges compare you to other applicants from across the country.</p>
<p>I'd also say that it appears that people with good scores are accepted just because this is CC... -_-;</p>
<p>Remember that CC people tend to be very high achievers, so the "Rice is pretty easy to get into" is all relative!!!! We know many very good students who were denied admissions by Rice. It is easier to get into Rice as an out-of-state student, because Rice has a better "yield" of in-staters.</p>
<p>Is having an IB diploma a big deal to Rice or not? Would it help in being competitive for study abroad (Europe) once you are in, seeing as you have a diploma that they recognize as excellent quality in most countries?</p>
<p>It's worth noting that I was waitlisted at Rice before finally getting in, and no fewer than four other qualified applicants from my high school were rejected ID. So NO, Rice is not "pretty easy to get into."</p>
<p>when looking at applications, admissions at rice really look to find something that makes you... unique. i know all colleges may say that... but after this year at rice (class of 2010 wooooohoo) there is a reason why these people are all here</p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure as to what you're asking about concerning the IB degree and study abroad. If you're asking about doing a semester (or year) abroad while at Rice and how your IB degree will help that ... it might help a little bit, but it shouldn't really be necessary - everyone that I've known from Rice who's wanted to get into a program has gotten it with no trouble (the exceptions might be Oxford, Cambridge, LSE ...).</p>
<p>Maybe it seems like everyone who applied got accepted because those who weren't aren't likely to log on to CC and brag about their rejection.</p>
<p>Thats cool about study abroad, thats something that I have always wanted to do. My first question was just if having an IB diploma impresses the admissions people at all. Only like 12 people out of 425 are graduating with it in my class.</p>
<p>Hey Matt...are you from Texas?</p>
<p>yes i am from texas, dallas to be exact. However keep in mind that i moved here as a sophmore, (im a junior now) and lived in NJ for about 13 years. I was also born in germany and lived there for 1 1/2 years, and still speak it.</p>