<p>I have an interview this Saturday and I KNOW they are going to ask, "Why are you choosing Rice as opposed to all the other fine schools out there?"</p>
<p>Would it be bad if I said this.</p>
<p>I want to go to a school that will help me grow and flourish. I believe that Rice is that school for me. I feel this way because Rice is a very strong school specializing in it's undergraduates. I love the residential college system and the small student teacher ratio fosters close interaction. I also love the fact that it is in downtown Houston, directly across from the hospital, allowing for unique medical research opportunities. </p>
<p>Is there anything else that I should say? I really want to go to this school. It's my number one choice. I'm also at a loss for what to write in the essay. Is it a bad idea to state things that can be found on their website or places like the princeton review?</p>
<p>Also, to the interview, should I wear a suit or a tie or polo or jeans?? What would be MOST appropriate, my interviewer said it is informal and casual. She also said she was easy going and relaxed. I'm super nervous though, I naturally am. Probably because I REALLY want to go. I'm disappointed that I cannot do Early Decision.</p>
<p>That's fine. Just explain to them why it's your number 1 choice -- and have your enthusiasm shine through. </p>
<p>Also, FYI, Rice isn't exactly in downtown Houston -- it's about a few miles away; and the Texas Medical Center has 13 hospitals (so there's more than just one hospital across the street from Rice).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Khaki or dark pants and a button down or polo shirt would be appropriate. I suggest that you tell your interviewer that Rice is your number one choice and that you wish you could apply ED but you can't because of financial concerns (or whatever the reason is).</p>
<p>In your interview you might want to talk about something on more specific terms. Tell them about a dept. you like, a specific research they are doing/have done, majors, classes or professors that are of particular interest to you. Someone gave my son the advice to be detailed and it seemed to have worked, also in the essay. As an aside, he cancelled his overnight stay and was fearful it would have a negative impact. It did not. You may have a student interviewer rather than alum. Khakis and a polo button down and decent shoes would be a good for an interview and you will feel more relaxed than in a suit. I assure you, your interviewer won't be wearing a suit. Good luck!</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure my son wore shorts and a t-shirt to his interview, and he got in.....</p>
<p>i wouldnt risk wearing a t-shirt and shorts- different interviewers expect different attire and if somehow you got placed with a casual/formal attire interviewer who expects casual/formal attire, you might wanna be prepared and wear a suit and tie. as for as "Why Rice" , you have some legit reasons why you want to go to rice but i see those reasons as being common among students and saying that you want to go to Rice because it will " help you grow and flourish." seems a vague and boring reason. Make yourself stand out and choose aspects of Rice you like. If you can't answer the "Why Rice" question firmly, you shouldnt even be applying at Rice...</p>
<p>I mean I know why but it's hard to verbalize it.</p>
<p>And my daughter, who's a freshman at Rice this year, went to hers in jeans, t-shirt and flip flops. I'd say, wear something you're comfortable in and that seems appropriate for the place where you're meeting, and maybe the time of day you're meeting. It's important to be comfortable and feel like you can be yourself.</p>
<p>Well, I plan on wearing a nice stripped button down dress shirt, some nice jeans with a good crease and some dress shoes (I dress like that all the time) and my teachers said that it gives a positive image of me but ALL of them said no jeans but my interviewer said informal and it's a casual chat so I'm sticking to my guts. I dont want them to think I'm so dork who is uptight all the time. And I cant believe it is going to last a whole HOUR!</p>
<p>If this is an off campus interview, I think nice jeans are fine. D's was a right after school interview, in jeans and activity t-shirt. She's now a Rice junior. Your planned attire sounds fine.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you can't answer the "Why Rice" question firmly, you shouldnt even be applying at Rice...
[/quote]
That sounds a little harsh to me. You are just a 17-year-old kid. It's okay if you don't know exactly why you want to go. And you don't have to go to an interview all prepared - it is a conversation, not a job interview. Relax and be yourself. :)</p>
<p>Okay so I just had my interview. It went very very well. The lady was really nice and she wore jeans herself. She didnt ask any HARD questions but she just wanted to get to know me, why I wanted to apply to Rice and what I like doing. We just talked, I was nervous the WHOLE time but she said I would be a good candidate. One thing I am worried about, NONE of the people she has interviewed have been accepted. I am the 7th one so I may be lucky. Let's hope. For anyone else who has interviews, dont worry, just go in and be confident, they arent out to get you, they are really nice and they WANT you go to to Rice or where ever.
She really made me excited about Rice.
And there are so many little reasons that I like Rice, it's hard to really be specific and to why. There are a lot of really good schools out there (Duke, Emory, Vandy) any reasons for choosing Rice are, in my humble opinion, going to be superficial so whatever.
I like the residential college system, I like the small student teacher ratio, I like it's location, near the zoo, near the Texas Medical Center, I love the architectural style, that mediterranean feel. I love the challenging academics, I love how the professors really engage their students and establish a relationship with them. There are SO MANY reasons why I love Rice. I guess the best reason is that I feel at home when I am there.</p>
<p>And… Did you get in? ;)</p>
<p>Yes he did, and he even posted the recent “Ask a Rice Senior Questions” thread for us :P</p>