All of these top schools are super-selective and have way too many applicants for a limited number of spots. I wasn’t really surprised that my son was waitlisted at Rice, even though he was basically “qualified.” I think top kids need to expect this and apply to a variety of schools, just in case.
There’s advice on what to do about getting off the wait list. I think CC has a section on that . I would send a letter to the admissions officer letting him/her know of any upgrades, news on the academics, achievement front as well as saying this is the first choice school, and you’ll go if accepted. ALso ask the GC to reinterate that. Most importantly, get the mind set into another school–forget about that wait list. Move forward.
Its all a crap shot. My son (3.9 uw gpa, 2350 sats, many aps, etc …) was accepted at Rice but rejected at Stanford and Michigan (engineering). Glad the process is almost over. Think most kids can/will turn any college experience into a good one.
@OrangeLand UT is a great school, one of the top destinations for international students. I was taught by several professors that were world class and at the very top of their subject. I got to know a few world famous computer science professors, including David Griese and passing friendly with Edsgar Djykstra. I took a few Geography courses with professors that had decades in their field, one guy who had studied the Middle East for 30 years, traveling throughout Israel, Lebanon, Syria. A top-notch, fascinating intellect and lecturer. We sat spell-bound for the whole class.
In some ways, I’m not sure Rice has the breadth of professorial talent that a massively ginormous school like UT has.
@Jimkingwood I greatly appreciate the info - I have a few other colleges to hear back from and then I’ll have a few to choose. It’s a tough decision!
I do admit I don’t like the UT campus as much as Rice (Rice’s is gorgeous), but I’m not too picky on environment, unless if I absolutely hate it.
Just out of curiosity what other universities are you expecting to hear back from? I agree the UT campus is not Rice, but I think once you’ve been there a week or two you won’t mind UT.
@OrangeLand yeah I’m right there with you on the UT campus. They’ve seriously uglified the place since I graduated 23 years ago, what with the new out-of-place buildings taking over what were open sunny spaces. My D hated the campus.
They’ve also commercialized the campus by naming buildings after fat cat donors, which the University had refused to do for over 100 years.
@franko5150 UPenn, Harvard, and Columbia, but I’m not counting on any of those and I’ve narrowed down my accepted colleges to UT and Rice
@Jimkingwood …fat cat donors??
Hypothetically, let’s you you do get accepted to one of those other 3 (the Ivy’s) would you take one of them over UT?
@OrangeLand Yeah, the fat cats. Building are named after people like McCombs, Dell, Gates, etc. The student body fought this in the early 90’s but lost the battle. Before that, buildings named after people, such as the Robert L. Moore hall, were named after prestigious UT academic figures, not donors.
I’m pretty sure that today’s undergrads don’t care much about such ‘trivial’ issues, but it was quite an issue back in the day; we cared a lot, but lost. It was a very ‘Texas’ kind of thing to do, there is just something grubby about it and it changed the feel of the campus. It is probably the reason I never visited campus after graduating, until I accompanied my daughter; it is not my campus any more, it is Red McComb’s and the other fat cats’ campus.
I am a Rice alum and have sat in on sessions about admissions for alums. They end up splitting hairs to find the right students. My guess (from your post about piano competitions on campus) is that you are from the greater Houston area? The admissions officers told us that they could fill their freshman class with qualified applicants from the Houston area every year. Obviously, they don’t want to do that… I would ask if Rice was so clearly your first choice school - why didn’t you apply Early Decision? Stats clearly indicate a better chance of acceptance for that group. If you absolutely do not want to go to UT - think about a gap year and apply again next year - do something worthwhile with your time and let Rice see your application again… And next year find another school that you would be happy to attend… Consider Georgia Tech, Case Western, Purdue, etc. that have great science programs but aren’t quite as selective as Rice and the Ivies. I will say that every kid I know who’s gone to UT somewhat reluctantly ends up loving it. I teach HS in TX so have seen a few… Getting into schools like Rice nowadays is so random - everyone who applies is qualified… good luck to you…
@franko5150 Unfortunately, I was waitlisted at Columbia and UPenn, which are better than rejections, so now it’s basically UT vs. Rice!
@Jimkingwood I’m sorry to hear that…I do admit that most of us don’t really care about that…
@txvelle So Rice admissions officers try limiting people from Greater Houston area? As expected from many good colleges…
Just a comment…I don’t think Rice actively tries to limit Texas applicants. Nearly a third of the people I know are from Texas, and of those people, a pretty fair portion are from Houston.
@OrangeLand @davelee377 Rice DEFINITELY limits Texans, they are fairly open about it.
@txvelle My D applied ED to Rice and she was rejected last year. We were also told it was much easier to get in via RD round. We didnt’ know that obviously. It could be due to her major?
However she also got admitted to WashU which is ranked higher than Rice - go figure. Anyhow, she loves WashU. My D says it is a mixture of Rice and ND. ND admissions process seems similar to Rice where it is easier to get in via RD round. ND told us to apply EA only if you have at least a 1500+ AND if you are the top 1% of your class otherwise apply RD because you’ll have a better chance.
I agree that you need to apply to a bunch of colleges (especially safeties) and see where you end up. Unfortunately, they cannot accept everyone. The admittance rates tell it all.
My D also contacted Rice admissions (who she interviewed with) and informed them that she got into WashU. Her admissions officer replied congratulations and told her that she can apply for a transfer after 12 credits! Funny!
Rice’s undergraduate student body is about 45% Texan, 45% out of state, and 10% international. Rice is trying to achieve some geographic diversity, and their biggest problem is that too many Texans apply to the school. It is ranked by US News as the best university in the state, so of course there are going to be too many Texan applicants. If you are a high achieving student from North Dakota, you have a much better chance of getting in than someone from Texas with the same qualifications.
Rice grads can be known as softies. Close friend has hired Rice grad accountants here in Houston and reported that they do not have he ‘toughness’ factor. She has been highly underwhelmed.‘They have’t worked out very well’ has been her refrain.
@Jimkingwood, re: Rice accountants, what major are the accountants coming from? There isn’t a major in accounting at Rice.
@ScienceGirlMom Rice does have a PhD program in accounting.
@Jimkingwood, why would Rice grads be “softies?” Honest question.
Perhaps because they didn’t face the same bureaucratic issues they would have otherwise seen at UT and TAMU?
Because you can’t get everything you want in life. Get over it.