rice university personal statement

Quick advising questions? E-mail us at [email protected] and we can help! Need additional assistance? Click here to schedule an appointment with an advisor.

Learn how to schedule an appointment with the OAA by clicking HERE

You may also call 713-348-4060 or email [email protected] for help scheduling an appointment.

Graduate School Frequently Asked Questions

Guide to Exploring Graduate School |
Graduate School FAQ |
Choosing a Graduate Program |
4+1 Programs at Rice

Before making the decision to attend graduate school, carefully reflect on your reasons for continuing your education. Weigh the time commitment, financial considerations, personal adjustments and sacrifices, and readiness to pursue graduate level work. Assess the value of a graduate degree in terms of earning potential, entry into a profession, advancement and competitiveness. Seek guidance from faculty, alumni and other professionals in the field, academic and career advisors, and current graduate students.

Consider the following:

How long will it take to complete the degree?
How much will the degree cost?
For whom are you doing this?
How motivated are you right now?
With your current experience, will you be considered a competitive applicant?
What can the degree do for you?
What can you offer the program?

Ultimately, enrollment in graduate school should be your decision, based on an academic interest in a particular subject area, the need for specialized training and education for professional advancement, and/or a desire for personal enrichment. Delaying a job search, avoiding decisions about the future, or succumbing to pressure from peers or family are not optimal foundations for advanced study.

Degree Options

There are a great variety of programs for graduate study. Each offers specialized training for particular career goals. Degrees may be considered either academic or professional in nature.

Academic Degrees (M.A., M.S., Ph.D.) involve acquiring and communicating new knowledge through original research and are awarded in virtually all liberal arts disciplines.
Professional Degrees stress the practical application of knowledge and skills and may be acquired in many areas such as business (M.B.A.), education (M.Ed., Ed.D.), engineering (M.Eng.), fine arts (M.F.A.), law (J.D.), and medicine (M.D.).

Before you can choose an appropriate graduate school program, you will need to decide what kind of career you eventually want to have. Faculty members, career advisors, alumni, and professionals in the field can help you explore what career options are available to someone with a particular advanced degree.

Graduate programs that grant the same degree still differ by the specific range of sub-disciplines in which they offer training. Choosing the right discipline in which to apply requires a considerable amount of reflection on your interests and academic/non-academic experiences.

What classes have interested you?
What projects have interested you? Why?
What are your skills and strengths?
What are you curious about?
What questions or problems would you like to investigate?
Are you more inclined toward theory, experimentation, or application?
Are you concerned with micro- or macro- level processes?
Do you like learning languages (including mathematical)?
Are you interested in a particular region or time period? What about it appeals to you?
What really does not appeal to you? Why do you think so?

One of the most important aspects of applying to graduate school is selecting the programs that are best suited to your interests and career goals. Consult professors or other mentors who have specialized in the discipline of your choice. Faculty members are excellent sources of information about graduate programs in their specialties and the strengths and weaknesses of programs at various universities. Review professional journals to learn where faculty are doing work that interests you. Research people you admire in your field to see where they attended graduate school.

Lists and rankings are published online at the following websites:

Peterson’s Graduate School Guides
Princeton Review
U.S. News & World Reports Best Graduate Schools
GradSchools.com
Graduate Guide

Graduate school fairs provide you with an opportunity to gain in-depth information from school representatives that will help you evaluate programs and find the best fit for you. Before the fair, research which schools will be in attendance. Then, begin reviewing graduate school catalogs, directories, and websites to get a sense of the universities and their programs. This will help you identify some of the programs of interest to you and which schools to target at the fair. Prepare a list of questions to help you determine if there is a match between the graduate school program and your interests and goals. Questions may address costs, financial aid, program requirements, course offerings, facilities, location, student life, faculty, and program reputation.

Arrive early and take a few minutes to review the map and directory of the fair. Visit the schools you are most interested in first so that you have plenty of time to gather as much information as you need. Be prepared to answer questions from the admissions representatives such as, “Why do you want to attend graduate school?” and, “When?” Ask the representative for his/her card. This will provide you with a direct contact for asking follow up questions. Use this opportunity to not only network with the representatives, but also to collect materials for later review.

Standardized Tests

Most schools require applicants to take a standardized test as part of the application process. There are several examinations utilized in graduate school admissions. Ask the programs you are interested in what exam scores are accepted and what the typical range of scores is for admitted students.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) For academic graduate study, the examination required is usually the GRE General Test. The General Test contains verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing sections. Some programs may also require the Subject Test. The Subject Test measures basic knowledge of terminology and concepts in a particular discipline.
Miller Analogies Test (MAT) The MAT uses verbal analogies to test reasoning ability. Some graduate schools will accept the MAT in lieu of the GRE.
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) The GMAT is required for most students seeking an MBA. degree. The test measures verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills. It does not test specific knowledge in a particular subject area.

Most general standardized admissions tests are offered year round at controlled testing centers. Other specialized subject tests are offered less frequently. Because the scores are valid over several years, typically five, you can take these exams when you feel most prepared. Many students, even if postponing graduate studies, will elect to take the exams while still undergraduates. Whenever you elect to take the requisite exam, make sure your testing date is early enough to allow your scores to be reported before schools’ application deadlines.

Plan to give yourself plenty of time to study. Taking released or sample tests produced by the test makers is probably the best way to prepare. Work through the examples and explanations carefully, and then take the sample tests under simulated test conditions by observing time limits. Commercial test preparation courses are available, but may vary in cost and quality. It will be important to investigate the courses carefully. Commercial courses can help build confidence, motivate test takers to prepare, and provide a structured program of study.

Graduate schools are looking for diverse, thoughtful, well-prepared, ambitious, and mature candidates who stand out in the applicant pool. Most application materials can be found on an institution’s website. Read the directions carefully. Pay special attention to deadlines for test scores, application materials (forms, transcripts, curriculum vitae, essays, writing sample), recommendation letters, and financial aid applications. Submitting your materials early can only help your case for admission, especially if schools operate on rolling admissions. Additionally, all application materials are not always sent to the same office. Stay organized by creating spreadsheets or other tracking methods to ensure you do not neglect any application details.

Strong undergraduate academic preparation is essential for admission and ultimately success in graduate school. Key skills for success include critical thinking, analytical abilities, written and oral communication, time management, self-motivation, and self-discipline. Graduate schools require a strong undergraduate GPA and will ask you to submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended with your application. Be sure to investigate any specific prerequisite courses required for admission.

Graduate schools will look for demonstrated interest in the field you are planning to study. Research, job, internship, or volunteer experience in the field will help you build a competitive application. Active participation in relevant student organizations can also demonstrate your interest in the field. Like a resume, your curriculum vitae (CV) should clearly summarize your academic background as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and other co-curricular activities. Unlike a resume, a CV need not be constrained to two pages or less.

Applications

The personal statement is your opportunity to present yourself and why you would be an asset to the graduate program, differentiating yourself from other applicants with similar scores. It is an opportunity to discuss your background and articulate why you want to go to graduate school. It can address your goals, your commitment to the field of study, and can highlight any relevant experiences. However, your curriculum vitae alone will reflect what you have done and recognition you have received. Your personal statement should emphasize learning and growth.

Your essay should demonstrate your understanding of the central concerns of the field of study or profession to which you are applying. Discuss your passion for future graduate work on those topics and how you see yourself fitting into their program. This will require tailoring your essay to each individual program. However, avoid trying to appeal to a particular audience or writing what you think they want to read. Allow your readers to gain a genuine understanding of your interests, strengths, and compatibility with their program.

The personal statement also serves as an indication of your writing ability. As the essay is a short piece, it is crucial that you organize your thoughts and then refine, simplify, and polish your ideas. You should plan on writing and revising several drafts. Be certain that your final essay is neat, grammatically correct, and devoid of any errors.

Select a paper that you think represents your skills in the field, your talents as a writer, and the way in which you think about problems/texts. If you can improve the piece, either argumentatively, rhetorically, or formally, take the time to do so. If you must edit a longer paper to fit the guidelines for submission, be sure to revise the paper’s content accordingly and make the introductions, transitions, and conclusions work for the new version.

In letters of recommendation, admissions committees look for information not provided elsewhere in the application. The ideal letter writer is someone who can describe your academic strengths and personal qualities positively and in some detail. Be aware that a highly known person is not always the best recommendation writer. It is more important that the writer know you well. Request letters of recommendation in person, and be sure to ask the potential letter writer if they are willing to write a favorable letter for you.

In order to garner the best possible letter of recommendation, it is advised that you provide the letter writers with the following information:

Deadlines for application and any specific instructions necessary to complete the letter of recommendation
A statement about what you are applying for and why (or your personal statement)

It is your responsibility to ensure that your application is completed on time, therefore, ask for letters of recommendation early and ask nicely. The earlier you ask, the more time you provide the letter writer to write a stellar recommendation. Given the number of students, past and present, who may be seeking a professor’s recommendation, it is always good to courteously follow-up with your letter writers to ensure that your letter has been submitted. Always write a thank you note to those who serve as recommenders.

A summary of what you learned from your experience with the letter writer
Your curriculum vitae
A copy of your transcript

Interviews are occasionally required and are often useful, both to obtain further information about programs and to present your strengths. Depending on the program, you may interview for graduate assistantships concurrently while interviewing for admission to the program. Before the visit, read the website, catalog, and any other brochures the department supplies and review faculty interests. You will make a better impression if you have done your research in advance and can ask thoughtful questions about the school and the program. A visit is always helpful even if an interview is not required.

Common interview questions:

Why do you want a graduate degree?
What other schools did you apply to?
Why do you think this program is a good fit for you?
Tell us about (something that you wrote about in your personal statement or included in your CV).
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a student?

Many students consider graduate school, but may not want to attend immediately after completing their undergraduate degree. Taking some time off may provide time for reflection and clearer decision-making for your future. Graduate schools, especially professional programs, expect you to have clearly defined interests and relevant experiences leading to an area of specialization. There are, of course, some programs that seek applicants coming right out of undergraduate school. Some schools will admit you and then allow you to defer entrance for a year or two. It is important to research this carefully to determine the best time to apply. If you decide to take time off, remember to develop a plan that complements your long-term goals.

Would one or more relevant work, volunteer, or research experiences enhance your applications for graduate school?
Do you need to complete introductory or prerequisite courses for your proposed studies?
Are there any financial, personal, or employment obligations that must be fulfilled first?
Do you need a break before embarking on a concentrated period of study?
Does the year following graduation look like a great time for travel, making a contribution through service experience, or something else you would like to do?
Do you feel like you need time to figure out what you really want to do and gain some additional perspective on your life goals?

Graduate students fund their education in a variety of ways. Financial aid is often based on a combination of merit and financial need. Note that financial aid deadlines may be earlier than your program application deadlines. Check with both the financial aid office and the graduate program department.

Need-based aid determines financial need by calculating the difference between total educational costs and the student’s financial resources. Need-based financial aid includes work-study programs, private, federal and state loans, grants and fellowships, and tuition remission programs offered to employees by their employers, or to students by the professional or graduate school. In order to be eligible for federal aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Merit-based aid is awarded on the basis of academic achievement, talent, or promise. Forms of merit-based aid include assistantships, grants, and fellowships. Assistantships are usually awarded in the form of teaching, research, or graduate assignments. Early contact with the graduate program department is critical in obtaining assistantships. Grants are sums of money awarded for specific activities on a project basis. The funding may come from a variety of sources, including government agencies, corporations, or foundations. Fellowships are a prestigious and competitive form of financial assistance. Winning a postgraduate fellowship is a mark of achievement and an honor that can open many other doors. Fellowships may facilitate study with great scholars and lead to new networks of contacts and colleagues. They are worth the time and effort required for their pursuit.

Office of Academic Advising

Monday - Friday

8:30 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Phone | 713.348.4060

Email | [email protected]

Office of Academic Advising MS-529

Rice University, Ley Student Center, Suite 132

6100 Main Street

Houston, TX 77005

SOCIAL MEDIA

Click here to schedule an appointment with an OAA advisor.

Apr. 28, 2022

Writing a killer statement of purpose, by ivan rosa de siqueira: learn more about this important component of grad school applications and how you can write an effective sop.

Most graduate programs at Rice (and in the United States broadly) will require applicants to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) as part of the application process. In my opinion, the main objective of the admissions committee when asking for the SOP is very clear: to get to know you better and understand your motivations to go to graduate school. Even though the SOP is only one of the many components of the application package – which will typically include other important documents such as CV, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc. – the SOP will probably be your only opportunity of talking (writing, actually) about yourself with your own words. CV and transcripts are documents that are somewhat official and bring a list of achievements and accomplishments throughout your career; recommendation letters are written by others and bring an outer perspective of yourself as a potential graduate-level researcher. Conversely, the SOP should provide the committee with information that cannot be explicitly found elsewhere; information that only you can express accurately. That being said, the SOP is a central component of any application process to graduate school.

There are many different ways of constructing a good SOP; the first step, however, should always be the same: double-check the instructions provided by the program and what points should be addressed in your essay. For instance, the following text was adapted from Rice’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. [1]

A statement of purpose should address the following questions: Why do you want to obtain a degree in Chemical Engineering? Why are you interested in Rice and in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice? What relevant experiences do you have in research, academics, and/or prior jobs? Why do you believe you will be successful in either a thesis or non-thesis degree graduate program? What would you like to do after completing your degree, and what are your long-term career goals?

Overall, the SOP should bring an overview of your academic and professional trajectories, focusing on: (1) why you are interested in that graduate program, (2) what are your academic, professional, and research/extracurricular experiences, (3) how these experiences make you an ideal candidate for that program, and (4) what are your plans after completing your degree. These are the general guidelines followed by most graduate programs (in STEM, at least). Before start the actual writing, I believe you should invest some time in making a detailed timeline of your academic/professional life thus far. Make sure you highlight the main points that marked your path since the beginning of your education. My understanding is that this requires a lot of reflection and self-knowledge; however, I can assure this exercise will be very useful to help you track events chronologically throughout your text.

I now draft the structure of what I consider a good SOP. This is very general; make sure you adapt the actual content to your reality and incorporate some other stylistic changes.

Starting an SOP can be very challenging. A reasonable strategy consists of delivering a general “welcome card”, trying to touch upon some of the points highlighted in the program instructions and/or providing the committee with any particular piece of information that distinguishes you from others. Introduce yourself, explain why you want to go to graduate school in that field, why you want to join that program, and what you want to do after graduation (and why a graduate degree from that program is important to achieve your goals). Be brief here; you have the whole SOP to detail and expand on these introductory comments. This initial part should be one paragraph ;
Then, describe your academic path starting from when you think you had the first trigger to do research and go to graduate school. You can explore experiences in high school (scientific fairs, internships, academic competitions, etc.), college and/or Master’s (research experiences, publications, talks and presentations in conferences, TA positions, etc.), and prior jobs (internships, consultancies, services, etc.). The chief point here is the following: do not limit yourself to a simple list of facts, otherwise your SOP will essentially become an extended version of your CV. You do not want that. Instead, show what you learned and how you improved with these experiences. Provide examples of how you can work independently, collaborate with others, think critically, communicate your results, etc. – these are fundamental skills in graduate school. Make sure you can align these points with the specifics of the program you are applying to. You obviously want to show a solid background in your field; but, more importantly, you want to demonstrate that you have the necessary skillset and mindset to thrive in graduate school with the support of faculty and resources that program offers. This usually becomes two paragraphs ;
Start being more specific about the research lines the program offers. Show evidence that you did your homework and studied the program in depth. Describe your interest in two to three faculty members and their labs; show you understand their research and recent works; show motivation to work in their groups; based on your previous experiences, explain what you will add (skills, ideas, etc.) to their current research. In summary, answer the question: What do you bring to the table? And, just to complement, if you contacted faculty before submitting your application, [2] make sure you mention that in your SOP because that professor might not be on the committee that year. This is one paragraph ;
To conclude, work on a short paragraph that summarizes your story and reiterates that going to graduate school and joining that program are key steps in your life plans and research career goals.

Continuing, be truthful and original, and always avoid cliché s. Describe your skills and abilities in detail, and make sure you provide the committee with examples of past research works that support your claims with concrete evidence. More importantly, show how much the program will benefit from having you as a student. Never try to fit your story into a “dream candidate” profile; this profile does not exist and attempts to do this will be easily identified by the committee. Do not hide adversities you have eventually gone through (both personal and academic); instead, describe these problems and explain how you overcame them, what you learned from them, and how they contributed to who you are today. Resilience when dealing with problems, motivation to overcome challenges, and learning from mistakes will be essential in graduate school. Make sure the committee knows you know that.

Writing an SOP is extremely time-consuming. I recommend you start working on yours as soon as you have decided what programs you will be applying to. You will likely need to write many, many versions of your SOP until they converge to a final, satisfactory result. Length and formatting can change depending on program requirements. In general, I recommend 2 pages with editing that will ease the reading (e.g. Arial or Calibri, font 12, spacing 1.5-2, standard paragraphs and margins, etc.). Some programs might be a bit more demanding and determine a maximum number of words (e.g. 500 or 1000). Expressing ideas clearly and concisely is key in graduate school; use the SOP to demonstrate you master this skill. In contrast to other languages such as Brazilian Portuguese (I am Brazilian), English allows for a very direct and effective writing communication. Go straight to the points you want to highlight and do not waste space (sometimes precious) with sentences that do not add relevant information about yourself as a future graduate student. The committee will have hundreds of SOP to go through; do not make yours boring.

The committee will know if you are an international student, and the committee members will not expect to read an essay written by Shakespeare. Be careful with your writing and avoid naive mistakes, but do not spend too much energy trying to improve your vocabulary beyond what you are comfortable working with. Avoid too many adjectives and adverbs; use short, direct sentences in an active voice. If possible, you might want to ask some friends to review your SOP. However, be careful. First, make sure your reviewers are aware of the SOP overall goal in the application process and are sufficiently proficient in written English; second, do not ask many people for feedback because it might become unfeasible to incorporate so many different suggestions in a single text. Finally, keep in mind that you know your story better than anyone else and that the SOP should bring your own perspective about yourself.

[1] Notice that this department offers two different graduate programs: a PhD program (which requires a thesis) and Professional Master’s program (which does not require a thesis). Both require an SOP as part of the application process.

[2] Contacting faculty members (potential research advisors) in advance is another important step of the application process. Review the post here for some tips.

Acknowledgements: I am very thankful to the comments and suggestions by Igor Cunha (Queen’s University), Raíssa Dantas (University of Illinois Chicago), and Natasha Heinz (Kent State University) – all members of the Brazilian Student Association (BRASA).

About the author: Ivan Rosa de Siqueira is originally from Rio de Janeiro, but spent most of his adult life in Brasília. He received his BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Brasília and PUC-Rio, respectively. Since 2017, Ivan has been a PhD student in the CHBE Department under Dr. Matteo Pasquali. Learn more .

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the Rice University Essays 2024-2025

Rice University has three supplemental essays. Two of them are required for all applicants, while one of them gives you a choice between two different prompts. If you are applying to the School of Architecture, you are required to write two additional supplemental essays.

Rice is an extremely selective school, which means that your essays need to truly shine, to set you apart from other smart, talented applicants. In this post, we’ll break down each prompt, and explain how to write an excellent response that will maximize your chances of acceptance.

Read these Rice essay examples to inspire your writing.

Rice University Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected. (150 words)

Prompt 2: Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you? (150 words)

Prompt 3: The Rice Box: In keeping with Rice’s long-standing tradition, please share an image of something that appeals to you.

Prompt 4: Please respond to one of the following prompts to explore how you will contribute to the Rice community (500 words):

Option A: The Residential College System is at the heart of Rice student life and is heavily influenced by the particular cultural traditions and unique life experiences each student brings. What life experiences and/or unique perspectives are you looking forward to sharing with fellow Owls in the residential college system?
Option B: Rice is strengthened by its diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders and change agents across the spectrum of human endeavor. What perspectives shaped by your background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity inspire you to join our community of change agents at Rice?

Applicants to the School of Architecture

Architecture applicants will not be required to answer Prompt 4 (above). Instead, they will answer Prompts 1-3 above, along with the following:

Prompt 1: Why are you determined to study architecture? Could you please elaborate on your past experiences and how they have motivated you to apply to Rice University and the School of Architecture in particular? (250 words)

Prompt 2: Please expand on relevant experiences and motivations outside of your academic trajectory that have inspired you to study architecture, focusing on aspects that are not accommodated by other prompts in the application. (250 words)

All Applicants, Prompt 1

Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected. (150 words).

For this prompt, you want to discuss the reason behind your intended major and why you want to study that subject at Rice. It is particularly important to avoid giving the reader the impression that your chosen major attracts you because of the associated monetary reward or prestige—this will come across as shallow, and your passion for it will be deemed unsustainable. Instead, consider what excites you about your intended field of study, as well as the specific dimensions of this subject that fit your strengths and ambitions.

Instead of mentioning the general advantages of a Rice education, such as the high standard of academic performance and the accomplished faculty, you should discuss explicit offerings such as the Century Scholars Program , which assigns participants a faculty mentor for guidance in undergraduate research.

If you’ve visited the campus, writing about the content of a lecture that you sat in on, or the reflections of current students in the same program can demonstrate your interest in the school. It would also provide a strong basis for your belief that you and Rice’s environment are a match. If you haven’t had such opportunities, do extensive online research to show that you’ve carefully reflected on your compatibility with Rice.

For example:

The School of Social Sciences emphasizes the professional development of students through the Gateway Program. If you’re interested in research, there are several social science institutes at Rice, such as the Shell Center for Sustainability and the Houston Education Research Consortium, that focus on understanding and solving specific social issues.
In the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, academic programs (such as the Department of Kinesiology) and research organizations (such as the Smalley-Curl Institute, specializing in nanoscience) offer opportunities in unique niches of science that lend themselves to important applications. Here, you will find out that those unique niches include everything from heterogeneous cell systems to plasmids in E.coli. This is the level of specificity that you should strive for.

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Based upon your exploration of rice university, what elements of the rice experience appeal to you (150 words).

In this classic “Why This College?” essay, the goal is to strike a balance between discussing the academic advantages of Rice, and the sociocultural elements of Rice’s campus that dovetail with your personality and goals. You want to be careful to avoid the pitfall of common sentiments—don’t cite the low student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes that the university’s website advertises, as, while wonderful things, those are features of plenty of other schools as well.

You also want to avoid repeating the benefits of studying your intended major, as Prompt 1 already addresses that topic. Remember, you already only get so much space in your college application, so you don’t want to voluntarily limit yourself even further by repeating information that can already be found elsewhere.

Instead, dig beyond the first page of Rice’s website, to find details about the school that most other applicants do not have, and show Rice admissions officers that you already have a clear sense of how you would fit into their campus community. These could be details about student organizations, study abroad programs, research opportunities, or really anything that takes admissions officers outside of the classroom, to show them what your broader Rice experience would look like.

For example, if you are interested in interdisciplinary studies, you might spend part of your essay talking about your desire to join the Houston Institute Club, whose mission is to “explore the intersection of the humanities with the sciences and technology,” as that would show how this element of your personality overlaps with a feature of Rice.

Alternatively, if activism is important to you, you might mention wanting to join Rice for Black Life, a newly-formed racial justice group that raised almost $100k in a day for organizations fighting anti-Black violence. If you’re not sure exactly what you want to do at Rice, that’s also okay! Nailing down your desire to attend a particular school in the way this kind of essay requires is tricky, but there are a few different strategies you can use for getting started on your research.

Finally, keep an eye on the word count—150 words isn’t many to work with. You probably have a whole bunch of reasons for wanting to attend Rice, but you don’t want this essay to turn into a grocery list, as you need to give yourself room to elaborate on why you’re interested in the opportunities you’ve selected. So, make sure you keep your focus narrow, on just 1-2 features of Rice that are particularly attractive to you.

All Applicants, Prompt 3

The rice box: in keeping with rice’s long-standing tradition, please share an image of something that appeals to you..

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so choose your image carefully! The image needs to make sense on its own, as you get to include a caption or accompanying essay, but you also want it to tell admissions officers something new about you. For example, if your common app essay is about kayaking, and you include a picture of a kayak, you’re essentially just repeating yourself in visual form.

What you want to do instead is take advantage of this creative “supplement” to show a side of your personality that doesn’t come across anywhere else in your application. College applications are, by their nature, somewhat limited in what they allow you to say about yourself. As you think about what image you want to include, think about something that’s crucial to understanding who you are, but doesn’t come across in your grades, extracurriculars, or essays.

That could be a photo of your childhood teddy bear, as that would show admissions officers you are sentimental, and hold onto things that are important to you. Alternatively, you could include a picture of your collection of Taylor Swift CDs, as that will show them that, when you love something or someone, you are dedicated and passionate.

While the Rice Box is a great chance for you to get creative, you don’t want to get too creative, as, again, you aren’t able to include any explanation with your image. So, if you include a photo of an abstract painting you did, admissions officers might not understand what they’re looking at. Make sure your image can stand alone, but other than that, don’t be afraid to (despite this prompt’s reference to the “Rice Box”) think outside the box here!

All Applicants, Prompt 4, Option A

The residential college system is at the heart of rice student life and is heavily influenced by the particular cultural traditions and unique life experiences each student brings. what life experiences and/or unique perspectives are you looking forward to sharing with fellow owls in the residential college system (500 words).

Rice’s Residential College System randomly places students in one of eleven colleges and the majority of students live in their college for all four years. Rice considers diversity of perspective and experience fundamental to the success of the Residential College System, so your response should demonstrate how you would add to this system and the broader Rice community.

Although the question is framed around the Residential College System, this is a classic example of the Diversity Essay . That means you want to focus on some aspect of your background, culture, or life experiences that has given you a unique perspective to share with other Rice students.

The prompt itself casts quite a wide net, by asking you to write about your “life experiences and/or unique perspectives.” That certainly includes race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and other aspects of our identities that people often associate with diversity. But you could also talk about your passion for Egyptian mythology, or your family’s love of fishing, or really anything that has been influential in making you who you are today.

Once you have selected a topic, you want to be sure to show, not tell, as you explain how this part of your identity would enrich Rice’s residential community. In other words, use examples to show how going on fishing trips every summer (for example) has shaped your personality. Don’t just say “Fishing has taught me patience and respect for the natural world.” Rather, describe an experience that helped teach you those lessons. That detail will give your reader a much clearer sense of exactly how you grew into the person you are today, and how you see yourself sharing your values with your peers at Rice.

As you flesh out the feature of your identity you’ve chosen to focus on, you want to make sure that you address the “Residential College System” component of this prompt, as Rice admissions officers aren’t just looking for a diversity essay. They also want you to connect your experiences to this feature of their school, which would play a huge part in your experience there.

In drawing this connection, you want to go beyond generic college tropes like late-night conversations with your roommate, as those are things you can find at any school. Instead, find some element of the Residential College System specifically that you’re intrigued by. Obviously, you don’t know which college you would be sorted into, but detail will still show Rice admissions officers that you’re genuinely interested in this feature of their school.

For example, if your essay is about coming to terms with your sexuality, and how today you are finally unafraid to express yourself in whatever way feels best, you could connect that to Brown college’s holiday decoration contest, and how your flair and confidence would make you a serious contender.

One last word of advice: make sure this supplement gives your reader new information. The broad scope of the prompt means you may be inspired to write about something you have already written about elsewhere in your application (in your common app essay, for example). But space in college applications is already incredibly limited, so you don’t want to voluntarily limit yourself even further by passing up one of the opportunities you do have to share something new with admissions officers.

All Applicants, Prompt 4, Option B

Rice is strengthened by its diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders and change agents across the spectrum of human endeavor. what perspectives shaped by your background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity inspire you to join our community of change agents at rice (500 words).

Like the first option for this prompt, this is a good example of the common Diversity Essay , but without the twist of incorporating Rice’s Residential College System. So, much of what we wrote above applies here too: you want to select some aspect of your identity that you feel is particularly important to understanding who you are overall, and use anecdotes to explain how this aspect has shaped you.

As noted in our breakdown of the first option, the part of your identity you focus on can be just about anything. In this prompt, the phrasing is slightly different, but Rice is still intentionally casting a wide net with the line “background, experiences, upbring, and/or racial identity.”

Do keep in mind that, after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action , the way colleges evaluate race in admissions will be different this year. While schools can no longer factor race into their broader admissions strategies, they can still consider it on an individual level, through essays. So, if you would like to share how your racial background has shaped you and inspires you to become an agent of change, you’re welcome to do so here.

As an example of a good topic, you could write about how your parents immigrating from Costa Rica and speaking Spanish to you at home taught you the value of working to preserve the things that are most important to you. But you could also write about something more unconventional, like how helping organize files at your dad’s law firm every summer showed you that every great achievement is the sum of many small, seemingly insignificant actions.

Neither approach is better or worse than the other. Just ask yourself honestly which aspect of your identity (which you have not already shared elsewhere in your application) is most important for admissions officers to know about, and structure your response around it.

What you do want to make sure to include in your response is a broader takeaway, along the lines of the ones highlighted in our examples above. Remember that Rice admissions officers are trying to get a sense of what you would look like as a member of their campus community, so they need to know more than just “my parents spoke Spanish to me at home” or “I worked at my dad’s law firm in the summer.”

They also need to understand why these experiences are relevant to understanding what you’d look like as a Rice student, so make sure your response answers that question. For example, for the above examples, the Costa Rican student might write that they were once speaking Spanish in a grocery store with their mom when a stranger made a xenophobic comment and told them to speak English. Because she feels most connected to her roots when speaking Spanish, she wanted others to have a supportive space to learn and speak Spanish (both heritage speakers and non-heritage speakers), so she started a Spanish club at school and put on cultural events. She can write that she wants to continue to foster these spaces at Rice and beyond.

School of Architecture Applicants, Prompt 1

Why are you determined to study architecture could you please elaborate on your past experiences and how they have motivated you to apply to rice university and the school of architecture in particular (250 words).

This is an example of the traditional “Why This Major” essay, that you will likely become familiar with as you work through your supplements. Rice wants to know two things: why you want to study architecture, and why Rice is a good fit for you to pursue your architectural goals. Remember that you’ll also be submitting your response to Prompt 1, which is also about your academic interests, so be sure that this essay presents new information and isn’t repetitive.

In fleshing out your motivation for studying architecture, you want to draw on your past experiences to demonstrate your personal connection to the subject. If you rely on abstract theories of how to design windows, or spend 200 of your 250 words talking about why Frank Lloyd Wright is your favorite architect, admissions officers will likely want to accept him, or install a new window in their house, rather than accept you.

Instead, you could talk about how your town renovated its bus station when you were starting high school, and your fascination with the choices they made to ensure the station would still run efficiently even during snowy winters. Rather than just telling your readers that you’re interested in infrastructure, you ground this interest in a personal narrative, which gives them a much clearer understanding of why you’re drawn to architecture.

You can also take a longitudinal approach to this essay, by explaining how your passion for architecture unfolded over time.

For example, you could begin by describing your sense of wonder the first time you saw The Vessel in Hudson Yards, a relatively new development in New York City. You could then transition into talking about how, when you started researching the project, you learned about the controversial tax breaks the Hudson Yards development project received, which prompted a broader interest in the political side of architecture.

Regardless of the approach you take, you want to be sure that you don’t just answer “Why architecture?” but also “Why architecture at Rice ?” Rice isn’t the only school with an architecture program, so you want to make sure you explain why you are interested in theirs in particular.

For the bus station example, you could connect that experience to your hope to work with Professor Georgina Baronian, whose work explores “the interrelation of climate and aesthetics.” For the Hudson Yards example, you could talk about how you hope to delve deeper into the intersection between architecture and politics through courses like ARCH 350 (2): HOUSE: Historical, Representational, Political, which “considers the house typology as a connective thread through history with embedded representational imagery and political implications.” These connections to Rice specifically will give admissions officers confidence that you are ready to take advantage of all that Rice’s architecture program has to offer.

School of Architecture Applicants, Prompt 2

Please expand on relevant experiences and motivations outside of your academic trajectory that have inspired you to study architecture, focusing on aspects that are not accommodated by other prompts in the application. (250 words).

The key to this prompt is the phrase “outside of your academic trajectory.” You already have two essays that give you space to talk about your academic interest in architecture. But choosing a major, and potentially a career, is about more than just books and classes. In this essay, you want to show admissions officers what broader fulfillment architecture gives you, to the point that you want to dedicate your higher educational experience to the field.

There’s no one right way to do that, but one approach is to consider your informal experiences, or self-motivated educational endeavors, that contributed to your interest in architecture. That could be the story of how as a child you used to hold screws in place for your dad when he was building you the bunk bed you’d always wanted.

Alternatively, you could talk about how watching a documentary on Italian Renaissance architecture inspired you to want to build something as beautiful and enduring as the duomo in Siena. Or you could connect your interest in architecture to more general values you hold, by, for example, describing how architecture allows you to combine your love of beautiful things with your belief in the importance of efficiency.

The only real rule here is that you’re honest. If you’re having a hard time crafting your response to this prompt, take a step back, from the essay and from your application to Rice in general, and ask yourself honestly: Why do I want to study architecture? In sports, athletes sometimes talk about the importance of never losing your love for the game, and a similar idea applies here. When you’re not in class or discussing building codes, what makes your heart burn for architecture? That’s the question you want to answer in this essay.

Where to Get Your Rice Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Rice essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Need feedback faster? Get a free, nearly-instantaneous essay review from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

Applying to Grad School

Considering Grad School? Start here! The Rice Center for Career Development has a handy guide to help you decide if pursuing a graduate degree makes sense for you. Use their checklist to organize your thoughts and make the best decision for yourself.

Applying to Grad School? Three tips from Rice University "Think carefully about who you would like to write your letters of recommendation. Make a short list of who you'd like to see write a letter, and reach out to them to see if they would be willing to advocate for you."

Grad Applications 101: Getting Letters of Recommendation " Who should you ask for a letter of recommendation? How do you ask? What kind of information should you provide for letter writers? This article seeks to offer some insight on how you can get your letters of recommendation together for your grad applications."

Grad Applications 101: Give yourself time "It is important to give yourself time to research which programs are a good fit and then compile a list of programs to apply to. One strategy is to narrow your list down in stages."

Writing your Statement of Purpose This slide deck from Dr. Susan Cates of Rice University outlines the SoP and provides examples of what to do - and what not to do.

Grad School 101: Writing the Personal Statement "The personal statement is a chance to advocate for yourself. It is a very important piece of your application in which the real you—beyond GPAs and test scores—can shine through."

International Perspective: Preparing for the GRE and English Proficiency Exams "Even though standardized tests have been a staple for graduate school applications for years, remember that they are only that – a test. They do not define your worth as a potential candidate for graduate school and most universities are taking that into account."

International Perspective: Connecting with faculty "It is extremely important that you state in your email why are you interested in working with the professor. A good way to do this is by mentioning some of their publications that you have read or their current research projects stated in their website and associate them with your own research interests and overall goal for grad school."

Grad School 101: Finding an adviser "The student-adviser relationship is one of the most important aspects of graduate school for a multitude of reasons. Your adviser is likely going to serve as your biggest mentor in graduate school, helping you navigate both academic and professional spaces in your field."

Grad School 101: Make visiting weekends work for you "On top of wanting to make a good impression, you also want to make sure that you learn what you need to learn about the program in order to make the best decision for your graduate career."

Grad School Life

Grad School: Expectations vs. Reality "Graduate programs, especially PhD programs, are not “just more school.” Many people do not know that PhD students get paid and have responsibilities that go beyond their own studies, such as teaching and aiding faculty research."

Staying Current with the Latest Research "New research can enrich your current projects by providing valuable theories, methodology, and data. Staying up-to-date with new research can inform you about which directions your field may be going."

Grad School 101: Building Your Online Presence "The internet and social media can be powerful tools when it comes to establishing yourself as a scholar, networking, and promoting your research. Many grad students are also going far beyond just a personal website."

International Perspective: Feeling at home in the U.S. "Being in grad school in a foreign country might mean that your friend circle is very culturally diverse, but that does not mean that they can’t help you cope with homesickness. Some activities that I’ve been able to do with my friends to share my culture and traditions. Sharing your culture will always bring you closer to it, even when you are miles away from your home country!"

Grad School 101: Four easy ways to prep for your first year of grad school "Don't be afraid to reach out to your new cohort members! Many graduate programs are organized such that you will be spending a lot of time with your cohort due to taking seminars together, occupying the same office space, etc."

Discovering your research interests "Every senior-level grad student will have a unique story of how their research agenda developed. This article offers some insight on the process of developing your research interests as you navigate grad school."

Applying for academic fellowships "A fellowship can provide you the freedom to work on a research area of your choosing. Another reason to apply for fellowships is that some provide a greater stipend than what the department is offering, and some may offer a summer internship."

Latest university updates on the coronavirus situation

How to Apply to Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Graduate program in biochemistry and cell biology.

Contact BCB Admissions

Application for Fall 2024 is now closed. Applications for Fall 2025 will open in Fall of 2024.

Application Deadline

Applications submitted by December 1 will be prioritized for early evaluation.
The application deadline is December 31.
Candidates who miss the early evaluation deadline will be in a less competitive position.

Admission to the graduate program includes a research stipend. The application to the program covers both admission and the research stipend; there is NOT a separate financial aid application for the Biochemistry & Cell Biology doctoral program.

Application Materials: (All below items are required for a complete application) Rice Biochemistry & Cell Biology Graduate Program Application Please note that applicants applying to more than one graduate program must submit separate applications for each program.

Official Transcripts All offers of admission are contingent on receipt of the official transcript or transcripts of all previous college or university work (including previous graduate study). Official transcripts should be sent directly to the BioSciences Department (address below) by the institution or institutions attended. An unofficial transcript may be uploaded to the online application for preliminary evaluation, but once an applicant is selected for an interview, the official transcript must be submitted. A final transcript, covering work in progress at the time of application and any later work, must be furnished to the Department as soon as possible (if not submitted as part of the original application).

Recommendation Letters Recommendations should be requested from four persons (preferably professors in the applicant's major field) who know the personal and scholastic qualities of the applicant. Letters should be submitted online through the application software. Applicants can send requests to recommendation writers directly through the application. If the online option is not selected, hard-copy forms for recommendation letters can be requested at bioc-gradapps.rice.edu . Hard-copy letters should be mailed by the writers directly to the BioSciences Department. Applications will not be reviewed until at least three recommendations are received.

Personal Statement A personal statement is required for all applications. Personal statements can be uploaded directly to the online application in PDF format. The personal statement should include a brief description of the applicant's intended plan of study or the particular sub-division of the major field in which the applicant would like to specialize.The statement should also include discussions of any scholarly research, writing, or similar research completed or in progress. Applicants should include in the statement any other information that may be helpful in evaluating the application. If applicable, applicants should briefly describe any additional factors that they would like to have the admissions committee consider in evaluating the application (e.g. personal background, work experience, leadership roles).

GRE Submission of GRE scores is optional for applicants to the BCB program. Scores submitted by an applicant will be reviewed along with other application components as part of the wholistic admission review process. Applicants who do not submit scores will not be at a disadvantage. Applicants who wish to submit scores should have them sent directly to the BioSciences Department by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The ETS institutional Code is 6609; the department code is 0202.

TOEFL Applicants whose native language is not English should also have TOEFL scores reported directly to the BioSciences Department. The minimum scores for each type of TOEFL test are 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test) and 90 (Internet-based test). For students who choose to take the IELTS in lieu of TOEFL, the minimum score is 7. The TOEFL institutional Code is 6609; the department code is 34.

Application Fee An application fee waiver is available for United States citizens and permanent residents. If you are in this category, please request a fee waiver before submitting your application by sending an email to [email protected] . Fees cannot be refunded after they are paid. In addition, fee waivers are granted to students participating in certain programs (e.g., McNair Scholars, Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium (GCURS), Mellon Mays Fellows, Project 1000, Nankai University Hundred Young Teachers Program, Vietnam Education Foundation). Please indicate participation in such programs in the University Programs and Fellowships field in the application to receive one of those waivers. The application fee is $85.

Application fee waivers will not be processed between December 23 and January 3. Applications requesting a fee waiver during this period will be processed after January 3.

Minimum Scores GRE : There is no set minimum score for the GRE. The admissions committee examines GRE scores on a case-by-case basis. The entire application is considered, including GRE scores if they are submitted, GPA, recommendation letters, and research experience. A low evaluation in one area can be offset by very strong evaluations in the other areas. Only the admissions committee can make the evaluation. GRE subject-matter tests are not required, but a high score on a subject test in a relevant field will strengthen your application.

GPA : In general, applicants should have at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average in their undergraduate work.

TOEFL : Minimum TOEFL scores are 90 (iBT), 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based).

International Student Applicants The Biochemistry & Cell Biology Graduate Program seeks diversity in its graduate student body, and international students are welcome to apply. Our average intake of international students is approximately 1/3 of our incoming doctoral students. Applicants who have independent funding sources are encouraged to apply.

Admissions Committee All students in our graduate program must be admitted through evaluation by the faculty members of the Biochemistry & Cell Biology admissions committee and by making application through our online process. Applications are made to the departmental graduate program and not to a specific faculty member or professor. Please DO NOT send application materials to individual faculty members.

Please have your transcripts and test scores sent directly to the BioSciences Department at the address below:

Graduate Program Administrator Biochemistry & Cell Biology Graduate Program Rice University, MS-140 P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892

FedEx, UPS, DHL and other couriers: Graduate Program Administrator Biochemistry & Cell Biology Graduate Program Rice University, MS-140 6100 Main Street Houston, TX 77005

Life at Rice
Cost & Aid

Virtual Essay Writing Workshop

There are no upcoming events to display.

713-348-7423

[email protected]

M-F 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT