How to Write the Rice Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
You might be drawn to Rice University for a lot of reasons. You could be fascinated by the strong bonds formed thanks to the residential college system which groups students attending the same program within Rice. You could also be excited by the Houston weather, the generous availability of merit scholarships, or the chance to study under esteemed musicians at The Shepherd School of Music. Regardless of your reasoning, if you’ve got a motivation behind your Rice application and believe that you’re an ideal fit for the school, there’s no better place to discuss it than in the Rice supplemental essays 2020-2021.
Rice has six colleges for six different areas of interest: engineering, social sciences, natural sciences, music, architecture, and humanities. In reading your responses to the supplemental essays, admissions officers want to know whether your strengths, experiences, and goals are compatible with the unique and competitive programs the colleges within Rice have to offer. To guide you through your writing process for the Rice supplemental essays 2020-2021, I’ve outlined how to answer each of the prompts, including prompts for admission into specific colleges within Rice, and additional tips on helping you write standout answers in response to the Rice supplemental essays 2020-2021.
Prompts for the Rice Supplemental Essays 2020-2021
The essay prompts for Rice are divided into 3 parts: questions for all applicants, questions for applicants to the School of Architecture, and questions for applicants to the School of Engineering, School of Humanities, School of Music, School of Natural Sciences, or School of Social Sciences. When you apply to Rice University, you’re required to submit an intended major at one of its colleges.
Let’s take a look at each of the prompts and ways you could go about answering them.
Essays for All Applicants
The Committee of Admission is interested in getting to know each student as well as possible through the application process. Please respond to each of the following prompts.
Prompt 1
Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected (150 word limit)
The key to answering this question among the Rice supplemental essays 2020-2021 lies in conducting appropriate research surrounding the major and college you’ve chosen. You can write about specific courses that appeal to you within your major, such as the “From Decolonization to Globalization” course in the Classical and European studies program. Or you can write about unique opportunities at Rice that you can’t find anywhere else, such as the Museums and Cultural Heritage program in the School of Humanities, or the Opera program at the Shepherd School of Music.
While 150 words is very little, make sure to assert your interest in the subject into your essay as well. Mention any anecdote or example that conveys your passion for the field. Elaborate on how your experiences and exploration of the topics within the discipline so far make you a strong candidate for the program. If there have been any ways you’ve actively pursued your interest – such as working at a lab in preparation for a Chemical and Biomedical Engineering major, mention them in a sentence or two.
Since there’s not much space, you won’t be able to get too much into the details about other areas of academic focus, and that’s okay. Drive home your enthusiasm both for your field, and how Rice can specifically hone your skills and assist your growth as a student.
Nikki Champlin, a writing expert from Yale and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, gives her tips for staying under the word count here:
Prompt 2
Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you? (150 word limit)
This is a typical “why this school” essay, but within the strict limit of 150 words. For questions like these, specific examples are key. Since you’ve already expanded on your academic interests and goals in the previous prompt, in this second essay you should focus on finding a balance between academics and more social aspects of your college experience. If you’ve visited Rice, this is a great opportunity to talk about what you experienced – were you excited by the academic atmosphere when attending a class? Did you have a memorable conversation with a current student?
Mention clubs and student organizations that align with the theme of the rest of your application. You could write about how you want to continue your involvement in event management by partaking in the Rice Program Council. Emphasize the kinds of events you’ve organized so far and what you value about the work to explain how you’d bring your perspective to Rice’s events organization board. Doing so will not only provide context on your interests, but also demonstrate to admissions officers that you’ve thought about how you might contribute to the Rice community.
Rice wants a “diverse, exciting student body, consisting of the best and brightest from across the country and around the globe” – how do you fit this description? It’s important to portray your excitement at the possibility of attending the school for specific reasons. Admissions officers want to accept students who will bring positive energy and a love for Rice, and answering this question with active enthusiasm can go a long way.
