Lovett Hall
As the first building on campus in 1912, students recognize the iconic Lovett Hall as a quintessential symbol of the Rice experience. Lovett Hall happens to be home to the Office of Admission.
Media Gallery
Lovett Hall
Impact of The Rice Investment
Office of International Students and Scholars
Office of Admission
Rice Traditions
Chao Center for Asian Studies
Rice Land Acknowledgement
⭐ Office of International Students and Scholars
The Office of International Students & Scholars is here to support all Rice internationals and the academic departments with all matters related to immigration, international compliance and cultural adaptation.
DACA/Undocumented Student Policies and Support
Rice University treasures our diversity in all its dimensions and welcomes all members of our community. Our primary mission is the education of people to help them realize their ambitions and potential, and to make the greatest contribution they can to our city, country and world. We seek to extend that mission to all highly talented students, regardless of national origin.
These values will continue to guide us as we seek to support DACA, undocumented, and other resident immigrant students. We will work to assure that these students are able to pursue the full range of opportunities offered at Rice and beyond. As President Leebron wrote in 2016, "We want to be clear that all of our students — whether citizens or not, whether born in the U.S. or not, whether recognized as immigrants or not — are a cherished part of our community, and we will always work to assure their ability to complete their studies and pursue their dreams."
Support for International Students
Rice University's Office of International Students & Scholars' (OISS) mission is to enhance the experience of the international population (which includes all non-immigrant visa students, researchers, and faculty) through serving as the chief liaison office for: immigration advising, cultural adaptation, international compliance, networking / public connections, and academic support, with university departments, government agencies, and community advocates. Find a list of services provided and more information about the OISS online.
⭐ Office of Admission
Navigating the college search and application process can be difficult without help. At Rice University, our admission counselors are here to assist you along the way. Visit our website to meet our counselors and find the counselor for your region.
Our Application Philosophy
We consider a variety of factors including the rigor of a student’s coursework, academic performance, extracurricular activities and achievements, essays, and interest in Rice. We are careful not to emphasize any single academic metric, such as class rank, grade point average, or test scores. For more information, visit us online.
How to Apply
We’re looking for voracious lovers of life, diverse thinkers with an unquenchable curiosity about the world - students who will bring different life experiences and unique perspectives to our campus.
We take a holistic, team-based approach to reviewing applications with the goal of enrolling a diverse class of the most talented students from across the country and around the world. Find out more about the application process online.
Affordability
We know that one of the biggest factors in determining the right school is affordability. Because we believe talent deserves opportunity, Rice offers need-blind admission to domestic students. This means we do not consider finances when we review the application. Additionally, Rice meets 100 percent of demonstrated need – without loans – through the Rice Investment, one of the most notable financial aid programs in the country. For more information about need-based financial aid and the Rice Investment, please visit our Office of Financial Aid website.
The Office of Admission offers merit-based scholarships to incoming first year students who distinguish themselves academically and personally within our highly competitive group of admitted students. These scholarships are based solely on merit and financial need is not taken into consideration. There is no separate application or interview required; the Admission Committee automatically considers all admitted students, both domestic and international, on the basis of the student’s application for admission. About 20% of admitted students are offered a merit scholarship each year. Students awarded a merit-based scholarship will be notified at the time of admission.
⭐ Rice Traditions
Rice’s traditions are as unique as our Residential College system, which is where many of our traditions are rooted. O-Week, Homecoming and Willy Week top the list of Rice’s most well-known traditions. One of our longest-standing and most well-known traditions is the student-enforced Honor Code, which has been around as long as the university itself. From the humorous to the honored, these traditions are deeply entrenched in the life of the institution and shape the memories of students and alumni alike. Those are just a few examples, but Rice traditions are more than just fun and games.
Sallyport
On the very first evening of Orientation Week (O-Week), all new students are led in a processional through the Sallyport into the Academic Quad, symbolizing their official matriculation into the university. During their time here, students do not walk back out of the Sallyport, as superstition dictates that doing so would prevent graduation; after the commencement ceremony, the graduating class walks out in a fireworks-laden procession.
⭐ Chao Center for Asian Studies
The Chao Center for Asian Studies is the premier research hub for faculty, students and post-doctoral scholars working in Asian studies at Rice. Our focus is on transnational, trans-historic, diasporic, and global movements of peoples and cultures of greater Asia. The mission of the Chao Center includes outreach to Asian and Asian American populations in Houston and beyond, promoting scholarly community building and broader understanding. The Center is the home of the Transnational Asia Research Initiative, supporting the work of a team of post-doctoral scholars, and publishes a twice-yearly online journal, Transnational Asia. The Chao Center also supports programs such as the Houston Asian American Archive and hosts the Frank Liu Distinguished Visitor Series. The Center works very closely with the Department of Transnational Asian Studies in the School of Humanities.
⭐ Rice Land Acknowledgement
Rice acknowledges that the land we sit upon has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst a number of Indigenous peoples, specifically the Apache, Caddo, Comanche, Kiowa and Wichita nations. Additionally, Texas is home to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, the Lipan Apache Tribe, and the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians. Rice University honors and respects these Indigenous peoples and their descendants connected to this territory.
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