International notability a good sign

By Staff Editorial     1/15/09 6:00pm

If it seemed like there were a lot more tour groups going around than usual last semester, you probably were not imagining things. For the Fall 2009 incoming class, a record 10,818 prospective students applied to matriculate at Rice, an 11.5% spike from the 9,812 who sent in materials last year (see story, page 1). But it is not just that more students were applying - approximately 28 percent of those who applied early decision were offered admission, a wide margin over last year's 24 percent who were allowed in early. When this influx of new students arrive on campus next year, there's also a higher probability that they will be from somewhere other than the United States, as the number of those applying from abroad was 28 percent higher than last year.Combined with the 63 percent spike in worldwide applicants we saw last year, this glut of incoming internationals is a welcome change. But perhaps change isn't the correct word, as Rice has long been viewed as having one of the best class-race interrelations in the nation ("Princeton Review ranks Rice No. 2 for quality of life, race/class interaction," Aug. 22). Still, an increase in diversity, regardless of whether or not we had already attained a suitable level, is commendable.

Even more commendable, however, are the ambassadorial efforts of President David Leebron. Through his numerous travels abroad, Leebron has fostered relationships with governments, universities, and prospective students alike, offering an ever-more attractive vision of Rice to the slew of non-American minds considering an education abroad. A huge influx of these international students are coming from China, and while it is possible that they may be choosing Houston just to get closer to Yao Ming, we feel that Leebron's efforts might have more to do with it. Increased visibility in the international arena will inevitably lead to increased visibility at home, especially if those international applicants become international scholars in today's global, collaborative academic environment.

These international students are selecting Rice as their university of choice, which seems to indicate that the effects of Rice's recent drop in best value rankings are not too serious. With the recent hike of the loan threshold, we can expect international interest in Rice to continue to rise, and we are glad the university has managed to keep foreign students interested even with the worldwide financial troubles.

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And although it may seem silly to a jaded student body, we have to briefly admit the effect the marketing campaign has clearly had in bringing newfound interest to Rice. Who knew?

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