Rice adds ED II to application process

By Belinda Zhu     8/27/24 11:05pm

Rice introduced an Early Decision II plan June 17 that took effect in the 2024-25 admission cycle. Students applying in the ED II round must submit materials by Jan. 4, 2025 and will receive decisions by mid-February. The deadline for ED I remains unchanged from Nov. 1. 

Vice President for Enrollment Yvonne Romero da Silva said Rice added an ED II cycle after years of interest from Rice’s “counselor community, from private and public schools alike.” ED II will encourage applications from students who may need more time to discover their options, Romero da Silva said. 

“We know not all students are ready to make the commitment to apply Early Decision to Rice, or any school, by an early November deadline,” Romero da Silva wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Some students are still discovering their best options and learning about strong financial aid opportunities like the Rice Investment. Other students may want to have a strong performance in their senior year factor into the consideration of their application file, but also want to be able to let Rice know we are their number one choice.”

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As Rice continues with its  expansion of McNair Hall and construction of two new residential colleges, the university is on track to grow with its undergraduate enrollment — a plan first announced in 2021. With the introduction of ED II, Romero da Silva said Rice will “be very close to hitting target undergraduate expansion,” a projected 4,800 students, with the incoming class of 2028.

“Going forward, ED II will help us maintain our target enrolling populations,” Romero da Silva wrote.

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