Hey everyone, I'm an international student looking into Rice University. Does anyone know if there's a way to get an application fee waiver? If so, what's the process like?
Rice University does offer fee waivers to international students who demonstrate financial need. To request a fee waiver, you'll need to complete and submit the Rice-specific fee waiver located in the Questions section of the Rice supplement, or submit a request written by your college/career counselor in the application itself.
The university understands that application fees can be a barrier for some students, so they try to make it as accessible as possible. They don't specify exactly what demonstrates "financial need,” but your counselor's request should mention your financial concerns and how it affects your ability to cover the application fee.
Another detail to note is that once this fee waiver request is submitted, your application won't be reviewed until the request has been processed, so you should request the waiver well in advance of any deadlines. However, you don't have to wait to get approval before submitting the rest of your application, so don't let it hold up your progress.
Remember, the fee waiver is only for application fees and does not cover other costs associated with applying, such as standardized testing or sending test scores or transcripts. Also, approval of a waiver does not guarantee admission to the school. It's just a benefit to help students overcome financial barriers to applying. Good luck on your application!
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