How competitive is the engineering program at Rice University?

I've heard a lot about Rice University and its engineering school, but I'm curious about how competitive the admissions process is. What are the general stats for accepted students in engineering, and what can one expect from the program itself?

Rice University's engineering program is highly competitive, attracting a lot of talented students worldwide. While specific admission statistics for Rice's engineering program aren't readily available, we can look at the overall acceptance statistics to get an idea of Rice's competitiveness. In recent years, Rice has had an acceptance rate around 8-9%, making it one of the most selective universities in the country.

As for applicants' profiles, the middle 50% SAT score for accepted students at Rice ranges from 1490 to 1570, and the middle 50% ACT score ranges from 34 to 36. Given the rigor of engineering programs, it's safe to assume that the statistics for engineering students may skew towards the higher end. Also, bear in mind that Rice has a holistic application review process, so they'll look beyond your grades and test scores at your essays, recommendation letters, and extracurricular activities.

When it comes to the program itself, Rice's George R. Brown School of Engineering is well-regarded and offers several strong disciplines including Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and more. Students in these programs can expect rigorous academic training, opportunities for hands-on practical experience, and research opportunities.

There's also the Engineering Design Kitchen (EDK), a workspace where students can use industry-standard tools to design, prototype, and deploy solutions to real-world engineering challenges. This practical component can help students apply their theoretical knowledge, gain valuable experience, and build a strong portfolio for future employers or graduate school.

Bottom line: Rice's engineering program is highly competitive, but it also offers outstanding academic and practical experiences that can prepare you well for your future career.