ACT Scores for Rice - What's the Range?

I've been thinking about applying to Rice University, busted my hump preparing for the ACT. Does anyone know what ACT score one should aim for to get into Rice? Are they strict about it?

Rice University is known to have high standards when it comes to academic qualifications, ACT score inclusive. To stand a competitive chance, you should aim for an ACT score within their reported middle 50% range. For the recently admitted class, the middle 50% ACT range was between 34 and 36.

This means that 25% of admitted students had an ACT score below 34, and another 25% had a perfect score of 36. While these numbers are high and might seem daunting, bear in mind that standardized test scores are just one part of the application. Along with your scores, admissions officers will consider your GPA, the rigor of your high school curriculum, your essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular involvement.

It's also worth mentioning that outliers do exist – that is, students who are accepted with scores lower than the reported range. These students often bring unique strengths or experiences that help to enrich the school community.

Remember, though, it's always a good idea to have reach, target, and safety schools and not to put all your eggs in one basket. Aim for the best score you can get, certainly, but also put time into other parts of your application to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate.