<p>But if you look at it, Rice’s acceptance pool is just as strong as HYPS. The only reason why HYPS seems so “selective” is because that they get so many applications. They simply just get rid of the ones that don’t seem strong at all. Rice has a really strong pool (as strong as Duke) and they are just as selective as Duke, their acceptance pool has pretty much the same credential as Duke’s acceptance pool, and both school are extremely good and selective. So I would not say their acceptance isn’t really that less than HYPSM etc. Remember, each school has something different they are looking for. Duke and Rice don’t look for good grades completely, they look at extracurricular with a great emphasize (not that HYPSM doesn’t) but I think Duke and Rice does more.</p>