<p>What would you have Rice do?</p>
<p>They can only accept so many students and many are turned down with outstanding scores (every year we see posters baffled when they are rejected with perfect or near perfect SATS/ACTs). Class rank is heavily considered by Rice in making its admission decisions. Consider the 2004 admissions statistics [url=<a href=“http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~instresr/ricestatistics/Pages/select04.html#Freshmen]Rice”>http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~instresr/ricestatistics/Pages/select04.html#Freshmen]Rice</a> University Statistics - Selectivity<a href=“it%20has%20more%20detail%20than%20last-year’s%20data”>/url</a>. Rice only accepted 45% of those ranked #1 in their class, 36% of those in the top 5% (and only 14% of those ranked 6 - 10%). Things have gotten more competitive since 2004. You and 7 of your friends were in the top 2% of your class, but recent admission rates are <36% with that ranking. The 4 admitted is actually very good and must reflect a strong high school; its certainly not surprising.</p>
<p>I wish Rice could admit more students, but they only matriculate ~900 a year, and there are an awful lot of high schools in the US (and a not insignificant fraction of those 900 are international students).</p>