<p>I had an SAT score of 1940, atleast 200 points lower than the average rice student’s, and a really crappy essay score of 8, and I still got in with merit scholarship.
That said, I also got a 33 on the ACT. So Rice obviously looks at the higher of the two.</p>
<p>I would definitely suggest taking the ACT. The material is much easier, it just moves more quickly on the multiple choice, so be prepared for that. The first time I took it, I didn’t finish a single section. The second time around, I was prepared for the time constraints so I finished every section with atleast five minutes to spare.</p>
<p>Good luck, and remember, scores are not everything!</p>