<p>Rice will not release the decisions before May 1. They will most likely begin around May 4 if they decide to take any waitlists.</p>
<p>So I would take the scholarship at your safety school. Then if you get accepted off the waitlist later you can leave your safety school and go to Rice.</p>
<p>Unless accepting the scholarship is a binding admissions decision, just take the scholarship and hope Rice takes you off the waitlist.</p>