Sheila Baisden, Associate Director of Admissions at Rice University, visited campus this week to talk to interested students and answer their questions. Ms. Baisden said that Rice University looks at students holistically, meaning that they look at the whole individual. Admissions looks at grades, courses taken in high school, test scores, extracurricular activities, their life story, how much interest they have shown in Rice (campus visits, phone calls, emails, stopping by and gathering information), how much they know about Rice and what it has to offer and also why they want to come to Rice University. Ms Baisden explained to students that it is very important that they know why they want to attend a particular college or university and be prepared to explain that reason to college admissions personnel. College admissions officers like to know that students have done their research.