How to Apply to Rice University's
Master of Liberal Studies Program

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum GPA of 3.0 from the applicant’s undergraduate work is expected, though the admissions committee also gives consideration to applicants’ postgraduate experiences and recent accomplishments.

The Fall 2010 application will be available in February.

Application Checklist

The following items are required for a complete application and are explained in detail on the Application for Admission:

• Completed Application for Admission (to be available February 2010)
• Application fee ($75 nonrefundable check made payable to Rice University)
• Current resume
• Personal statement
• Writing samples
• Official transcripts from previous colleges or universities attended mailed directly to the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. See application guidelines for further information.
• Two letters of recommendation, each accompanied by a completed Letter of Recommendation form. All of which must be mailed directly from the recommender to the Rice University address provided on the form. 

Application materials become property of Rice University and will not be returned. You may be selected for an interview during the final stage of the application process.

Application Deadline

May 21, 2010, for fall 2010 admission

Application Guidelines

When you are ready to submit your application, gather all supporting materials together. All required items (except letters of recommendation, college transcripts, and official TOEFL scores for international students) should be submitted together in the same envelope and mailed to: Master of Liberal Studies Program, Glasscock School of Continuing Studies MS 550, Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, Houston TX 77251-1892. Letters of recommendation, official transcripts for all college work, and official TOEFL scores for international students should be mailed directly from those individuals or institutions to the same address. Mail the application and supporting documents in an envelope that is large enough to accommodate all documents without folding. Do not fold your documents in a way that makes them difficult to handle.

It is a good idea to submit your application and all supporting documents at least two weeks before the stated deadline so that we have adequate time to assemble all items related to your application. The Rice MLS program does not accept responsibility for lost mail and postal or courier delays. The office will send emails to applicants when applications are complete and ready for review.

Be sure that your full name, as given on the application form, appears on all documents submitted on your behalf, including the application fee check. Please call our attention to variations in your name that might appear on materials submitted.

Submit all documents on plain white paper, unstapled, and unbound. Written pieces should be typed and double-spaced in a 12-point typeface, with one-inch margins. Full name, title of work and page numbers (e.g., “Mary Smith, Personal Statement, page 1 of 4”) must appear on the upper right corner of all typed pages. Written pieces should not be edited by anyone other than the applicant prior to submission.

Do not submit an overabundance of materials or any unnecessary documents, such as secondary school records, more than two letters of recommendation, or GRE scores.

All supporting materials and correspondence concerning your application should be mailed to:
Master of Liberal Studies Program
Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
MS 550
Rice University
PO Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892

If you are sending your documents by courier, please direct the courier service to:
Master of Liberal Studies Program
Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, Rice University Entrance 8, University Blvd. at Stockton, first building on right Houston, TX 77005

In all correspondence you have with the MLS program, please indicate that you are an applicant to the program. When communicating via email, include “application” in the subject line. Keep messages as brief and concise as possible, and write only when necessary. It may be difficult for us to respond to lengthy, multiple messages during the admission seasons.

The initial processing begins once we have received the complete set of application materials and the application fee. You must assume responsibility for making your application complete by the appropriate deadline. You will receive a status message via email and a unique identification number. You must use that number on all subsequent communications whenever contacting us regarding your application status.

Interviews as appropriate may be scheduled after the initial screening of applications.

The MLS admissions committee normally meets twice a year to make admissions decisions for entrance in the fall and winter semesters. Decisions are usually made in June for fall admissions and November for winter admissions. Candidates will be notified of their status as soon as possible after those dates.

If you are offered admission, the letter of admission will include an acceptance form. The process of admission is not complete until you have returned the acceptance form to the MLS office. The deadline for returning the form, usually within 15 days from the date of the acceptance letter, will be noted in the admission letter. Satisfactory progress is required to remain in the program. Payment of tuition is not a guarantee of a degree.