Rice University Precollege Psychology: In Our Everyday Lives

Everything is recorded, so there are no live classes, Zoom calls or set log-in times. You work through video lectures, the module assignments after each unit and the capstone whenever it suits you. Individual assignments have no deadlines of their own, but everything has to be in by your session's end date.

Your mentor answers questions and gives feedback through the Canvas inbox, the discussion boards and assignment reviews. Rice says mentors are most active during daytime hours in U.S. time zones, so if you live far from the U.S., replies may come outside your own day. Work is marked Complete or Incomplete, with no letter grades, and you keep view-only access to the materials for a month after the course ends.

The course was designed by Danielle King, Ph.D., an assistant professor of industrial and organizational psychology at Rice. Her research covers employee resilience, resources, racial identity and voice, and she received the American Psychological Association's 2022 Achievement Award for Early Career Psychologists. Rice faculty teach through pre-recorded video, so your day-to-day contact is with a mentor.

Rice stresses that its mentors are real people, not AI, and it lists three for this course. Brittany has a psychology degree and a master's in counseling and works as an academic advisor. Marcus is a graduate student in experimental psychology and a neuroscience researcher who works as a teaching assistant on a research methods and statistics course. Fiona has a psychology degree and is working toward a master's in neuroscience. Rice doesn't say how many students each mentor supports.

You leave with a Certificate of Completion from Rice University and your capstone, a 3-minute video in which you play a news anchor. In it you summarize an article about a local, national or global problem you care about and use psychology to identify the problem and set out a solution. To get the certificate you need a satisfactory result on at least 70% of the assignments and every part of the capstone by your end date. If you fall short, you don't get the certificate or a refund.

The certificate isn't college credit, and there are no grades or transcripts. Rice also says the course gives no preferential treatment in its own admissions, and it suggests listing it on college applications as an extracurricular or experiential activity rather than as an educational experience.

You need to be at least 13 and either in high school (or the equivalent) or within a year of graduating, and Rice says the course isn't meant for college students or adults. International students are welcome and don't need an English test, though the application has to be in English and you'll study in English.

There are no transcripts or recommendation letters to send. Rice asks for basic contact details for you and a parent or guardian and a short personal statement on why you want to take the course. It calls the statement the most important part of the application, and you can tell your story in writing, video, photos or any other medium. Rice doesn't publish how many applicants it accepts.

The course costs $1,795, and Rice says there are no additional fees, so that one price covers the lectures, mentor feedback and the certificate. You'll need your own computer or tablet and a reliable internet connection, which aren't included. Rice offers need-based scholarships for students with high potential who can't pay the full tuition, although it doesn't publish the amounts.

Cancel at least seven calendar days before your start date and you get all your money back. From six days before, the fee is non-refundable and there are no partial refunds. Rice may let you move to another session, depending on availability and if you pay any difference, but it's worth settling on your dates before that cutoff.

You apply through the Rice University Precollege Program application page.

1. 1

   Pick a session

   Each listed session closes one week before it starts, so the session starting 20 December 2026 has a 13 December 2026 deadline.

2. 2

   Fill in the application

   Add your contact details, your parent's or guardian's details and your personal statement. Rice saves your progress if you can't finish in one sitting.

3. 3

   Ask for a scholarship if you need one

   Click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page after you submit.

4. 4

   Wait for a decision

   Rice emails a decision within one week, which can take a few days longer at busy times.

5. 5

   Pay to confirm your place

   Tuition is due the day before your start date, but your place isn't confirmed until you pay, so Rice recommends paying as soon as you're accepted.

6. 6

   Log in to Canvas

   Your course invitation arrives at least two days before the start date.