Aibarr (or anybody)...please rate my chances!!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Aibarr, since you're like the expert here, it'll be greatly appreciated if you can tell me what my chances are.</p>

<p>Description:
-Asian male
-Location: TX
-Goes to one of the most competitive schools in Texas</p>

<p>Stats:
-SAT: 2250 (770 math, 720 reading, 760 writing)
-PSAT: 220 (semi-fin.)
-SAT IIs: 760 Bio M / 800 Math IIC / 750 Chemistry
-2/523
-GPA: 5.71 (weighted) / 3.98 (unweighted)
-Have been taking the toughest course load possible
-APs: World History-5 / Chemistry-5 / English-4
-AP tests that i will be taking this year: Calc BC / Bio / English</p>

<p>ECs
-Swimming (4 yrs, 20 hrs/week): Varsity all 4 years, named rookie of the year as a freshman, regional 2 years (most likely region this year too), many awards, possible captain if my coach needs one
-Asian Cultural Club: Co-Founder, Co-President
-Red cross (4 years, 2 hrs/week): historian (11th), co-president (12th)
-YES program (300+ hours): received volunteer medal
-Piano (12 years, 3hrs/week): achieved many awards
-Mu Alpha Theta (11-12, 1-2 hrs/week)
-NHS (11-12, hours fluctuates)</p>

<p>Awards:
-Subject Area Award (same as Student of the Year Award) for Computer Science AP and Precal H
-AP Scholar
-AIME qualifier
-All American Academic Excellence Award (most likely all 4 yrs): an award that recognizes excellent student athletes
-High School Academic Excellent Award (all 4 yrs)</p>

<p>Summer:
9th: Summer league swim team (8 hrs/week)
10th: AP US history at Rice
----Externship/volunteered in the radiology field at Methodist Hospital: 106 hrs
11th: Summer research program: around 150 hrs</p>

<p>As a side note, during my sophomore year, i decided to take Chinese III (and Chinese IV the next year), after having taken Spanish I and II. I wasnt trying to take it easy or anything because when i dropped out of Spanish III H, i had an A avg. </p>

<p>I just lost interest in the spanish language, i guess. Besides, the spanish 3 teacher wasnt too great; he digresses from topic everyday, talking about his son, his life history, etc. Moreover, i think that Chinese would benefit me more, since being Chinese, i'll need to be able to master the basics of that language.</p>

<p>i felt like that ive made the right decision, b/c i was following my interests, and not "what looks good on college apps," but still, out of curiousity i was wondering if this change in foreign language might hurt my chances. Will Rice see me as a "quitter" because i didnt take Spanish all the way up to 4? ...however, would taking swimming all 4 years erase that thought from the adcom's mind, since it shows that i can be passionate about something that i really enjoy?</p>

<p>I really would love to attend Rice, b.c ive heard that it prepares its premeds extremely well.</p>

2

<p>I would say your chances are very good, not excellent but def above good. Statiscally, looking at the rates Rice gives us, you can see the salutatorian admit rate is very high at 54%. Then again the admit rate for in-state is pretty low at around 17% I think. The point is though that the things you can control you have done well, which IMO will ultimately get you in.</p>

<p>I will tell you that I was admitted under RD with a record not as strong as yours in pretty much every area, although I am a humanities type so measurements are a little different. Research involvement is great because that's a large reason why colleges exist, so why not show them you are going to college for that valid reason? I would stress this in your app in a few key places. And then mix in some part of yourself that it humorous or interesting outside of academics, but still supports who you are, what you do with your time, and what you have to offer. I'm not saying to equivocate at all, but to choose some aspects of you in a way that is, well, balanced. If you give them enough stuff to work with, I think they will find little snippets of things that please them. </p>

<p>I have a friend who said his "portfolio was crap" for his Architecture application. He told me he sent in home-made videos and arts and crafts projects he made when he was a kid. I think the sort of mentality here is to be brutally honest about who you are and give them enough evidence to judge for themselves, because believe it or not they are willing to judge you qualitatively if you give them enough of that.</p>

<p>Quantitatively you are for all purposes "admitted" because people have been admitted with large merit scholarships with a shoddier academic record. Trick is to figure out what they did elsewhere. I for one had an OK record and I simply wrote a lot of stuff, and devoted a good bit of time to my essay, and I got in. Of course I don't know why exactly, but this is my honest insight on the matter and I'm sure many will disagree with a lot of here. Probably a good thing. Aibarr has a good understanding of his/her ideas of passion and community-building which I don't need to add to.</p>

3

<p>are you from smithson valley? jw..</p>

4

<p>thanks sreis! that was really helpful. and nah, im not from smithson valley</p>

5

<p>lol, I remember when my school was number one in Texas my Freshman year....how I hate/love being the last smart class at my school.....as a hint, I live in the Katy/Houston Area.</p>

<p>I had a couple freinds get in last year, one was the valedictorian (of about 675) and the other was number 7 I believe. I think your stats rack up very well in comparison, I would be confident in your admission.</p>