Chance a rejected NU ED applicant? ):

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
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<p>Hey! So, as the title states, I applied via Early Decision to Northwestern and got rejected. I'm heartbroken, but I was expecting the rejection because of my subpar GPA. I'm applying to Rice because it has a lot of the things that I'm looking for in a college, but I think my GPA will strike me out of the applicant pool, aha. </p>

<p>Anyway, here goes:</p>

<p>Grades
Weighted - 4.12</p>

<p>Fr: 3.9, Soph: 3.9, Jr: 4.4, Sr (first semester): 4.4</p>

<p>Unweighted - 3.53</p>

<p>Fr: 3.4, Soph: 3.3, Jr: 3.8, Sr (first semster): 3.75-3.8</p>

<p>Standardized testing:
ACT - 33 composite; 33 R, 32 M, 31 S, 35 E
SAT II Subject tests - 710 Math, 780 U.S. History
AP Tests - 5 on U.S. History and Language & Composition, 4 on Microeconomics and Government</p>

<p>Course Rigor: I graduate with 10 AP classes. Non-AP classes were all honors; I took the mots rigorous schedule possible. But everyone else probably did too, so...</p>

<p>ECs:
Debate - Captain, took third in state, was named all-state, won a few awards
Sports - I played football, volleyball, tennis, and I wrestled, but only for two years, so nothing big here
Newspaper - Associate Sports Editor
NYLF - Went to a summer forum on Law and Forensics
Named Illinois State Scholar
Phi Alpha Theta - History Honor Society</p>

<p>and a few other random awards, aha!</p>

<p>Thanks for taking the time to read this, and it's okay to be brutally honest!</p>

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<p>It’s hard for me to understand how any school can turn their backs to a debate captain who took third in state. But that’s how matches go sometimes. I hope that your application builds a very strong case for why you want to got to Rice and what you hope
to add to the campus. Strong essays can make a big impression. Good luck!</p>

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<p>May be you should talk to the football coach at Rice if you are any good.</p>

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<p>What majors are you interested in?</p>

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<p>GPA is too low for any top 20 I’m afraid.</p>

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<p>I’m guessing, Owl2014, that the stress of prepping for finals has led you to make a dour statement that none of us here have the knowledge to support. And I also believe that as a persuasive debater, you can show the readers where you could fit in at Rice.
Good luck!</p>

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<p>No, actually it’s a true statement. A 3.53 will make it very hard to get into Rice.</p>

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<p>Disagree. Yeah, a 3.53 is low. No, it’s not unheard of. Rice admissions is a holistic process and they won’t completely count you out just because of your GPA. It may be significantly tougher, but your ECs, test scores, and, most importantly, essays can compensate if you can manage your app well. Especially if you have a good reason for your low GPA (ex. mental illness or severe depression one year) and explain that well.</p>

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<p>Rice has a very invested debate team - if you’re looking to continue that in college, I would play it up :)</p>

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<p>+1</p>

<p>Also, OP - what is your class rank?</p>

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<p>Keep blowing hot air. The truth is that his GPA is low, his ACT is average (for Rice), and he has pretty good softs. There is nothing that shouts “Rice admit,” especially this year when the admit rate will plummet.</p>

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<p>If there is a 1% chance that someone will be admitted, it is worth applying. Unless you work for the admissions department and have something to add to this discussion that GUARANTEES that they will not be admitted, your opinion is to shut the door without even trying to go through.</p>

<p>Your comments are unproductive. What do you hope to achieve? Saving people the nominal admission fees at the risk of losing a chance to attend a great school?</p>

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<p>It’s not like we’re telling the OP he/she is a certain admit. We’re just pointing out that you never know what could happen, so it’s worth an application if you think you might want to attend Rice.</p>

<p>ACT is a little above average for Rice.</p>

<p>And I would say that 3rd in state for debate shouts “Rice admit,” personally. It depends on the rest of the applicant pool, though. Rice will probably take a guy who placed 1st in state for debate over the OP if the 1st place student has similar or better stats and a similar life story. But 3rd place is an outstanding accomplishment, and Rice won’t overlook that just because the student has low grades.</p>

<p>Point is, yeah the OP will have a tough time due to the plummeting admit rate and whatnot. But it’s definitely still possible, and we can’t scare him/her away just because of a low GPA.</p>

<p>EDIT: Another thing we have to consider is how the OP compares to his/her classmates; if the valedictorian only has a 3.8 UW, then a 3.53 UW won’t look quite as bad.</p>

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<p>Exactly. I finished with a 82/100 average in High School a number that, on it’s own, is nothing spectacular. I did finish #2 in my class with the valedictorian having an average 2 points higher. The class average was somewhere between 65 and 70.</p>

<p>FallenAngel is also correct that we are not saying that the OP will get in. Similarly, telling the OP that they won’t is not right either.</p>

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<p>@Ottoline: Thanks for the advice/support! (: I hope my essays are interesting. For my common app essay, I used a juice box as an extended metaphor for my life experiences. For the short essay, I talked about debate-related issues. I’m planning on starting the Rice supplement essay as soon as I finish my psych project!</p>

<p>@texaspg: haha! I wish I was good enough to play college football. Unfortunately, I’m not that great! D;</p>

<p>@xraymancs: Either political science or history! </p>

<p>@Owl2014: Thanks for being honest! As they say, honesty is the best policy.</p>

<p>@FallenAngel9: I did touch on why my grades were particularly low during the early years of high school in my essay, so hopefully that goes well! Thanks for the support/input!</p>

<p>@Antarius: I don’t know what my numerical rank is, but I know my percentile band. At the end of junior year, I was in the top 11-12%, at the end of this semester, hopefully I’ll be in the top 10%, but barely. My friend is in the top 9%, but after this semester, my cumulative GPA will be higher than his, so I think I’ll be in the top 10%. And most of the top 10% kids at our school didn’t max out on honors/AP classes, instead taking a more relaxed approach to senior year. But I’m just speculating. Either way, unfortunately, my class rank is just as unimpressive as my GPA. Regardless, thanks for the input!</p>

<p>whew, that was a lot to respond to. Thanks for all the advice and input! Is it too late to schedule an interview?</p>

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<p>OP - If your courseload is more rigorous and you are in the top 10%, that will definitely help your application. The raw number is not as important as how you did relative to your peers and whether you took a challenging courseload. In addition, they look at trajectory - if your freshman grades were bad and you have shown major strides over the remainder of your HS career, it will reflect positively on your application.</p>

<p>I really do not think that your stats are “unimpressive”. Please do not decide against applying because of this.</p>

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<p>It is too late to schedule an interview, but I wouldn’t stress over that too much.</p>

<p>As for your perecentile rank, if you can get under top 10% that’s really fairly good. If you aren’t at the time you apply but project a top 10% finish, I would note that in your application.</p>

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<p>@Antarius: I’m definitely going to apply! Again, thanks for the support! (:</p>

<p>@FallenAngel9: Ah, bummer! And I’ll definitely make sure to do that!</p>

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<p>[Future</a> Owls](<a href=“Office of Admission | Rice University”>Office of Admission | Rice University)
The website says that requests were due December 1 – but I would still call Admissions, apologize for your lateness, and see if there’s any possibility of finding a local alum who can interview you before January 1. I really believe that you would leave a strong impression. </p>

<p>I have never read a more comprehensive and gracious summary post than the one you
wrote today. I wish you all the best!</p>

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<p>Also, if something changes between the time of application and when decisions are released, let them know. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>