Chance for Merit Aid (Considering ED)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

HS Senior
Female, Caucasian-South Asian
HI State, Large public high school
Cum GPA: 4.125
W: ~4.29
UW: ~3.96
PSAT 202 Commended
SAT M: 600, 610, 780, 680
CR: 580, 560, 560, 680
W: 570, 620, 670, 710
SS 2180 (1340)
Highest sitting 2070 (1360)
ACT: 27 (probably won’t report)
Retook in October 2015 for a higher score, scored 2090-2190 on practice tests, fairly confident of a 2100+
Subject tests to take in November (Chemistry, Math II, Lit)
EC: 150+ hrs community service, VP, Pres, state level student govt positions
AP’s: US Govt & Politics, US History, Euro, Psych, Bio, Chem, Calculus BC, English Lang., English Lit., AP 2D Design
Fairly strong AP 2D Design student with a portfolio
Probably going to write about my severe manic episodes and recovery due to my Bipolar I Disorder, also my senior project teaching others (with additional self-created video) about this mental illness and hosting a service project to help a hospital’s pediatric mental/behavioral health ward
Civil and Environmental Engineering Major, considering a Master’s in the future
Looking for merit aid in a large family, earning exceed 100K
Parents only willing to pay ~$11,000 per year, no co-signing loans, so only $5,500 in loans total

Considering ED, but I don’t know if it’s worth it with my previous test scores, even with the Lonestar Scholarship, because that’s won’t cover all of the costs. Also applying to U Houston, U Alabama, and most of the top CC universities. Any constructive advice is appreciated. Thank you!

2

@Inthepursuit you can valuation yourself to some degree by looking at Rice’s Common Data Set (Google “Rice CDS”) here is the link: http://oir.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Office_of_Institutional_Research/Content/Common_Data_Set/4.%20CDS_2014-2015_Website.pdf

On page 6 of Rice’s CDS, you’ll the class of 2015’s test scores (this is the latest data published). Rice superscores the SAT (not the ACT oddly). See: https://futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Standardized_Tests.asp

So in your case you will have a M 780, CR 680, W 710, so from a testing perspective you are close to 75% in math, you are 25% in CR, and close to 50% in W. Your grades are great. Whats you rank?

3

@psywar 1/~350 At our school, everyone with a 4.0+ Cumulative GPA is ranked #1. There’s probably only around 2 other people like that. The W/Cum GPA is based off of the amount of AP’s taken, and 4.29 is only my GPA from the end of my Junior year’s second semester. Since I’m taking 5 AP’s this year, out of 6 classes, I should have around a 4.8 W and 4.6 Cum GPA, if I remember the numbers correctly.
I’ve been really focused on CR for the last few tests, and although I feel like I understand the questions much better and can recognize blatantly wrong answers better, I’m not sure if my overall score will improve. I’m just going to hope for the best. Do you think it would be worth it to apply ED or just take my chances with EA and RD at the top CC University list?

4

Rice was pretty upfront with our son regarding their binding ED. They said in no uncertain terms “do not apply ED if the Net Price Calculator says you cannot afford Rice” meaning don’t expect merit to just show up. This was at an event for students that Rice is actively courting (SOAR). So I think they are pretty serious about that. While my son is very interested in Rice, we will apply RD.

What were your AP scores? With your good but not exceptional 2180 SAT, higher AP scores could validate the rigor of your AP courses and great GPA.

5

Actually, there should be a correction. My parents are willing to contribute around 33,000$ per year total (equivalent to U Hawaii), so about half the cost of attendance for Rice. Still, I’d need merit scholarships to attend.
As for AP, I took APUSH and US govt in freshman year, psych in sophomore year, and bio and English Lang junior year . Junior year. Scored a 3 on all, which will literally get me nothing. The first years I wasn’t very prepared with the writing, and in bio I was really held back in the class after missing 2 weeks of school due to my health. I’ll make sure that’s not an issue this year, and I’m working really hard in my classes and for standardized tests. Hence the username?

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@psywar

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@Inthepursuit Have you run the Net Price Calculator (https://rice.studentaidcalculator.com/survey.aspx)? I know it can be intimidating, but get some basic tax info from your parents and give it a go. $33k + $10k ED scholarship + $5k student loan is getting pretty close. If it is very close, then applying ED might make sense. I wish you good luck!

8

It looks like Rice requires all SAT scores to be sent. You’ve taken the SAT 5 times. Will Rice view that as a negative? On their website, it seems like they are sensitive to the issue of repeated testing:

“Rice uses the highest scores from any sitting on the SAT in order to consider each applicant’s most positive test results. Recognizing that this policy could disadvantage those students who cannot afford repeated testing or expensive test prep coaching, we believe a comprehensive testing history provides us with the appropriate context required for making a fair judgment of what the test scores mean in a holistic admission process. Therefore, we require all applicants submitting the SAT to submit all scores to Rice.”

9

While I am not an admissions counselor, I don’t think that another try at the SAT will bode well for you. Let it be. Taking it again might definitely work against you. Merit at Rice is a rare thing and usually given to very high stats kids that are Ivy quality. You do have that you are from HI but I don’t know how that would factor into merit- acceptance only, coming from HI would be a boost.

10

I wouldn’t report 3’s on your AP’s to Rice.

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You need safeties, where you are in the top of stats for that college. Remember that for colleges, they use Merit to attract the top students for their specific student population. Look at the CDS for Rice and other colleges.

12

Are you Pacific Islander?

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@Inthepursuit As a current student at Rice, it’s been my impression that merit aid is not solely based on test scores and GPA. It’s a more holistic process. I assume you’ve read Rice’s literature on their merit scholarships, so you will know that each one has a reason for awarding besides “gee you’re smart”. I had a 2360 SAT and quite good GPA (though I don’t remember what it was), and no scholarship. That’s definitely not a complaint! I’m just making the point that you should also focus on showing them why you’re deserving of a scholarship. Definitely don’t like mention it in your essay or ask for it outright, though. Show, don’t tell.