Chance for Rice vs. Emory! I'll Chance Back! :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
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<p>Hey guys! As you all probably know, I am currently a rising senior who would love some input from you guys regarding my chances at Rice and Emory, because I am currently struggling to decide which to apply to for Early Decision (ED). Both schools are great, and I really am torn between which to decide; so, forgive me for saying this, but any input on which school I'd have a better chance at would be very, very much appreciated! </p>

<p>Age: 17
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Asian
Location: California
School: Public-- around 480 students in grade
Rank: Around top 11% (I barely make 10% with 9th grade grades, but for 10th and up, I'm just barely off. </p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: Around 3.8666
Weighted GPA: Around 4.0666 (actually, it might be a little higher, as I don't know if community college courses are equivalent to AP classes, so I didn't use the AP boost on them)
SAT: 2220 (CR 750, Math 760, Writing 710) (took only once, but have no more time to retake it)
SAT II: Bio E: 780, US History: 740 (I know, really bad.. but I will be taking English Lit and Math II in October!)
ACT: 33 (Essay: 11)</p>

<p>APs Taken: English Language (5), US History (5), Biology (5)
Courseload for senior year: AP Chem, AP Economics, Government Honors, AP Calculus AB, AP English Lit
Community College Classes: 3 taken so far (all A's); taking two as of now for a total of 5.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
-National Honor Society (NHS) member from 10th and up; NHS Secretary for senior year
-Cofounder and secretary of a cancer club at school
-Volunteer leader for non profit organization dealing with economically disadvantaged families and children-- tenth grade and up
-Associated Student Body (Student government): 9th, 10th; Freshman class Secretary
-Speech and Debate: 9th and up
-Going to a Native American reservation during the summer to help out and volunteer: 7th- 11th grade; did some research there on garlic-- didn't publish it or put it into a science fair or anything, so I don't really know if it counts.
-Peer tutor at high school and at local elementary school: 11th grade, 25+ hours
-Participated in Red Cross Blood Drive 9th- 11th
-Helped lead fundraiser that raised over $8,000 for cancer patients at school
-Helped lead fundraiser that raised over 3,000 pounds of canned food for the economically disadvantaged at school
-Helped out at multiple homeless shelters from 2005 to 2009
-Part of school welcoming committee for freshman: 11th and soon 12th
-Over 150+ hours community service</p>

<p>-Nationally ranked 13th speaker at Policy Debate Tournament
-Octofinals at same tournament.</p>

<p>-Internship over summer 2009 with alternative energy company
-Job working as cashier at fast food restaurant during summers and partly through year (10th grade through 11th grade summer)</p>

<p>As for my major, I want to go into pre- med with a focus on neuroscience (it's freakishly fascinating!), but I guess because my activities don't really show a huge "passion" for pre- med or neuroscience, I guess I'm going to choose something along the lines of alternative energy as my major (alternative energy is actually pretty interesting, so I have some credibility there haha) and then switch to pre- med. I know, I know, don't judge me! Who knows, I just might forego pre- med for alternative energy later on! </p>

<p>Or maybe I'll put undecided? Does it matter what major you choose for privates?</p>

<p>Any honest input on which university would be more reachable and best for me would be extremely valuable! Please help, as I am stuck in a rut, as these are really great colleges. I was also thinking about universities like Washington University in St. Louis, but I figure it's a bit too far out of my range. </p>

<p>If you guys also have any additional information on these universities, your information would be priceless.</p>

<p>Other universities that you think would be a good match for me (preferably within top 20 schools?(according to USNews heh.)) would be wonderful as well to keep into consideration. If I don't get into these schools (knock on wood!) I was thinknig of applying to UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD for publics.</p>

<p>Thank you guys so much!
(PS If you guys want, I can chance you back too)</p>

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<p>First of all, “alternative energy” is not a major. The closest Emory offers to the study of alternative energy is “Environmental Studies.” Rice does offer an “Environmental Science” major, but it is only available as a double major… they do offer a minor in sustainability issues (water and energy).</p>

<p>Second of all, I just want to make sure that you understand that you can major in whatever you want and still go to medical school. Emory and Rice are not going to evaluate you based on what your intended major is; they realize that the most interesting applicants have interests outside of their intended career field, so don’t feel that your extracurricular activities are harming you because you are not pursuing medically related activities. By the way, I think your extracurricular activities are strong… just make sure you connect them and only describe the most important ones. Colleges don’t want to see a laundry list of activities.</p>

<p>Since you seem to like both schools a lot, I would recommend applying regular decision. You have decent extracurricular activities, great test scores, and decent grades that should put you in the running for both schools. Sure, you are not the top applicant at either school, but I think your chances are good as long as you present yourself well in your essays. I think if you apply early decision, you might have some second thoughts about not applying regular decision because you like both schools a lot. </p>

<p>I also think you have a good shot at WashU, Duke, and Vandy too. This is just an opinion of a student who just went through the admissions process; I can’t predict with certainty whether or not you will get in because college admissions is a crapshoot.</p>

<p>I was in a similar position when I was applying and in April… I really loved both Emory and Rice. I got into both and it was very hard for me to decide.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that Rice offers an 8 year med program with Baylor medical school… you may want to apply to that as well. It only requires 2 or 3 more essays on an additional supplement. Keep in mind that it is very difficult to get in though.</p>

<p>Good luck! Feel free to PM me with any questions! I know both schools very well after all the research I went through to make my college decision.</p>

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<p>when you say things like “i know very bad!” for your scores, you’re hurting a lot of people who might not have done so well. it comes off as very conceited, imo. your GPA isn’t bad but ranking could hurt you a lot if you’re considering any of those schools. typically these schools are huge on class rank and academics record.</p>

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<p>Don’t apply ED unless one of them is your absolute favorite. It’s a long time from December to May 1; you could easily change your mind.</p>

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<p>IMHO Rice has more resources to offer in the area of energy and sustainable energy than any other University, of any size. This is just one link: [Energy</a> & Environmental Systems Institute:](<a href=“http://eesi.rice.edu/eesi.cfm?doc_id=13042]Energy”>http://eesi.rice.edu/eesi.cfm?doc_id=13042)</p>

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<p>I think you are a very competitive applicant for Rice. I would ignore the advice about ED. If you want to go to Rice and it is your top choice, applying ED will increase your chances significantly and help your application get thoroughly considered and not tossed in the waiting list pile in the spring. I would seriously recommend applying ED to Rice (skip the Rice-Baylor program though…they want more medically related ec’s). But, to reiterate a previous poster, the major you apply for does not matter. You can apply as undecided/environmental studies/whatever that won’t really impact your chances. Good luck!</p>

<p>It’s strange that you only asked about those two though…You have a decent shot at Washington U in St. Louis as well but it is a little more selective than Rice.</p>

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<p>purely out of curiosity, “Ill chance back”… how does that work?</p>

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<p>Even more curious is why a HS student would want another HS student to give chances. Talk about the blind leading the blind. There are plenty of CC posters willing to give chances (which of of limited value anyway) who are not HS students.</p>

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<p>i think you’re in ED, but if u change your mind and do RD, u prob have a pretty good chance too</p>

<p>can u chance me back? just post on here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/748134-plz-chance-poor-californian-who-has-compassion-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/748134-plz-chance-poor-californian-who-has-compassion-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Where I live: CA
Intended Major: biochemistry, chemistry, bioengineering, or chem engineering (plan to go to med/pharmacy school)</p>

<p>My GPA as of now (roughly): W-4.10, U-3.99
UC GPA: same as above
Class rank as of now: top 9%, maybe 8%</p>

<p>SAT 1: 1810 composite (first time and will retake in november as last time, aiming for 2100 at least, studying very hard this summer)
CR score: 500 (I’m studying vocab and reading more often now)
M score: 670 (idk how to improve this)
W score: 640 (brainstorming essay ideas now)</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests
Math Level 2: 730, wont retake most likely, waste of time studying
US History: 660, I only took Honors US History b/c I couldn’t fit AP in my schedule
will take bio m and chemistry in december as last time</p>

<p>ACT: not taken yet, will take in october and maybe december too (as a last resort)</p>

<p>EC’s completed

  1. Basketball and badminton, but only on badminton team 11
  2. Participation in local marathon training program 11
  3. hopefully will start volunteering at medical center in september, desperately need some hours on my resume
  4. will join key club when senior year starts</p>

<p>Job Experience: weekends, minimum wage, 3-8 hours/week, saved earnings for college, 9-11</p>

<p>Honors classes completed: Chem, English, US History
AP classes completed: Calculus AB</p>

<p>Dual enrollment (community college classes)
Precal with Analytic Geometry- A
English Composition and Reading- taking currently, not graded yet</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule
Honors US Gov/Econ
Honors English
AP Chem
AP Bio
AP Calculus BC
French 3</p>

<p>Teacher Rec’s
I know 3 teachers to ask, all of whom I have had before and will have again for senior year. 2 of them teach a subject related to my intended major.</p>

<p>App essays- will start working on in August, might talk about speaking different language at home and at school, translating for my family, language barriers, crime in my city</p>

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<p>^Well, there’s a person who is willing to work the “I’ll chance back” service right there.</p>

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<p>One of my best friends goes to Emory and I’m at Rice, and from talking to her the main difference I think exists between the schools is the type of partying that goes on. Rice is a lot more safer/inclusive, but Emory’s partying is concentrated in frats and from what she’s said a lot of girls feel unsafe there. Though Emory does rent puppies at exam time to hel with stress relief.</p>

<p>This has nothing to do with chancing (I’m bad at that) but I thought it might be informative/helpful :)</p>