...Chance me for ED?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>(I posted this in the Duke forum as well, but Duke, Rice, and JHU are my top three so I'm just looking for a wider perspective.)</p>

<p>So, I'm looking to possibly ED to Rice (my parents and I are still debating on three schools and we're taking college visits and stuff before we make a decision) and I was wondering what my chances are. I live in Alabama and I attend the state's top magnet school which is a free boarding school. My GPA isn't perfect but I take the most challenging curriculum offered. For the most part, my grades are pretty good but I suffered through a bit of depression and anxiety after one of my family members died and my grades slipped a bit at the beginning of my sophomore year and mid-way through my junior year. </p>

<p>I'm a white male, middle-class, uh, I dunno what else to put. I'm pretty charismatic and friendly too I guess. </p>

<p>I found this profile on another thread and I liked it so I'm using its format. </p>

<p>Objective:
*Highest ACT with writing score: 36E, 30M, 34R, 31S, 8W. (taking again in June)
*Highest subscores overall: 36E, 31M, 35R, 31S, 8W.
*Taking SAT and SAT IIs in the fall.
* Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8+. I don't know what it is, exactly, since my school has a complicated GPA system and I'd have to ask the school counselor.
* Rank: Top 50%. We only have top 50 and lower 50.
* AP tests I have taken/will take:
Biology: Find out in July.
Chemistry: Find out in July.
AP Calculus BC: Taking it next year.
AP Physics Mechanics: Taking it next year.
AP Physics Electricity and Magnetism: Taking it next year.
AP Spanish Language: Taking it next year.</p>

<p>Subjective:
* Extracurricular (place leadership in parenthesis):
-National Honor Society (11th and 12th grade)
-Math Circle (11th and 12th grade)
-Coexist (11th and 12th grade)
-Student Government Activities Committee (10th and 11th grade)
-Student Government Activities Committee Chair (12th grade)
-School Ambassador (11th and 12th grade)
-Relay for Life Team (9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade)
-Students for Fair Trade (11th grade)
-Film Club President (11th and 12th grade)
-Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica/Spanish Honors Society (11th and 12th grade)
-Beta Club (8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade)
-Literary Magazine (11th and 12th grade)
-Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra (11th grade)
-Model United Nations (11th and 12th grade)
-Varsity Cross-Country (12th grade)
-Varsity Tennis (12th grade)
-Bassoon(5 years)
-Saxophone(5 years)
* Awards:
-Outstanding Sophomore in Chemistry
-Outstanding Sophomore in Physics
-Outstanding Junior in Mathematics
-Outstanding Junior in Biological Sciences
-Outstanding Junior in Spanish
-Silver medalist on the National Spanish Exam
-Various honor roll awards.
* Volunteer/Community service:
Animal Rescue Foundation (125 hours)
Tutoring in math, science, English, and Spanish (130 hours)
Organization of the Band's Library (300 hours)
Ronald McDonald House(60 hours)
Little Sisters of the Poor (25 hours)
Various service projects for campus life enrichment (90 hours)
TOTAL: 730 Hours
* Summer Activities:
Working at WalMart and tutoring over the summer.
* Teacher Recommendation: One from my English and Spanish teacher(10th-12th grade) and one from my math teacher and research adviser (10th-12th grade).
* Counselor Rec: She loves me to death.
* Additional Rec: If I need one, I can get one from another one of my math teachers or my biology teacher.</p>

<p>Other
* State (if domestic applicant): Alabama
* School Type: Public
* Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
* Gender: M
* Income Bracket: Less than 150,000 at least, but I think less than 120,000.
* Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I don't know any? D:</p>

<p>COURSES TAKEN:
We have a trimester system at my current school (which is for 10-12) so that's why there are so many classes and why some classes have multiple parts.</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Honors English 9: A
Modern World History: A
Algebra I: A
Geometry: A
Honors Biology: A
Spanish 1: B
Wind Ensemble: A
Freshman Composition: B</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Honors Algebra II: B
Honors Computational Science: A
Honors Chemistry and Problem Solving: A
Honors History of Western Thought: B
Honors Spanish I, 2/2: A
Health: A
Honors Trigonometry: A
Honors Sophomore English I: A
Honors Spanish II, 1/2: A.
Honors Biological Change and Diversity: A
Honors Crusades: A
Honors Theatre Arts II: A
Honors Precalculus: A
Honors Spanish II, 2/2: A
Honors Sophomore English II: A
Honors Advanced American Studies I: A
Honors Physics: A
Volleyball: A
Jazz Band: A/A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year:
Honors Differential Calculus: A
AP Biology 1/3: A
AP Chemistry 1/3: A
Honors Creative Writing: A
Honors 20th Century American Literature: A
Concert Band: A
Honors Group Theory: A
Honors Integral Calculus: A
Honors Math Problem Solving: A
Honors Advanced American Studies II: B
AP Biology 2/3: A
AP Chemistry 2/3: B
Honors Advanced Conversational Spanish I: B
Honors American Pop Culture: Heroes and History: B
Honors "A Theory of Everything: String Theory": A
Honors Visual Mathematics: A
AP Chemistry 3/3: A
Honors Differential Equations: A
Honors Advanced Calculus(Introduction to Real Analysis): A
Honors Advanced Prose Writing: A
AP Biology 3/3: A
Honors Advanced Conversational Spanish II: A</p>

<p>Projected Senior Year Course-load:
Spanish IV(AP Spanish Lang equivalent) 1,2,3.
AP Physics C 1,2,3.
Honors Introduction to Organic Chemistry.
Honors Organic Chemistry.
Honors Biochemistry.
Honors Linear Algebra.
Honors BC Calculus.
AP Calculus Review.
Honors British Literature 1 and 2.
Honors Economics.
Honors Government.
Honors Complex Analysis.
Honors Probability and Combinatorics.
Honors Topology.
Honors Knot Theory.
Honors Math Problem Solving 1, 2, 3.
There are probably some others, but I won't get my schedule until August so I can't say for sure. :/</p>

<p>How does this all look? I probably forgot something. Anyways, my application essays are probably going to focus mostly on my Activities Committee and volunteer work because, in all honesty, those are what keep me going on a lot of days. Helping people and knowing that I'm making a difference for someone really makes me feel good about myself and it makes me feel like I can achieve a lot of things as long as I put my mind to it. Cliche, I know, but it's what I love to do.</p>

<p>For now, my major choices are:</p>

<p>-Biochemistry and Cell Biology
-Chemistry
-Physics</p>

<p>Probably doubled with some form of communicative or humanities major.</p>

<p>Thanks a ton for reading and chancing, if you do.</p>

2

<p>You seem like a very good student and your stats put you in a range to get in. You have a large number of extracurriculars, but they don’t seem focused in a particular field or subject. During the summer and your senior year I would suggest that you start focusing on what you are passionate about (ex. community service) and that will help you write your essays as well. Make sure to stand out in your essays and convey your personality! Good luck. :)</p>

3

<p>Your stats are very strong – and I think what could help set you apart, firondestind, is describing clearly what you’ve done to make a difference in other people’s lives. Spare no detail in explaining how you’ve helped others and in suggesting what you can do to make the campus and/or the community a stronger place. Beyond your essays, a personal interview could further spotlight your dedication. Also, are you sure that the ED path is the best way to go? Why limit your options if you’re not 100% sure about Rice? While Rice, Duke, and JHU are all on par academically – have you visited them so you can see where you might feel the most comfortable? Best of luck to you!</p>

4

<p>Clarification: by stats, I was referring to your profile as a whole – sounds owlish to me!</p>