Chance me for Princeton and Rice?

Coursework:
9th
Honors Biology
Honors Geometry
Honors English I
AP Human Geo
Honors Spanish II
Communications

10:
Honors Chemistry
Honors Algebra II
Honors English II
AP World History
Honors Spanish III
Honors Computer Science

11:
Honors Physics
Honors PreCalculus
AP Language (English III)
AP US History
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics

12:
AP Physics C
AP BC Calculus
AP English IV (unsure of AP name)
AP Government
AP Macroeconomics
AP Biology
AP Environmental Sciences

3.97 GPA unweighted, top 2% of class, top 20 public high school in TX. I’ve pretty much taken all of the hardest courses possible at my school. National Merit Semifinalist, AP scholar. Recommendations will likely be very strong.

Tests:
New SAT: 1520 (can take again)

SAT II: Chemistry: 780 Physics: 780 (can take more and score well if not higher)

ACT: 34

Extracurriculars:
Member of state champion marching band (8 hrs out of school rehearsal/week + Saturday performances)
Memeber of Texas Honor band (concert band)
Principal Player (leader) in Band
Member of NHS, Science NHS, Math NHS, English NHS. Applying to become an officer in many. Tons of volunteer hours logged for clubs and for church.

Major: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering

I will do single choice early action if it helps my chances.

you have the gpa and test scores on lock, but you should work on winning awards in your ec field

regardless, you are a strong applicant for rice, id say low reach.
Princeton is, of course, a reach/high reach (as is for most)

Thanks! Any suggestions on how to go about this? I’m not going to be recognized beyond a very local level for my musical ability, haha. But I would love to do more in science.

@skiber my son (Princeton class of 2020) was accepted to both Rice and Princeton (SCEA) with almost identical scores, course rigor and GPA. Like scary identical.

His ECs weren’t band, instead they were ChemE engineering research (self directed) and a board game club that had a heavy community service aspect.

Assuming you wrote great essays and have great LoRs, I think you have a good shot at both. As said before, Princeton is uncertain for all, Rice a little less so.

Good luck!

  • psy

why are you taking Calculus BC without taking AB? that’s not very smart you might want to switch that because it will be very hard for you to do well in that course (but that’s just my advice). Taking BC is good ONLY IF you have done well on the AB exam even college board recommends that. Do not skip a crucial course because you think it looks good on a college resume. Your SAT and ACT are great and so are all you other stats but your EC’s are very weak compared to other people that will be applying to these top schools. You might want to fix that majorly because that can be a factor between you and another student. Do something that is related to your major