Chance Me For Rice 2024 ED

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
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Hi, I’m really doubtful about my chances of getting into good schools because of my GPA, but I really hope I have a chance because I have good explanations of why my grades are low.

I am applying for Biomedical Engineering, Pre Medicine or Biochem (i want to study whatever will help me go into the medical field, especially in regards to prosthetics and helping give medical aid to people in countries that can’t afford “the western standard”)

Demographics: Black, African Immigrant, Female, Low Income (going to private school on a grant)

GPA: 3.2 (unweighted) → I was diagnosed with anxiety and had suicidal thoughts sophomore year and didn’t receive any support or help from my parents. I wore down on my mental health and caused me to earn Cs in a lot of classes. Luckily, I bounced back junior year, but my course load was kind of weak.

Honors and AP Classes (In my school, the only AP you can take as an underclassman is AP Comp Sci):
9th Grade: Geometry Honors, Spanish II Honors
10th Grade: Algebra II Honors, Spanish III Honors
11th Grade: AP US History
12th Grade (starting soon): AP Biology, AP Physics C, AP Calculus AB

I’m the 2019-2020 School President and I was the head of our school’s diversity club 2018-2019. I’ve done study abroad in Morocco and I took 3.5 hr Arabic classes every weekday for 4 weeks. I take hip hop, classical jazz, and tap for dance during the 2nd and 3rd trimester. I have been in every musical (3 so far) and one play. I am part of my school’s audition-based vocal choir. I play field hockey, JV and varsity, for 9th, 10th and 12th grade (soon). I have volunteered for 3.5 hours every week in my church for 20 weeks of the year since 9th grade.

SAT: 770 (Math) and 690 (Reading/Writing) (1460 total)
I plan on retaking it just so I can super score on reading.

Since my family doesn’t have enough money to fly out to Houston to tour and I’m too young to apply for SOAR (young senior because I skipped a grade), I’ve been emailing with one of Rice’s admissions officer and I got the email of the head of Rice’s BSA to ask questions.

There are some days where I feel great and other days where I feel like there is no way that I can make it to a top 50 school. Like my SAT is qualifying, but my GPA makes me look lazy.

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I didn’t realize there was an age minimum for SOAR - interesting! My daughter will be a freshman at Rice - she skipped a grade and is turning 17 during O-week (next week). (She applied ED and was accepted.)

You sound like an interesting person with a variety of experiences and interests which is something many colleges, including Rice, are looking for.

Have you looked into the Questbridge program or the Posse program? https://www.questbridge.org
https://www.possefoundation.org

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@DCCAWAMIIAIL - It is highly unlikely that the OP will be qualified for Posse, since she is attending a private school, unless she belongs to or is associated with a civic organization. She also has to live in a Posse city, and be nominated by somebody in that civic organization. Finally, Rice is not a Posse partner college. Unfortunately as well, her GPA may be too low for Questbridge (average UW GPA of QB finalists is 3.9), though it would still be worthwhile for her to apply.

@karina2020 While you are unlikely to be accepted to Rice, especially for engineering, with that GPA, there are many other excellent colleges out there which would be very happy to accept you. A college doesn’t need to be a USNews “Top 50” to provide you with an undergraduate education which would allow you to continue on to the graduate school of your choice.