Demographics
Texas Resident
Homeschooled
Asian Male
Special Factor: 14
Econ/Philosophy
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
4.0 GPA Unweighted
4.5 GPA Weighted (many dual enrollment classes)
Test optional
Extracurriculars
200 Volunteering Hours (120 at the library and 80 volunteering hours virtually)
Founded homeschool book club (3 years)
President of philosophy club for a community college (2 years)
Member of an accounting club
Presented college level research at honors day (through CC honors program)
Club swimming (7 years)
Club soccer (3 years)
Essays/LORs/Other
I have two teacher recommenders in mind who have written really good letters of recommendation for me.
Community College Philosophy Professor (as well as faculty advisor for philosophy professor): 10/10
Community College History Professor (did research with him): 10/10
I really only want to know my chances for Rice University as I am not applying to many schools (Rice, Texas A&M, UH Honors) due to my age (my parents want me to stay close).
General Psychology
Honors Introduction to Ethics
College Algebra
Precalclus
English 1301
Honors History to 1877
Trigonometry
Honors Biology
Microeconomics
Ok, that’s a solid program.
What about foreign language? Have you started on French or German yet?
Have you taken CC or HS level biology, chemistry, and physics?
Have you reached level 2 or 3 in a foreign language?
Have you taken World or European History?
If you can, continue with either one in the Spring (or start either one if you haven’t already - be ready for a very fast pace!), take a seminar in history (not “overview of history from … to …” – or take the seminar in addition to that overview course), one more philosophy course, plus whatever is required.
Philosophy assumes knowledge of European history and often a good grasp of the world outside Europe, too. It also requires knowing several foreign languages.
BTW, if you study French, you could ask to spend a year abroad in a French HS as a 17 year old and ask to take the “HLP” advanced specialty course, which means 10 hours of philosophy a week (you’d have another “advanced specialty” such as History&Geopolitics and a bunch of core classes.)
Have you been in touch with the adcoms? With the philosophy dept? visited (officially)? had an interview (if not: register – they’ll want to assess your maturity level).
I am assuming that since you “want to stay close” that you are in the Houston area.
Just wanted to pop in to say:make sure you do a formal tour of Rice. We are in the Houston area, and my DD’s high school college advisor has stated many times to her class and to the parents “If you want to apply to Rice and you live close enough to visit, Rice expects you to do so”
I have taken two years of Latin. As for non community college classes, I have taken a variety of highschool classes online (including chem, bio, and pysics). This semester I am taking Honors Government, Business Principles, Macroeconomics, and Intro to Formal Logic all at the community college. I have been in touch with the adcoms, but not the philosophy department (I’ll look into that). I hope to focus on ethics and maybe do some research when I go to a four year college. Thanks!
Ok, then you need to get cracking on Foreign Language.
(Or, if you want to specialize in the Ancients, go back to Latin and start on Ancient Greek)
Good course choices this semester, and with Bio/chem/physics you have the trifecta.
Have you taken any standardized tests? As a home schooled applicant, the GPA is not given as much weight vs a student in a regular HS. Applying as a test optional candidate would be risky IMHO.
I agree that the lack of standardized test scores may be an issue. It looks like only about 20 percent of Rice acceptances last year didn’t submit scores. Also if I am reading OPs post correctly, he is 14 years old. Would think that is all the more reason to submit test scores.
