<p>Hello, I have a 3.5 GPA unweighted and an SAT: 1910. I'll be taking the SAT II's for Biology and Math Level 2 in the fall. I understand that my GPA and SAT score are mediocre compared to most other applicants, but I have missed 5 years of school due to Leukemia and Pancreatitis (I'm not trying to make excuses it's just a fact of my life).
Despite such problems with my health I caught up academically and have been elected Class Vice President twice, NHS Vice President, VP of the Drama Club, and Editor of the Yearbook for two years. Outside of school through community service, I've accumulated 200+ hours. I'm also working toward earning an IB diploma and I've maintained fairly good grades. I guess what I'm trying to ask is if my extracurricular activities, exhibited leadership and story of adversity overcome give me any chance of being admitted to Rice, despite my weaker SAT score and GPA?</p>
<p>Rice (unless they've just changed their selection process) is looking for a "well rounded" person. What does this all mean? Well, beyond the sheer numbers of applications (your's being one of the many) it's becoming much like a lottery.</p>
<p>You see all of the students applying have good grades, good SAT/ACT, are in IB or NHS and on and on, and sometimes it's just up to luck of the draw.</p>
<p>So what does a school like Rice look for beyond all that?</p>
<p>Diversity in individual, ethnicity, gender and location.</p>
<p>They try to find out about you, who you are, what you believe in, why college is important, why life is important. Some of that they find in the application you send in, but in my opinion, the two things that will tell them this are the essays and an interview with an alumni.</p>