Chance Me: Rice University

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

I am a high school senior and honestly I’ve kind of always settled for my state school (in Nebraska) with the promise of a generous academic scholarship. However, my family had some moves and my parents are now encouraging me to look at schools in the new area near them, specifically Rice University. I’ve casually visited the campus, not officially or anything, but enough to think that I can definitely see myself at the school. I was stupid and only applied to Rice, meaning if I can’t get in, I’m disappointing my entire family because I won’t really be able to be admitted to any college in the area like they want.

I have gotten all A’s throughout high school with the exception of one B in AP Calculus BC this past year for first semester. My overall cumulative GPA for high school up to junior year is 4.1860 weighted and 4.000 unweighted. I have taken all the honors classes I’ve ever been able to take but those aren’t counted as weighted in my school. I’m not allowed to take AP class freshman year and sophomores are only able to take AP World History during sophomore year. Having said that, I’ve taken AP World History, AP US History, AP Biology, and AP Lang and Comp. I am currently taking AP Chemistry, AP Calc BC, AP Lit and Comp, AP Gov, and AP Psychology, with as I said before, A’s in all classes except for AP Calc BC. I’ve gotten 5’s on the AP exam for AP Lang, AP World, and APUSH, and a 4 on AP Bio. My class rank is at 5 out of 306.

My extracurriculars: I have been in track all three years with plans to be in it for my fourth year, making the varsity team my sophomore year. I’ve been in debate for four years, a co-captain for two of those years (jr and sr year), and qualified to the National Debate Tournament my sophomore year in debate. I’ve been an officer for Students Against Drunk Driving all four years. I’ve been an officer for FCCLA for two years as VP of competition/PR, a member for three years, and placed as State Runner-up in STAR, a speaking event, my junior year. I’ve been a mock trial captain my senior year and participated all four years of high school. I’m also a member of National Honor Society, a cheerleader, and have been part of DECA, Concert Choir, Show Choir, World Language Club, and am currently petitioning my school to start a HOSA chapter at my school. I volunteer at Children’s Hospital, HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapy Riding Academy), and have volunteered for Open Door Mission.

I have a 33 on the ACT and have qualified as a semifinalist on the PSAT (1440). My SAT score isn’t so good (1430) but I took it only one time to confirm my PSAT score for NMSC and did not send the score to Rice University or any of the other universities I applied to.

Everywhere I research on these Rice University essays, I see advice telling me to connect back to Rice, tell them why Rice is so special to me. To be honest though, I don’t know much about Rice, not enough to write as passionately as I would like for the essays. I’m scared my essays will be weak. Further, my high school career seems to detail someone who consistently comes up as second best, never the best. I’m not valedictorian, not president of any club, not champion of anything. I’d just like some honest opinions about the flaws and highlights of my application, and what my overall chances will be, as other people see it.

2

Is Rice the only school where you applied? I assume you applied regular rather than early decision or you would already know the results. Did you also apply to your safety school in Nebraska? Rice is a reach for almost everyone. A 33 is at the lower range of admits. The 25 to 75 percent ACT range for last year’s class was 33-35. If you live near Rice, why haven’t you officially visited?There is still time to do so. Rice gives campus information sessions and tours all of January, February, and March. Sign up online and go. Did you request an interview? Rice considers demonstrated interest–so a lukewarm approach is not helpful. Have you taken any SAT subject tests? What school at Rice did you apply to? Some of the schools receive a lot more applicants than others. For example, there are not nearly as many Humanities applicants as for Engineering and Natural Sciences.

3

I don’t live near Rice University; I live in Nebraska and am going to finish high school in this state. I have all my decisions back from my safety schools with merit scholarships attached to each. My parents have both received job offers in Texas however and have left me with my grandparents to finish high school in Nebraska. They are now encouraging me to get accepted into a Texas university to be closer to them again.

I do plan on going to visit more and getting more information so as to ensure if I get accepted I am confident about my decision to go there. I haven’t taken any SAT subject tests (yes, I know-dumb move on my part, but I guess it’s too late at this point to do anything about it). I am applying to their school for natural sciences, so again, not too helpful to me.

I think Rice’s campus is gorgeous, the environment is super conducive for me, and the student body there seems great. I have visited once, not officially, but kind of just went through the campus. I talked to a few students there who I happened to see. I visited a couple buildings. I loved it there, and I’m applying out of a genuine interest. I’m just asking for a chance me out of the worst case scenario that my essays are not as good as I think, and are written off as poor to mediocre. I suppose my stats aren’t quite as great as I’d like to think, so hopefully my essays do compensate.

thanks for your reply
it’s appreciated :slight_smile:

4

It is good that you have other options in case Rice doesn’t work out. Being from Nebraska may be an advantage from a geographical diversity standpoint. Rice gets so many applicants from Texas yet tries to balance out the out of state applicants with the Texas applicants… My daughter is from Texas and got in last year with a 33. Good Luck to you.

5 
 So at first you didn't seem very enthusiastic, but in your last paragraph you showed genuine interest. Since you didn't do an official visit, make it clear on your application that you've been on campus. Stress that you engaged with students. Be enthusiastic (but NOT fake) in your essays. Show specific examples- what did you like about the campus, the environment, the student body? 
 Try your best and don't get down on yourself too early. Not everyone with a 36 gets accepted because they want well rounded people, so your 33 is still a solid score if you emphasize your extracurriculars. Present yourself the way that you are, and highlight what you're proud of and good at. You list a lot of leadership positions- write about how those have influenced you. Colleges want to know their students are going to be involved, and leadership is a great indicator. Take a positive approach. 
 Good luck!
6

Hello, sorry I’m a bit late. I see your story and I am honestly very impressed. I understand your emotions towards the process, and although I can’t say much myself (I was accepted ED this year) I can tell you, you seem like the perfect candidate. Not because of your scores(which are commendable) but because you present yourself in a quirky semi-nihilistic manner, something which I hoped transferred over into your essays!

Honestly, I haven’t stepped onto campus, I have only been able to look at pictures and stare from afar even though I live in Texas myself! I also wasn’t able to schedule an actual interview for the admits process which I thought would definitely seal my rejection letter!

I’m not writing this to show you the “luck” others have while you merely just have none(because that was my pessimistic outview). I understand the regular decision process is more competitive, but if it’s of any counsel, I had pretty much bad test scores and AP scores in general.

ACT - 30 (2nd try)
SAT - 1370 (2nd Try)

English Lang - 4
World History - 3
US History - 4
Chem - 1
Physics 1 - 2
Human Geo - 4
Spanish Lang - 5
English Lit (Sophomore Year) - 3

Coursework this year
AP Physics 2, AP Stats, AP Macroeconomics, AP Bio, AP Lit, AP Calc BC, Pharmacy Tech Certification

EC’s
HOSA (4 years I love it! I hope your school gets it) This club does a lot of community service btw
NHS (2 years/ President this year) Hectic but fun
Mu Alpha Theta
Masterminds (Quizbowlish)
Powerlifting (4 years)
Football (4 years)

It’s not a lot. It’s not phenomenal, but you do what you can with what you have. Follow your passions and you’ll have a fair shot.

I’m writing this with no intention of bragging, because trust me, your stats are fairly better than mine, but I sincerely hope you are not dismayed with your own accomplishments “second best, never the best”. You have accomplished a lot, remember that! We are still the adults of tomorrow, and our contributions do not go unnoticed.

I sincerely hope to see you next year at Rice, I know you have an incredible shot.

7

Hey,

So my great-grandfather worked at Rice, which is why I want to go to Rice. I’ve also been to Rice like 5 or 6 times because my grandfather is encouraging me to go to Rice and my parents too. I also really want to go to Rice and if it weren’t for Rice I wouldn’t put in as much effort into school as I’m doing right now. Even though I live in the Netherlands, my mother is from Houston and I was born in Houston too. I also have an American passport and I go to Houston every year. I’m a native speaker in American English, although I speak more slang and stuff and not really formal language.

Also, I’m in one of the top schools in my country (I live in the Netherlands). My grades are 70% on average. In the Netherlands, there are different levels of high schools (we don’t have middle school). I’m at the highest level (“vwo”) and I’m in an international school. Our math level is higher than a lot of schools in the Netherlands, and I’ve heard the education in the Netherlands is better than the American education system, too.

I’ve been to China, Germany, and England with my school (until now, I still have 3 years left of school). You also had to get chosen for the China program. Also, at my school, I study German, Dutch, Chinese, English, and Spanish (I used to study French too).

Here, we don’t have any mid-term exams or anything, just a test week in which you have no lessons, only like 2 tests a day for 7 days.

Lastly, I did as many things as I could in my school, such as helping my teachers out on ‘open days’, we call it in Dutch (short explanation: students come to your school to see if they like it, I don’t know if they have this in the US too) (also we can choose our high schools in the Netherlands). I also worked at an elementary school for a while. In the Netherlands, we don’t have clubs or so at our high schools and I don’t know if I can really do anything more than help the teachers as much as I can really? Btw, I don’t know my GPA or whatever, because I’m only used to the Dutch system.

Is there a chance I can get into Rice with what I’ve accomplished until now?! I know this isn’t everything I will accomplish in my 6 years of high school but I just want to know if this is a good start. Thanks!

8

@kw7998 Your grades are very good(if you got a B in AP Calc BC then you don’t have a 4.0UW by the way), your class rank is awesome and your AP score is only OK(OK for Rice, awesome at most schools). Your course load is weak, but that doesn’t sound like it is your fault. Your extra-curriculars have kept you busy but there are no hooks there. Your chance of standing out and being chosen by Rice can be found in the reality that there are FAR fewer candidates with your credentials coming from Nebraska than a lot of other states.