Chance me: Rice, UT Austin CS, Lehigh CSB

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello! I will be a senior next year and have been working on my college apps. I was hoping I could get some thoughts about my chances at Rice University (early decision), UT Austin CS program, and Lehigh CSB program. I am very interested in computer science and information science. I know that I am lacking in EC’s and leadership positions, and would appreciate any suggestions for me to do last minute. Thank you to everyone who replies!

Asian male from Houston, TX

Academics-
GPA: 3.94 out of 4 (unweighted) 4.59 out of 5 (weighted)
All honors and AP courses whenever possible
SAT: 1540 (Reading/Writing: 740, Math: 800, 16/24 essay ;C)
SAT Math 2: 800
SAT Chemistry: 740
AP Physics 1: 4
AP Chemistry: 4
AP Computer Science: 4
AP Language and Composition: 5
will be taking 5 more AP courses during senior year

EC-
4 year highschool soccer player
club soccer- south texas state champions, southern region semifinalists
NHS member 10-12th
Science NHS member 11-12th
Computer Science club member 10th-12th
looking for part time work
will be running my own youth soccer camp with my friends
worked in china for 2 weeks as a summer camp counselor
volunteered/worked at a chinese immersion summer camp for 2 weeks
lacking in community service and leadership roles :C

Writing-
I’ve got a decent common app personal statement (In my opinion)
Computer Science teacher and physics teacher should be writing good recs
at my school we’re essentially allowed to write our own counselor letters

Once again thanks to everyone who responds! I have visited both UT Austin and Rice and like the feel of both. I’ve done research on Lehigh and gone on virtual tours, and am interested in the CSB program and Data X initiative. I am a bit wary about campus safety and tuition at Lehigh. If anyone is willing to share their experience with any thing I mentioned, I’d love to hear your story.

2

Forgot to add that I am in the top 8% of my class. (61/858)

3

Outside of the top 6%, UT Austin is a reach for the campus, and even more of a reach for the CS major. Rice is generally considered a reach for everyone.

4

You are a very competitive applicant for Rice. Rice takes about 1/3 of its class ED. There is a slight advantage to applying early decision. You can apply rolling admission to UT even if you also apply ED to Rice. That way you might already have an acceptance in hand before the Rice ED decisions come out. You won’t be in the auto admit group for UT, but you are still a very competitive applicant there also. Computer science at UT is very popular, and the competition is fierce.

As a senior, you can do an overnight at Rice that will demonstrate lots of interest and give you a chance to stay in the dorms, attend classes, etc. You can also schedule an on campus interview. Do this early as spaces fill up. Most of the spaces are already filled through September.
https://riceadmission.rice.edu/portal/interview-oncampus

Rice is probably very familiar with your high school and its rigor. Look at Naviance to see whether students from your high school with similar stats have been admitted in the past. This will be very instructive. It was for my daughter who went to high school in Houston. She fell into the Naviance admit range from the past, and sure enough was admitted. Rice has men’s club soccer which you might enjoy.