Chances of Getting Into Rice?

Hello,

I am a senior at one of the most competitive private schools in my state (TX). I want to know if I can get into Rice. Here are my stats:

(Good)

-4.03 GPA (3.93 unweighted)
-33 ACT
-Most rigorous course curriculum offered in every subject at my school, tons of AP classes and honors
-4 year varsity tennis starter (captain for three years, made playoffs three years I was captain)
-first freshman ever at my school to be elected captain for a varsity sports team
-3 year varsity football starter
-2 years of JV basketball (didn’t play much because I wasn’t good at basketball)
-national honors society
-almost 200 hours of community service, a lot of which was working in emergency rooms in hospitals or clinics.
-spent two weeks in Seattle at a medical conference for aspiring physicians
-paid work as a lifeguard for a year, fully certified in CPR/First Aid
-member of debate team for two years, won rookie of the year award in the first year, qualified for state tournament
-foreign exchange program, hosted two students, one from Vietnam and another from Latvia
-elected senior class representative on student council
-started my own club and served as chairman (scientific research club)
-actor in two theater productions for my school
-felt very strongly about my essay
-no disciplinary record

(Bad)

-Shaky about my recommendations, don’t think I impressed the teachers I asked very much
-Made a C+ in AP Physics junior year
-Negative trend in grades (almost all A’s), but more A-'s and all my B’s and my one C+ were in physics
-white, male, good family income
-did not visit UT or demonstrate much interest
-did not do research in high school
-my school does not rank

what are my chances like? I love brutal honesty

decent

How have students from your school with comparable grades and scores done getting into Rice in the past per Naviance? That will be a very good barometer. My My D who also went to a rigorous private school in Texas that doesn’t rank got in last year with a 33. Naviance was right on the money for her chances. Rice probably is very familiar with your school and its rigor. Unless you are planning to major in Physics, the one grade shouldn’t hurt you. What school at Rice are you applying to? Is Rice interested in you to play tennis or football? Have you reached out to the coaches? If you live in Texas you should visit and interview.

My GPA is about on par or slightly below the average on Naviance but my test scores are slightly above. Even though I was a decent athlete in high school I’m not interested in playing in college because my knees are banged up. I tore my ACL and broke my leg junior year and football and even though I came back and played both sports senior year, I wasn’t able to perform nearly as well as in the past. I just got a second corrective knee surgery over Thanksgiving break. Even if I could make a team, I’d never get a scholarship for either.

hi @Houston1021 I was hoping you could shine some light on how to check your chances on naviance? thanks!

Naviance Rice SAT/ACT 75th percentile 1550/34.

How many times did you take SAT/ACT? I read Rice requests all test scores. I recommend two subject tests.

Nothing is 100% guaranteed and there is always an exception to every rule.

3 most important threshold to overcome.

  • SAT/ACT scores 1550/34(or least 75th percentile)
  • GPA and Class Ranking near the top
  • Rigor classes = AP classes for Junior & Senior Year
  • Yes; meet all 3 threshold - 75% chances to get accepted to college.
  • No; 50/50 chances.

Some considerations to Put You Over The Top. Essays, Interview, EC, Volunteer, Work, First-Gen, Minority.

Good Luck

@bluedog628 If your high school subscribes to Naviance, college/add colleges to this list and checkout Scattergrams(graph).

Our high school had 26 students apply, 3 accepted, 3 wait listed.
accepted SAT scores were 1490 -1510
All 3 wait listed students had SAT scores above 1520 and perfect GPA

I don’t think your chances are ever 50/50 at a school as selective as Rice unless you have a big hook.

From a stats perspective, you probably have slightly above-average chances compared to Rice applicants overall, but when the admit rate is ~15%, that (to me) means it is a low reach. But some of those 15% who get in are hooked, which might take away some of the advantage from your slightly above-average stats. I would, thus, conservatively treat Rice as one of your reaches.