<p>I'd like some feedback to my chances applying to Rice. Asian american (Bangladeshi) Expected major is chemistry. I am currently a sophomore in high school. I go to a medium sized school in KS, not really competitive or anything. Our school offers only 5 AP classes, but I'm taking all of them at some point. I'll list my stats below.</p>
<p>SAT: 730 critical reading, 730 math, 770 writing
ACT: Hoping for 33 this year
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.385 W
Rank: 1/~200
EC's: 100 hours at local Salvation Army, 2 summers volunteering at the hospital, Key Club, Math Club, Scholars' Bowl (Captain and member of 2005 State Championship team), 4 year varsity tennis player, Philosophy Club, Co-founder of Historical Film Society, Member of library youth advisory committee, Spanish Club, National Honor Society (President), Teen Court volunteer
Awards: 3rd in state Spanish I, 1st in state Spanish II, High scorer in Kansas on AMC 12, Member of 2005 State Scholars' Bowl Champion team, Numerous 1st place finishes in local math competitions</p>
<p>Expecting good essay and excellent teacher reccommendations.
Please evaluate my chances at Rice and feel free to suggest any other college you think I should apply to.
Thanks!</p>
<p>OK, good. Your chances, so far as your stats go, are good.</p>
<p>When I interview you in the admissions office, though, will you bore me? Will you sound like a person who's gone through life with the sole intention of getting that 4.0 UW, those 700-range SAT scores, and those honor society memberships?</p>
<p>Or will you sound like an interesting person who is passionate about what you do, who will contribute to this new freshman 'society' that I, the admissions officer of Rice University, am building?</p>
<p>Tons of applicants who have stats better than yours get rejected from Rice every year because they don't present their "interesting and passionate" sides, and rather, they present their "I'm really smart and I get high scores on tests" sides.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>aibarr, I think you've nailed it. Your explanation is the "sine qua non" of the admission process. "the community I'm building as admissions". Look at the degree of the admissions officer and you'll see what type of kid is needed to meet the goal of "diversity"--it isn't color of skin or the form of gender/sexual orientation. They're creating their own sociological lab and a perfect society from those who meet their minimum stats required to those below their standards who bring something unique. If you know that admissions is from Macalaster you have a clue as to what's needed.</p>