Chances @ RIce

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Junior; Asian male from Texas; not US citizen, international student, canadian citizen
SAT I: 2030; 700M 690CR 660W
Rank: 2/450
GPA: 4.0 (on 4.0 Scale) and 101.95 (on 100 point scale)</p>

<p>Plan on taking SATII: Math IIc, Biology, US History, and Chem</p>

<p>Hardest courseload; will have completed 11 AP classes upon senior graduation. Two foreign languages: 3 yrs in Latin, 4 yrs in Spanish. 4 years of sciences, history, mathematics, and english.</p>

<p>Freshman Year (2002-03)
· Church pianist and worship team keyboardist
· SWT Young Pianist State Competition-3rd place
· Baylor/Waco National Piano Competition- Honorable mention and half scholarship
· Invitation to Summer Baylor Piano Institute to perform at a Master Class with Prof. Bohlen
· McLennan Community College State Piano Competition-1st place
· Awarded an advance measure from CHS advance measure review committee for outstanding piano performance
· Summer- Volunteer at Hematology Oncology Associates of South Texas (HOAST)
· 2003 Musical Arts Center of San Antonio (MACSA) performance honor roll
· Active Tuesday Junior Music Club member/performer
· Spanish Club Reporter (Freshman Representative)
· Student Council- Spirit and Pride
· UIL Literary Criticism participant
· UIL Poetry Interpretation-2nd place at district meet, 4th place semi-finalist at regional meet
· UIL Solo/ensemble- 1st division solo at region, 1st division saxophone quartet at region, 1st division woodwind ensemble at region, 1st division jazz ensemble at region, 2nd division medal solo state, 2nd division saxophone quartet at state
· CHS Little Theatre Company (LTC) member
· Soloist in church musical
· United States Achievement Academy- Mathematics Award
· Who’s Who Among High School Students? Award
· CHS Theatre Award for Outstanding Poetry Interpretation
· CHS Band Awards: Solo Award and Ensemble Award</p>

<p>Sophomore Year (2003-04)
· Selection to be a member of Youth Leadership New Braunfels
· UIL Region Marching Contest Winner, UIL Area Marching Contest Winner, UIL State Marching Contest Semi-finalist
· Fredericksburg Marching Contest-1st place
· Harlendale Marching Contest- 1st place
· All-district, all-region, and all-area band; qualifier for state auditions (2nd chair)
· Spanish Club Secretary
· Student Council- Spirit and Pride
· Latin Club Officer- “fabres”
· UIL Poetry Interpretation, Science, and Math Participant
· CHS Little Theatre Company (LTC) member
· United States Achievement Academy- Minority Award
· ITS (International Thespian Society) member
· Active Tuesday Junior Music Club member/performer
· Pearl Amster Concerto Competition- finalist
· Baylor/Waco National Piano Competition- honorable mention (3rd place) and full scholarship
· UIL Solo/ensemble- 1st division solo at region, 1st division saxophone quartet at region, 1st division woodwind ensemble at region, 1st division jazz ensemble at region, qualifier for state on saxophone quartet, 2nd division saxophone quartet
· TMTA local level- 1st place winner and advancement to district level
· TMTA district level- 1st place winner and advancement to state level
· UIL District: Poetry Interpretation-3rd place and advancement to regional level
· National Honor Roll Inductee
· Who’s who Among High School students award
· National Achievement Academy award
· UIL Regional: Poetry Interpretation: 3rd place Semi-finalist
· Volunteer at New Braunfels Public Library
· Church pianist and worship team keyboardist
· 2004 Musical Arts Center of San Antonio (MACSA) performance honor roll
· CHS Band Awards: Region Band Award, Area Band Award, Solo Award, Ensemble Award</p>

<p>Junior Year (2004-2005)
· CHS Head Drum Major
· ITS (International Thespian Society) member
· CHS Little Theatre Company (LTC) member
· Spanish Club Secretary
· Student Council- Spirit and Pride
· Active Tuesday Junior Music Club member/performer
· Church pianist and worship team keyboardist
· Volunteer at New Braunfels Public Library
· CHS Band Assistant Quartermaster
· Harlendale Marching Contest- 1st place, including Best Drum Major
· UIL Region Marching Contest- 1st division
· Brackenridge UIL Tournament- 3rd place in poetry interpretation
· Member of CHS UIL “winner’s circle”
· UIL Poetry Interpretation, Science, and Math Participant·
All-district, all-region, and all-area band; (2nd chair); 1st alternate for Texas all-state band
·National Honor Society member
·UIL Solo/ensemble- 1st division solo at region, 1st division woodwind ensemble at region
·TMTA local level- 1st place winner and advance to district level
·TMTA district level- 1st place winner and advance to state level
·Pearl Amster Concerto Competition- finalist
·Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship- Gold State Winner (top three in state)
·McClennan Community College State Piano Competition- 1st place
·Selection as a school representative for 2005 summer Boys State</p>

<p>Extra Curr. hours:
Band- Approximately four hours per day during marching season, and four hours per week during concert season
Public Library Volunteer- Two times a week, four to five hours per week
Church pianist- Twice a week, two hours preparing, two hours playing periodically through service
Church Youth Group- approximately fourteen hours per week
Separate Piano repertoire- approximately fifteen hours per week
Spanish Club Secretary- Approximately two hours every week
UIL poetry interpretation practice- approximately one hour per week
National Honor Society- approximately thirty minutes per week
Tuesday Junior Music Club- approximately three hours per month, 5 months each year</p>

<p>My essays will be pretty good; teacher recs will be exceptional, about 2 outstanding recs</p>

2

<p>Well, on paper, you look like a pretty strong candidate. Your chances are pretty good. You'll have made it through the first round. There are so many qualified admissions candidates out there, so what you're going to want to do is really show Rice how unique you are. They're looking for interesting individuals to interact and inspire other interesting individuals, not just little 4.0/2400/eagle-scout/drum-major/honor-society automaton droids.</p>

<p>You're qualified to go to Rice. Now show them that they want you and that you're special and unique, and that you've got something to offer them.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>bring up your sat score. being from TX hurts you. The acceptance rate for TX kids was 19% vs 41% for out-of state. If you are from Houston, it may be even lower. If you are determined to go to Rice apply ED. How are your AP scores?</p>

4

<p>What "specialness" do I show them? ANd how do I do it. Is it in my essay, or what? What kind of "quality" students are they looking for?</p>

5

<p>My AP scores are not that good, but I talked to the admissions officer and all she said that AP scores are just for placement after admission. Is that true? (do you think). Im expecting 3,4,5,5 on Biology, English, Statistics, and US History</p>

6

<p>It is true. Don't worry about AP scores. You don't even have to report them, ever, if you don't want to.</p>

<p>You might want to take an SAT prep score to at least get your SAT scores in the 700's range. Really, though, it's not a big deal.</p>

<p>As to "specialness," you want to show Rice that you're unique. At Rice, people value uniqueness. At Rice, my roommate went skydiving and bellydancing and started a bluegrass band, and I created an all-girl rock band, became drum major of the band having had no prior band experience, and took up piano tuning.</p>

<p>What sets you apart? What do you have <em>passion</em> about? How does that passion influence your life? Do you want to change the world, and how are you going to do it?</p>

<p>Show them in your essay. Show them in your interview (schedule an interview on campus!!!). Show them in how you live your life.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

7

<p>I took the Kaplan SAT prep course, but obviously it didn't help. What do I do next?</p>

8

<p>Well... Kaplan has the satisfaction guarantee. Since you're not satisfied with your score results (provided you've done all the homework, taken all the practice exams, and attended all the classes), you can ask to re-take the course free of charge. Your Kaplan instructor should be able to help you figure out what specifics you need to work on. Kaplan also has private, one-on-one tutoring that may help. There are also all of the online resources that may help you practice your weak parts.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>