ED Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

Hi. I am a rising senior this year who is considering applying to Rice ED. I plan to major in mechanical engineering and minor in energy sustainability.

GPA: 4.0 UW, not sure about weighted
Class Rank: 3,4,or 5 of around 300
AP: 9th Grade- World History (4)
10th Grade- Psychology (4), Human Geography (5), Govt. (5)
11th Grade: Bio (5), US History (5), Calc AB (5)
IB- full IB schedule 11th and 12th grade, Bio HL, Math HL, Global Studies HL, English HL, Philosophy SL, Spanish SL
I am also taking BC Calc and Honors Physics online and self studying AP Physics C Mechanics, physics isn’t offered at my school
Extra Curriculars:
Tennis: varsity 4 years, USTA Tournaments, tennis academy for 2 years (originally planned on playing in college), weekend job at tennis center, give tennis lessons to younger less advanced kids, Varsity Captain, MVP, All-Conference, All-Regional, girls team manager
Pokemon: competitive battling (4 years), achieved number one world ranking on OU ladder on largest global server multiple times
Mountain Biking: 2 years, no competitions but I really enjoy it
Rock Climbing: 2 years, no competitions
Basketball: JV 10th grade lol
Breakfast Buddies: tutoring and being a big brother to a younger kid at a local elementary school, 4 years, about 100 service hours
Lifeguarding: summer job, 2 years
Sierra Club Member: support clean energy
Sports Recycling Program: founder and president, 2 years, our school had no recycling at athletic events for some reason, about 50 service hours
Food Pantry: founder and president, 2 years, my city is one of the hungriest in America and my school has a very high percentage of students on free lunch
Quiz Bowl: 2 years, captain, NAQT Nationals, 12 State Finals, a few individual awards for being a top scorer
Interact Club: 2 years
Mock Trial: 2 years, captain
Model UN: 2 years
March Madness Club: founder and president, just for fun, 2 years
Engineering Club: founder and president, 2 years, project building phone charges powered by solar energy
Guitar: 4 years
Acolye at church: 4 years

Note: the tennis academy prevented activity in clubs for my first two years of high school

SAT:
Math: 770
Reading: 730
Writing: 730 with 10 essay
I took the June SAT that College Board screwed up. I only missed 6 questions with 0 omitted but oh well
I am taking Math 2 and Bio subject tests this fall.

ACT:
Highest composite is a 32 but my superscore is a 35, probably won’t be sending unless I get a 34+ in Sept

White Male
Small city in NC
4A Public School that is very weak without the IB program, most IB kids including myself don’t even live in the district
I won’t be applying for financial aid
I am visiting Rice in about two weeks

Thanks for reading and I would greatly appreciate advice. The other schools I am considering for ED are Wash U and Duke, so I would also appreciate some pros of Rice versus these two schools.

2

Oh yeah. I also was a counselor at a sports camp this summer and received 500 service hours

3

I am a rice alum … My S is also choosing amongst the same schools … As well as Stanford, Harvard, Princeton and Johns Hopkins

Of all the schools, he absolutely Loves Rice …

A few points my S finds very important in his selection -

Residential college system
Small entering class
Amazing campus
Great city
Next to Texas medical center
Healthy competition but NOT cut throat
NO grade deflation

And would u rather be a Devil or a Wise Rice Owl

4

I have loved Duke every time I have visited and would be extremely happy there. I heard about Rice at one of those traveling college information sessions, and it has definitely stood out compared to every other school I have visited or researched. My favorite aspect of Rice is the residential system. Do you know what the students are like because that will most likely be the deciding factor?

5

i absolutely LOVED the residential college system … no frats or sororities … ALL students are involved in the college social life … the “colleges” are like home away from home … they will become your new family … without the pressure from frats …

at Rice, the freshman will not be separated from the upper classmen … you will all live together … i think this makes you feel part of the family … able to socialize with older students, after hours, in the dorms … a very valuable experience … especially when you are away from home for the first time …

you absolutely need to visit the rice campus … you will fall in love with it …

also, take a look at the Texas Medical Center … the LARGEST medical facility in the world … no joke … look at google maps and see the foot print of the TMC … not only is it a great place to get treated, but it is an amazing place for research and networking …

just things to think about …

and you are correct about the duke campus … VERY lovely … no argument on that point …

in the end, if your heart is with duke, go for it … it is a fine school and you will get a great education …

since this is the rice forum, you will definitely get a pro-rice biased response …

good luck !!