Hello, I was just wondering what my chances are to get into Rice Engineering. I am currently a junior and I’m planning to get into the Computer Engineering program. I am also out-of-state.
AP’s done by end of Senior year: World History, Computer Science, Calculus AB, Physics 1, Language and Composition, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Physics C Mechanics, Government and Politics, Psychology
UW GPA: 3.80
Rank: I don’t know but for sure top 25 %
EC’s
2 years of FBLA
5 years of YMCA Washington State Youth and Government
3 years of National Honor Society
2 years of Debate
I also have 100 volunteer hours from the local library and 50 hours for a local organization called StreamTeam which helps restore the environment.
I know my chances are low considering that my composite score for the ACT was a 31. However, this was just because it was tanked with my 25 in science. Is this statement justified, because I really don’t want to take the ACT again and there are other things to focus on at this time, and I also got a 35 in math and so maybe I can sell them on that to show that I’m somewhat legit? I’m also deciding whether or not to go to a college fair in a couple weeks with Brown, UChicago, Columbia, Cornell, and Rice. Rice and Brown are the only schools that I’m looking at and so is it worth going even with my stats?
At any highly selective college applicants are competing for a spot in a relatively small class. You can’t do much to affect rank at this stage but you can improve your ACT score. If you haven’t already taken tha ACT multiple times you should work on your weakness and retake.
@JAMCAFE Yeah thanks! Maybe Rice isn’t for me. I just posted this because of the college fair and whether it really is a fit. For sure it was a stretch to begin with and on top of that it’s private and therefore expensive. Thanks for your input though because I’m not in a situation where I want to take the ACT again.
@slingam00 - (1) Rice does NOT admit to engineering school - they admit to the University!
(2) According to https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=rice&s=all&id=227757#admsns - ACT 32 is the lower 25 percentile. While that does not mean that there is no one below 31 that gets accepted, it does show it is very difficult.
Assuming that the college fair is nearby, you don’t have anything to lose by attending. You can discuss your situation with a Rice rep, and your interaction with that rep might help you to get a better impression of the school and of your potential fit there.
If you really, really like what you hear about Rice, then you should strongly consider biting the bullet and re-taking the ACT in order to try to raise your score.
@slingam00 I agree go to the college fair and see if it is what you like my son took the ACT september and that would get you a change to get the study book for the science section and maybe the english. My son brought his english grade up by the study book geared for english grammer rules. I am sure there is one for science. The practice tests just help with the speed. My son did all the practice on his own in the summer. If you don’t feel it is a good fit then don’t bother with retaking.
@fun1234 yeah, it definitely wouldn’t hurt going to the college fair. I don’t think my interest in Rice was high in the first place, I was just curious. Thanks for the input though.