Finally - Chances!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Hey all. I’ve been on these boards for the past two years but I just registered today to make my first post on my chances.</p>

<p>Personal Info
Asian (Taiwanese) male from NC
Upper-middle class (household income of ~$160,000)
Public Magnet (IB)
Prospective major in Bioengineering and Neurology/Cognitive Science/Psych for a career in Academic Medicine</p>

<p>Grades</p>

<p>UW GPA – 4.0/4.0
Weighted GPA – 4.86/5.00
Rank – 1/~350
Toughest Course load possible – school is 3 x 3 block (24 credits to graduate), but because I took several 0 periods and online courses I will have 33 credits by graduation:
- 10 IB’s
- 8 AP’s
- 8 Pre-IB’s
- 4 Honors
- 3 Regular (electives)</p>

<p>Test Scores</p>

<p>SAT I – 2200 – 720 CR, 740 M, 740 W. (*Note – this is my “power score” by combining 3 different sittings)</p>

<p>SAT II’s – US History – 750
- BioM – 740
- Math IIC – 720 (ouch)
- Physics – 700 (ouch again)</p>

<p>AP’s – W. History – 5
- US History – 4
- Bio – 5
- AP Comp Sci. A – 3</p>

<p>IB’s – Chem SL – 5
Math Methods SL – 5</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>1) AIDS Awareness Club – Cofounder and President (10th) VP (11th), Advising Member (12th). Very involved.
2) Quiz Bowl – President and Varsity Captain (12th), JV captain (10th). Team went to Nationals last year and is undefeated so far this year. Also help run our local high school and middle school tournaments.
3) Tennis – Varsity Letter past 2 years and very likely this year as well.
4) Chinese Cultural/Youth Association – Historian (9th) Treasurer (10th), VP (11th), President (12th). Does community service and cultural shows. Very involved.
5) School Newspaper contributor – off and on for all 4 years</p>

<p>Significant Awards</p>

<p>4.0 Honor Roll all 4 years
Intel ISEF Finalist (2006)
4th Place at State Science Fair in my category
1st Place overall and in my category at Regional Science Fair
Quiz Bowl 3rd at State last year (and competed at Nationals)
2006 Time Magazine Person of the Year (kidding, kidding)</p>

<p>Essays – I thought they were good. Creative, insightful, and humorous</p>

<p>Counselor Rec – Eh…..didn’t read it but our counselor isn’t very good. I’m guessing it’s very positive but generic</p>

<p>Teacher Recs – Again…….eh…. I picked 2 teachers that I thought knew me well (known me all 4 years and taught me 2 and 3 years respectively), but my History teacher talked more about how popular/sociable/funny I was than academics and my Physics teacher wouldn’t let me read his but I’m certain he did them all in one night and that they’re probably similar to my counselor rec (positive but generic)</p>

<p>Perceived Strengths – Course load/GPA/Rank, depth and leadership in a few activities rather than a laundry list, essays, ISEF, Quiz Bowl success, cofounding a club</p>

<p>Perceived Weaknesses – Test scores, recommendations, being a typical Asian male wanting to go into engineering/science.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance everyone!</p>

<p>Oh - and I checked that I was interested in Rice/Baylor but I hope this doesn't bring my chances down as I am genuinely interested in Rice undergrad and not just the med program.</p>

2

<p>I think you have a decent chance of getting in. Your credentials are a lot better than mine. =)</p>

3

<p>"1) AIDS Awareness Club – Cofounder and President (10th) VP (11th), Advising Member (12th). Very involved."</p>

<p>I'm kind of wondering how you got from President to VP to Member.</p>

<p>Regardless, very good chance. Test scores are not low.</p>

4

<p>Our school only lets you be an officer in 3 clubs per year and hold the Presidency in only one (Quiz Bowl this year)</p>

<p>Several charter members who were officers before also stepped back the last 2 years and let the 11th and 10th graders take more control.</p>

5

<p>nctaiwaneseguy- if it's not too late, i would make sure and include that explanation that you just gave about the presidency stuff in your app.</p>

6

<p>lol...yes you should, because many people would not understand that.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
- Math IIC – 720 (ouch)
- Physics – 700 (ouch again)

[/quote]

Gimme a break! In the real world, these are great scores... Even if they were bad scores, Rice will only consider your top two scores.</p>

<p>Being a science-oriented Asian won't help you, but being from somewhere other than Texas will.</p>

8

<p>OOS helps for Rice?</p>

9

<p>The OOS acceptabnce rate is much higher because so many more in state apply.. Being from texas and from a school where half the top 20% applied will give you a hard time...</p>