<p>I'm a high school Junior at a college prep school, with the majority of my classes being honors or AP. My weighted GPA at the beginning of my senior year will hopefully be around a 3.8 and unweighted around a 3.5. I just took the ACT for the first time and my composite score was a 32. I'm taking it again in June and hoping to score around a 34. I've been voted onto student council this year and also for next year as well. I'm on varsity tennis in the spring time and manage lacrosse during the fall season. In the summer time I volunteer at my local children's hospital and work as a tennis instructor, with both those things adding up to around 40 hours a week. I'm also in National Honors Society and am head editor of my school yearbook, along with being a section editor of my school newspaper. </p>
<p>I realize my GPA is not as high as it should be but I'm dyslexic and had a major problem with foreign language. It dropped my weighted GPA from a 4.1 to a 3.8 to give a general idea of the unfortunate circumstance of my foreign language studies. </p>
<p>Basically I'm starting this thread to ask if there is any chance what I have made of my high school career would be good enough to get me into Rice University. Also would applying early decision help my chances of getting in?</p>
<p>Other schools I'm planning on applying to are:
University of Richmond
College of the Holy Cross
University of Denver</p>
<p>Hey, I think the rigor of your classes and your extracurriculars are on point. I think if your ACT could be higher, it would certainly help you out and if you get a 34, you will be set. GPA wise it is a little low for Rice, but I think if you do send a letter about your dyslexia or let them know about it, they would be more than understanding. And applying early makes a significant improvement in your chances of getting in- so if you’re really set on Rice then apply early it will help a great deal.</p>
<p>Wait, so dyslexia and ADHD can be used to justify a lower GPA? I ask, because I have ADHD, but have never had extended time on anything. I have between a 3.7 and 3.8 weighted gpa, very similar to him.</p>
<p>^
While it’s certainly more difficult, according to the admissions statistics for this fall, 18% of ranked students weren’t in the top 5% of their class, and a large portion of students came from schools that didn’t rank. Only 460 students came from schools that ranked, although it’s unclear whether that’s 460 admitted students or 460 enrolled students.</p>
<p>I really don’t think that the ADD or ADHD is going to make a difference at all. It such an over diagnosed disorder that it isn’t even taken that seriously. If your being medicated for it there’s really no excuse anyways. Also, if you didn’t get extra time, thats also your own fault. Overall, due to all these things, I think they really won’t consider it too much. There are plenty of people diagnosed with ADD and ADHD who still manage to do just as well. Also, why would they take someone with ADD who can’t manage it, when they can just accept someone without it?</p>
<p>Sorry, this sounds really harsh, but it’s just my opinion. Also, I get a little frustrated when people talk about ADD/ADHD because I just get annoyed that some people can just ask their doctor for a note, and then get extra time on the ACT, which would help out a lot.</p>
<p>My S has ADHD and managed a 4.0/4.0 at a very competitive college prep school and with a demanding course load (8 classes, heavily loaded with APs, AND independent study, etc). He received no accommodations and never asked for any and didn’t even make his school aware of it. It was also not mentioned on any of his college applications. </p>
<p>The big thing that those with ADD/ADHD need to learn is how to use time management tools.</p>