<p>I was just fortunate enough to visit Rice in person a few weeks ago and it is probably the most amazing college I have ever seen. Thus, I want to try and improve my chances on getting in. So, I'd really appreciate it if someone could advise me on how to enhance my chances at Rice with my given stats. </p>
<p>Class Rank: 1/237
ACT: 32 (90 percent sure it will raise to a 33, possibly a 34)
GPA: 4.1/4.0 (W) 4.0/4.0 (UW)
Race: White (Serbian)
State of Residence: Nebraska (Geographic diversity will help me right?)
Intended Major/Minor- Biology/Economics (Premed)</p>
<p>ECs
FBLA (9-12)----Treseaurer and VP
SADD (9-12)--- Class Rep for 3 years
Science Club (11,12)--- Prez and Founder 2 years
AcDec (10-12)--Captain for 2 years
Olympus Club (9,10,11,12)
NHS (9-12) Possibly officer next year, but I'm not really that popular so could be dicey
Quiz Bowl (9-12) --- Pritty unactive though..normally just practice at skool with friends</p>
<p>Community Service
Red Cross- 200 hours
American Cancer Society- 100 hours
Sunday School 2nd Grade Teacher- 250 hours
Worked at Congressman's campaign office- 100 hours
Aided Ghetto youths in downtown Omaha- 50 hours
Founded an organization that raises money for poor Serbian orphans (personally raised 1000 dollars for these kids)</p>
<p>Honors/Awards
-Science Olympiad- Won first in state in cell bio, 3rd in state in health science, first in health science at our only regional competition, 3rd at regionals for disease detectives
-Econ Challenge- Won State, went to houston (for free) to compete at regional competition... we are like 5th in the midwest
-Finance Challenge- 2nd in state this year and 3rd in state year before
-Won Alexander Hamilton Merit Award
-KXVO's volunteer of the year
-Nominated for NCTE (We'll see if I win)
-Won quite a few AcDec awards (was our skool's top scorer at every competition and won like 15 subject awards at various regional competitions)
-Won 4th in State at Cyber Security Competition
-Represented school at State Leadership Conference</p>
<p>Looking hard and possibly found an internship working for cell bio professor at med center and may enter some science fairs based off of that..idk though. I will definately spend a lot of time trying to get into a lab this summer!</p>
<p>Lol, ya I am actually only 1/2 Serbian and 1/2 Swedish. Thanks so much for the advice everyone! However,do you guys think that I really need to invest alot of time in trying to get a summer internship at a cell bio lab. I mean I’d love to just do the research for fun. However, as a high schooler, most professors would be reluctant to take me in as an intern, so it would be alot of work just tracking down a professor. So, does Rice look very favorably upon research experience?</p>
<p>Research will definitely help, with admissions and merit scholarships. Besides that, interest, interest, interest! Have your essays/recs make it clear Rice is the school for you :)</p>
<p>do it if it interests you… It won’t make or break your candidacy… It could help but not too much unless you use it towards something (like sending an abstract to Rice)… So if it is of interest and you want to compete for the Intel Competition or just send an abstract to Rice, then go for it… if it is just something that you are thinking of doing just to increase your chance of getting into Rice… but something you probably won’t “love” doing… I suggest you don’t do it</p>
Just curious, what makes you say that? What was it about your visit? I’m asking because everything I’ve read about it looks great so far (for my son) but we haven’t been there yet. Probably won’t get to visit until, and if, he gets accepted. So we’re wondering what we missed.</p>
<p>Ya, before I visited Rice, I only saw the campus from the virtual tour. However, in my opinion, the tour really doesn’t do the school justice. Everything from the surrounding homes (many of which had luxury cars parked in the driveway = D) to the beauty of the inside of various buildings such as the Shepard Music School, which are new but seem historic. So basically, its kind of hard to describe Rice’s campus, but when you go (after your son’s accepted) there, you’ll see what I mean.</p>
<p>Honestly, before visiting I wasn’t too impressed with pictures of Rice’s campus. Upon visiting, my perception completely changed. It was the most gorgeous campus I had visited (and I visited places like Middlebury and Scripps). I mean, it’s SO open, which is crazy for being in a city like Houston. The trees are the best things I have ever seen, no joke. I think they’re half the reason I’m attending Rice next year :)</p>