<p>Hi, guys. I am currently a freshmen in high school right now and i feel like my time running out! I just wanted to know how you guys got into rice(classes taken, clubs, leadership positions, volunteer, etc) so I can have a solid idea on what i should get done in my high school career. Thanks!</p>
<p>For admissions to any school, plain and simply… do what you love, and love what you do. In other words, do things that interest you, do them well. Do your best in your classes, do your best on your standardized tests. Don’t do anything just for the sake of admissions to any particular school.</p>
<p>If you want to do track instead of AP super class… then do that. If you want to lead a group across your state for a cause you believe in, then do that. </p>
<p>One thing though that I would definitely suggest is that you get something out of your summers… don’t sit around on your duff playing video games (unless that happens to be research for the games that you are programming). Make your summers matter.</p>
<p>And as a freshman, don’t worry about it… just do your best and have fun.</p>
<p>You should have a 4-year academic plan that gets you a sufficiently strong transcript, but not so strong that your grades suffer or you can’t do other things you want. Study for the PSAT/SAT/ACT. To get into a high-end school, I believe the magic numbers are 700/700/700 for the SAT. I’m not saying you can’t get in without those numbers, but you have to have something else going on to get in. Find a few things you like doing and dive into them, hopefully finding something outside of school to further stretch in whatever area it is.</p>
<p>Thanks you all so much! It was very helpful</p>
<p>Take classes that you’ll do well in, and excel. I mean, just do your best class-wise while still maintaining a strong GPA as that’s important to many schools. Start prepping for ACT/SAT now. I urge you, at least try ONCE this year, and a couple times your sophomore year so you can be prepared a bit. Practice for ACT/SAT the summer before your junior year. It will help you quite a lot.</p>
<p>Find several extra-curriculars now and stay in them throughout the years. Volunteer. But only do these things if you want to. It’ll help, but only do it if you <em>feel</em> like it, yknow. No force.</p>
<p>I think you should just do your best. That’s all we can ever do, actually.
I just applied to colleges this yr, Rice being one of them, but I won’t hear back for a little while.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>I don’t have time to go on a huge spiel, but I will say that the “magic number” for the SAT is that you should break 700 in each category and have a composite score of above 2200. How did I get in? Other than stellar grades and test scores, I retained numerous leadership positions in competitive academics, debate, and student government. I recommend debate or public speaking, as I think a big part of my acceptance was how I was able to charm the interviewer- we ended up talking for twice the allotted time. Also, try for AP Scholar awards and other academic achievements. </p>