Ok, I looked and see that UT-Dallas does have a policy guaranteeing admission to any Texas resident who graduated in the top 10% of their high school class (source).
In the most recent year of IPEDS data (couldn’t find the stats for fall 2023’s entering class) the acceptance rate was 85% (source). If a public school accepts 85% of its applicants, AND offers very generous merit aid packages to National Merit Scholars (and even if OP won’t be one, OP’s profile is similarly strong), AND OP is a resident of the state, I don’t see a situation where OP is not accepted. Although I know you prefer to consider a safety a 100% lock for acceptance and that a 99.99% chance is not a safety in your book, for me, UT-Dallas is a safety for this applicant.
Agree 100%. Admission is a reach for all, but a URM applicant with these stats has a better chance than the published rate. If admitted, OP would very likely attend Rice for free through the Rice Investment due to family income being <75k (the exception would be if OP’s family has significant other resources through trusts/investments/etc., which doesn’t sound likely). There won’t be snow, though.
Schools can no longer directly preference URM status. I’m sure schools will look for other ways to achieve racial diversity, but it might take them some time to figure out how. So at many schools, in this transitionary phase, URM might not be the hook next year that it previously was.
But, OP has strong stats and good rigor. He just needs to tune his list of schools to fit, including adding schools that will generously rewards his stats via merit scholarships.
Fair point, although I personally doubt that there will be much change in admissions outcomes at the schools that are determined to construct a diverse class. But it is very early, so we will see. In any event, Rice is a strong option for a high-stats student like OP needing very generous financial aid.
Schools that meet 100% of financial need and are urban and snowy include: Northeastern, Tufts (granted a bit outside Boston but close), University of Chicago, Northwestern (also a bit more suburban), Case Western and Vassar. Just some additional options to consider. Case would be a target if you show them love. Best of luck to you.
More accurately: meet 100% of financial need as defined by them. I have heard (but don’t know for sure) that Northeastern’s package includes loans. I don’t know about the others. Might be worth checking the details.
I would call that “likely”, not “safety”, for admission.
Also, the net price calculator for UT Dallas at Net Price Calculator - THECB Applications gives a net price of about $16k, so it cannot be a safety for a student with a $7k price limit when affordability is considered.
URM status by itself is no longer allowed to be considered, although its effect on an individual applicant’s experiences can be considered.
Hello everyone thank you for your advice and recommendations so far. This is a brief summary of what I’d like to include in my family responsibilities extracurricular. I’d appreciate any feedback on what I should leave out, expand on, or change the wording of. Thank you.
Take care of 3 younger siblings and 2-4 other kids my grandma baby sits at a time. Duties include making meals, cleaning up after them, and generally keeping an eye on them.
Laundry shared with 2 siblings. We take turns going to the washateria every 2 weeks. For 8 people. Takes 3-5 hours.
Dishes every 3 days for 8 people. Takes 1-3 hours.
Regularly drive to go shopping for groceries to help my mom.
Every Saturday, when I’m not going to the washateria, we do a large amount of cleaning and household chores, which takes most of the day leaving very little time for other activities.
1-2 hour prayer every non-school day morning except Sunday, when we go to church. 30 minute prayer every night with no exceptions.
2 hour bible study every Friday night at 11 pm until midnight.
The extracurricular activity description section is limited to 150 characters per activity. You are also limited to 10 extracurricular activity slots, which would include all your other non family responsibilities activities. So all of your family responsibilities should ideally be condensed into 1 slot.
My opinion would be to leave out your worship time as an extracurricular. You only have 10 slots.
Now is the time to familiarize yourself with the common app and how it works.
I don’t think doing laundry, cleaning or washing dishes would be considered a fabulous thing on your college application. To be honest, we expected our kids to do the dishes, wash, and help clean also. I think I’d leave those out.
Helping to take care of all the kids could be good if woven into a nice essay…but it can’t be just about taking care of the kids. Your essays need to be about you…so make sure that’s included.
Really?? The thing that struck me most in that list was the laundry! I don’t know if the family support is best put in the extracurricular section or in the essay or somewhere else. But it strikes me as extremely important to the OP’s application.
Family support/responsibilities should definitely be in the Activities section.
I would think about combining them as momofthree24 suggested. Not sure the family responsibilities have to all get to just one activity…it depends on what other activities you are listing.
Roblox, coding club, peer review club, mentoring, church/worship time sound like they will also make your Activity list. The order of your ten Activities should be those that are the most important to you (which may not necessarily be the most time intensive ones). Good luck.
