Likely Rejection? Low GPA/Good test scores

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>So Rice emailed me to apply to their school because of my good AP scores and gave me a fee waiver to apply, so I did so anyways. But, looking at how competitive admissions are, am I most likely going to be rejected? I have a super low GPA, but good test scores.</p>

<p>Sophmore year:</p>

<p>AP World History B/B (weighted)
Physics Honors B/A (weighted)
English A/B
Geometry Honors B/B
Vocals A
Health Ed B
French A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year:</p>

<p>AP US History: B/B (weighted)
Chemistry Honors A/A (weighted)
Precalculus Honors C(PROBLEM)/B (weighted)
AP Psychology A/A (weighted)
French A/A
AP English Composition B/B (weighted)</p>

<p>GPA:
-3.5 unweighted GPA (SUPER LOW)
-4.1 weighted GPA (I know this is really different from my unweighted; I screwed myself over taking AP's and honors classes)</p>

<p>This GPA is throughout Sophomore and Junior Year. However, I have one C in precalculus honors because I was basically studying for 5 AP classes, two honors classes and a regular class, so that workload hurt my grade in that class, but I brought it up the next semester. </p>

<p>Nonetheless, I think that this C may decrease my chances by A LOT.</p>

<p>My SAT is 2170 (660 reading/720 Writing/790 Math).</p>

<p>My ACT composite score is 33 (35 English/33 Math/30 Reading/33 Science) with an 8 essay.</p>

<p>APS:</p>

<p>AP World History - 5
APUSH - 4
AP English Language - 4
AP Psychology - 5
AP Chemistry - 4 (I didn't take the class, I self studied)
AP Biology - 4 (I didn't take the class, I self studied)</p>

<p>Currently, in my senior year, my workload is:</p>

<p>AP English Literature
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics B
French Honors
American Democracy/Economics series.</p>

<p>SAT II's
Chemistry - 770
Biology - 690
Math II - 700
English Lit - 670</p>

<p>My extracurriculars are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Volunteer at Kaiser Main Hospital/Pharmacy every week (Junior/Senior)</li>
<li>California Scholastic Federation (CSF) life member tutor (junior/senior year)</li>
<li>Swimming for three years. (sophomore/junior/senior year)</li>
<li>Cross country (sophomore year)</li>
<li>Volunteered in Nicaragua to help/tutor poor children and spread hope to the community (junior year summer)</li>
<li>Public Relations Officer of club that sends money back to Nicaragua to fund education for kids. (senior year)</li>
<li>Tutoring little brother (in special ed) everyday after school (Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior year)</li>
</ul>

<p>Personal Statements:</p>

<p>My perspective that I can contribute to Rice - I believe that, even if a person wants to pursue a specific job field or major, they should still follow other passions that might not be related to that job field. For example, I want to go into pre-med track, but I also love singing and music and have a huge passion for it. I believe that, even if I love the sciences and medical field, I can have a passion for something as unrelated to science as singing is.</p>

<p>Common App - My experiences volunteering in Nicaragua, helping impoverished kids and kids with special needs.</p>

<p>So, am I likely to be rejected ? I know that since this is College Confidential, everyone has much higher scores/grades than me, but please give an HONEST answer in terms of admission.</p>

2

<p>One second, Ace – who says you’re likely to be rejected? You have a strong profile and a compassionate commitment to Nicaragua that likely shines in your essays. You sound like a strong candidate to me! It’s so hard waiting – may it all work out beautifully!</p>

3

<p>Hahah, you really think I have a shot? :P</p>

<p>Oh well, only time will tell! Thanks for posting! It seems to me that you’re quite committed to the Rice community! I will definitely be hoping for a letter, if it means meeting wonderful people like you!</p>

4

<p>What is your rank? GPA is not the only thing that matters; some schools are more competitive than others. Also, a 3.5 with the hardest courseload and a good rank is definitely better than a 3.9 with no challenges.</p>

5

<p>Ace, </p>

<p>Thanks for your kind words. I’ve seen over the years that Admissions at Rice takes in the big picture of who you are and what you can offer the campus. Sounds like you’d be a real
plus for the Rice community! Wishing you the best!</p>

6

<p>Antarius, my school is SUPER competitive that they don’t do class ranks. Basically, my high school is filled with all the straight A students from all the middle schools, placed into one environment. My high school can be thought of as the MIT or CAL of high schools.</p>

<p>Thank you Ottoline!</p>

7

<p>Any idea of a ballpark - top 5%, 10% etc?</p>

<p>Make sure your GC includes details about your school in the profile/GC recommendation.</p>

8

<p>My letters of recommendation definitely mention the tough rigor of my school. But no, I have no idea how high I am, whatsoever. It can’t be too high, though. There are super geniuses at my school. A 2270 SAT is about 85th percentile. I know I’m not a crazy genius, at least at my school.</p>

9

<p>One thing to remember is that schools also send in a “school summary” or something like that, that tells the college about your school and how competitive you are. That will likely offset the lower than normal GPA and thus give you a really good shot.</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

10

<p>I don’t think you’ll be rejected, your course load, your extracurriculars, and your essay all show how you are a well rounded student, your high sat and act scores show that you are a smart student. Also AP courses reflect your ability to take on college level courses. Although they may be not as fast paced as college courses, they are just as tough and so the fact that you are able to take so many AP courses and keep your grades at a “college average” shows that you will be able to handle the pressures of college courses. I wish you the best of luck and hope you get in!</p>

11

<p>Thank you runallday4 for that information. Fingers crossed. :)</p>

<p>Thanks Navibear for the encouragement. I certainly hope they see that my high school was just really hard and that I could have gotten straight A’s if I went to an average/below average high school. </p>

<p>My friend and I in middle school both got straight A’s but I know that I was smarter than him, just because I had to help him with a lot of school work. When we went separate ways in high school, he still maintained straight A’s at his high school while my grades suffered immensely from my high school environment. Still, I wanted to challenge myself by applying to my school, so no regrets.</p>

<p>I worked really hard on my Rice personal statements too, so I hope that, even if they decide to reject me, they give my application good consideration instead of throwing it away because of my grades.</p>

12

<p>BUMP!</p>

<p>Anyone else want to give their opinion? Less than one month left until admission decisions come out! So nervous!</p>

13

<p>i have similar numbers to you and the crazy competitiveness of your high school sounds a lot like mine, where do you go?</p>

14

<p>Lowell High in SF! and nice. If you applied to Rice, good luck to you!</p>

15

<p>no i’m still a junior, but next year!!</p>

<p>good luck to you!!!</p>

<p>and i’m from new york so not even close haha</p>

16

<p>I know how it feels man! I always felt that I was a really smart and also well developed overall kid, but when I look at the kids at my school I feel like my accomplishments cant even compete with theirs lol. Best of luck,and whatever happens happens right? just make the best of it. Good luck hope you and I both get in and see each other at O week</p>