Rice ED vs RD and Rice/Baylor

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Hi Everyone! I'm an Asian Indian from small town 99% Caucasian Maine, and I was hoping you guys could help me out with a couple things.
I know I have a horrid GPA and SATs, but I was wondering if I had a shot at Rice ED or RD, and which one would be more beneficial for my admission. Also, I was wondering if I had a shot at the Rice/Baylor eight year program?</p>

<p>Stats:
GPA: 90.3/100 unweighted, 98/100 weighted. 75-85 = C, 85-93 = B, 93-100 = A
SAT's: 1910 overall, will retake in October.
SAT II's: Taking in November.
ACT's: Waiting on results.
Class Rank: top 23%
AP's (by the end of senior year): AB Calculus and English Literature as a Junior, Spanish Literature, English Language, Biology, and Statistics as a Senior. One of three juniors to be the first to take AB Calculus. I've taken all but two of my schools offered APs (and of course, other language APs.)</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
Yearbook Editor: Junior and Senior Year
Swimmer: Sophomore, Junior, Senior Year
Interact Club: First member as a Sophomore, ran it as a Junior and Senior
Speech and Debate: Only girl Student Congress debater, Member since Sophomore year, CoCaptain Junior and Senior Year, National Qualifier Junior and Senior Year
Took two classes at UC Berkeley (freshman + sophomore level) and passed both summer of Junior Year</p>

<p>High School Awards and Honors
RYLA, one of ten kids selected to go on full scholarship
Outstanding Spanish Freshman Year
Outstanding Scarborough Terrace Volunteer Sophomore Year
Speech and Debate Regional 1st-6th Place Awards, National Qualifier
Honor Roll
Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 5 Graduate</p>

<p>Volunteering
Maine Medical Center: Sophomore, Junior, Senior Year (150+)
Scarborough Terrace: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior Year (100+)
India Association of Maine (Volunteer Hindi Teacher, Youth Coordinator): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior Year (20+)
Interact Club: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior Year (10+)</p>

<p>Recommendations
Cognitive Science UC Berkeley Professor or Head of Math Department at University of Southern Maine
Speech and Debate Coach</p>

<p>Other
Wrote a Cognitive Science Graduate Level Proposed Study at UC Berkeley
Fluent in Hindi and Punjabi, taught it to kids
Year younger (I skipped kindergarden and will be graduating HS at age 16)
Hopefully will be starting the first volunteer tutoring program for kids in my community this year
Played Piano for eight years</p>

<p>Overall, I think I had a really adventurous high school transcript as most kids at my school don't take that many APs (I'm one the only kids to take this many APs), and I contribute to diversity as I'm from Maine (and Indian). I'm writing my college essays on moving and how it affected me, and teaching Hindi to kids. Also, my dad was in the hospital and had medical problems most of my Sophomore and beginning of my Junior year and I'm going to note that on my application, because thats why my grades suffered those years. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>avenlea, as you may already know, your rank, GPA and tests are all in the low range for admission to Rice. Being Asian won’t give you a bump with undergrad admissions at Rice but being from Maine might a bit. The overwhelming majority of Rice’s unhooked admits are from the top 10% (and even the top 5%) of their HS class. Your rank seems pretty far removed from the zone they are looking for. Although you appear to be an A-/B+ student, you do have interesting accomplishments outside the classroom that will at least catch the eye of admissions officers. </p>

<p>The Rice Baylor Medical Scholars program is highly competitive and only 15 are selected for it each year.</p>

3

<p>your reasoning behind your poor GPA will hold no water if you have an SAT like that.</p>

<p>Not that there is anything wrong with your SAT - its just not spectacular. If you want to attribute your GPA to extenuating circumstances, you need to somehow show that it was a fluke, not the norm</p>

4

<p>Apply. Let the Rice admissions folks decide if you are a good fit. They do accept some students with scores in your range, and if your essay moves them… Good luck.</p>

5

<p>I got my ACTs back - 32 composite.
Does that help my chances at all?</p>

6

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<p>Seconded. Avenlea - do apply. Nothing we say about your chances has any real value. If you apply, you can get in.</p>

7

<p>The reason I’m asking is because I’m torn between Northwestern, Rice, and Cornell ED and I’m trying to decide where I have the best shot.</p>

8

<p>“best shot” is never the right way to go with an ED. Honestly, you have an equal shot at all three places probably.</p>

<p>Pick the place you like the best. ED relies heavily on commitment and desire to attend. Apply to the place you really really want to be and it will show on your application</p>