Rice/WUSTL/Emory/gatech/MIT

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Well there's no easy way to stop careless math errors except practice and learning to work both quickly and methodically. The essay...I don't know what to say, I got a 10 on both the ones I took and all the practice ones online, so my only suggestion is take up all the space they give you because there is supposed to still be a weak correllation between length and score. </p>

<p>Any other thoughts on those schools? Also, what do you think my chances would be for merit aid at Rice, WUSTL, or Emory(assuming I can even get nominated for emory scholars at my high school, theres a lot of interest in it at my school(since were in GA) and my counselor hinted I might not be able to get nominated because I'll have only been there 11-12)?</p>

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<p>I love how people take a completely linear approach of both the "overall greatness" of a school (which can't even be measured) and the selectivity of schools. </p>

<p>Just because a school is ranked higher on USNWR does not mean is better in anyway. I mean, they compute alumni donations for chrissake (which obviously favors large schools).</p>

<p>Many of the top schools are simply reaches. Assigning precise numerical percentages on the chances of someone getting in is a joke. Also, just because you get into school X, doesn't mean your going to get into every school thats "less selective" than school X. That should show a certain degree of randomness in the admissions process.</p>

<p>Slipper, I don't know what the hell your trying to imply with your posts, as if somehow someone going to Duke is better or smarter than someone going to Rice. I got into both Rice and Duke, yet waitlisted at Johns Hopkins and flat out rejected at UMichigan. How do you explain that trend? Oh right, the schools were ALL REACHES. I don't care what your stats are, the holistic admissions process makes the schools reaches for everyone.</p>

<p>And btw, I chose Rice over Duke (and a bunch of other very selective schools), which would probably shock slipper, who somehow believes that Nalcon would prefer Duke, Penn, Columbia over Rice because he thinks the former schools are "simply better, I mean look at UNSWR," when Nalcon has already mentioned Rice is his preferred choice. Oh, and btw, Rice and Duke where both ~1000 miles from where I live, and Duke actually offered me even MORE finaid money that Rice, yet I chose Rice, because in my personal opinion, RICE IS BETTER THAN DUKE.</p>

<p>Top schools cannot be ranked linearly in terms of quality or selectivity. And I'm tired of the repeated non-Ivy bashing on CC. In fact, that's why I largely avoided the Ivys. Who knows what percentage of the student body went there simply because they are "Ivy" or "prestige" whores. I certainly do not want to enjoy those people's company.</p>

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<p>You are right to be pretty optimistic about getting into WashU, but don't get too optimistic...this year they overenrolled by like 100-150 kids (meaning they will have to accept fewer people next year to account for housing shortages and yield increase). Additionally, many are saying next year will be a record year for applications there. Don't expect it to be too easy to get into. Just how hard are we talking? Well, factor in the increase in yield (a good 3-4% increase this year), the resulting housing shortage (means they will have to accept fewer so that they can meet housing demand), and the annual increase in applications (which has been about 500-700 each year).</p>

<p>The result? Well this year, the acceptance rate was probably about 18%...next year? Accounting for these factors, it might jump below 15%.</p>

<p>Just letting you all know.</p>

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<p>I love how people take a completely linear approach of both the "overall greatness" of a school (which can't even be measured) and the selectivity of schools. </p>

<p>Just because a school is ranked higher on USNWR does not mean is better in anyway. I mean, they compute alumni donations for chrissake (which obviously favors large schools).</p>

<p>Many of the top schools are simply reaches. Assigning precise numerical percentages on the chances of someone getting in is a joke. Also, just because you get into school X, doesn't mean your going to get into every school thats "less selective" than school X. That should show a certain degree of randomness in the admissions process.</p>

<p>Slipper, I don't know what the hell your trying to imply with your posts, as if somehow someone going to Duke is better or smarter than someone going to Rice. I got into both Rice and Duke, yet waitlisted at Johns Hopkins and flat out rejected at UMichigan. How do you explain that trend? Oh right, the schools were ALL REACHES. I don't care what your stats are, the holistic admissions process makes the schools reaches for everyone.</p>

<p>And btw, I chose Rice over Duke (and a bunch of other very selective schools), which would probably shock slipper, who somehow believes that Nalcon would prefer Duke, Penn, Columbia over Rice because he thinks the former schools are "simply better, I mean look at UNSWR," when Nalcon has already mentioned Rice is his preferred choice. Oh, and btw, Rice and Duke where both ~1000 miles from where I live, and Duke actually offered me even MORE finaid money that Rice, yet I chose Rice, because in my personal opinion, RICE IS BETTER THAN DUKE.</p>

<p>Top schools cannot be ranked linearly in terms of quality or selectivity. And I'm tired of the repeated non-Ivy bashing on CC. In fact, that's why I largely avoided the Ivys. Who knows what percentage of the student body went there simply because they are "Ivy" or "prestige" whores. I certainly do not want to enjoy those people's company.</p>

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<p>colorado state. trust me. its pimp.</p>

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<p>Slipper, you think it is easier to get into Rice and WashU than it is to get into Penn and Duke? It's no easier...in fact, it's just as hard to get into the former two as it is to get into the latter two. Rice accepts under 22% of its applicants. WashU, under 18%, and this number is supposed to drop quite a bit next year.</p>

<p>As far as Brown and Dartmouth, I would still consider them slightly more selective than WashU and Rice.</p>

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<p>Sorry...I somehow missed GATech on your list. That is a very good safety. You might, however, want to still consider UGA, as I believe they have one of the best honors colleges in the country, and if you need money, you'll probably get it, if the lowered tuition isn't enough in the first place.</p>

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<p>I got aid at MIT, with a higher income. --not a bad amount of aid either. So I'd the say the chances of you getting aid aren't that bad.</p>

<p>Anyways, GT (safety) and most likely Presidential Scholar if you apply by Oct. 31 (the app is super easy...it shouldn't be a problem). They're also rolling, so you get to find out if you're in before everyone else...it's fun.</p>

<p>Emory...Match...go for Emory Scholars...I bet that you would get it. It's free...so that would solve the whole aid problem. </p>

<p>I'd say that you'd get into Rice, WUSTL, and UNC Chapel.</p>

<p>Harvard and MIT are reaches for anyone...but I'd say that you have a good shot if you explain the not many EC's thing.</p>

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<p>i like slipper, he has a lot to offer this online community</p>

<p>however, he is in a bubble!</p>

<p>He thinks that there is a core of like 7 schools that are at the top!</p>

<p>and then he groups like rice/washu/northwestern/chicago/cornell/jhu in a teer which is lower, for what reason, idk</p>

30

<p>@aviatrix, I am going to try for Emory scholars and presidential at GT, but like I said I'm not even sure I could get nominated at my school for scholars, it is a very competitive public school and like you can see my ECs/awards are somewhat weak while there is an abundance of people at the school who have comparable scores but also do varsity sports, captain debate etc, not to mention like I said the counselor said my being here for only a year so far puts me at another disadvantage.</p>

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<p>I had to say something after you are applying to 4 of the same schools as me. So ima comment on WUSTL, Rice, Tech and MIT</p>

<p>WUSTL- ppl on this board say that WUSTL will reject students who use them as a ivy safety and they may see you as being overqualified. I do not really believe that but what some say.</p>

<p>Rice- Seems like you should get in I have no idea why not. At a information session they said 15% of incoming freshman get merit based aid so i think you are in the ballpark.</p>

<p>MIT- All about luck of the draw when it comes to schools this tough. Never can be totally sure but definitely competitive</p>

<p>Tech- Your in try for Preidential Scholars program here.apply before Oct 31st.</p>

<p>You got much better stats than me. I am reaching for Rice and WUSTL and applying to MIT for the hell of it. Tech and UT are good ones for me.</p>

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<p>I don't get it, how do these schools know you are using them for an "ivy safety" and not a match? Do they think students should ONLY apply to reaches and not to any realistic chances? Thats such a stupid way of thinking. If they want a higher yield rate then they should either drop their very high tuition or give more money out. If thats true then it really ****es1 me off. Sorry just had to vent a little since thats not the first time I've heard that.</p>

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<p>Rice does have some very nice merit scholarships. However, they count against any Rice need base aid. My daughter got $60k from Rice. It didn't really change the cost of attendance by more than a couple of thousand because it offset aid she would have gotten anyway. You need to get a number from your father (and be sure it considers living expenses at a good state school) and then run the FA calculators to see where you are.</p>

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<p>If you can't afford Harvard, then you can't afford these other schools mentioned that do not offer merit, ie, MIT, Penn, Brown, etc.</p>

<p>This thread has beaten selectivity issues to death, but in fact, you need to be concentrating on schools that are more affordable (Rice, state schools, private schools with merit aid).</p>

<p>You already know about the merit situation at Rice, Emory, and WUSTL. I would also suggest Duke (small number of merit awards), UVa (state school tuition), Vanderbilt (more merit awards). As opposed to MIT, these schools have merit awards: CalTech, Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, and RPI.</p>

<p>If you are in-state Georgia, doesn't HOPE cover all tuition at GaTech? (ie, why need Presidential?) Also, in state tuition is much lower than these other options anyway.</p>

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<p>I think(not sure) that presidential can cover room/board which is ~10k per year, which is all that my dad is paying for my brother to go there. I do realize that the chances are low of me getting aid at Harvard/MIT but I'm going to apply anyway just to see if I get lucky</p>

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<p>Nalcon, how does your brother like GT? (I keep reading how students are not happy and it's so hard and so much work.)</p>

<p>I think the education, and long term reputaton, makes MIT worth the tuition costs, if the atmosphere is a match for you. Again, I think you should also look into CalTech & CMU. You would probably get close to total tuition at Case.</p>

<p>I'm not sure I know anyone who has been admitted to Harvard who did not have some kind of "connection". It really seems to be about connections.</p>

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<p>i know a few people who were admitted to harvard with no connections- one was an asian with a sub 1400 SAT. It is possible, and in fact it happens often, most people do not have connections</p>

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<p>@WS17, I can't really tell how happy he is, he starts in 2 weeks. I just know the cost because they paid for the first year a little while ago. One thing I will say about GT, is it does NOT have a campus feel at all. It is basically just a collection of buildings in a general area called GT. I've spent 250+ hours here over the summer doing a research internship and it feels more like a city than a campus.</p>

<p>edit: also, the dorms are overcrowded (some of the undergraduates in my lab-group weren't able to get on-campus housing this year) and when my bro stayed overnight in them for orientation he said they suck a s s. Not size-wise but all old and dirty looking, he said he's definitly wearing sandals when he showers because there were puddles of sitting moldy water in the communal bathrooms.</p>

<p>Sorry to only bring up bad aspects, it is one of the top engineering schools in the nation.</p>