Should I bother applying? Do I stand a chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>I really really want to go to Rice. I would choose it over any other school in a heartbeat. But the more I look at others' chances threads, the more I realize that I don't have a chance. I don't have a 4.8 gpa, I've never volunteered in a foreign country, I've never participated in a varsity sport, and I don't have any fancy awards.</p>

<p>My grades are really bad, especially sophomore year. I went to 6 high schools in 9th and 10th grade because of a lot of family struggles. Towards the end of 9th grade, my dad had to leave the country so I enrolled in online school to care for my siblings. In 10th grade, my siblings and I were put into another home due to my father's alcoholism, abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, the house didn't have internet access and I couldn't enroll in public school because my guardians were not yet granted my educational rights, so I ended up failing every class.</p>

<p>Things are definitely better now, but I'm afraid that my record disqualifies me from applying.</p>

<p>Grade 9: As, A-s, 1 B+
Grade 10: Fs(1st sem), 1 D 6 As(2nd sem)
Grade 11: As, A-s
Grade 12: All As so far</p>

<p>Cumulative gpa: 3.95
(Retook all failed classes)</p>

<p>I plan to take the ACT and have a projected score of about 32, which I know is low by Rice's standards.
I'll probably take SAT Math II, USH, and Physics in Jan in the hopes that Rice will consider them. I'm aspiring for above 750 in each.</p>

<p>Also, my EC's are pretty sub-par:
Piano/guitar(self-taught) 10-12
CSF, FBLA, Interact Club 11-12
President of Interact 12
Good amount of volunteering(Tutoring, hospice, etc)
Summer job(grade 12)
AcaDeca, Math club 12
Of course caring for my siblings, especially 9th and 10th grades, but I don't think that counts.</p>

<p>My LOR's should help hopefully. My GC said he wished his kids were
like me and that he likes my motivation, and my math teacher told me he thinks I'm an amazing person and a phenomenal student. </p>

<p>My essay will be about teaching myself to play piano and guitar even though I couldn't afford any instruments and
couldn't hear myself play, and how it taught me not to come up with excuses and not to let anything get in the way of achieving my dreams. I'll connect it to my experiences and how it sparked my motivation and helped me to keep pushing forward.</p>

<p>Should I just attend a CC, continue getting straight As and apply as a transfer, or should I apply now? Do I even have a chance?</p>

2

<p>Unless the Rice application fee is a major financial burden, you should definitely apply. Simply put, stuff happens, and you have shown an ability to overcome that and still do well. No one other than the admissions office can admit or reject you, so let them (and not us) make the decision. </p>

<p>Have your GC detail some of the circumstances, if possible. What is your rank (if any)?</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

3

<p>Do apply.</p>

4

<p>@Antarius‌ I may be able to get a fee waiver, although I’m not sure if I can use those for private universities or only public in-state ones. I’ll have to look into that.</p>

<p>My concern is that if I apply this year and get rejected, it will put me at a disadvantage when I apply as a transfer (that’s what I’ve read on these forums, anyway). That is why I’m unsure whether or not I should wait to apply next year.</p>

<p>My class rank is currently somewhere in the top ten out of a class of 350, but my high school is not the most competitive.</p>

5

<p>Transferring can be hard - it heavily depends on the yield of the year and thus there many be very few spots for you. You had one bad semester and have followed it up with several good ones, so one more semester of grades from a CC or something isn’t going to be a game changer (IMO)</p>

6

<p>@Antarius‌ I definitely see where you are coming from, I’ll give it a shot and apply this year. Thank you so much for your help!</p>