What are my chances? I think they're slim, but...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
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<p>I just recently applied to Rice on Early Decision.</p>

<p>I'm from a pretty small high school. I'd say there's about 80-85 people in my class and I'm pretty sure I'm among the top 10%. I've only taken a college course in Spanish last year and English this year. My GPA is 3.5 (I know, it could be a lot better), but in the past two years I've gotten pretty good grades, usually A's or A+s, with a couple of B's.</p>

<p>I plan on double majoring in biology and astronomy, with the hopes of maybe being a astrobiologist someday. </p>

<p>My test scores aren't the best either. I got a 25 on the ACT (English-25, Math-18, Reading-29, Science-27), but I just took another one with writing and I feel that I improved quite a bit on that one. I'm afraid that my math score will really hurt my chances, being that I want to go into science (especially considering that one of them is astronomy), how much will this fact hurt my chances?
I just did take my SAT IIs about a week ago, so I don't know about those, either, but I feel like I did amazing on Biology-E, but just okay on Literature. Will the fact that I took a test on a subject that has nothing to do with my intended majors really hurt my chances, also?</p>

<p>Family: I come from a divorced family, neither of my parents went to college, and I know no one from Rice. </p>

<p>ECs: I've been involved with my youth group for 4 years, our environmental club for 2 (I became president this year), book club for 1, and I've done various service projects for about 3 years- totalling a little over 500+ hours of service. I don't have any work experience. </p>

<p>Essays: In my first essay I wrote about my ambitions and how they make me who I am. On the second essay (the diversity one), I wrote about how my experiences shaped me into the unique person I am. I also mentioned in both essays my fierce determination, motivation, curiosity, and my unwillingness to give up. </p>

<p>Awards: Perfect attendance, Academic achievement, and a science award which is awarded in recognition to a student who exhibits a great interest and ability in the area of science.</p>

<p>I am aware that some of these things definitely do not help my chances, but I would appreciate an honest opinion about what you think my chances are. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I personally would not add the award of perfect attendance
I think that you're doing fine
Just improve your ACT or SAT Math score
When you say GPA of 3.5 do you mean weighted or unweighted?
Well i'd say that you have a chance
I think that your essay is great
"Fierce determination" it sounds strong!
good luck im sure there is a chance plus Rice accepts a lot of ED ppl</p>

<p>Number of early decision applications received: 596
Number admitted under early decision plan: 175
Number enrolled under early decision plan: 169 </p>

<p>what do you think are my chances?
I'm so scared
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/416108-what-my-chances-into-ee-cs.html#post4894800%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/416108-what-my-chances-into-ee-cs.html#post4894800&lt;/a>
Thanks</p>

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<p>Oh yeah, I guess I should have mentioned that the GPA is unweighted.</p>

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<p>I would add your perfect attendance award. Part of what makes a Rice student a Rice student is their hunger for knowledge and their incredible hard work ethic. They want to be in class and learning. I think every award is important.</p>

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<p>I would say a 25 ACT or an equivalent SAT is extremely high risk at Rice without serious hooks, such as #1 in a sport, URM or some (inter)national recognition. I would venture to say that a 27-28 ACT for the high score might be a bright line for a valedictorian with good everything else, but no such special hooks. Although dramatic score changes on retest occur, especially with preparation, it is asking a lot. Long reaches are okay, but prudence is a good set of applications January through February where several applications hit schools in their 25%-75% range for GPA and tests scores. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>I would not add the perfect attendance - just because you are expected to do jut that. Your parents pay for every day of school and you are supposed to go to it. </p>

<p>The ACT score isnt good. Will hurt your chances. Otherwise, seems good</p>

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<p>You have a great chance of getting in, you just have to raise your ACT score. Are you from texas? If you are in the top ten percent will give you a good change of pretty much getting into any school in texas.</p>

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<p>yeah, good luck, i believe u can get in.</p>

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<p>A random question:</p>

<p>Why do people post chances threads after applying??? I can understand posting it before to help decide where to apply and how to maximize chances of getting in.</p>

<p>But after applying? - how does any response make a difference/affect anything?</p>

<p>P.S This is a general question, not specific to the OP</p>

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<p>We are nervous - that's why. </p>

<p>After sending in our application, we realize that everything is completely out of our hands. Which makes things a bit nerve-wracking. So, acting upon our newly-found insecurity, we go to these college boards to see what other people think, and maybe check out other applicants.</p>

<p>And plus, posting before applying doesn't seem to help much either. I mean, everyone knows that maximizing chances ensues raising SAT/GPA numbers, enhancing ECs, etc. So posting chance threads might not help much either.</p>

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<p>And of course, some people just like to brag: "I have a 5.0 GPA and 2400 SAT and 36 ACT and 10,000 hours of EC's and bla bla bla (I know, my grades suck)". Please...</p>