<p>Sorry that there are so many threads like this, but I have wanted to go to Rice for the past couple of years, but I am starting to have serious worries. Someone told me that Rice accepts a maximum of 2-4 people per school. Is this true? If it is there is no way I am getting into Rice. </p>
<p>I am #33 out of 498 students in my class, but Rice is the first choice of the valedictorian, the salutitorian, #8, #11, #15, #22 and #30 in my class. Two years ago Rice took all of the top four students of the school and nobody else.</p>
<p>I am a Junior in high school with a 5.28 weighted GPA (I'm not sure what it is unweighted, but its in the high 3's) I haven't taken the SAT yet, but I got a 226 on the PSAT, and expect to get at least over 2200 on the SAT. (I had looked at the statistics and my PSAT scores were the highest in my class) I have done little in terms of volunteer work...I usher at my church every week and have done habitat for humanity, but nothing really on a regular basis.</p>
<p>I was accepted into NASA aerospace scholars just recentley (a summer program sponsored by NASA that selects 300 applicants each year after rigourous tests) And I am active in the Math Science club at my school, and I also got accepted into NHS yesterday. I am president of the (completley worthless) German club.</p>
<p>However, my grades in Math have been slipping alot recentley. In PAP precal I have fallen from a 90 to an 88 to a 78 to a 73 and back up to an 82, and I don't expect to make more than an 83 this last semester. This is why I am not in the top 10 or 20 in my class.</p>
<p>Should I be worried? What should I do to increase my chances? If Rice accepts so few applicants, why should I even bother?</p>
<p>I'm not familiar with Rice's admissions system, but from my own experience, I can tell you that Rice looks for well-rounded students. Rice doesn't look at only a portion of your academic transcript or standardized testing scores. Rather, Rice is searching for students from various academic and social backgrounds, which is why I personally think Rice students are so great. Trust me, I didn't have stellar standardized testing scores like the ones you find on CC, yet I still applied to Rice and got in. </p>
<p>It is only your Junior year and I'm sure you can fix that low math grade of yours if you're so worried about it. Don't let that pull you down because if you continue to go downward, then you'll really decrease your chances of getting into Rice. </p>
<p>Sorry I wasn't much of a help. Good luck though! :)</p>
<p>Rice admissions are a bit harder for instate students partially because Rice wants geographic diversity. However, because Rice has holistic admissions, the people that you 'expect' Rice to accept isn't necessarily who they will accept. 2 years ago from my school, Rice accepted #4, #9, #10, some girl that was someplace in the top 10%, an athlete in the top 10%, and another athlete that was probably not in the top 10-15% of my class. Rice may have accepted some more people that I dont' know. My valedictorian was rejected, as well as a bunch of other people.</p>
<p>Rice admissions are a bit unpredictable, especially if you don't look past SAT/GPA/rank/other numbers. After a certain point, they don't care- a 2300 is probably just as good as a 2400, as far as their admissions department is concerned. If you love Rice, apply and hope for the best (try interim decision if you're not sure- you might get a decision sooner, and I think that a slightly higher percentage are accepted), but make sure you have a safety. I know someone who applied only to Rice's music school (not a good idea) and was rejected, which left him scrambling to find someplace to go to school in April.</p>
<p>Would it help for me to mention in my application that I am passionate about writing literature and music? I have written an unpublished novel and several unpublished short stories, and I have written many pieces of music over the years. I feel confident that I can write a well thought out essay, if only I knew what they were looking for.</p>
<p>I don't remember how the Rice application looked like, but I'm sure you could attach some of your favorite written pieces to your overall package if you think it will help reflect your character.</p>
<p>I agree that Rice is a bit weird about its admissions process. Yes, they definitely like geographic diversity so if you're asian and you're from Houston (like me) you're definitely at a disadvantage (where in TX are you from btw?)...mainly because so many asian and just people in general apply from Houston. This year is one of my school's best years in a while - we had 5 ppl accepted into Rice (#5,11,14,15, and a recruited athlete somewhere in top 10%). The valedictorian and the salulitorian (me) were deferred and rejected, respectively. So it is obvious that Rice takes rank into consideration but not as an be all end all.</p>
<p>From what I've read, it seems like you have some prestigious award--the Aerospace Scholar one is definitely well known. Youre PSAT score suggest that you're a smart and lazy person?? lol. My school is pretty average and basically anyone below the top 25 ranks doesnt even break a 2000 on the SAT. Don't worry so much about the "B". I got a B in ap physics class my junior year and yea it didnt really hinder my application.</p>
<p>Finally, it is good to have some matches and reaches as well, regardless of whether u think you have a good chance of getting in or not. For example, I was accepted at Brown and MIT yet i was rejected at rice and waitlisted at johns hopkins and northwestern. Admissions work in weird ways I guess so even if they are reaches apply!!</p>
<p>My D was accepted to Rice last year, and a boy in her class who got into MIT was rejected by Rice. There is no way to predict college admissions. As a junior just keep doing the best you can, and apply to several schools where you fit the profile and try to love them all the same. It's never a good idea to get your heart set on only one (or even two) place(s). Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Agreed mercymom ... someone from my son's school this year was accepted to Stanford and not Rice. You just never know. It's especially competitive if you're from Texas, and if you're a Houstonian, it's even harder.</p>
<p>the fear of rejection shouldn't prevent you from applying to a school that you have wanted to go to for awhile. I would apply to other schools in addition to Rice- if you get rejected then you get rejected and you move on.</p>
<p>I am also a junior who desperately wants to be accepted into Rice. I came across your discussion the other day. Four people were accepted from my school this year, #1, #4, #6, and some baseball player on a full ride. That is the largest amount of people accepted from my school in years. From what I've heard from them and from reading the Rice website, you need to show your character more than your numbers. When one of my teachers heard that Rice is my top choice, all she said was that you either have to be valedictorian, a minority, or an athlete. I don't believe that. If you have any suggestions for me, I'd be happy to recieve them. Thanks!</p>
<p>ok heres all the ppl who got in at my school that i know of:</p>
<h1>3 ID</h1>
<h1>4 ED</h1>
<h1>6 ED</h1>
<h1>7 ED</h1>
<h1>8 RD</h1>
<h1>17 RD</h1>
<h1>50 RD</h1>
<p>a few ppl within the top 30 got rejected
interestingly, #1 and #2 are both going to UT</p>
<p>the best thing you could do is to apply ED, which you were prolly going to do anyways, and try to call early to get an on-campus interview. Make yourself standout at the same time explaining ur lower grades without coming off like ur making an excuse for them. </p>
<p>try your best to bring up your grades this semester because if your applying ED, theyre the last grades Rice will see before making their decision.</p>
<p>Why apply to Rice? Because as a likely NM semifinalist next year, many colleges will look twice, including Rice if it follows previous admissions patterns. Rice awarded ~100 National Merit Scholarships per year for over 30 years, starting with a entering class of ca. 630, which suggests a serious interest in NMFs. I am not sure of Rice's NMS program now. Also you have said little about your high school. That said, you need to work on your grades - the implications of test and grade disparities are the greatest risk for both you and Rice (or any demanding school) if you go. </p>
<p>This next year you need to try to better understand what best matches, inspires and/or motivates you and find that in the college of your choice. Colleges with less challenge may be poison to your interest and motivation long term. One other word of caution, pay attention to the terms of any merit aid offers. Is that a 2.0 or 3.5 GPA cumulative, or every semester, that you need to maintain for merit awards? Some more aggressively marketed schools may shop <em>any</em> National Merit Finalist very hard, with little regard to the fit, the next year or graduation. Watch those graduation statistics. The college with the biggest name is frequently not the best fit either. I could name one or two "top 20" universities that I would NOT have easily allowed my teens to attend.</p>
<p>Rice can be a great school with a lot of flexibility, opportunities and support, but they are serious about academic performance. </p>
<p>Most valedictorians probably can't get into Rice (figure SAT score problems without hooks), and don't even apply. I suspect that a greater percentage of NMFs can, and do, get in. Based on that PSAT, you might also look at UT's Plan II, national top 10 (and top 50) LACs, some USNews top 10-50 universities, some schools that award test related merit awards, and lay in a couple of carefully chosen safeties. This summer would not be too late to start a serious self-assessment and college research with some phone calls and tours. Good luck.</p>