Yet another chance post

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Yep. I'm giving in and asking. Sorry.</p>

<p>Class of 2013
GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 5.3267
ACT: 34 (English 34, Math 31, Reading 33, Science 36, Writing 8) - one sitting
No SAT or SAT IIs
Class Rank: 22/568 (top 4%)</p>

<p>Previous AP exams: World History (3) and English Language (5)
Also 15 hours of credit from the community college. </p>

<p>Senior course load:
AP Physics C, AP European History, AP English Lit, AP Statistics, and two blocks of Wind Ensemble (1st band)...I have two off-periods - does that look bad?</p>

<p>ECs: Marching and concert band all four years, including being section leader and being a featured soloist senior year, President of German Club three years, UIL Literary Criticism two years, member of the local county orchestra two years, did volunteer work with the local animal shelter, a charity that records audiobooks for the blind, and a local LGBT film festival.</p>

<p>My essays are both pretty good I think. The Common App one was about prejudices and stereotypes. I spoke about experiencing prejudice due to being a Texan with family roots, but mostly I talked about Islamophobia and how it is an issue of importance to me due to having Islamic family members. I received a handwritten note from the Assistant Director of Admissions at Austin College complimenting it, if that helps any. My supplement essay was about the three years I spent abroad as a child and how it has shaped my perspective and my interests. I get very in detail about specific memories and places and (hopefully) adequately express my eagerness to attend Rice. Feel pretty confident about both essays. The two short answers...ehhh. They are perhaps too short. They are well-written, and they get my point across, but it still worries me.</p>

<p>My recommendations should be good. The counselor one I've read, looks pretty good, and the other is from a teacher I've had multiple times who knows and likes practically my whole family. </p>

<p>I've had an off-campus interview that was fairly good, and I've visited the campus.</p>

<p>OH. And if it makes a difference, I'm a white female from Texas. From what I hear, the Texas bit does. :/</p>

2

<p>Your ACT will line you up with the other applicants. Your ECs are decent.</p>

<p>In the end its gonna come down to your essays.</p>

<p>I say its low to moderate reach</p>

3

<p>So now that I’m getting more into this site and learning the lingo, I’m having more questions lol. I know that when using the term “match”, “high match” means low chances and “low match” means high chances. When using “reach”, though, do you mean it like it sounds? Low to moderate reach meaning low to moderate chances? Sorry to be confused. I have a habit of taking things literally and the whole “match” thing threw me a fast one.</p>

4

<p>Sorry! Did my research on the terms. I read from some people that schools with extremely low acceptance rates (like Rice) are considered at the very least a reach for everyone. I know it makes sense for me, being within the 25%-75% range for test scores. Actually knowing what those terms mean does help, though. Thank you so much for your reply! </p>

<p>This random, but would anybody be willing to read my essays? There’s obviously nothing I can do about them now, but I am obsessing over my prospects at Rice so much that I find myself wanting every possible opinion. Mentally preparing myself for the letter, I guess, good or ill.</p>

5

<p>Hey jkmmmm,</p>

<p>I know it’s hard to keep from obsessing but since the application is out of your hands, don’t spend too much time worrying about your essays. You’ll only find places where you feel like you could have improved. I was accepted ED and for the last few weeks before they released acceptance information, I was stressing over my whole application and found lots of room for improvement (I forgot to list some big awards and good extracurriculars, I thought all my essays were too scatterbrained, etc.) but it all worked out okay! Do something to take your mind off of your essays instead of beating yourself up over things you can’t change. Start a new TV series (all I did was watch Netflix for a week before I found out) and enjoy your senior year. Hopefully everything will work out the way you want it to!</p>

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<p>Yeah, I know I am getting too obsessed over this. :frowning: I’ve accepted that I can’t change anything in my application. Really what I’m getting too worked up over is just trying to determine whether or not I’ll be accepted, which I know is of course ridiculous. Impatience plus obsession is not a good combination with me. </p>

<p>I really appreciate the advice! Funnily enough, I’ve been marathoning through Supernatural on Netflix with my sister, which does help.</p>