Chances/Advice for Rice in 2015

KeirasMom
Mon, 19 Aug 2013 21:37:33 +0000

I am not an expert, but after having gone through this with my kids, I think it comes down to three simple things for selective colleges, such as Rice.


Grades
SAT/ACT scores
Something that makes you stand out


So work on those grades. Get into the top 10%. Study for the SAT and ACT. Take them both a couple times if you have to. And then find something interesting about yourself that makes you different from the rest. Can you become captain of the girls varsity wrestling team? That sounds pretty unique to me. Community service is good, but lots of people have lots of community service hours. Play up the unique parts of your community service - what is a therapeutic riding center and what unique qualities do you have that makes you so good at volunteering there. Stand out in a few really unique ways so that someone will take a second look at your application.

By the way, volunteering is great. But a paid job (one where you can actually get fired, not babysitting or working in your parents’ office) is pretty unique these days. If you have a real job, write about it in your essay.

Oh, and number 4 - don’t get your heart set on any one college. Rice is great. But there are other great schools out there. Apply to several of your dream schools, not just one.