How exactly selective is Rice?

Colleges & Universities Rice University
1

<p>I’ll be graduating from high school in May of 2007. The Rice/Baylor MSP program has really appealed to me and therefore, I’m interested in applying to Rice this fall. From what I’ve read so far in the forums, it’s hard for me to exactly kind of figure out the niche at which Rice University targets. But, then again, the college admission process is sporadic and hard to predict in general. But, I’m wondering in a given college application - what’s more important to rice or is every aspect about equally the same. A lot of colleges say they consider students holistically, but sadly enough a lot of the times it falls down to pure numbers. Is that sort of how it is with Rice or do they really use a fresh approach? </p>

<p>Meanwhile, I’ll generally outline my credentials:</p>

<p>Background:
Asian-American from Alaska
Both parents have only grade school education.
Speak English and another language about the same. English was learned as a second language upon moving from India to the U.S. during third grade.
Economic Status: Higher Middle Class - Lower Upper Class</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted) 4.32 (weighted) out of 5
Class Rank: 2/304
SATI: ~2200 (Projection)
SATII: Have not taken them yet.</p>

<p>Course Work:
9th:
Algebra II
English Honors
Chemistry
Biology
Spanish I
Health/Art
10th:
AP Calculus AB
AP Art History
AP Chemistry
English Honors
World History Honors
Human Anatomy/Phys - Art
11th:
AP US History
AP Composition
AP Biology
Physics
AP Government
Art</p>

<p>12th:
AP Physics
AP Calculus BC
AP Art Portfolio
AP Macro Econ
AP English Lit.</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
NHS - 2 Years
Key Club - 2 Years
Tutoring - 2 Years
Throughout my high school, I’ve help my parents about 20 hours per week
Grad-Level Science Research - 2 Years
Hospital Volunteer Work - 1 Year</p>

<p>HONORS, AWARDS, AND MEMBERSHIPS
• 1st Place; National History Day, Fairbanks, Alaska, February 15, 2006
• 1st Place; Alaska High School Science Symposium, Fairbanks, Alaska, March 3, 2006
• 2nd Place; Alaska Science and Engineering Fair, Anchorage, Alaska, March 10, 2006
• 2nd Place; National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 28, 2006
• 2nd Place Award from the American Psychological Association; International Science and Engineering Fair, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 7-13, 2006<br>
• We the People, March 2006 </p>

<p>hmmmmmmm?? god, i swear the college admission process is a paiiiiiin!</p>

2

<p>Something like geographical diversity can overcome the high selectivity. So being from Alaska helps a lot (add to that your parents’ grade school education).</p>

3

<p>Rice can be kind of random and unpredictable with admissions. The only logic I’ve come up with is that they want diversity and people with a bit of personality. You seem to have a pretty good shot at getting into Rice, but the Rice/Baylor MSP program is very competitive, so I have no idea if you would get into that. Good luck!</p>

<p>Edit: Whatever Rice does to determine admissions, it’s not completely by numbers. My class’s valedictorian with a 1600 (old SAT) didn’t get in, but me, another girl who was in the top 10, and a girl who was in the top 10% of my class, but not they very top, got in. Also some athletes from my school were admitted with scholarships.</p>

4

<p>This year some one with lower scores than you was admitted from alaska. Rice/Baylor is another story, it is very tough and the usual admission factors like gender, zip code or race don’t add much.</p>

5

<p>BAD GRAMMAR TITLE IS THIS!</p>

<p>All that’s left for you now is standardized testing, essays, the box, recommendations, and finishing that first semester of senior year strong. All of these are very important.</p>

<p>As far as SAT2s, Math 2 is easy (an 800 is in the 88th percentile), and you might want to time some of your other ones with the end of some of your courses if you can… if not, it’s still easy to take literature or USHistory any time (I took US 8 months after taking the class and scored a 740… ok). Literature is hard, and it might not speak well for you if that’s not what you’re interested in.</p>

<p>Best wishes.</p>

6

<p>man man man…Rice/baylor is some tough tough stuff…</p>

7

<p>lolz…
you did it serge :P</p>