I need your opinions that can disprove my parents' claim

Colleges & Universities Rice University
1

<p>Hi, I’m a senior who recently has been arguing with my parents over
what schools to apply. My parents are very upset because I’m not applying
to many “good” hard schools. So they want me to apply to top20 schools(especially RICE) cuz they think I’ll get in, while I highly doubt it. I really don’t want to work on this app
if I have a very slim chance of getting in because I’m very busy working and running
clubs at my school. So could you please chance me so that I can make my final decision?
i know that chancing is kind of dumb, but i really need some kind of advice from you
cuz im arguing with my parents literally every night. If i really don’t have chance
i’ll persuade them with your thoughts and advice.</p>

<p>here goes my resume…</p>

<p>ethinicity: international korean (hurts my chance significantly)</p>

<p>GPA: UW: 3.6 W: 4.1 out of (4.8) <- very bad but i had upward trend</p>

<p>Fr: N/A (was in korea) SO: 3.7 Jr: 4.5 Sr: something less than 4.5, ending my trend</p>

<p>rank: 11%ish (very low)</p>

<p>SAT: CR: 580(GG?) Math: 800 Wr: 650
SAT2: Math2: 800 Physics: 750
ACT: 33
TOEFL IBT: 104 out of 120</p>

<p>AP: BC: 5 CompSci A: 5 Stats: 3 (does rice use it for admission?)</p>

<p>Jr year schedule

  1. AP BC Calc
  2. AP Computer Sci
  3. AP Stats
  4. Honors Physics
  5. Reg English
  6. Reg Latin 2</p>

<p>Sr year

  1. Calc3+college linear algebra
  2. AP bio
  3. AP chem
  4. Honors Applied Chem
  5. Honors Eng
  6. Honors Latin 3</p>

<ul>
<li>taking AP Physic C Mech at EPGY online class</li>
</ul>

<p>EC & Awards (stuff that I actually cared and did consistently)</p>

<p>Award

  1. member of state math team champion (SO: 2nd Jr: 1st)
  2. 15 small+ unpopular national math awards
  3. 5 small math certificates</p>

<p>Club

  1. Math team (3yrs)
  2. Stats club (1yr)
  3. math club (2yr)</p>

<p>I honestly don’t think I have very slim chance cuz

  1. my gpa is terrible
  2. i’m not even in top 10
  3. my ec is extremely ONE-SIDED
  4. I got 2 C’s sophomore year
  5. i’m doing so bad in my senior year
  6. I’m Korean International</p>
2

<p>Do you want to go to Rice but are just afraid you won’t get in?</p>

<p>If so, I think you should go for it. Your application will have some unusual strong points (e.g., calculus III and linear algebra in high school). Are you wanting to major in math or a closely related subject? If so, your ECs, while one-sided, will demonstrate your interest in the area. It’s hard to predict how the admissions committee would react. You just need to apply and see what happens.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if you actually don’t want to go (in addition to not thinking you can get in), then of course you shouldn’t apply. Don’t apply to a college you wouldn’t want to attend even if you got admitted.</p>

<p>Best luck!</p>

3

<p>i think you should go for it! you seem pretty strong applicant.
i know what you mean, i think i argue with my parents atleast once a week about college:(</p>

4

<p>Luna, surely it’s possible for the OP to get in, but the question was whether he could use the fact that he “can’t” get in against his parents’ making him apply.</p>

<p>It’s one thing if you actually WANT to go to Rice but you’re afraid that you won’t get in and therefore disappoint your parents. It’s a completely different scenario if you reallyyyyy don’t want to go to Rice and don’t want to apply despite your parents’ forcing you to, and you want to use “I can’t get in” as an excuse to not apply.</p>

5

<p>According to the sources, Rice is significantly, disproportionately stepping up its placement of international students, including Asians. It is dramatically expanding its freshmen enrollment over several years, from ~700 to ~1000 freshmen. </p>

<p>You have a strong curriculum. What Rice will need to assess is your school’s rigor, grading and difficulty, what those grades really mean, to give an accurate evaluation of your capabilities and motivation. 2 C’s in tough schools doesn’t kill an application. Certainly you are talented and motivated in math. </p>

<p>In the US, Korean students as a whole have an outstanding reputation for hard work ethic. What is a minor concern, is your pessimism, hopefully a passing cloud formed in a highly competitive high school. What would be a major concern, is if you have your heart set on something else, feel that you want off of a too fast track, or your grades significantly slip this semester. </p>

<p>The most important thing is to find a school you can love, learn, and that you can excel. I had one daughter that had the stats for Rice, didn’t even apply. She chose to go St. Olaf in Minnesota, where the music, chemistry and math departments are reasonably strong. With a high SAT, strong college gpa, not quite as strong math, she could still get year early medical school tours and interviews. However, if you want to go to Rice, their ongoing expansion with talented Asian high school students should be most favorable to your consideration. </p>

<p>Ultimately <em>you</em> should decide what schools are the right fit, and your parents need to respect your choices. It is in their best interest, too. Fire a careful salvo of applications spread for safety and desire, get quality help if time and parents are a problem, and good luck.</p>

6

<p>Your resume looks familiar to others’ - you are not a lock to get into Rice.</p>

7

<p>I worry that you are sabatoging yourself. As I read your post, I think you’re almost trying to screw up. I know applications are annoying. I know applications take away from all the fun stuff you do. I know you’d rather not write applications at all. But, too bad. this is the time in your life that you just have to sit down and write those annoying applications. It’s tough to know that your parents are right, but just do it. Keep your options open and just apply.</p>

8

<p>fellow korean bro! you gotta believe in yourself man!!</p>

9

<p>thanks you all!:slight_smile: i have thought about it for a while and decided to apply to Rice.
But I still don’t really expect to get in… but i’ll just try</p>

10

<p>To quote Yoda (Star Wars) "Do, or do not. There is no try. "
Really go for it, and best of luck!</p>