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Im applying to Rice under the binding early plan. Any ideas on where I could help my record:

SAT I (v/m) 530/600
ACT: 27 (Going to submit this and retake in Oct)
SAT ii: Writng: 600, Math IC 630, Im going to retake the writing, and take the Lit & maTH IIC, hoping to have a 650+ score

GPA: 4.0 (101.5)

EC:
*250+ Service Hours
*Single handedly organized and carried out a Youth Festival for the community for a day of fun and no cost--took about 40 hours a week for 6 months, at same time going to school. No payment--done for satisfying Girl Scout Gold Award
*Manager for Varsity Softball 3 years
*Feature Editor for School Paper 3 years
*Asst Editor In Chief School Paper 1 year
*Hoping to be editor this year
*Spanish Club Historian 3 years
*Placed 2nd in Regional FCCLA contest
*VP National Honor Society
*VP FCCLA
*Leadership High School
*Interact Club (Community Service Club)
*Founder and Co President for JSA (Political Science/politics club)
*Girl Scout Member for 11 years, earned Silver and Gold Awards, Community Serice, Leader In Training...
I took for the first 3 years of High School all the APs and advanced electives the school offers, but now in senior year there are only 4 left and I have to take 7 classes, so Im taking 2 newspapers and office aid.

Any advice on where I could stenghthen my resume to make me a more "appealing' applicant. I have wanted to go to Rice for SEVERAL years!!

By Kousuke (Kousuke) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 09:00 pm: Edit

raise that SAT score about 300 points and you have a shot

By Dreadpirate (Dreadpirate) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 09:55 pm: Edit

Disregarding the athletes and others with significant hooks and looking at those admitted purely on academic merit, the average SAT 1 is probably in the 1440 to 1460 range and might be somewhat higher than that for engineers. The majority of SAT 2 scores are >700. If you are planning to submit SATs, you should try for at least 1400 plus some improvement in your SAT 2s. If you can raise your ACT to 31 or 32 you would have a shot with your strong EC's.

What AP's have you taken and what were your AP test scores? The average Rice matriculant in 2003 had more than 20 hours of AP credit, or at least 4 AP scores of 4 or 5.

By Wrc08 (Wrc08) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 11:12 pm: Edit

Your GPA is really strong (the way I used to compute it in high school would make your 4.0 a perfect unweighted gpa). Applying early is probably your best shot - however you probably need to improve your SAT scores perhaps only 100 or so points because your EC's and GPA appear excellent. The pool for early decision is slightly easier - best of luck to you!

By Riceowlette (Riceowlette) on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 04:13 pm: Edit

I am going to use the ACT in place of the SAT, because I am better at nkowledge than logic. I have taken the folowing scedules:

9th grade
PAP Biology
PAP Alegebra I
PAP English I
PAP World Geography
PAP Spansih I
Health
Art
Keyboarding
Home Ec

10th Grade
Algebra II Honors
PAP English II
World History
PAP Chemistry
Spanish II Honors
Newspaper
Interior Design
Photo Journalism
AP Psychology
Softball

11th Grade
AP Biology
AP English III
AP US History
PAP Pre Cal
Geometry Honors
Newspaper
Softball
Honors Spanish III

Senior Year
AP English IV
AP Computer Science
PAP Physics
AP Spanish IV
Newspaper
Independent Study Newspaper (or Calculus AB AP--CANT DECIDE)

I will retake the SAT, SAT II, AND ACT To raise them!

By Sandy (Sandy) on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 04:40 pm: Edit

Your ECs and classes look good, but, as previously mentioned, your test scores are a concern! Last year, when I applied ED, there were a few candidates with good GPA and ECS but mediocre SAT scores. To my surprise, many of them were deferred or outright rejected. If I were you, I would work extremely hard at raising the ACT or SAT 1 (or both)! Although SAT IIs are extremely important, in my experience, Rice seems to care more about SAT 1 (or ACT). And ya...Rice doesn't ask for AP scores, but I would submit an official report if I were you! Good AP scores can only strengthen your application and also help you if you have weak SAT II scores....Anyway, good luck! Relax, you will do just fine!!!

By Scetoaux (Scetoaux) on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 09:19 pm: Edit

hey sandy, why aren't you on im anymore? See you at oweek!

I must agree that I was not under the impression that Rice cares a lot about satII scores.

If I can say anything about the Rice admissions process and what Rice is looking for it is that perfect scores and ECs are much less important than who you are personally.

By Wrc08 (Wrc08) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 03:07 am: Edit

I think Rice must care to some degree about SAT II scores - because they are a very good way of validating someone's GPA. If someone gets all A's in English but scores in the 500's on writing - then it is a red flag. However, if one goes to an extremely difficult highschool and delivers B's through out 4 years yet gets a high 700 score - that demonstrates the ability of the student and the difficulty of the high school. Obviously GPA, SAT I, SAT II, and EC's are probably best seen as a whole and thus going back to riceowlette's post - having good SAT 1 & 2 scores are probably very important and should be something you focus on! However, I'm not in the office of admissions so this is all speculation; and once again - good luck!

By Jym626 (Jym626) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 11:52 am: Edit

I agree. You are well rounded and they really like community service committments, but the SATs should come up. By the way, did you REALLY put it 40 hrs/wk for 6 mos PLUS attend school? I don't think there are that many hours in the day....Your scouting activities are laudible, but don't make it sound almost unbelievable. That will hurt rather than help.

By Jenskate1 (Jenskate1) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 04:03 pm: Edit

ahhh! the OP is my prospie! hello! How's the app going?