Lydia Said:

Worried about my sat scores!?

We Answered:

Rice has a separate admissions process for international students. http://www.futureowls.rice.edu/futureowl… Have you contacted the admissions office to make sure that you are applying under the correct protocol? They also require at least two SAT II Subject tests. Without these, your application is likely to be rejected as incomplete.

Your SAT scores are fine. They are not outstanding, but considering that they were not taken in your native language they should not hold you back. Your admission will be considered in the context of your entire application packet, and you have a lot to offer! Don't worry about the lack of sports, you have plenty of other extra-curriculars. Try to highlight your accomplishments as much as possible. This is not a time to be modest. I highly recommend that you request an interview--optional for admissions at Rice, but it can help you to stand out and let the university know that this is your top choice. The Alumni interviewing often have the ability to pull strings and pave the way for your admission.

Work on preparing for the SAT Subject tests. If you do plan to re-take the SAT, invest in a Prep course (Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc) to help you recognize the question types and more quickly process exactly what the question is asking. You cannot "learn" all of the words in the next few weeks, but improving your test-taking strategy can easily raise your score 100-300 pts. Taking a prep-class is most effective, but you can accomplish it quicker if you buy the SAT-Prep books or online course and prepare at your own pace.

Good luck!
Dr. K