HOW I GOT INTO RICE UNIVERSITY: Essays (CommonApp Essay, Rice Specific Questions, Essay Tips)

This personal essay is what helped me get into one of the most prestigious schools in America: Rice University! Welcome to the third of a three-part series that will discuss how I got into Rice University! I’ll be reading and evaluating my college essay and responses to the Rice questions. Personally, I think that the essays and responses to college-specific questions are very important and should not be treated lightly. Hopefully, this video can give you some insight on writing college essays and help you improve your own essays!
College Application Series:
Part 1 (Stats):
• HOW I GOT INTO RICE UN...
Part 2 (Application):
• HOW I GOT INTO RICE UN...
Part 3 (Essays):
• HOW I GOT INTO RICE UN...
FOLLOW ME HERE:
Instagram | / itsgeraldwang
Website | itsgeraldwang.github.io/
Rhodesia by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/
For you newcomers: My name is Gerald Wang and I’m a former student at Rice University! I graduated with a degree in Computer Science and Cognitive Science. Creating vlogs is a fun hobby that I like to do during my free time. If you have any questions for me then you can leave a comment or email me.
Business Inquiries: thegeraldwang@gmail.com
Enjoy your day!
#RiceUniversity #Essays #CollegeApplication #college #rice #geraldwang #commonapp

Пікірлер: 90

  • @progamming242
    @progamming2424 жыл бұрын

    You type so accurately oml.

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    haha, thanks man!

  • @xiaoweidi7149
    @xiaoweidi71494 жыл бұрын

    Your essays are really genuine!!! I appreciate your ideas of embracing the normal life and find positivity from it :)

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much xiaowei!

  • @JoseLuisGandara
    @JoseLuisGandara5 жыл бұрын

    This was so freakin creative!!! I'm literally binging your videos now, its so inspirational for me to see someone in the class above me making content! I'm just getting started myself and your videos are a refreshing break from the bland type a lot of other channels push out. Keep it up!!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much Jose! I wish you the best!

  • @duasyed6116
    @duasyed61164 жыл бұрын

    "Mr. Spencer wasn't just some senile old man. He was a man who had noticed these things a long time ago." -don't know why this hit me, but wow. I loved that :,)

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! That was one of my favorite lines

  • @moonboons
    @moonboons5 жыл бұрын

    Boiii, I love your videos. Please keep ‘em coming! I live in Texas and having a KZreadr finally giving an insight into Rice and stuff is ABSOLUTELY HELPFUL AND OUTSTANDING! Hopefully you’ll branch off from rice and create content that shows your personality :))

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much Tiffany! I definitely want to do content that's not rice related in the future. We'll see how it goes!

  • @user-ug8rj9uq7c
    @user-ug8rj9uq7c5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this video! I’m in highschool and I just want to say that your videos inspire me so much 😊

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much Layla! Good luck in your future college apps!

  • @justinjiang27
    @justinjiang274 жыл бұрын

    bro your essay is really fantastic!!! Your video is so helpful and I just got into Rice class of 2024!!!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much! And congrats!!

  • @treerex4x460

    @treerex4x460

    2 жыл бұрын

    Its been a year what happened?

  • @rustedgreen5916
    @rustedgreen59165 жыл бұрын

    Gerald this is great. Thank you for helping people.

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much!

  • @arnavjain9150
    @arnavjain91503 жыл бұрын

    Wow. This was the only essay until now, that I have genuinely been interested in reading. Well done man

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    3 жыл бұрын

    Don't know why KZread just now notified me this but thank you!

  • @noraxu2138
    @noraxu21384 жыл бұрын

    I really love your essay!!! They are definitely good and I am applying to Rice this year so they are really helpful!!!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks nora! Good luck with your application!

  • @way2girly
    @way2girly4 жыл бұрын

    your writing is beautiful. wow, I actually enjoy listening and reading your essay.

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    ayy thanks so much!

  • @way2girly

    @way2girly

    4 жыл бұрын

    You’re welcome

  • @anujhedaoo6089
    @anujhedaoo60893 жыл бұрын

    I’m not even in my freshman year, but I have my eyes set on Rice already! This video will be so beneficial in the coming years for me. Thank you so much! God bless you!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Good luck in your future endeavors!

  • @michellehertanto7107
    @michellehertanto71075 жыл бұрын

    omg love the vids! can’t wait for a roommate tag!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    @juan_punch ;)

  • @annamortari2987
    @annamortari29875 жыл бұрын

    You're doing great deeds, my man.

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks anna!

  • @jonny5638
    @jonny56384 жыл бұрын

    That was a bomb essay!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much Jonathan!

  • @simratclair4494
    @simratclair44945 жыл бұрын

    I'm also pursuing in a biomedical engineer major, so your video gave me insight on an outstanding essay for "future" biomedical engineer. thank so much again!!

  • @simratclair4494

    @simratclair4494

    5 жыл бұрын

    oh and yes amazing series you have created for students like me. :)

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it Simrat!

  • @DizzyandFrizzy
    @DizzyandFrizzy11 ай бұрын

    I first heard about Rice in 8th grade, and now I'm a freshman in highscool. I have such a big plan to get me into Rice, but it feels like I have no idea how to execute it. This video is so inspirational to me, and I thank you so much for sharing this with all of us

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    11 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much, and best of luck!

  • @sadiaobaidul7740
    @sadiaobaidul77404 жыл бұрын

    Amazing essays! Do you believe Rice does in state preference? I would also love some insight on how you managed to find a hospital internship so young! Congrats on Rice, you definitely deserve it! *ps been binging your videos and falling in love with Rice even more :)

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much sadia! I don't believe rice does in-state preference. The reason that more students from tx gets into rice is because a lot more students in tx apply to rice than from other states (it's not as well know outside of tx). For the internship, I just applied (wrote essays, sent transcripts, got referrals) and I guess I must've just done well on the application. The hospital internship I did was geared towards high schoolers interested in pre-med so I also had an advantage there because of some ec's that I did.

  • @justinlee1348
    @justinlee13485 жыл бұрын

    Great series

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Justin!!

  • @ariiblink
    @ariiblink Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for your videos, they were so much help through my application process and I just got into Rice regular admission go class of 2027!!!!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    Жыл бұрын

    That's amazing, congrats!

  • @SpitnifficusChannel
    @SpitnifficusChannel4 жыл бұрын

    What is this background music? I kinda like it and could use it for when I write my college essays

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    It's called rhodesia by twin musicom! kzread.info/dash/bejne/gox1xrZxg5auhpc.html

  • @annamortari2987
    @annamortari29875 жыл бұрын

    Also, did you ever do the traditional "The Box" prompt for Rice? If so what, did you put or what's some advice you would give specifically for this prompt?

  • @sarahpreston4558

    @sarahpreston4558

    5 жыл бұрын

    The Box is mandatory. It’s hard to figure out what to put in there, though! Boxes from the class of 2023 have been varied, from drawings of owls to family pictures to nature scenes. Remember that there is no context. There is no way to explain what you’ve chosen. Most people either represented something that hadn’t been explored elsewhere in the app (me!), something of deep personal importance, or something related to their major. Some people take pictures specifically for The Box. Others, like yours truly, look through pictures of things important to them and whittle it down to one picture. (I personally looked through my entire camera roll, narrowed it down to 72, and then cut a few pictures at a time. When I got down to 2, I flipped a coin. Pro tips: -The Box can be the hardest supp-it was for me! -You submit it as a PDF with a limited file size. Make sure you do this in advance-it took me forever to cut it down to size, and I ended up begging a friend to help. -There is no right answer. But there are wrong answers. Take it seriously! Good luck! (My box was of a tree-lined stream, which I probably only got away with because I put ecology and evolutionary biology as my first choice major.)

  • @annamortari2987

    @annamortari2987

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@sarahpreston4558 is it ok to send a picture of yourself doing something or is it not allowed to contain yourself in it?

  • @sarahpreston4558

    @sarahpreston4558

    5 жыл бұрын

    Anna Mortari The picture can have you in it. A few people submitted pictures with their parents in some significant location. Don’t use a headshot or yearbook picture, though.

  • @annamortari2987

    @annamortari2987

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@sarahpreston4558 Thank you!!!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Yup, Sarah said it best. For me, I put a picture of a star wars lego ship that I built because it represented a couple things about me (star wars fan, like to build things, and creativity).

  • @sopeish3147
    @sopeish31475 жыл бұрын

    👍🏼

  • @greatsurvivors5929
    @greatsurvivors59293 жыл бұрын

    How long did you dedicate to your writing? BTW fantastic video, thank you!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    3 жыл бұрын

    I tried spending a couple hours on my short answers and essays every week. The key for me was to start early and revise often so I probably spent around 6 or 7 weeks to finish. I can tell you that my initial drafts were almost completely different from my final drafts!

  • @shubham1999
    @shubham19995 жыл бұрын

    Gerald what do you do if you are not able to solve any question or understand any concepts?

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hmm, if I'm really having trouble with a concept then the first thing I would do is break it down into its most basic parts. Then I'd try to understand each of those parts and slowly build it back up to the main concept. Same thing with questions but I would also try to write everything down and see exactly what it's asking and things that I do know and things that I'm confused on.

  • @shubham1999

    @shubham1999

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@GeraldWang Do you make notes of whatever you new concept you have learnt or you are able to retain it without writing it down?

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@shubham1999 I take notes on new concepts since I find it easier to learn the material if I write it down physically.

  • @carsondenault1269
    @carsondenault12695 жыл бұрын

    Hi Gerald, just a curious junior here. I was wondering about the importance of AP/Honors classes when applying for higher level colleges. My school currently doesn't offer these courses, and I'm anxious to see how this will affect my college search. In addition, how would my having an internship related to my prospective major balance out with this lack of AP courses? Thanks for the informational video! Just for reference, I attend a very small "classical" school, where the class-load is much different than a normal public school.

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hey Carson! IMO, the purpose of ap classes is to get college credit and boost your gpa. Since your school doesn't offer aps, then it shouldn't affect you too much as long as your gpa is good relative to those around you (though self studying for some aps never hurts!). Also, having an internship related to your major is a definite plus. In terms of "balancing" out the lack of aps, that would depend on how much time you spend in the internship. If its not too time consuming, then I don't think it will negate the fact that you don't have aps. BUT, once again, since your school doesn't offer aps in the first place, I think you'll be find as long as your gpa is good relative to those in your school.

  • @ladygrace7585
    @ladygrace75853 жыл бұрын

    That marching essay 🤧👌 werent all our asses kicked during fall? (My director also told me something wise: "You can't suck; you're not allowed to." 😏

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    3 жыл бұрын

    Haha, that sounds like something my director would've said

  • @luvd910
    @luvd910 Жыл бұрын

    hey gerald, i came across your video while looking for help in writing my essay for rice. i have been wanting to attend rice since i first went in the 7th grade to watch the bball girls play. i fell in love with every thing about rice & now i’m a senior graduating next year, may. i have been writing my essay for a while now & i was wondering if you can help with it please, it’ll be greatly appreciated. hopefully, you see this 🙏🏾

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi, thank you for your kind words! Unfortunately, I don't review/critique essays because providing good quality feedback takes a lot of time and if I were to accept one then I'd have to accept all requests. I will say that when I was in your position the three things that most helped me was: 1. Start early and revise often. My last revision was completely different from my first. Seems like you're already on top of this. 2. Ask people you know to review it. The most helpful person turned out to be my high school english teacher. She gave a lot of helpful feedback. 3. Read a bunch of examples. I read a bunch of ones online and was able to find parts that I liked and tried to incorporate it in mine. Good luck, and I'm wishing you the best!

  • @MARCELDUCHAMP0_o
    @MARCELDUCHAMP0_o3 жыл бұрын

    I have a question for anyone willing to help me out. I am in a dual credit high school program with about 90 other students from the school district in my class. So by the time I graduate I’ll have my associates degree from UNM. However I don’t go to the high school physically and don’t take their classes. So I have no AP Classes. I also have a hard time taking extra curricularlars. I am only a sophomore right now so I still have time. So my question is how will this effect my chances of going to a top college? Any tips on what I should do that will help me out making it easier for myself in the future? Thank you 😁

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    3 жыл бұрын

    Haven't been in this situation and don't really know anybody personally whose been so take my advice with a grain of salt but I'd say that not having AP credit/classes won't necessarily hurt your chances as long as you're doing well academically and showing that you're challenging yourself in other ways. If anything, not taking AP credit will only effect you once you get into a college because many colleges let you skip intro courses with AP credit. You seem to be doing well academically so keep that up! And if you find anything remotely interesting outside of school then pursue it! You never know what you may find passion in until you try it.

  • @bobhamncheese1611
    @bobhamncheese161118 күн бұрын

    Was it pretty easy to switch majors from bioengineering to comp sci? No hassle?

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    16 күн бұрын

    Yes! At least when I was at Rice, there was no hassle to switch between majors except for the ones that had their own application process (music and architecture from what I remember).

  • @ayubfarah1891
    @ayubfarah18913 жыл бұрын

    You need to make a video on how to type accurately

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    3 жыл бұрын

    Haha, just gotta practice!

  • @hameemmedia6282
    @hameemmedia62824 жыл бұрын

    You deleted everything and then reversed it. Genious.

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    haha, thanks!

  • @hameemmedia6282

    @hameemmedia6282

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@GeraldWang Bro although my comment sounded stupid, I sat and couldn`t figure out how u did it. Also bro I submitted my application to Rice today (just 2 hrs ago). I need to thank you for all your videos, they really helped me a lot. Also can I ask you one thing? I think it would be even more useful if you would talk more about community at RICE ( special things and tricks that students do at RICE, and personal stuff at RICE). I would love to watch your videos. Thanks once again bro!!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@hameemmedia6282 Thanks again! I am thinking of talking more about student-related things at Rice in the future (might look into doing videos with some of my friends). And I wish you the best on your application! Good luck!

  • @ericson2505
    @ericson25055 жыл бұрын

    Did you early decision?

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    5 жыл бұрын

    Yea, it was my first choice college

  • @davisjohn1517
    @davisjohn15174 жыл бұрын

    How healthy is the cafeteria food at rice? Nice video by the way!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! As for the food, it's as healthy as you make it to be. The serveries provide a lot of different options some of which is healthy some of which is not. They're all buffet style so you decide how healthy you want to make it.

  • @erilen6836
    @erilen6836 Жыл бұрын

    Hi! Love your videos! Do you still edit essays? I would love to send you mine if that’s possible. If not, that’s ok, have a great day!

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Eri! Unfortunately, I don't edit/critique essays because if I did then I would want to give actual good and worthwhile feedback. However, doing so requires a lot of time and effort and agreeing to look at one essay means I would have to look at them all. As of right now, I don't have that kind of time but personally, I had my essay reviewed by my high school english teacher which proved to be very helpful! Best of luck!

  • @SWASTIKB306
    @SWASTIKB3063 жыл бұрын

    As far I have seen ,this must be for the under grads admission right

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes, it was for the undergraduate application!

  • @ahmedsaadsabit1749
    @ahmedsaadsabit1749 Жыл бұрын

    weirdly enough i found some similarities with your 1. just an ordinary kid 2. asian parents let me grow up myself 3. both of my parents did their part of the hardwork 4. i mean mostly it's same XD

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    Жыл бұрын

    Haha, yea I'm sure a lot of people have had similar experiences as me

  • @ahmedsaadsabit1749

    @ahmedsaadsabit1749

    Жыл бұрын

    @@GeraldWang hey gerald, just wanted to say ED decisions came out and I got into the best college ever, RICE!!!!!!!!!! OWLSS FTWWWWW

  • @GeraldWang

    @GeraldWang

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ahmedsaadsabit1749 Congrats! I'm sure you'll love it at Rice!

  • @youngchung2845
    @youngchung28453 жыл бұрын

    The essays are too plain. I don’t think you can claim your essays as exemplars.