<p>Hi, I’m new to this site, and was wondering if my daughter would have a shot at Amherst College. Currently she is third in her class of 250. Her stats are SAT 2170 (V710, M700, W 760). She will be taking them again in a couple of weeks. SAT II scores of Bio (750), Math II 720. AP Bio (5), AP Amer. Hist. (4). She is the Rensselaer Medal Winner from her school (best science student), and also the Harvard Book Award winner; both won in her junior year. She was just named a National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist, as well. She is currently a Senior taking three more AP courses (English, Stats, Calculus) Her GPA is a 4.1. She wishes to major in biochemistry with a minor in dance. She has danced with our state ballet for ten years, and is quite good. She is applying early decision to Amherst. What do you think? I’d love to hear from someone regarding her chances. Thank you.</p>
<p>Hey! I'm a current Amherst student (ED as well) and her shot is prety good; I would try and raise her verbal and math SAT scores though. There is no biochemistry major but the science program is wonderful. Try and get recommendations from any alums in your area and talk with the dance department as well as send in the tape. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you for responding! It means alot to us that you are an Amherst student who believes she has a shot at admission. She is taking the SAT's again in another week, and hopes to do just what you recommended. We visited Amherst twice, and just think the place is a perfect fit for her!</p>
<p>Is Amherst really as nice as it appears? Seems too good to be true!</p>
<p>Amherst puts a lot of weight on the quality of the essays submitted.
Also showing passion in one particular EC and excelling in it would be a big plus. Is her ballet dancing outstanding enough to warrant sending in
a DVD? Amherst also counts supplements to the Common App. Find out if they would accept a DVD.</p>
<p>BJM8, to interject on an Amherst thread, if ballet is important to your D, she might want to consider my Smith, about 20 minutes away. My D's primary criteria were high-level academics and access to high-level ballet. The womens colleges--Wellesley, Smith, Barnard--stood out in that regard and overall she liked Smith the best. Fwiw, both Smith and Amherst are members of the Five College consortium students can cross-register between the two. My D's now a sophomore and loves Northampton, loves Smith. PM me if you want more info or have questions.</p>
<p>It's good to hear that if a student excels in one EC that it holds some weight for admission. Ten years of dancing ballet, and putting in over twenty hours per week is a huge commitment, and we had hoped that Amherst would look at that as a positive! Maintaining very high grades and taking the hardest courses while doing that should mean something, I guess?</p>
<p>Have you seen the admission video from PBS?
A must see for anyone applying to elite schools.</p>
<p>Yes, we have seen the video. The procedures used for admission at these schools is quite unique. I read a book by Michelle Hernandez titled "A is for admission" and in it the author discusses the academic index used by Ivys and elite LAC's. Very interesting how they look at all areas of an individuals performance, and rate them based on a scale. I understand that different school use different scales, but they all look at students pretty much the same way. That's why, when I hear someone say that test scores aren't as important as they think, I want to ask them to read the book described above. Because according to the author, they are very important.</p>
<p>BJM8 what year was the Hernandez book written? Do you know what her credentials are? Does her analysis generalize or is it school specific? It seems that the application process to the top 20 ivies and lacs has become so incredibly formulaic with the top 10% of high school seniors sculpting their resumes to the magic potion of requirements. It seems to me that the "hook" and luck is the key.</p>
<p>The book was written in the late 90's, and Ms. Hernandez was a admissions director at Dartmouth for many years. She specifically talks about Dartmouth admissions, but refers many times to the fact that all Ivy's and elite LAC's pretty much use an academic index similar to the one she describes. As an example, Dartmouth uses a scale of 1 - 10. and Amherst uses a scale of 1 - 5.</p>
<p>Ms. Hernandez is still a college consultant who works with many families on the admissions process. She also pops into the parent's forum every now and then to give advice. I would suggest doing a search my her screenname aisforadmission. You can read some of her later writings.</p>
<p>NoPoison;
What PBS story on selective colleges?
My D is applying to Williams and Wesleyan, amonst others.
Thanks;
Rskibum</p>
<p>Hello, BJM8, I'm currently an Amherst student. I think your daughter has a good chance. She's probably already retaken the SATs at this point, and hopefully she's improved her math and critical reading component, but I wouldn't worry too much about that. Her big commitment to dance is impressive. </p>
<p>And although there isn't a "biochemistry major" here, I don't see why she can't create her own major.</p>
<p>Thanks for the kind words. The application is in and now the waiting begins until Dec. 15th. My D visited last Friday as well, and sat in on three classes two bio and one chem. She loved it so much! I hope it all works out for her because she will be so disappointed if she does not get in ED. Unfortunately her SAT's the 2nd time around weren't as good; close, but not as good. Therefore, the first ones will count. I do hope that her 10 year commitment to ballet will help, and she hopes to dance in college as well. She sent in the arts supplemental page as well on the app. What year are you in, and what is (are) your majors?</p>