Amherst ED or Colorado College ED

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hi guys!

I have a huge dilemma and really need someone’s advice. So, I moved to the US in the middle of my sophomore year. Therefore, I am going to apply to colleges as an international student.

My stats are: ACT - 31, SAT USH - 800, SAT Chem - 760, TOEFL - 115, AP US History - 5.
During my senior year, I am also taking AP Econ, AP Govt, AP Calc AB, and AP French.
My GPA is 4.0 (unweighted) and 4.23 (weighted). GPA would be higher if my high school counted the honors class from my freshman year, when I still lived in my home country.

Also, I am white, and my family of 5 has income of $95,000. My family is ready to pay up to $20,000 per year for college.

I am deciding between applying ED to Amherst and EA to Colorado College or just ED Colorado College. I know that Amherst is need-blind for international students, so theoretically my chances of admission would not be lower, considering my fin need. But I also realize that I am below the average for Amherst (although I consider myself not a regular applicant in terms of my life story and some activities). On the other hand, I am average for CC with my stats, but CC has need-sensitive aid, so my chances of admission will be lower if I need money.

I am also aware that CC loves ED applicants, and about 50% of 2020 class were ED; CC often defers EA applicants. But I am afraid that my fin need as an international student may lower my chances at CC significantly.

So, what do you think would be a wiser choice for me: to apply ED to Amherst and EA to CC or just ED to CC?

I hope someone will be able to help me! Good luck!

2

Moving here from out of the country is not what makes you an international applicant, your immigration status does. What is your immigration status?

Why do you feel that you must apply anywhere ED?

Do you actually prefer Amherst or CC? Why are they on your list to begin with?

The Net Price Calculators aren’t known to be accurate for international applicants, so there isn’t a good way for you to predict whether Amherst or CC can be made affordable for your family. Do you have other options (e.g. guaranteed merit-based aid) that you know for certain will be affordable? If not, will you be chasing merit-aid and looking for the best package? If that is the case, then you probably don’t want to ED anywhere at all so that you can compare all of the aid packages.

3

Colorado College’s ED admission rate is 30% (261 of 875). Their EA admission rate is 25% (794 of 3144). Please don’t feel pressured to apply ED.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/colorado-college

4

Actually, CC’s EA rate was only 17.4% last year. From the school’s website:

For the Class of 2020 (entering the fall of 2016), the overall admit rate was 15.8%. By round, the admit rates were as follows:

Early Decision (1 and 2): 31.4%
Early Action: 17.4%
Regular Action: 6.2%

https://www.coloradocollege.edu/admission/application/firstyear/early/