<p>Hey I’m a senior and no one from my school that I know of has applied to Amherst and I wanted to know what my realistic chances are.</p>
<p>Stats:
SAT: 2220 (710R, 760M, 750W) — taking again, I’ll do somewhere between 30-100 better.
SAT IIs: 730 Chem — taking more & again
GPA: 95.63 (Soph & Junior) , F - 94, S - 94, J 97 (Freshman year at dif. school) (^ trend)
AP’s: BC Calc (Senior) - only one AP offered</p>
<p>ECs:
Mock Trial (Lawyer) (2 years);
Model UN (Co-President, Head Chairperson) (3 years)
SADD (2 years);
HOSA (2 years;
School Improvement Committee (2 years);
Spanish Honor Society (Senior Year);
NHS (Senior Year);</p>
<p>Volunteer Work:
<150 hours at local hospital;
40 hours Vacation Bible School;
Big Brothers Big Sisters</p>
<p>Other:
Taken: Public Speaking
Cultural Anthropology
Intro to Philosophy
Business Law I (courses at local college)
Over 2 years, 4.0 GPA, 12 credits.</p>
<p>Awards (Nothing Major):
Winner of a school wide talent competition - (Guitar and Singing Hobby);
Honor Cadet ROTC (Highest GPA in grade involved in unit);
National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar;
Outstanding Delegate (Model UN); </p>
<p>Hook (if any): URM
State or Country:NJ
School Type: Selective Public, Ranked within top 100 according U.S. News
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: Male
Recs: I’m confident with them
Major: Philosophy, Economics
Interest: Law / Politics</p>
<p>To put in perspective… Because you’re a URM, you have a slight shot. If you weren’t, you’d have no shot… Nothing about you really stands out, unfortunately. By the way, there’s not much use in retaking your SAT, though it won’t hurt to raise it 50+ points, and there’s NO point in retaking the Chemistry SAT II. Apply to some of the more lowly ranked Top 20 schools, you’re sure to get into many great schools(:</p>
<p>Thanks for the honest opinion</p>
<p>I’m not saying you aren’t a strong applicant at anywhere you apply, I’m just saying that admission to top schools has gotten EXTREMELY competitive… You have a shot, I mean, not everyone who gets into top schools is a minority student who comes out to fight crime at night while doing biomedical research on the weekends… But I’m saying “It’s Amherst, NO ONE can be sure!” Certainly apply, as you never know(: Be sure to cast your college search net wide, you never know where you’ll fit in if you don’t look around(:</p>
<p>Work hard to get that extra 100 points on your SAT and I think you have as good a chance as anyone applying to Amherst. I know someone who went from 2150 to 2340 and was accepted. You can do it. The fact that nobody else from your school has applied will help.
Good luck to you.</p>
<p>From a parent perspective (I have a child at Amherst) — your scores and grades are excellent! No need to try to raise your SAT scores. Please students— don’t stress yourself out over 100 points. Look at the averages – you are right where Amherst is looking. Also, you need to realize that schools are not just looking at your “stats”. Escpecially schools like Amherst are looking for passion in your essays, great writing and great teacher recs. Do the best you can and submit an application if you feel the school is a good fit for you. The Ad coms will know if you are a good fit for Amherst and if they feel you’ll shine there, then you’ll be admitted. Lots of great schools out there for a student with your excellent grades/scores. Remember that No One on these boards is sitting there reviewing your application — all they are doing is playing a guessing game. My son works in the Admin Office and would tell you the Deans say they want to read an application, close their eyes and feel they can envision the student sitting in a class on campus!</p>
<p>Your profile looks remarkably like my son’s, who currently is enrolled at Amherst. Only he is not URM. So by EliKresses’s formulation, he got in despite having “no shot.”</p>
<p>If you really like the school, I would apply, bearing in mind that even the best candidates do not always make the cut.</p>
<p>I think a lot of times it really comes down to the essay.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the advice and opinions :)</p>