Chances please? i doubt i'm good enough

Colleges and Universities A-Z Amherst College
1

<p>German-born Vietnamese Male from GA
Northview High School - We are a relatively new public school (open for five years), yet, we have been awarded the Governor’s Cup (highest SAT scores in the state) for the past two years. Last year alone, three students from Northview were accepted into Harvard and several others were accepted into other Ivies. Extremely competitive school.</p>

<ul>
<li>Planning to major in English</li>
<li>speak four languages (English, Vietnamese, Spanish, German)</li>
</ul>

<p>Stats:
GPA - 4.0 W/ 3.76 UW / barely outside Top 10%</p>

<p>ACT - Composite: 32
English/Writing: 34
Math: 28
Reading: 34
Science: 31</p>

<p>Rigor of Courses - graduating with 8 AP’s (World History, Biology, Calc AB, Language & Composition, Statistics, Literature, Calc BC, Econ), the rest are Honors classes</p>

<p>Hobbies:

  • writing/literature
  • music
  • community service</p>

<p>Academic & Literature Awards:

  • Super Honor Roll (9, 10, 11)
  • Principal’s List (9, 10, 11)
  • Legion of Honor (9, 10, 11)
  • Legion of Scholars (9, 10, 11)
  • National Honor Society (11, 12)
  • Governor’s Honors Program - nominations in Chemistry, Biology, Music, English (11)
  • 2nd Place Winner - Scientific Problem Solving Bowl sponsored by Georgia Junior Academy Of Science (10)
  • winner of Poetry.com’s Editor’s Choice Award September 2005 for outstanding achievement in poetry
  • winner of nationally acclaimed Pegasus Literary Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award 2005 (monetary prize)</p>

<p>Main Community Service Projects:

  • Co-Founder of Music4ALife Organization - Music 4 A Life is a non-profit organization composed of dedicated artists (i.e musicians, designers, and etc.,), that raised money for certain tragedies devastating a part of America. Inspired by the Tsunami waves of East Asia, and the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, Music 4 A Life has become a fundraising group with a goal to financially aid victims through the medium of music, and to help community centers around America grow and maintain their excellent service. Started in 2005, artists from around the nation have gathered together to form CDs, mixtapes, and demos to grab the attention of many, as well to help raise money for the victims of recent tragedies. The Music 4 A Life mission statement is to promote the economic and social well-being of victims affected by recent tragedies through the united theme of music.</p>

<ul>
<li>Co-Founder of the Tutors-In-Action Network (TAN) - TAN is dedicated to the academic improvement of Northview High School (although it is already one of the top high schools in the country). TAN pairs high school students together (one tutor and one learner) in a comfortable environment in which both teacher and learner can excel. Recently, TAN has teamed up with the National Honor Society to provide “struggling” underclassmen with experienced 11th and 12th grade tutors in order to improve our high school’s academic system. TAN is an immeasurable component of the school; tutoring provided in foreign language, SAT prep., drama, fine arts, personal fitness, in addition to all core courses.</li>
</ul>

<p>Small Community Service Projects:

  • Committee Member of Coffeehouse For Charity (CFC) - CFC was a one night event that was organized in the metro-Atlanta region by several high schools working in unison toward a common goal of donating proceeds to hospitals in the Atlanta area
  • Lab Analyst on Science Saturday - An all-day Saturday event sponsored by high school dedicated to the inspiration of scientists in the youth. Neighborhoods in the community were invited to attend and witness labs/experiments conducted by students.
  • Team Captain of AIDS Walk Atlanta 2005 - co-captain of school team in a fundraising walk to promote awareness of AIDS in today’s society
  • Member of Science Force - A PTA-sponsored program, Science Force allows high school students to commute to local elementary schools on various days and conduct physics and chemistry labs for elementary students to see.
  • Participant of Hands-On-Northview - Community service events dedicated to the embellishment and beautification of local high school and community
  • Various Chamber Music Projects - I am an active musician (see below), and I have performed for the Atlanta Ministry with International Students, Symphony Celebration, Ivy Hall, Georgia Music Educators Association and various other organizations</p>

<p>Music Achievements:

  • Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO) - (9, 10, 12) - Considered to be one of the top youth orchestras in the nation, “In 1974, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra was created as a subsidiary of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a practice that is relatively rare for American orchestras. However, this arrangement worked for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since it began as a youth ensemble itself, the Atlanta Youth Symphony of 1944-47. Every September, about 400 high school instrumentalists audition for places in the ASYO. Only about 120 will be selected to participate in the season.” (Wikipedia)
  • ASYO/Berlin Youth Orchestra Exchange - “The goal of this cultural exchange is to have young qualified instrumentalists, ages 13 to 23 years old, assembled together in a mixed orchestral ensemble of around 110 players to rehearse and perform compositions from various style-periods of both countries. This occurred in two phases: June 1-13, 2004 in Berlin and August 3-13 in Atlanta, with different concert programs. The notion of German/American exchange has been strengthened by having the guests of each side of the Atlantic stay with families in the host country, thereby providing a glimpse into the culture and lifestlye of the partners, affording personal contacts that will eventually enrich both phases of the project. In addition to the musical goals, both partners will also contribute towards the promotion of German/ American relations.” (Dr. Michael Jenne, National Music Council of Germany)
  • GMEA All-State Orchestra (10)
  • Associate Principal Violist of Fulton County Honor Orchestra (11)
  • Assistant Principal Violist in Northview High School’s Chamber Orchestra (11, 12)
  • Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra (12)
  • Manager and violist of the Sunrise Quartet - A professional chamber music group composed of four diligent musicians. Hired by the renowned High Museum of Art, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, as well as for private weddings and other occasions.
  • Internship with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - worked under Melanie Darby (Coordinator of Youth & Family Programs); main project - constructed proposals for Alumni Orchestra as a branch of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra</p>

<p>Leadership:

  • Key Club - Treasurer (10, 11)
  • Tutors-In-Action Network - Co-Founder (10), Vice President (10, 11), President (12)
  • Music4ALife - Founder, Regional Leader, Project Manager
  • Orchestra - Operations Manager (11), Vice President (11), President (12)
  • AIDS Walk Atlanta 2005 - Northview High School Team Co-Captain (11)
  • T.S. Lee’s Tae Kwon Do - Teaching Instructor/ Assistant</p>

<p>Other EC’s:

  • Spanish Club (9, 10)
  • National Spanish Honor Society (11, 12)
  • Academic Bowl (9, 10)
  • Beta Club (9, 10, 11, 12)
  • Contributing Writer to Northview High School’s Literary Magazine (11)
  • FBLA (9, 10)
  • Med School Club (10, 11)</p>

<p>Essays:
This aspect of my application is probably going to be my forte. I am a strong, creative writer and I firmly believe that that is what admissions officers look for - someone who can articulate their individuality in terms of how they would be able to contribute to the school of their choice.</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendations:
One from my English teacher that has known me for two years both inside and outside the classroom. We have discussed literature and poetry outside of class in great detail to kill time in the rather stagnant moments that precede the school day. Another rec from my organic chemistry teacher who is an enthusiast of classical music much like myself. I have invited him to a few of my performances and he has been a supporter of my endeavours since Day One. He has taught me for two years as well.</p>

<p>Supplements:
I will be sending a recording of one of my solo viola performances, as well as a large portfolio with a collection of writing samples, essays, short stories, and poetry.</p>

<p>is Amherst a big reach? should I bother applying?</p>

2

<p>if you want to go to amherst, apply. you will definitely have a shot at admission, especially since amherst puts a large emphasis on essays.</p>

3

<p>You're worrying way too much. As a student at Amherst, I can only say this: your stats are Golden. By the way, you may want to get in touch with Mark Swanson, the Orchestra Director, and make sure your viola CD gets directly to him. They would love a violis and have really been making strides in their music program... for the past two years, Peabody Trio and Brentano were resident professors and worked one-on-one with all the students!</p>

<p>Just make sure you bring a lot of GENUINE personality to the essay. </p>

<p>Frankly, I'd be surprised if any top-tier college/university, Amherst, Yale, UChicago, Stanford, et cetera, didn't take a close look at you.</p>

4

<p>thank you for everyone that replied, but will my rank not hurt me?</p>

5

<p>Avant-garde,
I don't think you class rank will hurt you significantly since you are going to a top public high school. Your ECs are strong and your biographical profile and interest in poetry/English are different than many other Asian-American applicants. Presumably there will be other applicants from your high school that will be applying to Amherst and they typically do not admit more than two from any given high school in order to promote geographic diversity given their small class size. Although ED season has passed, it would not hurt to indicate in your application your strong interest in Amherst and your reasons why to help you stand out even more.</p>

6

<p>While pmyen has some good advice, I would strongly disagree with the penchant for generalizing the so called "Asian-American" applicant pool. There are tons of Asian-Americans who love poetry and English literature. What makes you stand out is who you are. Don't fall into the trap of either emphasizing or deemphasizing your race/ethnicity UNLESS it has strongly affected your life or attitudes or activities.</p>

<p>The reason I say this is because there are a lot of Asian-Americans I know who, not just in Amherst, pursue English lit. Just focus on who you are as a PERSON. Your GPA (with emphasis on all your APs) is more than fine, and in conjunction with your ACT, which seems high (given that composite ACTs are rated on 36), shows you're a smart kid. </p>

<p>Make your essay a really powerful statement... don't think so much about what they're going to like... think more about what the topic you end up choosing, what you feel about it, and expressing it as honestly and beautifully as is genuine to your personality. And, as I said, stress your interest in the viola....</p>

<p>your extracurriculars, like co-founding two organizations, are really quite unique... these alone, in my opinion, would give you a seat in Amherst.</p>

7

<p>I agree with sdmazarin, Emphasize who you are- you are an unique individual. I don't think you need to highlight that you are Asian and enjoy poetry/English lit-it is who you are. I hope I didn't give that impression. Taking sdmazarin's advice a bit further-I also would not recommend applicants of any ethnicity try to "stratagize" to be different (than what they imagine adcoms are expecting from their ethnicity) in terms of interests or ECs. Do what you are excited about and genuinely interested in. You will be true to yourself, and it will be evident in the enthsuiasm and accomplishment you will have for those activities.</p>