Concerns about eventual transfer application strength

Colleges and Universities A-Z Amherst College
1

<p>A student at my two-year college transferred to Amherst a couple of years back and it’s really gotten me excited about starting at this two-year college this fall (I’m in my later 20’s) hoping that with a strong application built on a lot of passionate work and extracurricular activity, that I might, too, hope to transfer to Amherst. The problem is I came to find out a few days ago many of the things this student did may be impossible for me, such as founding to major organizations of which I’d like to later be a part of and lead in (both honors organizations) and getting a 2400 on the SAT (which I did not take and Amherst does not require).</p>

<p>Now I’m nervous about the plans and goals I’ve set forth for myself in my two-year college career and could use some voice of reason backed with Amherst transfer/acceptance experience. My eventual goal is to attend a Top 14 law school. I’m passionate about and planning to major in Philosophy, so a Liberal Arts college is in my sights.</p>

<p>The goals I set forth for myself to have a strong application for Amherst, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Wellesley, and Claremont McKenna were the following;</p>

<p>(Note: My big passion of focus is volunteering for and leading the education and influence of the ethical vegan lifestyle movement)</p>

<ul>
<li>Start a Vegetarian/Vegan Society</li>
<li>(Plan many educational/contributing positive events for this club)</li>
<li>Continue volunteering, participating, and eventually organizing for the Vegetarians of Central Florida group (local city-wide group with many large events).</li>
<li>Attend the Florida Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Feb with a very compelling presentation on environmental and ethical concerns related to living on animal by-products (veganism)</li>
<li>Become a Vice President (currently have heavy support) of the Honor’s Advisory Committee, and next year run for President.</li>
<li>Earn an invitation and later run for President of my local PTK (Phi Theta Kappa Two-year college Honor Society) chapter.</li>
<li>Continue writing compelling articles for my website/blog on my lifestyle to keep a heavy educational role on expanding the vegan lifestyle for the curious and interested.</li>
<li>Continue volunteering at my local hospital, of which I have 100+ honors, for a goal of maybe 500 hours.</li>
<li>Potentially earn a nomination to the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.</li>
</ul>

<p>Of course the more general goals are a rigorous course-load (read; math and sciences) and as close as possibly 4.0 as I can get my GPA.</p>

<p>I’ve now started to wonder if these plans and this potential application would even cut it. I have not taken the SAT and due to my age and heavy work experience (Microsoft certified tech of many years) felt that the rest of the application and life experience would be fine for it. All the five schools I’d like to apply to do not require the SAT.</p>

<p>So, Amherst students, potentials, and transfers… am I as delusional as I’m starting to feel in that my efforts would not cut it, or am I being too hard on myself?</p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time. :)</p>

2

<p>Hey, Whitespider. If I were you I’d look through some of the older threads here on College Confidential so you can see the the stories/stats of over transfers that got in. If you Google “Amherst College Transfer College Confidential” it’ll pull up the older threads, because really, no one can accurately chance you. Also, listen to this if you haven’t:
[Behind</a> The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR](<a href=“Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR”>Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR)</p>

3

<p>My hero! I read your entire plight on that thread and you really lived up to your name, let me tell you. I also listened to that recording a few months back when you guys were talking about it in that thread! Terrifying! I learned, from that recording, months ago, that some years, if you’re, for example, a violin player, then if it’s a year you and four other violin players are applying, then it’s not a good year to be one… on the other hand it may be the other way around and it may be fortunate as no other violin players applied. In my case, I wonder if my passion for animal rights and alternative lifestyle choices (veganism through more than just diet) and, in reflection of that, my volunteering and contributing to the movement, lifestyle, and ethical education involved would be a key element that would uniquely stand out for the school, or if they have archtypes (such as ‘violin players’ and ‘football players’) and my ‘model’ does not fit a mold. Interesting thoughts to reflect on, let me tell you.</p>

<p>Also, I believe I saw you were accepted if I am correct, is that right?</p>

4

<p>Haha, I was a mess. I’m embarrassed…but people were accepted to Cornell and Dartmouth on that thread and I got rejected from NYU…ah. But yes, I was accepted. Without SATs. As was another guy from that thread.</p>

<p>What you have planned really does seem amazing, and at more liberal schools to where you are applying that may help. Amherst is big on community college transfers, so that’s another good thing. Being a minority/first generation/non traditional student would be good as well, along with academics. </p>

<p>I didn’t do nearly as much as you are going to do though, but since it was my first year of college I think they focused on my high school record a lot, and I did really well there. I did get waitlisted though, so I may have been a stretch :/</p>

5

<p>I have to go back and pick apart that thread and the prior years for stats and points of interest. Would you mind telling me your application’s highest points? Also, in another thread it’s been pointed out to me that Amherst has a low transfer rate. Do you feel that’s due to too many applicants simply underestimating application, or is it, you feel, cutthroat in that many applicants can seem to all blend together to almost look the same?</p>

<p>As you can tell, I’m really really worried I won’t cut it giving it everything. The kid I know that went from my school got a 2400 and founded the alumni association for honors and the honor’s student advisory committee, as well as doing a lot of political ECs. except for specialized ECs (mentioned above), I can’t found these associations again and I won’t have time to study for and ace the SAT. So I feel as if I underestimated application, so, this thread, haha. You can say you passed the Worried torch to me.</p>

<p>Any comfort and wise words to keep me working hard would be appreciated.</p>

6

<p>Yeah, going through the threads was really helpful to me. But there didn’t seem to be many.</p>

<p>In regards to the highest points of my application, I guess in high school it would be being in AP/IB classes, and earning my IB Diploma. I was president of the Academic Quiz League, V.P. of both Future Business Leaders of America and Junior World’s Affairs Council, secretary of the Spanish National Honor Society and a member of the French National Honor Society, the National Honor Society, class council, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. I volunteered a lot and graduated within the top 10% of my class…I think top 8…I don’t quite remember my GPA but it was weighted and not that high in my opinion.</p>

<p>In college, I had a 4.0 GPA and was a member Honors College and the Honors College Council and Black Students Association. I am a first generation college student so I’m sure that helped as well. Since I was in IB in high school, my Secondary School Report was from my IB coordinator who has known me personally for 3 years so she wrote a stellar recommendation l’m sure, as did my 2 college professors.</p>

<p>My SAT scores were far from up there, so don’t worry about that. I think they add some weight but if you don’t have them then you don’t have them.</p>

<p>Regarding the low transfer admission rate, I’m really not sure why that is. The school has a low acceptance rate as it is, so…yeah. I mean I think they were really low this year, but on average I think there are about 500+ applicants and 22ish get accepted? The numbers are on their website. Admissions are just hard to understand, though, as that NPR story tells.</p>

<p>Comparing yourself to others isn’t good to do, though. It makes thing difficult (as you can see in the thread that I started) and I mean everything is just so…I don’t know. I really believe that Amherst looks at each person individually and through their story. I made sure to tell mine in my essays.</p>

<p>Just keep going, and don’t be afraid to call Amherst and ask what you can do and tell them your worries! Make some good connections with your professors and counselors so they’ll write excellent letter, you’ve got this! Don’t be a spaz like me…(but if you want to just start and thread and communicate with other transfers, I mean this one already has 271 views so people others are worrying too. Help each other out!)</p>