<p>I was wondering if my daughter would have a shot at Amherst College. She is applying Early Decision. Stats:</p>
<ul>
<li> 3 out of 250. </li>
<li> SAT 2170 (V710, M700, W 760). She will be taking them again Saturday</li>
<li> SAT II scores of Bio (750), Math II 720. </li>
<li> AP Bio (5), AP Amer. Hist. (4). </li>
<li> 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. </li>
<li> National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist, and finalist candidate. </li>
<li> Currently a Senior taking three more AP courses (English, Stats, Calculus AB) </li>
<li> GPA is a 4.1. </li>
</ul>
<p>She wishes to major in biochemistry with a minor in dance. </p>
<p>EC's:</p>
<ul>
<li> She has danced with our state ballet for ten years, and is quite good.
(20-25 hrs. per week)</li>
<li> Peer tutor for two years in math/science </li>
<li> Contributing writer for school literary magazine (3 yrs.)</li>
</ul>
<p>I know that her EC's aren't extensive, but she really puts in lots of hours dancing. Will that help, or hurt her chances? We visited Amherst twice, and she fell in love with the place. We feel it is the perfect fit for her. Please advise????</p>
<p>Sure she has a chance- a really good one in my opinion. I think that her background is interesting. Not many people have those scores and that level of achievement in a less usual area of the arts.</p>
<p>Do you really think that her ballet will help her get in? Some folks I've talked to doubt it, but I think that sticking with something (anything) for ten years is quite special. She's also a female interested in sciences (I know that sounds sexist, but I think that makes her more marketable as well). What do you think?</p>
<p>When I visited Cornell, the admissions officer I talked with was really, really excited to year I had figure skated for 12 years. Dance is a similar level of committment, so it'll definitely help.</p>
<p>Her involvement in dance shows passion and committment. It sounds as if they have a dance program there, so they must be interested in filling it with good people.</p>
<p>you should definitely take a look at connecticut college- one of the best and most well known dance departments in the country, and also has a great BCMB major (Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology). its very similar to amherst in size, campus life, and student demographics, but less selective.</p>