Hey everyone,
I haven’t seen a thread for this yet and felt like we needed one.
I’m an international applying for tons of aid (lol) and my grades aren’t great but everything else is alright so fingers crossed! My chances aren’t great but Amherst is everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more so I hope that shines through in my app. I submitted yesterday. Where is everyone else from? What are your stats and interests?
Has anyone received an ACdata login yet?
Haven’t gotten mine yet, but I’ve emailed the admissions officer just in case. I really don’t want to think I’ve handed in my application just to realize I’ve left something out - a day after the deadline. 
Also an international! Amherst really is an amazing school - I visited the campus last break and I loved it.
Interests: History and Politics. Sociology. Kinda random but I also love singing and I’m hoping to join one of the A Capella groups…if I make it, that is.
GPA: 3.9 ( We don’t really do percentages, but my counselor put me in the top 10% in my commonapp)
SAT: 2190, but I’ve taken the Nov. ones and am hoping that they’ve gone up.
Nationality: Korean (groan I love my country, but…)
High School: Middle Eastern Country
IB Predicted:41
ECs:
Psych Club President & founder((1 year)
NHS Leader(1 year, but I’ve been in NHS for 3)
Lit Mag(school magazine) Secretary(1 year)
MUN for two years and during break
Girl Up 1 year(Just got started this year)
Badminton 3 years(Varsity for two years)
Math Club 2 years(9th, 10th grade)
School Orchestra member
Main Vocal at Church(4 years)
Violin ABRSM grade 4 award
Uploaded stories on a website for over 5 years - one was pretty popular
…there might be some other random ones I’ve forgotten, but that’s probably about it.
Volunteer:
Several relief efforts
Of course, NHS. We do quite a bit there.
Internships:
Interned at a major financial institution last year.
Essay:
Both shouldn’t be that bad - I’ve started on both since last vacation and gotten feedback from my counselor and some other teachers.
Teacher Recs:
Probs excellent - one of my teachers is my NHS adviser and the teacher of the subject I struggle most with(and thus work hardest in), and the other was my MUN adviser for a while and my teacher for history(My fav. I love it to the point I’d stay after school just to talk to him about it). I’m on great terms with both.
Counselor Rec:
Eh. Probs good?
I’m a bit worried about my ECs because I haven’t really had that many that are consistent. Plus, there’s the fact that I’m asian - I know I can put this to my advantage if I try to show I’m not stereotypical, but unfortunately for me, there’s that running joke around my friends that I AM the living stereotype sooooo…
Honestly a bit worried, because all the applications for Amherst I’ve heard of are like 4.0GPAs with 2300+ SATs and multiple 800 subjects with National Level ECs…you get my point.
Your ECs sound great and your volunteering might make an impact. I’ve only been able to volunteer locally. There’s only space for ten and you have tons more! My sat is exactly the same as yours but I didn’t have time to resit. Your Amherst to SA story might grab their attention too. I’m honestly quite nervous knowing you’re my competition, I’m miles behind. They take in 10-15 internationals ED so hopefully we take up two of those spots. I’m from Australia but am Asian too. Are you applying for aid?
And update got my login exactly a week later. Don’t despair. 
I have like 3 regional awards and that’s it haha :-S
I did the graded paper so I’m worried that won’t even be read properly.
Think of it like this: you probably also have something that might make me nervous haha ;
Think that’s the problem about applying for top colleges - there’s ALWAYS someone who does better than you at something, and it makes you intimidated because your own experiences seem bad in comparison…
My essay is about living in Middle Eastern countries, so I do have that going for me, and while SA does kinda lack in national competitions/opportunities, my school is great so encourages a lot of volunteer work world-wise. Locally…let’s just say a friend of mine had tried to get a cooperation with the UNICEF/School thing going on and she got cut out. Apparently, the government didn’t approve(conspiracy!?). It’s also pretty difficult to get local internships because mobility here is really difficult - women can’t drive, and the streets aren’t very organized. Plus a lot of the local people only speak Arabic, so there goes the use of my English lol.
As for aid, my family is pretty well-off, I guess(tbh, not very sure), but the college fees…whoa. So probs yeah. Amherst is need-blind though, so I’m not really sure if aid really matters.
Huh. But where are all the Amherst ED people? For some reason, I expected a lot more…
Thought so too! They’re probably all reading to case the joint and suss out their competition but nobody’s being brave enough to join the conversation haha.
This wait unbearably long. I don’t even want to start RD applications yet
Oh god. Those. Let’s not even…
I’m also an Amherst ED.
Did anyone submit their October scores yet and they have yet to appear on ACdata?? I would greatly appreciate an answer on this
Yes. I know lots of people who sat October ACT haven’t had it processed yet because they don’t have the essay score yet. Amherst is slow with processing though so don’t worry.
Another international applying ED! From New Zealand. :bz :bz :bz
Roughly !!!22 DAYS!!! to go.
@NZ2020 Ugh, I don’t know whether to be excited or scared. Probably should be dreading it…D-day 21!
do u guys know what day decisions are released? based on that, it seems like Dec 12th??
Amherst’s admissions website refers to Dec 15, stating, “Decision notices to Early Decision applicants sent electronically on or around this date.”
Looking at last year’s ED thread, the decisions came out on Dec 12 in the afternoon. Last year the 12th was a Friday, so this year’s it’s a Saturday. Would they release decisions on a Saturday? the prior Friday? Wait until Monday, the 14th? Wait until the official Dec 15 date? Who knows? Maybe they don’t even know yet.
Eventually it might be helpful to start a 'ED Decisions Only" thread, to provide some helpful info to next year’s ED applicants.
I think they should be released dec 15th, although possibly earlier!
Also, I sent in my SAT scores in october and there was the whole collegeboard messup thing but collegeboard says they sent my scores on Nov 4th. My ACData page says they haven’t received my test scores, however. Does anyone else have this problem?
@nycbar You can call the admissions office to confirm if they have received your scores. I wouldn’t leave it to chance. At this point, it might be too late, but If there really is an issue, you might be able to resolve it.