<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I am an international applicant who was deferred for the class of 2019 ED. Despite my disappointment Amherst remains my top choice and I would be quite crushed to be rejected/waitlisted from RD as well (though I understand that acceptance at top institutions can hardly be depended upon!). Thus I am wondering about my chances as a regular applicant and what steps I should take to improve my chances between now and January/February.</p>
<p>Some stats:
SAT : 2350 superscored (790 writing, 800 math, 760 reading)
SAT II: 750 Math II, 740 Lit, 720 US History
GPA: I have a 94% average on my first term report card (I am from Canada, so I don’t have a 4.0 gpa)
Plenty of ECs and a few awards (though most of them are second or third place in regional and provincial competitions, I had one honorable mention for an international essay competition)
Leadership position at my school’s debate club, trivia club, and headed my school’s delegation to a government simulation conference in my grade 11 year
~150 hours of community service
I do not participate in high school varsity sports
3 good to great recs (never saw them but my recommenders like me, or so I think)
Decent essays
Will require plenty of financial aid</p>
<p>Thank you for all your help!</p>
<p>I feel the same way - as an international applicant from Eastern Europe who applied ED but was deferred to RD, Amherst still remains my top college. </p>
<p>Similarly to you, I also have some awards, such as two honorable mentions in international competitions, as well as three national awards. Participated heavily in 8 ECs throughout the years (leadership positions in 3) and 2 cultural exchanges abroad. Overall, I thought of myself as a really competitive candidate. However, my SATs were on the lower side: 720cr/660m/730w, as well as 700m1 and 670bioM, which I would definitely point out as one of the major reasons they could have deferred me. That, and my average supplemental - despite writing a stellar CA essay, I never managed to nail the Amherst prompt.</p>
<p>That being said, you have the awards, the ECs, the GPA and SATs. The only things you can count on are amazing recommendations, essays and luck - meaning, an international pool that isn’t as competitive.</p>
<p>Edit: <a href=“Early Decision - Rejects automatically deferred - Amherst College - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/amherst-college/1293609-early-decision-rejects-automatically-deferred-p1.html</a> Yikes? </p>
The good news is… you were not rejected.
Compose a letter to admissions informing them that Amherst remains your 1st choice school (if selected, you will attend); add any additional accomplishments since applying ED to the letter as well.
Good luck and remember you are still in the running!