<p>Dau recipient of full tuition scholarship to any MA state school; looking for Business/Liberal Arts with equestrian team. She is unenthusiastic about all schools that accepted her (except Roger Williams in RI which offered substantial scholarship $ but I have reservations about). </p>
<p>Today discovered Amherst College; obviously beyond application deadline and not on any list for late applications, but I think it would be perfect school for her. </p>
<p>Any hope of applying at this late date? Advice appreciated! Thank you!</p>
<p>I think the suggestion was to post on the Amherst site. Amherst is very selective, so I doubt they would entertain a late app. Also, it’s not a “state” school and I wasn’t clear from your post if private MA schools were in play. Good luck!</p>
<p>Lefty, Amherst is one of the most selective LAC’s out there, and some would consider it the 9th or 10th IVY. Even the top of the top couldn’t get in this year. Unless your D is the Einstein of this generation, I would say the answer to your question is “No”. By the way, as you probably know, the “full tuition scholarship” awarded to many for any MA state school only means about $1000 or so - in MA, the tuition is cheap, but the fees are in the several thousands.</p>
<p>Lefty, are you referring to UMass - Amherst? I think they might have riding? UMass has low tuition, very high fees that the scholarship does not cover. (My D is also a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.)</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your replies. Not referring to UMass Amherst (too big a school for her). Yes, realize state school scholarship only covers tuition. Open to private schools (depending on financial pkg). Will call school Monday as suggested! :)</p>
<p>I find it highly improbable that a student who didn’t know about Amherst when she was a senior would be likely to gain admission after a gap year. Perhaps it’s a combination of sterotyping and unfair bias on my part (and if it is, I’ll apologize sheepishly), but I strongly suspect that the overwhelming majority of successful Amherst applicants (and even most of the unsuccessful ones) come from households that have been aware of Amherst for some time, and that the applicants themselves have had Amherst in their sights since junior year or before.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t advise my own daughter to put her life on hold for a year just for a roll of the dice.</p>
<p>Agreed with not rolling the dice with a gap year, unless she cures cancer or makes an Olympic team during it, just to apply to Amherst. If she doesn’t like any of her current choices, I would consider the community college route–Amherst seems to encourage it.</p>
<p>Tough position. Taking a gap year is risky because you’re banking on an acceptance to a very competitive school. I wouldn’t suggest it unless she finds a number of other schools to apply to that she would also like attending. Other small NE LACs might provide an atmosphere similar (if not preferable) to Amherst, although you’d have to keep an eye out for the equestrian team. In any case, I highly doubt that Amherst would accept a late application this year given that they had to reject people that they wanted to accept, but it’s worth calling.</p>
<p>Transferring is also risky business. A lot of people would suggest it, but at most schools only a very small portion of transfer applicants are admitted. There will be a lot of people trying to transfer into Amherst next year.</p>
<p>Lefty, if you are still reading - What are your reservations about Roger Williams? I have a friend who graduated from there about 20 years ago who is now a quite successful architect, and have read that they have done quite a bit in the last few years to upgrade buildings and programs. While it might not be a top tier school, if they have offered good money and your daughter likes it, I say it could be the right fit school. She will be successful and happy and a school she likes, and make the most of the opportunities. She could always transfer if she finds she is not totally happy.
If you were not aware of Amherst until now, as others have posted, your D probably would not be accepted. Many students start early in high school to prepare for admission to Amherst, Williams, etc. It’s a very, very well known school all over, with an excellent reputation. If you haven’t heard of it, you probably weren’t looking at that caliber school to begin with…</p>
<p>I second the question about concerns over RWI. D is a current junior there and is getting an excellent, rigorous education. I know that they have excellent programs in business and the liberal arts as that is what some of D’s friends are doing. They have a strong commitment to study abroad as well. </p>
<p>Your original post had a requirement for an equestrian team. I can’t speak about that, but if I were you, I would contact the school and ask.</p>
<p>i know that I am jumping on this one kinda late, but I would say that If your state school has a deferred enrollment option you might look at how that works in conjunction with a gap year, but make sure to use that gap year well (get a job/ internship/ volunteering?), then applying to Amherst for next year.</p>
<p>Another option is going to state school or RW, then applying to Amherst transfer. That way your D does not give up a year. She might even like Roger Williams after a semester or two.</p>
<p>I am surprised that If Amherst is a fit you would not have found it before. It is ranked #2 on USNWR. Pretty well known.</p>
<p>That is another porblem with the gap year scenario, if you ask me. A gap year that gives you a new skill, like fluency in a language, or a life-changing experience is one thing, but a gap year spent working at Target while you try to get into a different or better college is a wasted year, IMO.</p>
<p>And it’s pretty late now to start looking for an edifying, life-altering gap year. </p>