<p>I'm wondering why you say you've "got to get in ED"? </p>
<p>Your passion for the school might fuel a great application. All I'm suggesting is to remember you've set yourself up here by naming a school so selective. It's got an extremely small number of places to offer, with a fine offering. </p>
<p>It would help a lo to push any of those 3 scores in the 600's over the top into 700-land. </p>
<p>You have many delightful EC's but perhaps focus on which of them mean the most to you. Reach inside of your heart and mind to figure out which one, or group of activities, really moves you and defines you at this time. The list is so long, and frankly, giving blood to Red Cross doesn't bring down the house. I can't say which on your long list IS best for focus except to feel that whatever is the most "you" should be a centerpiece for some of the short answer or personals.</p>
<p>Amherst does value EC's, so you're on good ground there. Just focus a bit on a few of them (even when you find ways to list many of them). If they can remember, after reading you app as, "She's the girl who..." that's helpful. They're really interested in human and humane beings there, not just academic machines, at the same time they're topshelf academically. So let your humanity show in your writing.</p>
<p>Your proximity to the school and familiarity/comfort with it as a "neighbor" could be interesting. Sounds like you see Amherst in the context of your home region, which most cannot do. That's kind of refreshing and unusual, since they draw from all around the country and globe. So consider if there's something there to weave into your essay, make reference to, as you did in this OP. It caught my attention, although I'm no Admissions Officer, just an Amherst parent from nearly a decade ago. </p>
<p>Specifically on Amherst and ED. It might have changed but 8 years ago what I read about Amherst and ED was this: unlike some schools that fill up a large percentage of the freshman class with ED's (it used to be 40% at Brown, for example) because they love the commitment, Amherst is somewhat cooler to ED than other institutions. If you have something remarkable, like top sports, high academic + URM, uber-fame or legacy, an astonishing set of scores and outside accomplishments, and apply ED, then they might fear losing you to someplace else. That's reason for them to grab you up for ED.</p>
<p>Otherwise, they're more likely to defer you to make a decision in the Spring with the RD pool.</p>
<p>It's good to see your list of other schools. I thought it was a well-chosen list with schools of similar character. The danger when you so believe in ED for a school that doesn't use ED a lot, is you might have trouble working on the other applications, which is a mistake. Ruins Christmas, that's for sure. I speak from experience there. </p>
<p>Agreeing that your best moves are to study your brains out for the SAT's and write the best possible personal essays. Amherst's Supplementary Essay prompts are particularly hard for many students, because they really make you think and don't resemble other schools' essay prompts. Very time-consuming, so allow yourself a lot of time to think, develop and rewrite them to extreme satisfaction. </p>
<p>Write with your authentic voice. Let them know who you are. They don't interview so hope to "meet" people through their essays and written presentation, recommendations and such. </p>
<p>After you submit the ED app to Amherst, then really forget about it there and focus on all the other apps. Then, if you get deferred to Springtime RD decision time, you'll have started the others. </p>
<p>GIve it your very best shot, but please don't lose yourself in magical thinking after the app has been submitted ED. I'd give that advice to almost anyone who isn't, say, a direct descendent of Lord Jeffrey Amherst, an Olympic medalist or the inventor of a zamboni machine that ensures constant victory over Williams.</p>