Interested in learning about LACs. Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Amherst College
1

<p>I am a rising Junior. I am interested in exploring the possibility of Liberal Arts Colleges. I like the fact that there are small classes and a tight community. </p>

<ul>
<li>How does Amherst compare to Williams and Swarthmore</li>
<li>How do the top LACs compare to the Ivies? In other words, what is the reputation of the top LACs in relation to ivies?</li>
<li>How is the science program at Amherst College?</li>
</ul>

<p>What are my chances to Amherst if I apply ED? RD?
What do LACs look at most in an application?</p>

<p>Is there anything I should work on to make my EC’s stand out more?</p>

<p>Chinese Male (living in HK)
Lived in London for 3 years
Not Applying for Financial Aid </p>

<p>Projected Cumulative GPA (Unweighted) 4.0/4.0</p>

<p>SATs: 2100-2300 (Depending on how much I prep, probably 2200+ if I invest time)</p>

<p>APs (All 5s):
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
US Government and Politics
Comparative Government and Politics </p>

<p>Calculus BC
Statistics</p>

<p>Biology
Chemistry
Physics B</p>

<p>Chinese Language and Culture</p>

<p>Senior Year APs:
Physics C
Environmental Science
Psychology</p>

<p>Self Study: Multivariable Calculus</p>

<p>Should I self-study APES and AP Psychology and take AP World and AP Human Geo even though I may not get an A in AP World? Should I take AP English if I know I will not get an A or a 5 on the AP Exam?</p>

<p>ECs:
Math and Science Center (Leader - 2 Years)
TA</p>

<p>Sports:
Tennis (Recreational - Twice a week)</p>

<p>Music:
Piano (10 years…dropped Freshman year - Should I include this and just say 10 years?)
Violin (3 years…dropped Freshman year - Should i include this and just say 3 years?)</p>

<p>Service:
NHS
Cheshire Home - Elderly Home for the Disable (Hong Kong Hospital Authority) (Leader)
Z Club (Director - 2 Years)
UNICEF
Heifer (Leader - 1 Year)
Interim (One week long school service trips - incl. India and South Africa)
Teach Elementary School Students English (Bring a class of Freshman) (Leader - 4 years)</p>

<p>Job Experience:
Kumon Instructor (After I completed the program in Freshman year) of English and Mathematics - Twice a week for 3-4 hours each time</p>

<p>Internship:
Summer after Junior year</p>

<p>Awards:
COMAP High School Contest in Mathematical Modeling (National Outstanding)
Mathematics Department Award
Science Department Award
Bausch Lomb Award (Possibly - Partial Scholarship for Rochester University)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award ("")
AIME</p>

2

<p>-Amherst and Williams are honestly pretty similar. I did a more detailed comparison of the two recently; you can look through my posts for that. Amherst is more different from Swarthmore. Swat is regarded as a very, very intensely studious place. Amherst kids are just as smart, but are generally thought of as being more athletic and social.</p>

<p>-Amherst and Williams obviously aren’t as well known (by the general public) as the Ivies. That said, among most employers, grad schools, and east coast WASPs, they’re considered a <em>bit</em> more prestigious then the lesser Ivies (Cornell, Penn, Dartmouth, Brown) and slightly less prestigious than HYP. </p>

<p>-I don’t know much about science at Amherst, but I’ve only heard very good things, and the school is currently spending millions on a new science center, which is supposed to boost research and lure grant money.</p>

<p>-Your academics sound excellent. Don’t worry about self-studying AP’s. Colleges care very little about those. Strong GPA, SAT reasoning/subjects, and recs are all you really need.</p>

<p>-Your EC’s are “impressive” enough, but there’s nothing unique about them. I can’t really give you any advice there, other than to do things that you are passionate about. Don’t be afraid to be a little quirky.</p>

3

<p>Thanks Nabokov! </p>

<p>I have never done anything “for the sake of colleges”. But, when I look at many of the CC students, especially those hoping to get into HYP, it makes my EC’s seem really 'insignificant" so to speak. I am really into helping others and also I am into Math and Science, so I have been involved in activities related to my interests.</p>

<p>I am curious about my chances at top LACs. Would they be match? Low Reach? Reach?</p>

<p>Is it likely that I would get in RD? Or would I need to apply ED?</p>

4

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<p>If you rank in the top 10th percentile of your graduating high school class, and you have an 99th+ percentile SAT composite, these schools would be mid to high reach for you.</p>

<p>If you have United States citizenship, these schools would be a mid reach for you, an Asian American male.</p>