International Student applying ED to Amherst

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello everyone. I would like your help in getting a general idea on what I should I expect when the decision email comes in. I haven't sent my application yet, so if you have any suggestion, please share it. So here we go.</p>

<p>Albanian student, 20 yo, applying to Amherst as freshman because of curriculum troubles. I have cleared it with the Assistant Dean and she said that I only need to provide some kind of explanation for the two "empty" years. She said these kind of decisions were not uncommon.</p>

<p>SAT : 690 CR, 710 MA, 670 WR (unfortunately, superscored from two seatings.)
SAT II: 730 Math 1, 700 CHEM
HS GPA: 9.96/10 (Ranked 1st)
College GPA (first year): 9.9/10 (Ranked in top 1%)</p>

<p>ECA:</p>

<p>*Leader of teen support group, 100 hrs +
*Environmental activist
*Activist on the Red Cross
*More than twenty hours of specialty specific, extracurricular medical seminars.
*Paid work as English and chemistry tutor for HS students
*Lyricist, experience is songwriting sessions
*Editor In chief of school's newspaper
*Musical blogger ion popular international website
*Coordinator of foreign languages week in my HS
*Data enterer in the digitalization of archives in my HS (The job was supposed to be done by computer science teachers, but because of lack of funds, they gave it to me)
*I have a two book publishing deal with a well known publishing house around here, the first book is out on November, and is in English, the second in April/May 2021
*I get enough examinations in my school, so I don't like competitions. Most of the time they just give you a paper. I couldn't add a lot more ECAs during college, because medical school was tough. I didn't have the time to do anything but the paying job, the support group, and the blog.</p>

<p>One recommendation from the college official, one from the HS director, two teachers, and I am thinking of sending one book review.</p>

<p>I should also mention that I will be needing full financial aid. 55K are a lot of money.</p>

2

<p>Anyone? Any thoughts?</p>

3

<p>Not sure. You have a better chance at a less prestigious LAC.</p>

4

<p>Kiribelle, can you tell me when I should focus more? What part of my application is lacking? Because I’ve spoken to some alumni and I think i’d be good at that school, the trouble is getting in…</p>

5

<p>The guys in this section have been posting stuff about their essays so maybe I should too. The main one is about the support group, more of an explanatory essay than a deeply personal and touching one. The second essay Amherst wants is about my book, and the personal evolution that made me write it. The third, which would be the one I provide details about my previous college with, is somewhat unconventional. Thank you for your time everyone!</p>

6

<p>You’re a very unique applicant.
I’d say with the essay you have a good chance of getting in.</p>

7

<p>Thanks Kiribelle :)</p>

8

<p>The admissions officers also take into account how much time you dedicate to your activities. How many hours per week do you spend on each? Weeks per year? Which EC is your most important one?</p>

9

<p>Oh yeah, I need to be accurate on the duration on my activities. I will definitely work on that in my application.
The most important one, to me, is the teen support group. I have founded and looked after it, so it’s a big deal for me. It’s quite recent (since April 2011) but I have been organizing meetings daily. Other than that I guess the songwriting sessions. That’s what I personally love and do just for myself. And the book got a whole essay to itself, so I’m not elaborating on that. I’d sound like a broken record.</p>

10

<p>And another question, Should I add the school clubs, and my band? Or are they just too much? this is from the HS era.</p>

11

<p>Enormous bump!</p>