My ED Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Amherst College
1

<p>Hey all! I’m another hopeful soul who loves Amherst and plans to apply ED. I’m a white girl from a middling private school in Maine. In the “for what it’s worth” category, my brother went to Amherst a long time ago.</p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>GPA (unweighted)–3.8 (A’s in everything but my math classes, which are B+'s and a B last year)</p>

<p>Academic Honors: Cum Laude inductee as a junior, Harvard Book Prize, English Prize, Highest Honors every year of high school </p>

<p>SAT I—Critical Reading 800, Writing 760, Math 680 (taking it again in Oct.)
SAT II—Literature 790, U.S. History 760</p>

<p>Senior courses: AP Biology, Spanish 5, AP Calculus AB, International Relations/Economics, AP English Literature, guitar lessons</p>

<p>Athletics:
Varsity soccer—Captain (12), MVP (11), All-League (11), starter every year of high school
Varsity softball—Coach’s Award (9,10), All-League (9,10,11), starter every year of high school
Varsity snowboarding—Captain, MVP (9,10,11), All-League (9,10,11)
–I’ve contacted the soccer and softball coaches, but it’s likely that I won’t be actively recruited.</p>

<p>Other ECs: Class officer all 4 years, jazz band drummer (9-12), Math team (10-12), Green Key tour guide (9-12), Drama lighting/ensemble (9-12)</p>

<p>Employment: Last summer I worked for a Youth Conservation Corps in my town, and the summer before that I worked in retail.</p>

<p>My Common App essay is on the light side. I’m not sure what to do for the supplemental essay yet.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your insights!</p>

2

<p>Your stats won't keep you out. But your essays are critical. Work on them with everything you have. They want to learn about who you are in them. Also, have you contacted the coaches about being a recruited athlete? Use whatever hook you can. There are no guarantees in elite college admissions.</p>

3

<p>ejr1, your answer:
"--I've contacted the soccer and softball coaches, but it's likely that I won't be actively recruited."</p>

4

<p>The coaches have asked for videos of my play, which I'm working on. I just think it will be too late for them to have much of a say in my acceptance decision if I go ED.</p>

<p>I'm worried that my supplemental essay idea is a little risky. It's not conventional, which is a plus I suppose, but it could also backfire if it isn't just right.</p>

<p>Thank you for your insights!</p>