<p>Guys, how does Amherst judge a student based on their high school - college transcript?</p>
<p>I got my report card and I have a B- in my English class. An 80. Not very strong in English, but I’m working on it.</p>
<p>A B- is fine</p>
<p>Don't stress about it.</p>
<p>I don't know. Watch the video on the Amherst website. They trash a student for getting a B-.....</p>
<p>They judge you according to the academic rigor of your high school, and how strong you are relative to your peers.</p>
<p>The transcripts from son's high school only show the year end/Semester end grade for courses taken. So a B- at year end wouldn't be a good grade whether it was a semester long class or a year long one. BUT.. you could get a B- one quarter or even semester and if you nailed the second semester or second quarter you could come out with an A- or B+ which wouldn't be that bad. Problem is, in core classes like math, science, English and to some extend history, you want to be as strong as possible.</p>
<p>" I don't know. Watch the video on the Amherst website. They trash a student for getting a B-..... "</p>
<p>You mean like a B- as an overall or a B- in one of a student's weak subject in high school?</p>
<p>Does it really matter? You can't change the grades you've already received.
Just work harder so that you won't have to confront this sort of problem again.</p>
<p>Uh dude, I just said English isn't one of my best subjects. Why would they even dare to look down at me just because other people have As in English?!</p>
<p>"They" "dare" to judge you adversely because they comprise the admissions committee of one of our nation's oldest and most prestigious colleges, and "they" have thousands of other talented and special young men and women--a vast majority of whom have As in English--to consider over you.</p>
<p>Got it?</p>
<p>Seachai I've read a few of you posts and it sounds like you want to go to Amherst but from this last post you sound like you don't want to work hard to do that. You can't will them to accept you just because you want to go there. It is the #1 or #2 LAC in the COUNTRY according to most ratings so...........if you want to get in there you are going to have to work very hard and get really good grades and good SATs. Even at that you may not get in because they have many qualified applicants for each slot. After all each class is only 400+ students. It is not a matter of Amherst admissions "looking down" on you or anyone else for that matter. It might just be a matter of selecting some other student who has better stats or the same stats with some hook. Don't get down about it...just do your best and when the time comes apply to a bunch of different schools that you like and see where you get in and where you can afford. That is all you can do! Good luck!</p>
<p>If I go to a Community College for a year, get 4.0 with over the minimum of 30 credits to transfer over, do you think I will have a good shot?</p>
<p>If that is your best shot that is all you can do. Go for it!!!</p>
<p>^^I agree. Adding: think of Amherst as your High Reach school and be sure you have other matches and safeties. </p>
<p>By the way, I'd write the exact same advice (my paragraph above), word-for-word, if I were writing to someone attending an exclusive boarding school with all A's and 3 x 800 on their SAT's. </p>
<p>It's always "High Reach" there because of the very small size of the class, along with high standards. The admissions officers must pick and choose, and leave many qualified people holding rejection letters when each season ends.</p>
<p>It's one of the disadvantages to applicants that they are such a small school in the number of seats available to offer. But that's nothing personal to anyone; it just "is."</p>
<p>I will tell you this: you can count on them to read and consider every word you write, and talk about your file with full care and attention. They spend all their time reading and discussing these written applications. They don't use office time for personal candidate interviews, preferring to read and discuss. However, it sounds as though their special invitation (someone posted above that it's on their website) to Community College transfers to phone in to Admissions to talk thnings over could gives you a unique opportunity to meet them, or at least talk over the phone. I really hope you follow up on that. Phone in to see if they really mean they'll meet with you in person, and if you think you do well in a personal face-to-face encounter, go make a personal appointment with them. Nobody else can..so in that way, it could help you. At least asking them your questions by phone will help you know your direction. </p>
<p>I wouldn't ask them "do I have a chance with you?" but more like: what has been the experience of other Community College transfers there? what would you suggest as my best strategy for making the best possible application? how are earlier grade mishaps from h.s. viewed, compared to good ones in community college.."</p>
<p>Work hard wherever you are studying, between now and then. Write the best app you can, especially pay attention to your personal essay and Amherst's written "Supplement to the Common App" questions. Plan plenty of time to write those and don't rush them; alllow time to reread and redit, no last-minutes!!
And only GO to Amherst if you want to keep working hard like that.</p>
<p>Apply elsewhere also (Safety, Match, Reach, and HighReach Amherst). Believe in all your applications. </p>
<p>Absolutely take up their invitaiton, as a CC transfer, to PHONE them and see what that means...if you can make an appointment to ask questions, do so!
Nobody else can do that.</p>
<p>Then, good luck. I always feel if I've given something MY best shot, I can be pleased with the outcome, whether it goes my way or not. Sometimes I'm disappointed, sometimes pleasantly surprised, but if I give it my best, I'm always feeling proud (years later) that I did try.</p>
<p>So do they deny students who have a weakness in one of his or her subjects?</p>
<p>Seachai,
I wouldn't perseverate about your weak subject(s). Present yourself as best as you can and emphasize your strengths in your application. Hopefully, those positives will counterbalance other deficiencies in your application. I don't think one B- will jettison you, if the rest of your application is very strong. In general, at places like Amherst and other top schools, you need to give compelling reasons for why they should admit you (besides overcoming reasons for them to reject you). If your case is compelling, you can overcome some weaknesses in the application. Your application which allows you to also mention your extracurriculars and life story, as well as demonstrate your ability to connect and describe ideas and experiences that were important to you, will also give you a chance to shine. You are more than your transcript, and most liberal arts colleges pride themselves in taking a holistic view of each applicant.</p>
<p>I recommend that you make the effort to read and appreciate the advice that everyone in this community keeps offering you.</p>
<p>That's a good first step.</p>