<p>I know that these two schools are completely different but I'd like some outside advice.</p>
<p>I have a 3.8 GPA, I'm retaking the ACT in Sept but I have a 32 in Eng, 30 in Math, and I've recently scored a 32 in Reading and 29 in Science while practicing. I've written a pretty good 500 word common app essay. I'm a guy, which helps I guess. I play sports recreationally (wouldn't be scouted) but I'm really into theatre such as theatre management and acting. I don't want to major in acting, but it's something I like to do as a hobby. I have friends at both Amherst and Brandeis that rave about their respective schools. I don't want to go to a party school but I want to have fun obviously. I want to work very hard at college but I don't want to feel inundated constantly. I'm white, and I have no problem whatsoever with being in a diverse environment, which both are (more Amherst). I'd like to make a decision for ED but I'm not going to force it. I'm even wondering if I should apply ED at all. I'm not asking for which school I have a better chance at getting into (the latter, no disrespect to Brandeis whatsoever), I'm just asking where I might have a better 4 years for the money my family is spending. I love being in the 5 town college area but being near Boston appeals to me as well. Amherst has the nicer campus but theatre means more at Brandeis. I also like that Brandeis is slightly larger considering how it's a university. I do well in school but I'm more street smart than book smart, and I'm wondering what that means if I were to apply for Amherst as it's a very rigorous school. I haven't seen either schools in session, which also plays into my decision. I'll be visiting them in September too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a theatre geek in anyway: I would consider majoring in French and/or Economics. I hate science. I'm a funny and kind kid and I know I'll be happy wherever I end up, I'm just looking to find the place I'll be happiest. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!</p>
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<p>No, you should not. ED is for that ONE school that you really really really really want to attend. </p>
<p>Amherst and Brandeis are significantly different in many ways (starting with location and size), and the fact that you don’t have a clear choice…</p>
<p>And realistically, a 31 is low for Amherst, without something else.</p>
<p>worry less about the geographic area and focus more on the college! do you have a choice 3 and 4?
and as far as majors econ is a much better choice! you need to think about jobs after your graduate, what will a french major do?</p>
<p>Yes, I do have a 3 and 4 school (Northwestern and Skidmore), plus safeties and everything. It seems that Northwestern and Brandeis are very synonymous but Brandeis is closer and that makes a big difference when one is a car ride vs a plane ride. The one thing that I am wondering about is if I don’t apply ED to Amherst I wouldn’t get in. I think I can get in to Brandeis because it’s a larger school. However, if Amherst is not the place I want to end up at it than it doesn’t make sense to apply ED there anyway. I also didn’t mention this before because I didn’t want to sway any of your opinions but I am a legacy at Amherst.</p>
<p>Why don’t you head over to the Amherst forum, spend some time there, and read what others have said about the school?</p>
<p>And if that doesn’t help, then head on over to Amherst, after classes start, and spend some time there. Attend some classes, stay overnight (if their admissions office makes such arrangements), and get a feel for the place. This is a decision you need to make yourself.</p>
<p>haha, no I completely agree and that’s what I was going to do anyway, for both schools. I mostly asked this question because I was just looking for a 3rd party but I completely agree. Fortunately I have until 11/1 to make a decision on ED, and if I don’t apply ED I have a lot more time to think about this process.</p>
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<p>Not in my book.</p>
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<p>Then you are correct to consider ED, but only AFTER you know that it is the BEST choice for you: Numero Uno. But realistically, a 31 ED-legacy will most likely result in Deferral/Wait List…</p>
<p>I disagree with you on Brandeis and Northwestern. I find that both are small to medium sized universities with great theatre programs (both as a major and recreationally) that are very close to a large city. Obviously there are some differences and I haven’t been to Northwestern in a year but I find that they are synonymous in many areas.</p>
<p>Does my legacy status at Amherst still make much of a difference if I end up applying regular decision as opposed to ED? </p>
<p>Also, bluebayou, what exactly did you mean in one of your previous posts stating “without something else”? Sorry, I’m a little confused by that, even in context.</p>
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<p>Yes. If you do not apply ED to your legacy school, what does that tell the adcoms there…? (Hint: you send the message that Amherst is obviously not your first choice.)</p>
<p>A 31 ACT is below Amherst’s mean, so you would need to have other stuff in your app that are much above their average applicant to compensate.</p>
<p>Sure Brandeis and NU are both close to great cities and may have similar theater programs, but IMO that’s about where the similarities end. In addition to the obvious religious differences, socially/culturally NU is a member of the B10, has a significant Greek presence, and a larger pre-professional vibe…</p>
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<p>I didn’t realize that when two schools have good theater programs and relative proximities to cities, that made them “synonymous”.</p>
<p>NU is also more than 2.5x the size of Brandeis.</p>
<p>Don’t apply ED unless your 100% sure. I guarantee you will regret it if you do (I can tell from personal experiences, unfortunately).</p>
<p>okay, yes, I realize that there is a lot more to a school than the things I listed. I was just listing mutual characteristics because that’s how I personally view them. I could include a lot more but I didn’t want to divulge completely. I was saying “synonymous” as in compared with Northwestern and University of Chicago or Brandeis and MIT.</p>
<p>Also size isn’t that big of a deal because I go to a very large high school so when I say synonymous in that sense it just means a little bigger than where I go.</p>
<p>I know that if I don’t apply ED to Amherst it may seem like I’m not interested completely, but if applying there ED means I have to compromise I’m not going to do it. I’m also wondering what other advantages there are to not applying ED. I know you have to have your heart set on a place (which may not seem clear because I included ED in the topic of the thread but I’m fully aware) but what about scholarships, etc.?</p>
<p>re: NW and Brandeis – by reputation and most measurables, at least, Northwestern is a better school.</p>
<p>Of the four schools you’ve mentioned, this is their order in terms of rep/selectivity/likely quality of education:</p>
<p>1a. Amherst
1b. Northwestern
3. Brandeis
4. Skidmore</p>
<p>So to me, between Brandeis and Amherst – if they are your clear top two – I’d rank them Amherst first, Brandeis second.</p>
<p>Have you considered a school like Middlebury or Williams as other options? Both are peers of Amherst and Northwestern and are in the same general vicinity (give or take an hour or two).</p>
<p>Both Middlebury and Williams are very isolated. I don’t have a huge interest in being in the middle of nowhere. There’s probably a ton to do on campus but I’m not really interested in being isolated. I’ve visited the Middlebury campus though; it was nice.</p>
<p>NW IS probably higher up in status than Brandeis, but Brandeis is a lot closer to my family and that’s important to me. I’d be flying roughly 8 times a year to NW, something I’d rather not do (don’t have a fear of flying, it’s just a hassle compared to say a 3-4 hour drive).</p>
<p>Fortunately I don’t have to decide by tomorrow but from viewing all of these posts I think it’s better for me to not apply ED. I’ve grown as a person dramatically in the last year, so I’d change quite a bit if I got in to a school in December '12 as opposed to making a decision by late-April '13. I’ll revisit these schools, review my options, and see how I’m feeling. I am still curious on more pros and cons of applying and being accepted ED though.</p>
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<p>You could improve your application with higher test scores, first semester grades…</p>
<p>perhaps it comes down to this:</p>
<p>Would you rather be a Judge or a Lord Jeff? hehe</p>
<p>Amherst does not have interviews except for legacy applicants. Make an appointment with admissions and they will give you a realistic idea of what your chances are of being admitted.</p>
<p>^FWIW, I have the gut feeling that if it weren’t for the legacy thing, Amherst wouldn’t even be on the OP’s radar; it just seems like too good an advantage to throw away. But, it’s also the sort of thing that can drive you batty if you are trying to game the system too much. None of the other NESCAC schools seem to have equal appeal, btw, which leads me to the conclusion, that all things being equal - no way would Amherst be his first choice.</p>
<p>I already interviewed at Amherst. They can’t physically tell you anything because they’re not allowed but the only thing that was said was get my ACT to a 31 or above and maintain my grades.</p>
<p>Amherst is not my 1st choice as of this very moment, but it is not a far second either. Things can change. I still am really fond of the school, regardless of my legacy status. I like all of these schools for different reasons. None of the other NESCAC (other than Brandeis which isn’t really even a NESCAC- right?) interest me. Amherst seems to be the only NESCAC that isn’t isolated, which, as stated, is of importance to me.</p>
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<p>Tufts is a NESCAC college.</p>
<p>Toured it. Did not love it.</p>