OP: Because you can cross-register for courses at Amherst College, Amherst may not be the best target school for you even though it awards financial aid on the same basis for domestic & international applicants. (This is something to think about as I do not have specific advice for you regarding this aspect.)
Also, I do not know whether or not you are an international applicant. If so, then this is a very important factor for one in need of significant financial aid.
On an academic level, this analysis may offer you perspective on the LACs on your list and provide you with ideas for potential additions: https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html.
Sure sounds like youâd be better off at a school outside the 5College area. And Amherst is notoriously difficult to transfer into.
FWIW Among your list of target schools Amherst, Williams, Pomona, and Columbia have the most financial resources.
On a per capita basis, sure. But, letâs face it, UMass is the destination school in Amherst.
Sorry, but I do not understand your post.
Are you assuming that OP is a resident of Massachusetts ?
Yes, if financial aid were not an issue, UMass would be a natural alternative; itâs bigger, has more activities, has the best food in the 5College area and has the biggest international population by far. But, sheâd have to do quite a bit of scrounging around for scholarship money: Undergraduate Scholarships | UMass Amherst
OTOH, whatâs the attraction for Williams? Is she a sports fan? She finds Smith âinsularâ, but few colleges are more inward-looking than Amherst. I just find it rather odd that she would put all of that effort into trading one small LAC in Western Massachusetts for two other small LACs in Western Massachusetts.
If sheâs looking for a co-ed institution I would suggest swapping out the two Massachusetts LACs for Wesleyan in Connecticut which, at 1,200 men and 1,600 women, is basically like attending two LACs rolled into one. And before anyone asks - yes, it is need-aware for transfer students. But, it meets 100% need for accepted students which pre-COVID meant an average of 25 out of every 100 transfer applicants.
Depends on the studentâs college record, which is probably the most important part of a transfer application (though high school record is also significant for transfers without that much of a college record).
Yes, and sheâs expecting mostly Aâs, although semester grades werenât back at the time of her posting.
im also applying to transfer and this is exactly how i feel
Oh, are you also applying to leave Smith? We should get in touch lol