<p>-I live in Massachusetts
-Junior in High School
-3.32 GPA at the end of Sophomore year on a 4.0 weighted scale (has most likely gone up this year)
-In AP English & Environmental. Honors Chemistry, Pre-Calc & History with 3 years of Spanish
-Haven't taken the SAT's yet but on the PSAT's got a 52 in critical reading, 56 in math, and 68 in writing
-2 years of cheerleading, 3 of gymnastics, drama, student council & a lot of community service projects
-I get mostly B's but have also had some C's and A's</p>
<p>I really really really want to get into UMASS Amherst but everyone I talk to says it gets more competitive every year and that in 2013 (when I graduate) it will be even harder. Do I have a chance of getting in????</p>
<p>Also want to be an Environmental Science major!!!</p>
<p>People honestly over-exaggerate UMASS’s competitiveness. I live in MA as well and am a Senior. First off, the acceptance rate is right around 70%. Secondly, you are instate so that raises your chances even more. I think it is around 70% of the undergrads there are from MA so you should really be fine. None of this is to say it is a bad school…it is a fantastic school, but getting into it is not extremely difficult especially if you are instate. I say you should be a shoe-in, don’t worry about it. You have plenty of time until yo uhave to worry about applying.</p>
<p>CDK1020…here are the stats for the Umass Amherst class of 2015:</p>
<p>• 3.63 Average GPA (vs. 3.61 2010)
• 1189 Average SAT (20 points up from 2010)
• Average admitted students in top 20% of senior class
• 32,500 applications (6 percent increase over 2010)
• 66% admit rate for 2011 (vs. 82% for fall 2003)
• Commonwealth Honors College average SAT = 1325
• Commonwealth Honors College average high school GPA = 4.12</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.umass.edu/admissions/sites/admissions/files/CounselorNewsDec.pdf[/url]”>http://www.umass.edu/admissions/sites/admissions/files/CounselorNewsDec.pdf</a></p>
<p>My daughter is currently a UMass Amherst freshman, and my son did not get in to the class of 2013, so we have seen UMass admissions through the eyes of 2 applicants.</p>
<p>Be careful whose advice you take, and do your research. The last poster is way off in saying you are a shoe-in. Currently you are on track for in-state UMass Amherst admission, but if it gets any more competitive and your stats don’t change, you could have a problem. Strive to get your GPA up to above the admitted freshman average or about a 3.7; take SAT prep classes or at least do some practice tests. Re-take the SAT up to 3 times and strive for at least a 1200 CR and Math combined (UMass does not consider the SAT writing score). Do not apply Early Action unless you are well above the stats they publish next fall for the class of 2016.
Your extra-curriculars look great, don’t change a thing there. If you want to go to UMass, trust me. Unless you are an inter-collegiate athlete, you need to have your GPA and your SAT scores above their cutoff…what ever it happens to be for your year. Sadly, if you don’t meet those critieria the admissions office will not look any further at your application. The good news is that it seems you are very close! And you do have time to address your GPA and scores. Also in late spring call admissions and ask them what they think they will be looking for next fall. We spoke with the director of admissions at an open house, and he laid it out very clearly for my daughter. Just remember that UMass Amherst is no longer a safety school for anyone except for those in the top 10% of their class. GOOD LUCK!</p>