What are my Chances of Admission to Amherst?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Amherst College
1

<p>Hey, what are my chances of being accepted to Amherst? </p>

<p>I am a white female from Minnesota.
3.9 unweighted GPA at private high school (no rankings, but top 5%)
34 ACT
2320 SAT: 800 CR, 760 M, 760 W
SATIIs: 800 Math II, 710 US history, 750 biology-M
APs: European History-5, Calculus AB-5, US History-5</p>

<p>Current classes:
AP Chemistry
Advanced Science Research
AP calc BC
Chinese VI
AP English
Religion</p>

<p>ECs: fall dramas, musicals (2 drama letters), stage tech(stage manager, deck manager), Quiz Bowl(co-captain), Math League (co-captain), Newspaper (news editor senior year), Shakespeare club.</p>

<p>Community service: assisting at preschools, visiting elderly, teaching Chinese to 2nd graders, 90 service hours through Project Link, Service Award</p>

<p>Summers: 2 People to People trips (earned 2 college credits, 2 high school credits), biochemistry research at the University of St. Thomas (365 hours)- wrote a paper and submitted it to several science competitions</p>

<p>Academic honors: State art award for ceramics through Scholastic Arts, member of the Cum Laude society, National Chinese Honor Society, headmasters list every semester so far in high school, English departmental distinction award, AP Scholar, Math departmental Distinction Award, National Merit Semifinalist, works selected for publication in Honors Papers (a school publication of the best essays from each school year)</p>

<p>I have been told my essay is good and I have two amazing teacher recommendations.</p>

2

<p>Your scores seem right on. Your courseload... hmm... seems okay. Activities, good. Make sure your supplemental essay is good as well, as it will demonstrate your interest in the school. Did you visit Amherst? </p>

<p>I think it's pretty neat that you speak Chinese. I'd say you have a decent chance, but of course I'm not Tom Parker.</p>

3

<p>You sound like your stats are in the ballpark. Your EC's are fine. But there are never any guarantees with the elite schools. Your geographic location should work for you, since they would like kids from all the states. Essays are crucial at Amherst, especially since they have no interviews. They want to know who you are from them, so make sure you really put a huge effort into them. Just hope you have the "fit" that Amherst is looking for in the next class. Good luck! You have worked hard.</p>

4

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

5

<p>Best wishes! I do say you have a good chance. :)</p>

6

<p>shellzie... did you apply EDII or RD? just wondering because I'm a white female from MN as well. Don't worry though... your stats. are much stronger than mine :)</p>

7

<p>allie_babwa06, I applied RD, how about you?</p>

8

<p>amherst is probably my bigggggggggest reach..
asain male (not good for college) 3.9 weighted
2090, 790m 650wr 650 cr
790 math 2c 740 bio
applying as a music major, sent in tape, wrote my essays on music and my fingers..
sang in the st. peters basilica
course load pretty tough, good recs
probably still isnt good enough?</p>

9

<p>wels0n if you do get in I recommend taking some classes with David Reck. I got a BA in ethnomusicology and most of my studies were with him. I think he's still running the gamelon orchestra there.</p>

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<p>i applied RD too :)</p>

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<p>Cool, good luck to you!</p>

12

<p>hey, wels0n, your essay topic piqued my interest. It may intrigue the admission officers' interest as well, to your advantage. Don't get too down on yourself: your stats are like a 1440 on the old SAT, and I know people who've gotten in with lower. If your uniqueness comes across in the rest of the app, I wouldn't worry too much. Hang tight till April!</p>

13

<p>Anyone have an idea of what my chances are like?</p>

<p>GPA: weighted 4.66, unweighted 3.95
SAT: 2340 (800 Writing, 800 Reading, and 740 Math)
SATII: 760 French, 770 Math II, 700 US History
AP: 5's on French, Calc BC, and US History
Class Rank: top 8%, but my school is extremely competitive, and a lot of people do things to manipulate their GPA's and class rank (which I haven't done), so there are people ahead of me who's grades aren't as good as mine - I have a nearly perfect record.</p>

<p>I have taken the hardest course of classes possible (all AP and IB except for regular history in 9th and 10th grades). Right now I'm in:</p>

<p>-Calc 3 (college level)
-IB Bio 2
-IB Art
-IB World lit 12 (A1 HL)
-IB Latin 2
-IB Physics 1
-French Composition (at a college)</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:</p>

<p>-Co-President of my school's Amnesty chapter, as well as an organization that gives scholarships to refugeees in Uganda. Secretary of NHS. Co-Founder of a volunteer network/club. This year I lead a big project to raise awareness about the genocide that's happening in Sudan. Over the summer, I hiked big mountains to raise money for scholarships for Ugandan refugees.
-High school swim team (JV), ultimate frisbee (club), and xcountry.
-I used to play the flute in band, but I quit after sophomore year.
-I do textile art (i.e. sewing) and I recently had a piece in a youth/adult gallery.</p>

<p>My main concern about my ec's is that I joined most of them junior year, just because my interests changed and I was previously too shy to get involved. I'm afraid that they'll think I'm doing them to get into college...??</p>

<p>I'm a national merit semi-finalist.</p>

<p>Oh, and I'm a white female.</p>

14

<p>Amylopast, you're such a shoo in I can't even believe it.</p>

15

<p>Yay flute! If you want to pick it back up at Amherst, Prof. Spratlan is the coolest music director on the planet. I had an informal meeting with him and he was very comfortable, very honest and objective. Their concert hall....absolutely amazing. And their practice rooms are so spacious!</p>

<p>Hey, don't worry about the lack of ECs until Junior year. At least, I hope you shouldn't worry, because I did the same thing. I was the chronic corner-sitter :)</p>

<p>So are we all sharing our stats now? I'll jump in too.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.3 cumulative weighted, 4.0 unweighted
SATs: 800 cr, 750 w, 720 m
SATIIs: 780 lit, 780 mathIIc, 770 bio
APs: 5s on European History, US History, English language, Calc AB, Biology
Class rank: #2 of 667, highly uncompetative high school in boondocks suburbian SoCal, two hours away from any city of substance</p>

<p>Hardest course load too, but it's a very pathetic hardest course load compared to other places, so I don't think that means much.</p>

<p>ECs: FLUTE (youth orchestras and such), piano, cross country, chess club, Science Olympiad, All Ducklings are Beautiful (founded that, isn't the title cute?), Liberation in North Korea</p>

<p>Essays: supplement on apples--> prejudice, common app on bulemia/depression/resolved struggle in my head.</p>

16

<p>Uh... Oh noes... I feel so bad about my stats now! I have about zero chance according to these people.</p>

<p>Native American Female, West Coast, Junior in HS
GPA: Unweighted 3.87 (We don't weigh at my school, sadly.)
PSAT: 720V, 580M, 670W
No SAT II's yet, gosh I suxxor.
AP's: AP Spanish so far, by app. time I'll be in APWorld History, AP Calc, AP Chem., AP Eng. Lit. and Writing
Class Rank: None, we don't have those either, but I'd estimate top 10% of my class at least.
Hardest course load, not counting IB I'm not sure how they compare...
EC's: Orchestra for all years, Office Aid, Teacher Aid/Tutor, Volunteer at Summer Camp, Art, Book Club, Secretary of Key Club, Leadership.
Essay: Not sure what I'm going to write yet, but it'll probably a good one.
Teacher Recommendations: Very good, my teachers love me, (The ones that will be writing, anyway!).
Other: Participant in the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America.</p>

<p>Yeah... I feel teh stupid now. ;_;</p>

17

<p>Don't ever feel stupid. There are so many different things that the admissions officers look at that you very well could be exactly what they need to round out the class. Being Native American will work to your advantage. But I will tell you what I tell everyone - make sure your essays are AWESOME! They will tell the school so much about who you are and they will determine if you are a good fit. And as you fall in love with Amherst, also fall in love with your safety - advice to even the valedictorian of private prep school with 2400 SAT's. Nothing is sure in the college admission gamble.</p>

18

<p>Thankfully I have a lot of people to help me with my essay. Our neighbor does interviews for Princeton (!) and she edited my sister's essay for Vanderbilt (She just found out this last weekend that she was accepted <3 I'm so proud!) My cousin and her husband (who both went to Swarthmore) will probably edit too, and my mom is a phenomenal typist, so she'll be a great help with my grammar and conventions. That's why I'm not so worried about my essay. And despite all my pretentions I really like my safety college, it's a great place and they have the major I want! Thanks for your advice. :)</p>