<p>Hey guys! Well the reason I started this thread was to really get to motivate people to not give up. Your given up on, when you give up on yourself. I know there are always plenty of people that are fanatics over the whole “chance me” at several top universities and I would just like to say, college admissions is one of the most dynamic things probably in the world. You can be accepted into an IVY or equivalent and then waitlisted/rejected from a “lesser” college. I will be a freshman at Amherst College this fall and if I were to tell you my stats, you’d feel getting into Amherst was a piece of cake (which it obviously isn’t, its arguably one of the top five most difficult schools to get into). I fell in love with Amherst last spring and have already met people/been recruited for tons of things at the college. I’m open to talking to anyone who wishes to post. If I might add though, Amherst looks for the kids who have the most well rounded applications. Not the best athletes, not the smartest kids, not the most serviceable people, they want everything all bunched into one individual kid. If it counts, I have close friends going to Harvard, Brown, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, UCLA, UC Berkely, and not a single one of them got into Amherst. Also, networking can get you very far in life. A mentor I met who was a prior College Counselor made a few calls to Amherst. </p>
<p>So I’m open for questions or comments. Let me know!</p>
<p>hey 123! Yeah no problem, I’ll post up the stats here in case anyone else is interested. It’s important to note as I mentioned in my original post, being a well rounded kid is probably what stands out. When I called to accept my admissions the admin officer remembered my app almost word for word and basically recited my essay (and said it was wonderful). </p>
<p>In case your wondering, I was part of the magnet program at a historically bad school in general (without the magnet program boosting up the school’s scores, the school would be closed.) Although the school scores were very low, kids always got into the premier universities, also safe to mention 90% of students at my school are hispanic including myself. </p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.6
Weighted GPA: 3.8
SAT: 620 reading, 620 math, 650 writing
Ranked 21/450 in my class</p>
<p>Yeah I know, doesn’t sound very impressive but like I said my activities and essays are probably what got me in. (not to mention I had a few people who knew admissions officers well calling in once and a while for me). </p>
<p>Every opportunity that was given to me in high school I took advantage of, I worked my butt off to get into Amherst my senior year. Anything’s possible when you truly want something so bad you’ll put every ounce of sweat into it.</p>
<p>Housing decisions were released today! What should one expect from being assigned to Williston (first floor, if that changes anything)? I’ve heard essentially that the rooms are small, but decent…hopefully no bunk beds?</p>
<p>Hey magicx969. I wanted to ask something. So, we have 3 rec letters: 1 counselor, and 2 teacher recs. Should I send additional letters? Such as my school debate moderator? employer recommendation from my internship?</p>
<p>I applied to Amherst last year (I was a senior ) and was rejected, when I applied I really didn’t have much of an interest for the school, but now I’m taking a gap year and seriously considering applying ED. I called admissions and the counselor was hands down one of the most awesome and dedicated officers I have ever spoken to, she really made me want to look deeper into the school. Long story short, I think I’m in love and i want to know what specifically drew you to the school and what are your favorite aspects of it?? Any tips you may have are also welcomed!</p>
<p>Basically, I got waitlisted by Amherst last year and well, didn’t get taken off the list. Since I am taking a gap-year and applying to colleges again I have to decide where to apply for during early decision. Someone on this blog (elsewhere) suggested that since Amherst ‘liked’ me last year I should try there. So, I thought I should post this concern of mine on the Amherst forum. I Will really appreciate replies!</p>
<p>Ever since I found Amherst I have wanted to apply. And attend. But the thing is my freshman and sophomore years I slacked off, really bad. Like my sophomore year I got a 65 in Bio - barely passing, but the thing is I am really really good at Bio, I was just lazy. So I kicked myself and stopped being lazy and I have made honor roll or High honors since Term 4 my sophomore year. I am now a Senior, and I am applying to Amherst. I didn’t do too well on SATs, mainly cause I am lazy and didn’t study. I got an 1830. My GPA is currently a 3.803, weighted. </p>
<p>I took AP English last year. This year I am taking AP English, AP Calc AB, and I am taking the AP Stats test even though I have not taken the class. I am also in a high level pre-vet online class.</p>
<p>PLEASE help me out, anyone. Amherst is my number one, and I really need to get in. </p>
<p>What can I do to get in?! My parents didn’t go to college, if that helps. My dad didn’t even go to high school. But my mom went to a school to become a secretary, I think it was a 2-year school.</p>
<p>Also, I am a very competitive volleyball player, and am ranked very high in the state and am a top recruit. Does this help? Can coaches help to get me accepted? </p>
<p>The SAT is the one element of your application over which you have the most control. Keep taking and reviewing practice tests until you reach then surpass Amherst’s means (711 CR, 714 M, 715 W).</p>
<p>Keep working hard in school. If your high school ranks, try your best to place in the top tenth.</p>
<p>Write a compelling personal statement that tells a positive story about you overcoming adversity.</p>
<p>Amhersthopeful, the first question is, do you truly want to go to Amherst? You keep characterizing yourself as “lazy”, well, Amherst is a very, very challenging academic environment for even the hardest working of students. If you have a true love for learning and you are just in an environment where you don’t feel challenged but thrive in a different setting, that is one thing, but if you just aren’t that interested in studying and learning for learning’s sake (and not merely as a means to an end, like, say, gaining admission to college), Amherst may, frankly, not be a place where you will thrive. </p>
<p>To be brutally honest, unless you are an URM or applying as a football/ice hockey recruit (or even better, both), your combo of grades and SAT will make it virtually impossible to gain admission to Amherst. (You can overcome being well below the school’s average in the SAT, but really, not both SATs and iffy high school grades). I’d reach out to the volleyball coach, if you are as good as you suggest, (1) the coach will want you badly and advocate for you if it is within the realm of possibility, and (2) also be able to give you a sense of whether applying is even worthwhile. The fact that you are a first generation student certainly helps as well, but again, your numbers are a long way from where that is going to push you over the top. If (1) the coach sees you as her number one recruit, (2) you retake the SAT and raise your score by at LEAST around 150 points total, ideally more, and (3) you kick butt in your first semester grades, you may have a shot, but I would really consider setting your sites at a more realistic destination, there are lots of great liberal arts schools out there with a similar profile to Amherst where you’d stand a much better shot (within NESCAC, Colby, Bates, Conn College, or Trinity, for example, would be more likely to pursue you as a volleyball recruit with those numbers than Amherst or other schools with a similar admissions profile).</p>
<p>Hi! I am still a Junior and starting my college search. I am international so it is hard to visit colleges I have to rely on the internet and forums such as this one, to see if a school would be a good match for me, so thanks for offering help. </p>
<p>I am a Hispanic female, fully bilingual since I attend an American School (accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges). I have a great academic record (96% average), top 10% of my class, I am taking 3 APs this year and intend to take 2 or 3 more next year. Honor Society, very much involved in community service & dedicated to sports (Equestrian), actively competing locally & abroad, so finding out that Amherst has an Equestrian team increased my interest in the school! I have participated in leadership seminars & just this summer participated in Boston University’s Summer Challenge. Next summer, before my senior year, I intend to participate in either a College Prep program or a Summer Abroad Program where I can take college credits.</p>
<p>However, being international, it is extremely important for me to apply to colleges that offer scholarships and/or financial aid for non-US citizens. I checked the website and found out that Amherst is Need Blind to Internationals so I am thinking about applying, because otherwise I could not afford full tuition. I realize that it is very hard to get in so I would like to prepare myself to present the best possible application. </p>
<p>I have a few questions I hope you can answer:</p>
<ul>
<li>Is there anything you recommend I need to do in order to improve my chances of not only getting in but being awarded a scholarship?</li>
<li>What should I aim to score on my SAT (I was thinking at least over 2000? but my reading and writing abilities are higher than math. Would that matter?) </li>
<li>Are people friendly to Hispanic Females? Or is the community very closed among social groups? Would I fit in or be excluded? </li>
<li>I don’t care about a raging party scene but I do like to hang out with friends, so I wonder about the social atmosphere? </li>
<li>Would you consider Amherst to be a suitcase school? Being international I will travel back home two or three times a year so I don’t want to go to a school where the campus is deserted over the weekends!</li>
<li>I have read in other forums that there is a vast majority of student population who are snobs or intellectually arrogant. Is that true? </li>
</ul>
<p>Thank you to magicx969 for offering advice. I am an Amherst junior for whom College Confidential was once an invaluable resource. I am inviting anyone with questions about Amherst to email me. I cannot guarantee that I have an answer for every particular question, but I am eager to share what I do know and, if I cannot answer your question directly, I am happy to point you in the right direction.</p>
<p>P. S. Please do not send a private message or reply to this post on the forum as I do not frequent this site.</p>
and i want to know what specifically drew you to the school and what are your favorite aspects of it?? Any tips you may have are also welcomed!</p>