<p>3.7-ish GPA
45/596 rank
2220 combined SAT’s
ec’s including a senior editor of the newspaper
Literary Magazine
jv field hockey
volunteering at a local elementary school with the school newspaper
National Honors Society
Judaic Studies Classes
Guitar
summer work experience in a nature program
Strong writer, published poetry</p>
<p>i am highly interested in this school. how big a reach is this, i have a pretty good essay going for the Amherst supplement :/? what are my chances/how ridiculous a candidate am I for RD?</p>
<p>You are definitely not a “ridiculous” candidate. I think being a strong writer helps quite a bit, and you have a good variety of ecs. I can’t say exactly what your chances are, though.</p>
<p>I’m concerned about a couple of things: First, your SAT scores are good, but how did you manage to end up 45th in your class? That won’t help. I realize it is a large class, and you’re still in the top 10%, but Amherst is real picky about class rank. When thay do a academic inventory on potential students, they add up points for many areas, and class rank provides the applicant with many points in their favor. Now, I’m not saying that you have no chance, but it will be a reach for you, I think. Any AP scores, SAT II’s??</p>
<p>sat 2’s - 770 lit, 660 US history Ap’s - 3 bio (erghh) and 5 us history</p>
<p>i don’t know how i ‘ended up’ at number 45. i’m not the most competitive in terms of grades - i’ll admit that i did not work up to my full potential, and got a lot of B’s in honors classes. however i wonder how much this could be overlooked (being in the top 10…8%) in terms of personal qualities, essays, rec’s ect. i already know that this school is a reach… i just am musing over a bunch of schools and trying to feel out which are reaches and which aren’t.</p>
<p>hey everyone I have a friend that is applying to Amherst. Is it true that amherst will reject someone with no “hook” that has a class rank outside the top 10%? Even if her SAT score is 2200?</p>
<p>Let’s face it - Amherst is a reach for everyone. But it is elite and looks for elite students. They want the whole package. They even want the whole package from the athletes! Colleges nowadays don’t just look at class rank, grades and Sat’s, but try to find a fit for the school, and diversity is a big deal. Your location can boost or minimize your chances. Try your best, apply and wait and see. Your essays can certainly turn the tide if you are a maybe. If you don’t apply, you will never know if you will be a fit for next year’s freshman class.</p>