<p>First, Amherst College judges applicant based on academics reader ratings - a reader rating is the admissions office’s projection of how you will perform in college. That rating is derived not just from SATs but the entire application, most importantly his essay which was said to be fierce.</p>
<p>The admission office had a reader rating and they projected that he would succeed based off of his application, particularly his essay. There were many students with an equal or superior reader ratings that were rejected…what admissions office saw was not merely that he was a low-income student, but a passion, hunger, and determination in addition to capacity to succeed unlike what was demonstrated in other applicants (not uncommon a case for strong low-income applicants).</p>
<p>This is why he was given the Obed Finch Slingerland Memorial Prize at graduation last weekend. The Obed is the schools greatest prize given by the trustees of the college to a member of the senior class who has shown by his own determination and accomplishment the greatest appreciation of and desire for a college education.</p>
<p>Anthony Jack is the most beloved figure on campus, a pivotal leader in many organizations, not just BSU, the 2007 candidate for Rhode Scholar, and one of the most articulate students I know. If you read his intial essay or his final thesis, which recieved honors, you would know that.</p>
<p>Going back, the admissions office would probably laugh at such discussion as this and respond by saying that his admittance was the best decision they made for the class of 2007. He was not admitted because of his low-income status. It was the experiences and qualities he derived from low-income status that made a better applicant than those with equal of superior credentials. In the end, if you have a reading rating of 1, 2, or 3 then it’s expected that you’ll succeed, the fact that you are a 1 does not make you a more qualified applicant at Amherst, the question after you’re reader rating is “What else ya got”? Tony had “it” and in four years displayed it beautifully and better than any other student on campus.</p>