My lowest Junior year grade

paying3tuitions
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:35:33 +0000

^^I agree. Adding: think of Amherst as your High Reach school and be sure you have other matches and safeties.

By the way, I’d write the exact same advice (my paragraph above), word-for-word, if I were writing to someone attending an exclusive boarding school with all A’s and 3 x 800 on their SAT’s.

It’s always “High Reach” there because of the very small size of the class, along with high standards. The admissions officers must pick and choose, and leave many qualified people holding rejection letters when each season ends.

It’s one of the disadvantages to applicants that they are such a small school in the number of seats available to offer. But that’s nothing personal to anyone; it just “is.”

I will tell you this: you can count on them to read and consider every word you write, and talk about your file with full care and attention. They spend all their time reading and discussing these written applications. They don’t use office time for personal candidate interviews, preferring to read and discuss. However, it sounds as though their special invitation (someone posted above that it’s on their website) to Community College transfers to phone in to Admissions to talk thnings over could gives you a unique opportunity to meet them, or at least talk over the phone. I really hope you follow up on that. Phone in to see if they really mean they’ll meet with you in person, and if you think you do well in a personal face-to-face encounter, go make a personal appointment with them. Nobody else can…so in that way, it could help you. At least asking them your questions by phone will help you know your direction.

I wouldn’t ask them “do I have a chance with you?” but more like: what has been the experience of other Community College transfers there? what would you suggest as my best strategy for making the best possible application? how are earlier grade mishaps from h.s. viewed, compared to good ones in community college…"

Work hard wherever you are studying, between now and then. Write the best app you can, especially pay attention to your personal essay and Amherst’s written “Supplement to the Common App” questions. Plan plenty of time to write those and don’t rush them; alllow time to reread and redit, no last-minutes!!
And only GO to Amherst if you want to keep working hard like that.

Apply elsewhere also (Safety, Match, Reach, and HighReach Amherst). Believe in all your applications.

Absolutely take up their invitaiton, as a CC transfer, to PHONE them and see what that means…if you can make an appointment to ask questions, do so!
Nobody else can do that.

Then, good luck. I always feel if I’ve given something MY best shot, I can be pleased with the outcome, whether it goes my way or not. Sometimes I’m disappointed, sometimes pleasantly surprised, but if I give it my best, I’m always feeling proud (years later) that I did try.