Chance at Amherst? 3.83uw GPA and 34 ACT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You used “they” throughout, I assume to disguise your child’s sex. But it matters in that a boy will have a substantially better shot at Amherst than a girl with the same stats. Apply anyway, intellectual and good writer could help.

Weird statement. Source?

Undeniably true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

Haven’t you heard, the schools where parents literally have no power over teachers give everyone As while the schools where parents cut very large checks curve to a C+

No, I haven’t heard why a 36 ACT from one school should be valued over a 36 ACT from another.

[Anonymous]

Nice reading comp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

Haven’t you heard, the schools where parents literally have no power over teachers give everyone As while the schools where parents cut very large checks curve to a C+

No, I haven’t heard why a 36 ACT from one school should be valued over a 36 ACT from another.

No one is talking about the ACT scores. They're talking about GPAs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

Yes. Most definitely. There’s no curve inflation. Classes are harder and a lot more work. Average grades at our private is probably a 3.5. Top half of class or greater either gets into top 20 schools.

[Anonymous]

I have to say as well, I don't have the context of your child's extracurricular, but I struggle to think of one that isn't attractive to colleges if sold in the right way (especially if your child is genuinely passionate about it). Universities have become very suspicious (and rightfully so) of having a glut of extracurriculars (implying that the student isn't really serious about any of them) or of having 'paid for' extracurriculars (essentially those that only the wealthiest can afford).

Op here again. Thank you for all your responses, the different perspectives are quite helpful. DD has an extracurricular that she has been involved in for over a decade, but is a prohibitively expensive one, which is why I think it is unattractive for admission. The extracurricular is not a varsity sport at Amherst, but there is a club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

Yes. Most definitely. There’s no curve inflation. Classes are harder and a lot more work. Average grades at our private is probably a 3.5. Top half of class or greater either gets into top 20 schools.

Yep, the average student in private school is above average- a real lake woebegone situation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have to say as well, I don't have the context of your child's extracurricular, but I struggle to think of one that isn't attractive to colleges if sold in the right way (especially if your child is genuinely passionate about it). Universities have become very suspicious (and rightfully so) of having a glut of extracurriculars (implying that the student isn't really serious about any of them) or of having 'paid for' extracurriculars (essentially those that only the wealthiest can afford).

Op here again. Thank you for all your responses, the different perspectives are quite helpful. DD has an extracurricular that she has been involved in for over a decade, but is a prohibitively expensive one, which is why I think it is unattractive for admission. The extracurricular is not a varsity sport at Amherst, but there is a club.

Equestrian? If you apply, she'll either get in or not. It's one or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

Yes. Most definitely. There’s no curve inflation. Classes are harder and a lot more work. Average grades at our private is probably a 3.5. Top half of class or greater either gets into top 20 schools.

Or the students have more $$$$$$

[Anonymous]

If it’s equestrian, look at Mt Holyoke up the road as a safety. Beautiful barn in walking distance to campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

Haven’t you heard, the schools where parents literally have no power over teachers give everyone As while the schools where parents cut very large checks curve to a C+

This. DS has a ~3.7 at Sidwell US and his peers in the same classes are flabbergasted. His friends at other area schools all seem to have much higher GPAs. All the MoCo friends have one B+ at the most, usually from 1st semester 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

At our private there is no such thing as a 4.0 UW because grading is tough and no one graduates with a 4.0. Colleges know this and a 3.8 from a top private is probably more helpful than a higher GPA from a school with a lot of kids with 4.0s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s equestrian, look at Mt Holyoke up the road as a safety. Beautiful barn in walking distance to campus.

That barn is one of the most amazing on the east coast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You used “they” throughout, I assume to disguise your child’s sex. But it matters in that a boy will have a substantially better shot at Amherst than a girl with the same stats. Apply anyway, intellectual and good writer could help.

Weird statement. Source?

Undeniably true

Troll.

Amherst admission rate is 10.8%. Evenly split between males and females (1% other). No statistically significant differences between apps from men and women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So PPs are saying that a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from private is somehow worth more than 4.0 UW and 36 ACT from public? WTF?

Well, they have to justify the price they pay somehow.

The “Big 3” high schools have a more competitive admissions process than most colleges. Yes, being in the top 25% of the class is worth more there than being in the top 25% at a public school where a significant percentage of the student body isn’t aiming for college.

Whether or not going to a private school is actually helpful for college admissions is another matter — I actually think it isn’t these days, since it shows privilege that the schools are trying to steer away from. However, schools do adjust their perception of grades based upon the HS in question.

(FWIW, my kids don’t go to a Big 3)