I've worked with quite a few students applying to Amherst and have to say that it's always a roll of the dice. A lot of it will depend on their writing and the ability to craft a compelling narrative of why they want to attend. Would suggest applying, but very much managing expectations in the process.

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).

Private = Full pay. That's a big advantage at some schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has those exact ACT numbers and a slightly higher GPA at a NOVA public (w/8 APs) and we wouldn't waste the app fee on Amherst. We think W&M is a reach. Looking at schools in the 50-100 range (Wooster, St. Mary's of MD, Gettysburg, Allegheny) hoping to get merit.

Good luck.

You can't compare a VA public to a top private when it comes to GPA. You know that.

+1 My unhooked DD from a non-top 5 private with same stats as OP is at an Ivy.

+2. My unhooked DD from a big 3 got into Columbia with a slightly better GPA and slightly lower ACT.

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+

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.

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?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has those exact ACT numbers and a slightly higher GPA at a NOVA public (w/8 APs) and we wouldn't waste the app fee on Amherst. We think W&M is a reach. Looking at schools in the 50-100 range (Wooster, St. Mary's of MD, Gettysburg, Allegheny) hoping to get merit.

Good luck.

Grades are inflated at public schools. It isn’t a valid comparison.

PP here. Duh. Why do you think we're looking at 50-100?

Op here: DC is female. I thought that I’d protect her privacy and that gender wouldn’t be a factor for admissions. It’s a shame that I was wrong

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Looking at the CDS: 11.5% of men vs. 11.1% of women admitted for 2019. Slightly better shot, not subsrantially better.

Maybe “substantially“ overstated it, but Amherst gets more female applicants than male and female applicants have, on average, higher stats than male applicants. But their goal is a gender balanced class. My experience with admissions is that boys do better than you’d expect from their profiles and girls have a harder time. I think there’s an additional advantage, not captured in the percentages above, that more girls want SLACs like Amherst and so the yield for girls is higher — and that boys are applying who would prefer other schools.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/03/13/want-an-edge-in-college-admissions-see-the-schools-where-women-and-men-have-an-advantage/%3foutputType=amp

There are SLACs where boys have significant advantages over girls. I’d seek out these schools and apply there as well.

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?

Looking at the CDS: 11.5% of men vs. 11.1% of women admitted for 2019. Slightly better shot, not subsrantially better.

Maybe “substantially“ overstated it, but Amherst gets more female applicants than male and female applicants have, on average, higher stats than male applicants. But their goal is a gender balanced class. My experience with admissions is that boys do better than you’d expect from their profiles and girls have a harder time. I think there’s an additional advantage, not captured in the percentages above, that more girls want SLACs like Amherst and so the yield for girls is higher — and that boys are applying who would prefer other schools.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/03/13/want-an-edge-in-college-admissions-see-the-schools-where-women-and-men-have-an-advantage/%3foutputType=amp

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD has those exact ACT numbers and a slightly higher GPA at a NOVA public (w/8 APs) and we wouldn't waste the app fee on Amherst. We think W&M is a reach. Looking at schools in the 50-100 range (Wooster, St. Mary's of MD, Gettysburg, Allegheny) hoping to get merit.

Good luck.

You can't compare a VA public to a top private when it comes to GPA. You know that.

+1 My unhooked DD from a non-top 5 private with same stats as OP is at an Ivy.

Anonymous wrote:My DD has those exact ACT numbers and a slightly higher GPA at a NOVA public (w/8 APs) and we wouldn't waste the app fee on Amherst. We think W&M is a reach. Looking at schools in the 50-100 range (Wooster, St. Mary's of MD, Gettysburg, Allegheny) hoping to get merit.

Good luck.

You can't compare a VA public to a top private when it comes to GPA. You know that.

Anonymous wrote:My DD has those exact ACT numbers and a slightly higher GPA at a NOVA public (w/8 APs) and we wouldn't waste the app fee on Amherst. We think W&M is a reach. Looking at schools in the 50-100 range (Wooster, St. Mary's of MD, Gettysburg, Allegheny) hoping to get merit.

Good luck.

Grades are inflated at public schools. It isn’t a valid comparison.

Anonymous wrote:So DD is coming from a Big 3 with ACT scores at the upper end of the range and grades in line with the average student. Apply ED and her odds are probably good, even better than normal for 2021.

A 3.83 unweighted from a top private is not average esp if OP's kid has taken a rigorous course load. Ask your college counselor. That's going to be much more useful than random parents telling you what happened with their kids who applied from public schools.

Anonymous wrote:My DD has those exact ACT numbers and a slightly higher GPA at a NOVA public (w/8 APs) and we wouldn't waste the app fee on Amherst. We think W&M is a reach. Looking at schools in the 50-100 range (Wooster, St. Mary's of MD, Gettysburg, Allegheny) hoping to get merit.

Good luck.

Different high schools completely. Makes all the difference in the world.