Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Amherst College, Admissions Officer Interview


Admissions Office, Amherst College







Amherst College, playing fields


Greetings everyone! I am back from a brief hiatus from blogging and I have some new information to share with you. I have had the opportunity to visit Amherst College in Massachusetts and I will be visiting Brown University tomorrow. I sat down with the Northern California Admissions representative, Ahmaad Brown, and he was very informative about some key facts about the application process. In addition to speaking with Ahmaad, I was able to listen to a rising senior speak about his experience at Amherst. Here is what I was able to find:

Admissions Process:

  • Transcript -- This is probably the most important item in the application process. The transcript readers want to see that students are taking the most rigorous classes they possibly can in their high school tenure. They also want to see that they are earning high marks and are excelling in all areas of curriculum.
  • College Essay -- This is also extremely important and must show who the student really is. Ahmaad reiterates that it is important that the student is true, honest and reveal why the student is a proper fit at Amherst College.
  • College Recommendations -- Select teachers/counselors who truly know you and can paint a picture of who you are as a student and why they think you would be a good fit for this particular school. Readers are looking for letters of recommendation that truly stand out above the rest. They are looking at over 8,000 applicants annually.
  • Standardized Testing -- SAT/ACT -- Not as important as the transcript, essay, and college recommendations. SAT (2) Subject Tests required.
  • No interviews

2 comments:

  1. Sarah,

    Nice photos and good stuff to know.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sarah,
    Your report on Amherst is thorough and concise. I like the bullet points. The photos have depth of field and good perspectives. Enjoyed looking at them.
    Best regards,
    Youra Doronila Pepa

    ReplyDelete