The Basics About Amherst College
Amherst College is a private institution that was founded in 1821. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,744, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 1000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Amherst College's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 2. Its tuition and fees are $40,862.
Overview: Amherst College
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General Information
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Institutional Control:
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Private
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Year founded:
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1821
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Religious affiliation:
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N/A
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Academic calendar:
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semester
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Fall 2009 Total number of undergraduates:
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1,744
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Setting:
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rural
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2009 Endowment:
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$1,305,943,737
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Fall Admissions
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Application deadline:
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1/1
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Application fee:
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$60
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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16%
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Selectivity:
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most selective
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Expenses
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Costs:
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2010-2011 Tuition and Fees: $40,862
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Student Life at Amherst College
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Amherst College, located in Amherst, Mass., is known for its rigorous academic climate. Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, which also includes Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Students may take courses at any of these colleges. Amherst offers more than 140 student organizations; the college banned fraternities in 1984. Amherst claims to have the oldest athletics program in the nation, along with the third oldest football field. The Amherst Lord Jeffs participate in NCAA Division III sports in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The school is also part of the unofficial Little Three athletic conference with Williamsand Wesleyan, which has lasted more than 100 years. Freshmen are required to live on campus in one of seven residence halls.
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Other Facts About Amherst College
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Amherst is an undergraduate college that offers degrees in 35 different majors. Amherst, known as "the singing college," has many a cappella groups, including the Zumbyes, the Bluestockings, and Route 9, to name a few. Amherst is also taking great strides to become more sustainable, and it protects 500 acres of open land and water in its wildlife sanctuary. Notable alumni include former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Harlan Fiske Stone.
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Mission (as provided by the school)
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Amherst College is widely regarded as one of the nation's very best liberal arts colleges. Enrolling 1,600 students from nearly every state and more than 40 countries, Amherst features an open curriculum and offers the BA in 33 fields of study. Amherst is part of the Five College Consortium with Smith College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
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Applications: Amherst College
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Regular Decision
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Application deadline:
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1/1
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Notification date:
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04/01
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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June 1 (Fall), December 31 (Spring)
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Early Decision
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Is an early decision plan offered?
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Yes
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Early decision deadline:
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11/15
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Early decision decision sent by:
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12/15
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Early Action
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Is an early action plan offered?
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No
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Early action deadline:
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N/A
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Early action decision sent by:
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N/A
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Application Fee
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Application fee:
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$60
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Is the application fee refundable?
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No
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Can the application fee be waived for students with financial need?
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Yes
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Is it possible to defer admission?
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Yes
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Application Formats
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Can applications be submitted via E-mail?
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No
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Electronic application URL:
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http://www.amherst.edu/admission/
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Tuition and Room Deposits
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Tuition deposit:
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$400
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Is the tuition deposit refundable?
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Nonrefundable
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Room deposit:
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$0
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Is the room deposit refundable?
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N/A
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Contact Information
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Admissions director:
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Katharine Fretwell
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Admissions office phone number:
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(413) 542-2328
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Admissions E-mail:
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Requirements and Factors: Amherst College
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Admission Requirements
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Admission interview?
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Neither required/recommended
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Campus visit?
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Recommended
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Off-campus interviews?
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are not available
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Does the school have an open admission policy?
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No
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Does the college use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions for first-time, first-year applicants?
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Yes
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Standardized tests?
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Either SAT or ACT required.
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ACT Writing test?
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ACT with writing recommended
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SAT/ACT scores must be received by:
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12/31
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SAT Subject Test scores must be received by:
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12/31
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High school completion requirement for admissions:
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High school diploma or equivalent is not required
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General college-preparatory program?
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Recommend
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Academic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Rigor of secondary school record?
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Very Important
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Class rank?
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Important
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Academic GPA?
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N/A
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Standardized test scores?
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Very Important
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Application essay?
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Very Important
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Recommendations?
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Very Important
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Nonacademic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Interview?
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Not Considered
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Extracurricular activities?
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Very Important
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Talent/ability?
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Very Important
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Character/personal qualities?
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Very Important
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Being a first-generation college student?
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N/A
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Alumni/ae relations?
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Important
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Geographical residence?
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Considered
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State residency?
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Considered
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Religious affiliation/commitment?
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Not Considered
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Race/ethnicity?
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Considered
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Volunteer work?
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Important
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Work experience?
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Considered
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Level of the applicant's interest?
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N/A
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Required High School Course Work
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Recommended High School Course Work
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High school units recommended in English:
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4
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High school units recommended in Foreign languages:
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4
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High school units recommended in History:
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2
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High school units recommended in Mathematics:
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4
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High school units recommended in Science:
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3
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High school units recommended in Science Labs:
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1
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High school units recommended in Social Studies:
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2
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Total high school units recommended:
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20
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Entering Class Statistics: Amherst College
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Fall 2009 Selectivity
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Selectivity:
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most selective
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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16%
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Early decision acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Early action acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students):
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16%
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Fall 2009 Applications, Acceptances, and Enrollments
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Number of applicants:
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7,679
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Number of applicants accepted:
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1,227
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Freshman enrollment for Fall 2009:
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467
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Percent of total enrolled incoming freshmen who been accepted under either early acceptance or early action:
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N/A
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Number of male applicants:
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3,368
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Number of male applicants accepted for Fall 2009:
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584
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Male freshman enrollment:
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237
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Number of female applicants:
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4,311
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Number of female applicants accepted Fall 2009:
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643
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Female freshman enrollment:
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230
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Fall 2009 Wait List
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Does the school have a waiting list?
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Yes
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Number of applicants placed on a waiting list:
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1,217
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Number of students on the wait list accepted:
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562
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Number of students enrolled from a waiting list:
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0
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Fall 2009 High School Rank
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school class standing:
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58%
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2009 Freshmen in top 10 percent of high school class:
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85%
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2009 Freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class:
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94%
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2009 Freshmen in top 50 percent of high school class:
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100%
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Fall 2009 High School GPA
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school GPA:
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N/A
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Average high school GPA:
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N/A
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Fall 2009 Freshmen SAT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting SAT scores:
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76%
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SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range:
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660-760
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SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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650-770
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SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range:
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660-770
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SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 700-800 range:
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63%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 600-699 range:
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28%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 500-599 range:
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9%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 400-499 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 300-399 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 200-299 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 700-800 range:
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57%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 600-699 range:
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35%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 500-599 range:
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8%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 400-499 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 300-399 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 200-299 range:
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N/A
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Fall 2009 Freshmen ACT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting ACT scores:
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26%
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ACT English 25th-75th percentile range:
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30-34
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ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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29-35
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ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range:
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30-34
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 30-36 range:
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80%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 24-29 range:
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20%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 18-23 range:
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0%
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 30-36 range:
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74%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 24-29 range:
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24%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 18-23 range:
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2%
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 30-36 range:
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77%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 24-29 range:
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23%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 18-23 range:
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0%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores below 6:
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N/A
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Transfer Students: Amherst College
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Deadlines
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Terms for which transfer students may apply for admission:
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Fall, Spring
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Application date for transfer students:
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February 1 (Fall), November 1 (Spring)
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Admission decision sent:
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N/A
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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June 1 (Fall), December 31 (Spring)
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Requirements
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Do transfer applicants need a minimum number of credits to apply?
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Yes, 30
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Minimum required high school GPA:
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N/A
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Minimum required college GPA:
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3.5
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High school transcript?
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Required of all
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College transcript?
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Required of all
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Essay/personal statement?
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Required of all
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Admission interview?
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Not required
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Standardized test scores?
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Recommended of all
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Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)?
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Required of all
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Lowest course grade that may be transferred for credit:
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C
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Maximum number of credit/courses that may be transferred:
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64 from a two-year school, 64 from a four-year school
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Is there a minimum number of credits needed to complete degree?
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60 credits for a bachelor's degree
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Transfer Student Application and Enrollment Statistics
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Total number of transfer students applying for Fall 2009:
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395
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Total number of transfer students accepted for Fall 2009:
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22
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Total number of transfer students enrolled for Fall 2009:
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17
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International Student Admissions: Amherst College
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Deadlines and Requirements
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Application deadline:
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December 31 (Fall)
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Preapplication form required?
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No
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Separate application form required?
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No
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TOEFL
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TOEFL requirement?
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N/A
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May the TOEFL be submitted in place of the SAT or ACT?
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No
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Minimum TOEFL score required (paper test):
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600
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Minimum TOEFL score required (internet test):
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250
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Average TOEFL score (paper test):
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650
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Average TOEFL score (internet test):
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281
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