How tough is it to get into UMass Amherst?

How hard is it to get accepted into UMass Amherst? Would you say it's a highly competitive school or more on the attainable side with good grades and extracurriculars?

UMass Amherst is considered a moderately competitive school in terms of admissions. The acceptance rate for UMass Amherst is around 64%, which means that while acceptance is hardly guaranteed, with decent grades, strong extracurriculars, and a well-rounded application, you should indeed have a reasonable chance of being accepted.

It's important to note that the selectivity may vary depending on the specific program or major you are applying to. Some programs, such as Engineering or Business, may have higher admission standards than others.

To gauge if your academic profile is competitive for UMass Amherst, you can compare your GPA and test scores (if applicable) to those of accepted students. The middle 50% of accepted students have a high school GPA ranging from 3.9 to 4.4 (weighted) and an SAT score of 1330 to 1490 or an ACT score of 29 to 34. If you fall within or above these ranges, you'll likely be a strong candidate academically.

In addition to academics, your extracurricular involvement is essential. UMass Amherst values well-rounded students who participate in a variety of activities, ranging from community service to clubs and sports. Having a strong "spike" or deep involvement in one or two areas of interest can also make you stand out as an applicant, by showing what you have to offer that nobody else does.

Finally, if you want to know how your particular profile stacks up at UMass Amherst, consider taking advantage of CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for your grades, extracurriculars, and so on to give you personalized odds of acceptance at UMass Amherst and hundreds of other colleges: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator. The calculator also allows you to adjust various factors, to see how much, for example, a leadership position in one of your extracurricular activities would boost your odds.

Overall, getting into UMass Amherst is moderately competitive, but with a strong application that showcases your academic achievements and extracurricular commitments, you should have a fair shot at being accepted. Remember that each applicant's situation is unique, so focus on presenting the best version of yourself on your application to maximize your chances. Best of luck!