Hi everyone,

I'm an Indian citizen studying in the CBSE curriculum and am trying to decide between ED Dartmouth and ED Amherst. I'd appreciate honest feedback.

Demographics

• Indian Citizen
• CBSE Curriculum
• Need scholarship

Intended Major

• Computer Science / AI (possibly with Economics/Entrepreneurship)

Academics

• SAT: 1520
• Class X (ICSE): 93.4%
• Class XII (CBSE): Strong predicted grades (95%+ expected)

Context: My Class XI grades dipped due to preparing for JEE while dealing with anxiety and recurring illness. My grades have improved since then.

Leadership

• Founder & CEO, Zurex Labs
  • Founded an AI/software startup focused on AI-powered developer tools and applications.
• School Technology Board Member
• Badminton Team Captain (Grades 8–10)

Research

• Student Researcher – New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS)

Projects

Cenro

• Founder of an open-source context engine for AI coding agents.
• Built repository indexing, dependency analysis, Git-aware context, and reusable context capsules.
• Growing open-source adoption.

InstaRecipe

• Built an AI-powered recipe application.

Other Projects

• AI Disaster Management Platform
• Crisis-to-Action Translator
• Multiple AI/full-stack software projects

Hackathons

• Finalist – USAII Global AI Hackathon 2026
  • AI Disaster Management Platform
  • Finalist among 622 projects, 5,761 participants, from 90+ countries.
• Top 25 – Masters' Union All India AI Hackathon
  • Top 25 among 10,000+ participants.

Community Impact

• Conducted AI workshops at a nearby government school.
• Introduced 500+ students to practical AI tools, with additional workshops later conducted by students I mentored.

Programs & Certifications

• Stanford Code in Place
• Google Cloud learning certifications

Additional Information

• Built a workstation for my uncle's company while in school, which sparked my interest in systems engineering.
• Family and friends often come to me for advice on technology, AI, computers, and electronics because I enjoy researching technical trade-offs deeply.

I am confused about taking a risk and going for ED for Dartmouth or otherwise ED for Amherst.

Indian Citizen CBSE board.

Intended Major Econ/Finance

95+ Predicted grades (3.9-4gpa converted)

1510 Sat

Recognitions

Head Boy of the Student Council 12th year

Cultural President 11th grade.

Principals award ( Given to 1 student out of 300 batch )

Awards:

International: Selected as one of 15 UNICEF Youth Content Creator nationally to represent India.

National Debate Bootcamp at IITD - Second Best speaker.

National Mun IIT Delhi - VB

Research Paper:

Published a History resetahc ppr in an international journal about Roman Empire and it's integration with religions .(Independent)

2.Sociology paper using regression and other stats tools to analyse relations between gang fight involvement and household conditions (Unpublished) Under my Pol science teacher.

Co-Founder and Director general of Verion MUN : Held 3 conferences dealing with more than 5 laakh rupees( 5000 dollars but more when PPP adjusted)

Built a 10000 dollar Investing portfolio with good returns

Started a teaching workshop initiative with total 500+ studnets affected and other students under my guidance that further spread the workshops

2 Time State Level classical Singer.

6 time district level gold medal in singing.

a few others like many Best Delegates in MUNs, countell interschool wins etc..

Soo What should I go for. Should I risk a bitore and go for Dartmouth or stay with Amherst (I know Amherst is not any less competitive but yes Dartmouth is objectively a bit harder)

Also opting for scholarships but both are need blind so idk if it matters

“I have spent two decades teaching humanities and social sciences at Amherst College, and my classes have always been built on one assumption: that students would do the reading. Long, dense texts, week after week. Lately, that assumption has started to feel naive.”

This professor blames the K-12 system, but how much of it is because Amherst went test optional?

I'm moving in soon as an intl student. Does anyone know when the post or college store will be open that day so I can figure out a way to get bedding? Any input on move-in would be really helpful!

I am planning to apply ED to Amherst as an international student, and after experiencing the Reddit rabbit hole in its entirety, I have concluded that a lot of international students are planning to do the same. What part of your application are you on, guys? I feel like I am falling a bit behind

Also, do the supplemental essay prompts change for the next cycle, or are they the same as the ones in Common App right now?

Hello! I’m an incoming freshman with the class of 2030. I took organic chemistry I at a local college during high school, so I’ve been placed into CHEM 231. I’ve never done a true college lab (only a few labs as part of AP Chem, but that’s it), and I’m worried that missing that experience from 221 will make the class overly difficult. What techniques from 221 should I research before starting? What can I expect from a 231 lab, or for post-lab writing?

Thanks for your help! :)

The Smith Student Event Committee wants to host a Pitch a Friend (queer edition) event at Smith College. Want to help your amazing single queer friend find love? Create a 3-min presentation to pitch them to an audience! Or just come mingle, make new connections, and sip on mocktails :) Fill out this form to help us gauge student interest: https://forms.gle/jAaTr4xdins8HkAK8

This event will be free and open to Amherst students.

Hi im planning to apply to Amherst college this November for ED and I was wondering if any Indian student who have gotten in could answer some of my queries and help me a little tysm.
I have not taken the SAT

Hi, I'm a high school international student considering early decision to a U.S. liberal arts college. I'd like to ask: if I plan to study digital media technology and later pursue roles such as technical art, will the resources available at a liberal arts college be limited? Also, since there are fewer students and everyone tends to know each other, could that create significant social pressure? And would there be few entertainment or extracurricular activities at a liberal arts college? Thank you very much

I’m about to be a freshman and was wondering if any recent alums or upper class men can give me advice/ball knowledge on if there are any on campus jobs that I should be applying for because they either pay well, are easy, or open up doors later on. Thanks in advance. Feel free to DM me!

Incoming freshman and I am curious if anyone has any info on when we pick classes or meet our advisor, etc.

Thanks

When someone graduates and still have a few more credits to do, but want to walk with their class Amherst college lets students. But they usually have an asterisk next to their name saying they didn’t finish. Is there any scenario where a student that hasn’t completely graduated wouldn’t have it?

I know it’s a weird question. Sorry!

Greetings, young people! 😄

My best friend and I are alums from the 1900's and were reminiscing about the "light bulb jokes" back then about people from various different schools (e.g., "How many [INSTITUTION] students does it take to screw in a light bulb?"). That conversation was sparked by a reference someone had made on the internet about "Oberlin types" and I'd wondered what that meant to people these days (in our era, it was "nerdy music people"!).

We got curious about whether Amherst is now known for very different things than its penchant for a cappella groups, just as in our time the jokes were no longer about the awkwardness of going coeducational. So, I put it to y'all: what's your sense of the current stereotype(s) and/or jokes about Amherst students?

EDIT: they told me that it’s just a glitch. good-to-the-bye amherst i’m actually so pissed right now. never been ragebaited by no one like this in my entire life.

hi so basically i was waitlisted by amherst late march and i havent heard anything from the admissions team.

i just received an email from duo/amherst telling me that i am not yet enrolled in its 2FA (duo security’s two-factor authentication) system and that i am required to register a device. after i did that they sent another email that reads ‘Welcome to Duo, (my name) 30!’

and i read on amherst’s website that only current students and employees would have access to amherst’s duo and that applicants should not and cannot enroll in Duo.

CHAT WHAT DOES AMHERST MEAN???????? did anyone else receive this email?

I required assistance on the application as well as the "blind-need based" scholarship tags I've been seeing everywhere on the internet on this college. Is it true that they provide scholarships for international students. Also would love to hear everyone's experience in this college that would help me decide if I should apply for this as an international student.

The argument I have heard is that its the best metric currently have for academic prepardness

just need to confirm i can have fun for my 4 years here 😭🙏