Amherst would be a craps shot with a 3.5, high SAT's, toughest course load, meaty extracurriculars, and being the first in her family to go to college. If she is a recruited minority with a 1200 SAT, she is as good as in. Columbia and Northwestern have respected journalism programs, but they are as hard as Amherst to get in. Sad but true: 1400 SAT and 3.5 gpa does not go far nowadays. Bard College is close to a lock. I guess ETS added a new writing section so the top score now is 2400 or something.