<p>I really like ahmerst and I am contemplating ED here. Before i feel comfortable with ED i would like some feedback on the issues i have. how true is the “were preppy but we live out in the woods” stereotype for amherst students? I got to visit but no students were on campus and the tour guide was a bit overbearing with the prep. Also what is the math program like? I really love math and amherst has a great reputation but nothing i have found mentions the math program?</p>
<p>First and foremost, I would caution you against judging any school on your list by your tour guide. As a tour guide, I can tell you that we come from all different “groups” on campus, and no one of us is indicative of the student body as a whole. It’s of course very difficult to keep an open mind when you only have the opportunity to meet one or two students during your visit, but make sure you take our tours (and guides!) with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>While Amherst certainly has its preppy kids, I would not say that the college fits into that stereotype. The student body spans the spectrum from kids in popped colors and boat shoes to those who prefer wandering around campus barefoot (true story). It’s a spectrum at Amherst, too, not a dichotomy between preppy and not. In my experience, no one group is more prevalent than the others and no one group dominates. Yes, students with similar interests tend to flock together (ie sports team, actors, debaters, ultimate frisbee team, etc.), but that occurs at any College. As a student somewhere between “boat shoes” and “barefoot,” I’ve always felt like I had a place on campus. </p>
<p>Also, if you have the opportunity to visit campus during the school year, I highly recommend it. It is really hard to get a sense of the community on campus without students.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, as a humanities major, I don’t know much about the math department. If you haven’t yet visited the department’s website and looked at courses, professors, major requirements, I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>If math is your thing, you’d be remiss if you don’t also look at Williams-arguably the best SLAC math program in the U.S.</p>