<p>I’m looking to study Philosophy, economics and maybe psychology. I also want to take courses in History, Ecology and Geology. Basically, I think these are the factors I am looking at: </p>
<p>Relatively unknown LAC vs Ivy League. I know the saying that “people who don’t know don’t matter, people who matter, know”. But I want to work in Europe after graduation, so I am not sure how that applies. </p>
<p>6000 students vs 1600 students. </p>
<p>Endowment/Student: Amherst $820800 vs Brown $285187 </p>
<p>I can say that the opportunities you will recieve from Amherst being so wealthy are enormous, the consortium will bring with it a ton of course offerings (and yes, the other colleges often have incredible courses and students). I also want to work abroad after graduation, but am not so concerned about the name issue. I am smart and charming (I think!) and a good worker - I think that will take me further than the name on my degree. If someone needs to be debriefed on the liberal arts system, that is okay. Brown isn't Harvard, either, you will find that few Europeans will have heard of it (though they will have heard of the Ivy League, you're not planning to list the athletic conference on your resume, are you?)</p>
<p>Brown campus is much more beautiful?! Have you seen it or Amherst? Brown is in the middle of an ugly town, spread out and not appealing. Amherst is bucolic and amazing. Anybody who is in a European firm that is well known or prestigious will know about Amherst.</p>
<p>You list some features of both schools but I am not sure about your assessments. Have you visited both?</p>
<p>Size-do you want to attend a small college or an university (Brown is very undergraduate-focused but still an university)? Your social life, classes, interactions will be different.</p>
<p>Campus-Amherst is a college town in a bucolic setting nestled by mountains. Beautiful for most but ?boring, remote to some. Brown is in Providence (a city making a comeback but not exactly one of the most attractive cities in the U.S.). On the other hand, you may prefer being in an urban setting.</p>
<p>RISD/course offerings-Five college consortium, including UMass. Much broader range of courses.</p>
<p>Endowment-means more programs and ameneties per student</p>
<p>Prestige/recognition-if that is very important, I would guess Brown may be better known internationally since it is an university and ivy league school. On the other hand, in terms of employers and academics here and abroad, Amherst is well known. If you go into academics, where you get your Ph.D. will be very important. In terms of academic reputation, I would say that Amherst may have a slight edge over Brown among graduate/professional schools in the U.S. However, that is just my opinion. On the other hand, I have served on graduate and medical school committees at two top research universities, and this also is shared by some of my colleagues unconnected with either institution.</p>
<p>Both are great places to attend college. However, I disagree with your assessments of the relative weaknesses of Amherst. I would say that your final decision may depend more upon subjective criteria such as where you will fit in socially and where you think you can thrive academically than "facts" you can cull from a college guidebook. You are the one who will be going to college. You also know yourself best. Good luck and congratulations.</p>
<p>I prefer Amherst's rural setting, but I like Brown's architecture more. Amherst's seems blocky and boring. I also prefer a social atmosphere where I can get lost in. And you got me--guidebooks. =)</p>
<p>personally, i always felt the advantages of the five college consortium are overstated. how often do students take courses at the other schools? how often are courses offered at one school but not at another?</p>
<p>I disagree that the advantages of the consortium are overstated. Academically, it gives us access to a far greater breadth of courses than we could sustain on our own (5 college programs in Dance and Astronomy, dozens of languages at UMass). Also it opens up a lot of extracurricular opportunities. MIA is performing at Mount Holyoke pretty soon and some of my friends are going, just as students from other schools will come to our Spring concert. Many people also go to parties on other campuses on the weekend. The bus system gives free and fairly convenient transport to the other schools, so all of these advantages are actually usable.</p>
<p>The consortium is definitely one of Amherst's big advantages over similar schools, in my mind.</p>
<p>College101. Seems like you are leaning towards Brown. I think self-clarification is very important. Making these decisions sometimes is based on intangibles and a gut feeling. I would certainly pay attention to them. It happens again many times in life-choosing where to live, what field to go into, what job to take, and even whom to marry. Fortunately, you are choosing between win/win situations.</p>
<p>but catfish, does it bother you that you have to leave campus to seek out opportunities to see concerts or go to concerts or join extracurriculars? i only ask because i have a cousin closely considering amherst</p>
<p>
[quote]
but catfish, does it bother you that you have to leave campus to seek out opportunities to see concerts or go to concerts or join extracurriculars? i only ask because i have a cousin closely considering amherst
[/quote]
Short answer: no</p>
<p>Long answer: Practically speaking, the PVTA runs quite frequently, so there's not a big cost time-wise. Also, I'm more than willing to take that extra few minutes to get to a concert a few times a year when it also means I can get to all of my classes in five minutes every day of the week because the campus is compact. If I was going to a physically larger school, I'd spend much more of time walking back and forth to get to classes. That means I'd have to wake up earlier every day, and I like sleep.</p>
<p>It doesn't bother me either. Then again, I think it is bizarre when people never leave campus, I have always liked going out and exploring the area. I think the consortium has been incredible me for academically, and coupled with Amherst's strong advising, fantastic academics, and tight knit environment, it has been absolutely unbeatable.</p>
<p>To answer the question of how often a course is available at another school that we wouldn't otherwise get, fairly often. You can take Sanskrit at Mt. Holyoke, linguistics at UMass (one of the very best programs in the country), some very quirky courses like sustainable agriculture at Hampshire, one of Smith's amazing art history courses...the 5 college language program also enables students to study languages like Punjabi, Farsi, Norwegian, Hungarian...courses that aren't available at most big flagship universities.</p>
<p>I think getting off campus is usually a good thing, and the opportunity to take a gender course at a women's college or an education course at an alternative school like Hampshire can be really invaluable.</p>