I know they are totally contrasting schools but that’s exactly why I’m choosing between them, and I honestly have no idea which one would be better for me.
Amherst Pros:
-Open Curriculum
-More one-on-one time w/ professors since it’s a much smaller school plus there is no grad school attached.
-Smaller class size, so I will be able to experience a more tight-knit community.
-The people I have talked to who were also admitted have been very nice
Cons:
-Lack of name prestige
-Less research opportunities
-I am scared I will have huge regrets in the future if I do not attend an ivy if I was accepted.
Columbia Pros:
-It’s an Ivy, amazing name prestige, will have tons of opportunities after college just based on this. In comparison, no one at my high school has even heard of Amherst.
-Way more research opportunities and such
-Has a medical school, will likely be easier to get into the med school if I attend there for undergrad (I assume).
Columbia Cons:
-Core curriculum…
-Way bigger school size
-Haven’t been able to find any friends yet from the school.
-Having to get to class, using elevators, going on subways, etc. I am very strict about my attendance and would die if I was ever late to a class (I have perfect attendance throughout my whole school career).
The locations don’t matter as much to me, I know they are way different, but I know I will either appreciate my time in a large city or on a more secluded campus. Also, I have full-ride to both schools so money is nothing to worry about. Also, my intended major is neuroscience and I want to become a neurologist in the future. Additionally, I want to either double major or minor in Japanese.
I think they’re both awesome schools in completely different settings, but this is now at least the 2nd thread where schools like Williams and Amherst have been labeled as lacking prestige or name recognition.
From my perspective, even BEFORE going through the admissions process twice now, these top LAC’s have HUGE name recognition here in the SF Bay Area, my little corner of the world.
You are one of several OP’s who have gotten more than one acceptance from schools appearing in this Forbes article:
I suggest you don’t question either choice you might make. Alhough different in many of their attributes, you will be choosing from two schools that are academic peers.
With respect to your career goals, you might find it interesting that your choices place in a similar relationship to that above in this site as well:
I went to grad school at Columbia. I believe the undergrads are all on campus or have that option. My wife and I attended the Clefhangers events and sporting events (football and basketball). Columbia students seem very “street savvy” and the benefits of being in NYC with an attached hospital up the road is phenomenal. You’ll find your people.
I’ve visited Amherst and found it to be an idyllic campus where I can imagine students playing sports or having class outside (during the right time of year of course). It doesn’t matter that others haven’t heard of the school. It matters what you’ll get out of it and what grad schools or employers think. They know Amherst is awesome…so is Columbia.
If you were given full financial aid to each of them, then I think it’s really a question of the environment. It doesn’t matter whether a college has an affiliated university medical school or not, if your goal is med school. What will matter is grades and MCATs. I do think that the research opportunities for neuroscience and neurology will be better at Columbia (although the actual med school is farther north in the the city, in Washington Heights, but easily reached by subway). I don’t know if there are neuroscience labs located on the main campus, too, or just in Washington Heights.
I think that if you want a quiet, small, personal environment in a peaceful college town, go with Amherst. You may not have heard about it, but the academic world most certainly has! Amherst is arguably the top liberal arts college in the US, definitely in the top five. Applying to med school from Amherst is as good as applying from Columbia, I would think. If you want the excitement and opportunities of going to an Ivy in Manhattan, go with Columbia.
Personally, just from how you write about the options, I think that Amherst might be a better fit for you. A lot of people who choose Columbia WANT that core curriculum, because they feel that it helps them to become better-educated people. They also are often quite sophisticated, with either experience or interests that make them want to be in NYC, because of all it offers, outside of Columbia. You don’t sound like that - you sound as if you want that small, intimate school experience.
Don’t feel that you’d be turning down an Ivy. Amherst, prestige-wise, is just as good as Columbia. You can definitely get into med school just fine from Amherst. And they’ve got Japanese! BTW, I love the idea of the double major in Japanese. Med schools like people who’ve done something more than majoring in Biology.
I’d think seriously about the open curriculum vs Columbia core, the locations and what you want as far as professor relationships and access.
Some kids love the idea of the core structure and it encourages students to explore areas they wouldn’t otherwise make time to investigate. Other kids chafe at the idea of being required to take classes in subjects they’re ready to leave behind.
As far as location, they couldn’t be more different. NYC is busy, energetic and expensive. Not much green. The city is definitely a part of the campus and campus life. Are you the type that thrives in that environment? Or are you looking to trade your more a more suburban/rural home life for 4 years in NYC.
Amherst is beautiful, green, more isolated. Still busy, but less from the environment and more from within the community. Less expensive, more outdoor activities available. A tighter knit community.
If attendance means that much to you I’m confident you’d be fine in either location!
Columbia may be better “known” in general circles but both schools are well known and respected where it counts.
Every single person who hires / admits smart grads knows Amherst at least as well as Columbia. Amherst’s research opportunities lean more towards basic sciences (e.g., bio) than neuro, so that could matter. Navigating Columbia after the initial shock of NYC is pretty easy — generally less spread out than a place like Amherst).
So I think research focus, school size, core curriculum, and urban / rural are all valid ways to decide. I don’t think name brand or any belief that one (on name alone) will help you get into med school differently makes sense.
Personally, I’d rather tell people I turned down an Ivy than that I go to one. But that’s just me. Congrats. Both are truly fantastic schools.
I think you would fit better at Amherst, and your list of pros and cons shows that.
I want so say, regarding prestige, “are you kidding me?” Amherst is extremely prestigious. It is a Little Ivy, and I think Amherst and Williams are top in that category: Little Ivy League Colleges - The Classroom
The open curriculum and cohesive community seem like pluses for you. Don’t forget that Amherst is also part of a consortium with UMass Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire so you may take classes at those schools too.
You should find neither campus difficult to navigate, but when considered by spatial luxuriance, Columbia (36 acres) doesn’t compare with Amherst (1000 acres).
My recommendation is to go to both. What? Yes both. Amherst is a wonderful place to explore and grow as an undergrad and then go to Columbia for grad school among its many prestigious programs.
I guess you will have to believe us or not about the prestige of Amherst. Personally I might find it more impressive than Columbia in terms of admission. @HPTD12 is right: Amherst for undergrad and Columbia for grad!
I did my graduate studies at Columbia and taught in the Core. I have a daughter in a LAC now. My vote is for Amherst for you (especially since you list the Core as one of Columbia’s cons). And congratulations on two impressive acceptances! And, as others said, Amherst is plenty prestigious (LACs just tend to be less known in general, because they’re small+no big sports, but employers and graduate school professors will be impressed).
If name recognition in your friend circle or community really matters to you, then Columbia may make you happiest. However those that need to know, will know Amherst College. Many lists I’ve seen show Amherst College ranked above Columbia for medical school acceptances, so I would encourage you to dig into this a bit more.
I think both my girls may have started out with ideas that their college experience would be a large campus in a big city or maybe that was me? - I blame Legally Blonde! but when we began the process in earnest, everything they wanted was to be found in an LAC. Ask yourself why you applied to Amherst College and why did they deem you a good fit?
No matter what you won’t go wrong if you are true to yourself. I wish you the best and #Tusksup!
but when we began the process in earnest, everything they wanted was to be found in an LAC. Ask yourself why you applied to Amherst College and why did they deem you a good fit?