<p>Hey, I've just got waitlisted at Amherst :D
I plan to major in Computer science and I saw some changes in CS department and I really love 'em. But... theory is one thing and real life another. How strong is Amherst's CS department in general? I heard only good things about it, but I want more opinions :)</p>
<p>Anyone????</p>
<p>I want to enroll at Amherst, but I don't know how to convert Canadian dollars to American dollars given the fact that exchange rates differ daily. Anyone have any ideas?</p>
<p>Sanja, I don't know much about CS here. [url=<a href="https://cms.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/computer_science%5DHere's%5B/url">https://cms.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/computer_science]Here's[/url</a>] the department website if you haven't seen it already.</p>
<p>Vogon bard, the Canadian and US dollar have been close to equivalent recently. So what you see in US dollars is about the same as Canadian dollars. As for the fluctuations, that's the nature of the beast. Lots of very smart people spend a lot of time trying to figure that one out.</p>
<p>@Catfish
do you know how many people actualy majors in CS? As far as I could see, CS department is rather small... It makes me wonder whether it is good...</p>
<p>No department is really big at Amherst - that's the purpose of an LAC - small class sizes and smaller departments so you can get that individual attention that large schools cannot give you. In terms of exchanging money, there is a Bank of America nearby and if you bank ther in Canada, or with one of their cooperating banks, there won't be a problem. And even if you don't once you open an account, the bank will automatically convert. Even if you charge something on a credit card, it will convert, but there will be a fee, probably.</p>
<p>Tnx guys :)
One more question. If I stay on the waitlist (and this is 99% sure) and Amherst offers me admission, can I reject it for some reason? Not that I would stay on the waitlist and then reject just for fun, but financial aid could be a little problem... What if I cannot accept their offer?</p>
<p>of course you can decline.</p>
<p>Just checkin' :) Tnx :)</p>
<p>How is the pre-med at Amherst? Is the theatre department good? Is there one characteristic in particular that stands out as a typical Amherst admit?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for initiating this thread.</p>
<p>From another thread in which I posted:</p>
<p>"Between 2000 and 2004, '98.8% (168 out of 170) acceptance rate for 'well-qualified' applicants who either were accepted on their first try or who have reapplied', and '97% (199/205) acceptance rate for all applicants, 'well-qualified' and 'less-qualified,' who either were accepted on their first try or who have reapplied'.</p>
<p>You can read more at <a href="http://www.amherst.edu/%7Esageorge/guide1.html">http://www.amherst.edu/~sageorge/guide1.html</a>"</p>
<p>Hey, one question.</p>
<p>I've noticed that a lot of people have mentioned that there are a lot of Connecticut/New Jersey rich white kids who go to Amherst, and having seen some of the facebook group, there appear to be at least a few who have been admitted for this year. I was just wondering if Amherst is overwhelmingly like this? Are most kids of the clean cut country club cloth? (woo alliteration!). Is it ever difficult to get to know people because they are stuck in cliques from high school / region?</p>
<p>This is really random, I know, but I was a little worried.</p>
<p>Oh, actually two questions: I've heard that Amherst gets cliquey. Is this true, and if so, is it necessarily a bad thing? Thank you so much!</p>
<p>There is a significant portion of wealthy Connecticut/New Jersey white kids on campus, but not overwhelmingly so. Also, the vast majority of them either don't conform with the country club stereotypes or go far beyond them, with wide ranging interests, talents, and experiences. People don't form cliques by high school or region.</p>
<p>Amherst can get cliquey in the sense that people who are in the same activities tend to hang out together. I don't think that's a bad thing. Joining clubs is easily the best way to meet people with similar interests, so its unsurprising that people who like doing the same things enjoy hanging out with each other. No one is ever exclusionary about it.</p>
<p>So how many ECs do one usually have in Amherst?</p>
<p>Could anyone tell me more about Amherst's campus and surrounding area? I'm from the Great White North, and it is rather inconvenient for me to visit. I know about the five colleges consortium; I'm more interested in the geography nearby, like is it hilly? Is the college surrounded by miles of forest? Is there an outdoorsy vibe? </p>
<p>As funny as it might seem, I actually prefer a small, quiet, and rural setting. Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>The town looks smaller than it really is. At 40,000 it looks about the size of North Dumphries, particularly in the summer when UMass and Amherst college kids go home. There are woods and hills, but not quite as bucolic as the Berkshires or Vancouver. Taken together, Amherst, South Hadley, Northampton et al, might equal the town of Waterloo in general feel.</p>
<p>it is a lovely, quaint town with very pleasant scenery, though not as beautiful as the Berkshires. I think it is the perfect combination of a pretty New England town with a lively college town vibe. The food in town is so good.</p>
<p>I know that Amherst offers research opportunities in science. What about research opportunities in the humanities? I know that the Kahn Liberal Arts Institute at Smith invites Smith juniors and seniors to participate in a multidisciplinary-type research. Does Amherst have a similar organization?</p>
<p>Also, open house is coming up. Any suggestions as to what classes we should observe?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Hey guys, I'll be entering Amherst next fall. </p>
<p>I was just wondering...considering how Amherst is a pretty athletic school, how many students join intramural sports? Also, how difficult is it to be a part of an intramural team? Like, do you have to be pretty good at that sport/will you be shunned for being "bad"? I'm not really familiar with how this works. Thanks a lot</p>
<p>thesaraness, that's so funny because I was just going to ask the same question! I want to join intramural soccer because I love soccer, but I'm not like a pro or anything....are there tryouts or can you just sign up?</p>