<p>this is kinda random since no one's used this thread in awhile, but if anyone comes back that knows could tell me, is there a possible major in international relations? The list I saw on the website didn't mention it where I looked, but it's such a common major, and it was a field I was pretty interested in. Thanks.</p>
<p>If I go to Amherst I'm planning on majoring in International Studies. I haven't looked at the details for a while, but that is definitely doable. Plus, Amherst is really good about students creating their own majors.</p>
<p>You can pursue the 5-College IR Certificate.</p>
<p>alright, sounds good, thanks...i wondered about that 5-college thing...do you actually have a lot of guys taking classes at smith and holyoke? I didn't previously realize that was even possible...</p>
<p>Hi everyone, reading the threads on this board makes me SO excited about getting in Amherst:) I have some questions: two are the same as upsilamba18's (about competitiveness and avoiding drinking). The others are:
1. I'm thinking of taking Linguistics courses at UMass. Is it easy/common for Jeffs to take classes at other schools in the Five Colleges consortium? Plus, among the other four, which is the easiest (logistically/red-tape-wise) for Jeffs to cross-course at?
2. What are the Psy, Phil and Eng depts like?
3. Heck, forgot all about it. Will come back later:) Thanks for any input;)</p>
<p>I'm not going to Amherst, but my friend probably is. Because I personally am not attending Amherst, I never had the opportunity to learn about the campus and the opportunities available at Amherst and all the different possibilities of studies and such. Would anyone mind answering a couple questions she had for me?</p>
<ol>
<li>What is the social life at Amherst like? I know, very vague, sorry.</li>
<li>Do Amherst students do well in graduate school admissions and employment? I'm guessing they do because it's such a great school, but she wants to make sure.</li>
<li>Is it easy to get real world experience through internships etc. via career services at Amherst?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for your help, guys! Hopefully I'll be going up to visit some time; it sounds like a really nice campus and I'm enrolled in a local Massachusetts university, so I figure I might as well take the trip up eventually if my friend goes there.</p>
<p>And yeah, another question I just came up with: are frats/sororities hot on campus? I'm not sure I like these though...
PorSK: I think I can answer some of your questions:
1. The community is small so you get to know everyone else and people do a lot of social interaction. I'm still waiting to see if students are stressed out or competitive, but by all accounts it's a supportive community. Everyone cares about each other.
2. The Amherst brandname does dazzle many an adcom at grad schools. Y'know, it's the benefit of an LAC that you get to learn a lot of diverse things and sharpen your problem-solving skills, as well as experimenting around with intellectual stuff and finding out what your true strengths are. 75% of Amherst students go to grad schools within 5 years of graduation.
Anyone with more insight please help out!:)</p>
<p>about the frats, amherst doesn't officially have frats anymore, although apparently there are "underground" frats, that exist but are not officially sanctioned by the school. I think these are mainly made up of football players, and are not a big factor in campus social life.</p>
<p>Thankx lemon, that was useful;) And now some more, just questions I put in previously but went unnoticed:
1. (copied from previous post above) I'm thinking of taking Linguistics courses at UMass. Is it easy/common for Jeffs to take classes at other schools in the Five Colleges consortium? Plus, among the other four, which is the easiest (logistically/red-tape-wise) for Jeffs to cross-course at?
2. Are people competitive about GPAs? Also, is it hard to get a presentable GPA for grad school?
3. Can you get a proper social life without drinking/getting laid? Do people often opt for the substance-free floor?
Thanks again. So many things to ask about:)</p>
<p>Thanks miaoling. That's what I figured.</p>
<p>miaoling,</p>
<p>first of all, hey! I'll probably be attending Amherst in the fall (whooo! i got in!), so it's nice to "meet" you. I attended a Diversity Open House in Sept., and my hosts addressed a couple of your questions, since I asked the same ones.</p>
<p>It's really easy to take a course at one of the five colleges. I think the statistic is around 60% do it at one point or another, but it's really for those who have a specific interest that's not too big at Amherst, like astronomy, which apparently UMass is really good in. All the five colleges are connected by a free bus system, so it's super easy to get around, too. </p>
<p>And your third question: Amherst has a really vibrant sub-free life. The sub-free halls are really popular and really close; they'll throw root beer kegs and have trivial pursuit tournaments and stuff. I'm actually thinking about doing sub-free for my freshman year. My hosts said that while drinking is reaaaally easy to do while at Amherst, there's definitely no pressure, and there's a huge community that shares the sub-free life. If you're reallly into sub-free, like as far as health food and stuff, there's a health and wellness dorm that makes their own food, no smoking or drinking, etc.</p>
<p>Anyway, I hope that helped and I second your question about the GPAs/Competitiveness of students.</p>
<p>Alacrity, really appreciate your post:) Somehow all the feedback about Amherst that I've got, here or elsewhere, has been positive. I'm loving it more day by day:)</p>
<p>Linh, answers for you.
1. It's not hard to take classes at the other campuses @ all, esp. @ UMass. It's a large school. Classes are normally large. Also there are always seats reserved for 5-college students. I don't think Linguistics is all that hard to get it, given its fair low popularity.
2. Peopl are NOT competitive about GPAs at all (if competitive here means competing with each other in class to be the top.) Getting a presentable GPA is not hard, because of the grade inflation. Getting an EXCELLENT GPA is VERY HARD, however. Presentable here means B+ and maybe A-. A upward is excellent.
3. You can certainly have a good social life without drinking (by drinking I assume you mean partying.) Can one get a proper social life without getting laid????? Well, you tell me.
All buildings at Amherst are smoke-free. A fair amount of people go for Health and Wellness housing. Drinking/partying normally only takes place in certain areas/buildings on campus. You'll pretty much figure it out by yourself once you're there. Bottom line is, if you're not a drinker, don't worry. you'll find your own place.</p>
<ol>
<li>Frats exist at Amherst but mainly they are not visible. They are not outlawed but cannot use campus facilities. People know about them and join them, but they remain mostly underground.</li>
</ol>
<p>Hola, I am thinking about transferring, </p>
<p>im a frosh at Kalamazoo college in Michigan, a lil LAC with 1200 students. I love the academics here but the people just suck. Are the folks at Amherst super politically active and crazy not get over it and chill kinda people. Im just looking for a few more laid back folks who party when they get a chance. </p>
<p>And also, this may sound terrible, but are Amherst students attractive? like overall average rating?!?! out of 10? I feel like whenever i go anywhere but my school the people get 300000 times better looking.</p>
<p>bflaug32, for your first question, I believe wherever you go there will be ppl who are ultra motivated in many aspects of life and ppl who just want to chill and party. same goes for Amherst.</p>
<p>for the second question, you need to let us know your sex. Or are u bi?</p>
<p>I need to do work study and I am curious of what kind of jobs are available on campus. I am really afraid I will be stuck with something demanding that I will hate and that I will not be able to keep up with academics.</p>
<p>What SAT scores are they looking for in intl?
Iam a dual citizen of Canada and HK, here are the stats:
SAT I around 2100
II: math IIc 800, lit. no idea, Chinese 800, Physics 750
Rank: 3/25
GPA: school doesn't rank
IB full diploma predicted grade: 40+</p>
<p>ECs: MUN (best delegate national conference), swimming, volunteer work, etc.</p>
<p>Citizen of: Canada, Hong Kong
Currently in: Shanghai, China
School: private-local(not really private some gov funding)</p>
<p>disadv: teacher recs, they aren't fluent in English
other factors: seeking aid, wants to do pre-law or pyschology
so what i can do better and what are my chances???</p>