We fly into Hartford or Logan depending on where from and who is going. When I visit d at Amherst I usually use Airbnb.
@lalaland21 The food is…alright. Valentine Dining (Val) is not known for it’s great food, but they do have an extensive salad bar, pasta station, fruit variety, etc. that can help make up for the subpar main dish they usually have. If you can get creative with food, then Val is fine. The dorms, on the other hand, are very good. Lots of singles and two room doubles in pretty nice dorms. Only maybe 4-5 dorms out of ~30 are considered “unwanted.”
@sigfriedapple That has been a hotly debated question here on CC, whether Amherst and similar LAC’s are “open” or “welcoming” to conservative students. Liberals will likely say that Amherst is welcoming, conservatives will say that it is not. So it depends on who you ask. Fiscal conservatism is generally put up with, but social conservatism not so much. I’d guess that 85-90% of the student body is solidly liberal, and 10-15% of the campus is moderate (likely left leaning) or conservative. The most vocal people tend to be far-left, though.
Hi again, this is related to my last question I asked, is Amherst for somebody who is quiet and introverted? How do people who tend to avoid contributing to discussion in classes fare at Amherst? Sorry for being redundant
@zofro99 Yes, you can usually choose how much you want to interact in the classroom. In my experience here, I have only been required to do one in-class presentation. That being said, some classes do revolve around in-class discussion and participation. Part of becoming a well-rounded and successful student is being able to articulate your opinions and - yes - speak in front of others. My guess is, however, that professors would be willing to accommodate someone who does not want to talk.
Hi! I am choosing between UCLA, USC, and Amherst, but my mom is urging me to go to Amherst because there is a higher chance of me being accepted to med school… Do you know what the pre-med track is like at Amherst and any other internships/similar opportunities there? I do know that they’re building a new science center, so that’s definitely a plus!
@DreamforIvy Congratulations on your acceptances! Those are all great schools, and you’re bound to do great things at any of them you choose. I can’t really speak to UCLA or USC, but many Amherst students are doing the pre-med track (even though we don’t have a premed major, per se) and many get into their top med school. We have a program called ACEMS that teaches students how to become (sorta) an EMT, which is a great opportunity for students to get exposure to basic medical practice. I recommend, however, that you make sure to go to whichever college is the better fit for you, rather than the one that has nebulously better pre-med students. All of them are great schools. Good luck!
Would you have any idea how the environmental studies/science program is at Amherst? Are there good research opportunities for students majoring in this area? How would one find out the rate of acceptance of these students to graduate school? Thank you!
@Economathematics You mentioned that 4-5 dorms at Amherst are considered “unwanted.” Could you specify which dorms you’re talking about?
Also, what are some pros and cons of choosing a sub-free dorm for first-year housing? I’m aware that alcohol isn’t allowed in any freshman dorms, but I’ve been considering sub-free dorms because I’d like to meet people whose idea of having fun/socializing doesn’t revolve too much around alcohol, since partying isn’t really my thing. Do you think substance-free dorms are that much different from regular dorms in this regard, or are they kind of the same when it comes to freshman housing?
@Timihem I don’t have any experience taking Environmental Studies classes, so I can’t really speak to that department. But in general, our science-y majors are very strong and well-respected. We have something called SURF, where Amherst students stay on campus during the summer and do research with professors while receiving a stipend. This is a very popular option. I’m not sure if there is a way to figure out exact graduate school acceptance rates, but I do know that Amherst is very well-regarded amongst graduate school programs. I think about half of Amherst alums end up going to graduate school of some type.
@dancingphysicist Most of the “unwanted” dorms are not freshman dorms, but upperclassman/sophomore dorms. So for example, people don’t tend to want Plimpton, Marsh, or Seligman because they are further away from campus than most others. Furthermore, Val (the dorm) and Moore tend to have bad reps as being dingy and dirty compared to the rest. For freshman dorms, Appleton is generally considered the least wanted because it’s not as nice as the others. Overall, though, Amherst has very good dorms.
All dorms, to my knowledge, are designated as sub-free at Amherst. That being said, I do think there is an option to still choose a “sub-sub-free” dorm, as you noted. I currently live in a sub-free dorm floor, and I personally enjoy it. It is a lot quieter, and I’ve enjoyed my floormates. I think that there isn’t that much of a difference between sub-free and non sub-free dorms during your first year, though, except for maybe the noise levels on the weekends. From what you’ve said, it sounds like you are in a similar boat that I was last year, and I ended up choosing to go the sub-free route, and I have enjoyed it.
TL;DR don’t worry about housing your freshman year, because freshman housing is generally pretty good. And go ahead and pick sub-free; it’ll probably not make that much of a difference, or if anything it’d be a good thing for you.
Thanks for the information on science classes! A question on the student body: I hear it is generally liberal, and that diversity has greatly increased over the years. Is there a divide between the students of color and the prep school kids? Are there a lot of students from highly privileged backgrounds, and if so, do the rest of the students feel out of place in any way? I am trying to get a sense of the prevalent campus culture (not making any judgements-I hope it doesn’t come across that way).
@Timihem Some very sad, lonely, and misinformed individuals have - through the years - used athletes, prep school kids, rich kids, etc. as excuses in order to better explain why they have a lack of friends (or, in general, why they are so mad at the world around them). It is very annoying, repetitive, and petty. I am a non-athlete, non-prep school, non-“privileged background” student who can personally attest that I have had no troubles making friends, nor feeling “divided” or “out of place.” This being said, of course athletes hang out with athletes, students of color hand out with other students of color, etc., but not to the extreme that some propose it to be. We as humans naturally hang out with those similar to us. Given, this is just my own perception of Amherst, and so needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but I do think the so-called “divide” is pretty trivial.
Thanks a lot for your response @Economathematics. It is nice to hear from a current student that it is a balanced and friendly campus for all students. I know how frustrating these rumors must be! I do appreciate that you took the time to respond to this query. It sets my mind at ease a great deal to hear that you have had no problems of this sort at Amherst. And it is a wonderful service you are doing for the college and prospective students - to provide a forum where questions can be asked without embarrassment.
@DreamforIvy Amherst has an excellent premed guide at https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/gradstudy/health/guide that explains how the school approaches it very well. There is a dedicated premed adviser you will have in addition to your assigned major adviser.
@Timihem - link to summer research opportunities: https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/support/funding/students/amherst-student-research-funding-opportunities
D used Amherst funding to do an off-campus (in Amherst) internship last summer, she had friends who did SURF.
She’s doing fully funded research elsewhere this summer, with great support from the school (career center/web site has excellent resources and a special program called Amherst Select for internships), and several of her professors wrote her recommendation letters and helped her find programs to apply to both this year and last.
Just wanted to first thank you for offering to answer some questions. I have one regarding courses. Can you tell me which courses and/or professors are a “must have” at Amherst.
Thanks so much for the info, @OHMomof2! Really appreciate the link.
@collegecounts I’d say Barbezat, Sanderson, Kingston, and Goutte are a couple very good professors. In the math department, Naqvi, Benedetto, and Zhang are all great professors. It is so hard to recommend professors and classes here, though, because there are such a wide range of both (and many are very good!). I guess a “must have” course would be any psychology class with Sanderson, and Intro to Econ with Barbezat. Those are both very popular.
Do we need a sleepbag for the open campus weekend visit day for Amherst? I am flying, so carrying that would be a hassle.
Yes, but I think you can ask admissions if there’s one to borrow - someone has some for the camping trips at orientation. But you might need to check a bag with it (and a pillow) if not.
@TheNewStudent12 I’d recommend bringing one, yes. They usually let you have it as a carry on in addition to your backpack.